Chapter II: Part I (1)

OBSERVATIONS UPON THE PROPHECIES OF _DANIEL._

* * * * *

OBSERVATIONS

UPON THE

Prophecies of _DANIEL_

* * * * *

CHAP. I.

_Introduction concerning the Compilers of the books of the Old Testament._

When _Manasses_ [1] set up a carved image in the house of the Lord, and built altars in the two courts of the house, to all the host of Heaven, and us'd inchantments and witchcraft, and familiar spirits, and for his great wickedness was invaded by the army of _Asserhadon_ King of _Assyria_, and carried captive to _Babylon_; the book of the Law was lost till the eighteenth year of his grandson _Josiah_. Then [2] _Hilkiah_ the High Priest, upon repairing the Temple, found it there: and the King lamented that their fathers had not done after the words of the book, and commanded that it should be read to the people, and caused the people to renew the holy covenant with God. This is the book of the Law now extant.

When [3] _Shishak_ came out of _Egypt_ and spoil'd the temple, and brought _Judah_ into subjection to the monarchy of _Egypt_, (which was in the fifth year of _Rehoboam_) the _Jews_ continued under great troubles for about twenty years; being _without the true God, and without a teaching Priest, and without Law: and in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries, and nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city, for God did vex them with all adversity_. But [4] when _Shishak_ was dead, and _Egypt_ fell into troubles, _Judah_ had quiet ten years; and in that time _Asa_ built fenced cities in _Judah_, and got up an army of 580000 men, with which, in the 15th year of his reign, he met and overcame _Zerah_ the _Ethiopian_, who had conquered _Egypt_ and _Lybia_, and _Troglodytica_, and came out with an army of 1000000 _Lybians_ and _Ethiopians_, to recover the countries conquered by _Sesac_. And after this victory [5] _Asa_ dethroned his mother for idolatry, and he renewed the Altar, and brought new vessels of gold and silver into the Temple; and he and the people entered into a new covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, upon pain of death to those who worshiped other Gods; and his son _Jehosaphat_ took away the high places, and in the third year of his reign sent some of his Princes, and of the Priests and Levites, to teach in the cities of _Judah_: and they had the book of the Law with them, and went about throughout all the cities of _Judah_, and taught the people. This is that book of the Law which was afterwards lost in the reign of _Manasses_, and found again in the reign of _Josiah_, and therefore it was written before the third year of _Jehosaphat_.

The same book of the Law was preserved and handed down to posterity by the _Samaritans_, and therefore was received by the ten Tribes before their captivity. For [6] when the ten Tribes were captivated, a Priest or the captivity was sent back to _Bethel_, by order of the King of _Assyria_, to instruct the new inhabitants of _Samaria_, in _the manner of the God of the land_; and the _Samaritans_ had the _Pentateuch_ from this Priest, as containing the law or _manner of the God of the land_, which he was to teach them. For [7] they persevered in the religion which he taught them, joining with it the worship of their own Gods; and by persevering in what they had been taught, they preserved this book of their Law in the original character of the _Hebrews_, while the two Tribes, after their return from _Babylon_, changed the character to that of the _Chaldees_, which they had learned at _Babylon_.

And since the _Pentateuch_ was received as the book of the Law, both by the two Tribes and by the ten Tribes, it follows that they received it before they became divided into two Kingdoms. For after the division, they received not laws from one another, but continued at variance. _Judah_ could not reclaim _Israel_ from the sin of _Jeroboam_, and _Israel_ could not bring _Judah_ to it. The _Pentateuch_ therefore was the book of the Law in the days of _David_ and _Solomon_. The affairs of the Tabernacle and Temple were ordered by _David_ and _Solomon_, according to the Law of this book; and _David_ in the 78th Psalm, admonishing the people to give ear to the Law of God, means the Law of this book. For in describing how their forefathers kept it not, he quotes many historical things out of the books of _Exodus_ and _Numbers_.

The race of the Kings of _Edom_, before there reigned any King over _Israel_, is set down in the book of [8] _Genesis_; and therefore that book was not written entirely in the form now extant, before the reign of _Saul_. The writer set down the race of those Kings till his own time, and therefore wrote before _David_ conquered _Edom_. The _Pentateuch_ is composed of the Law and the history of God's people together; and the history hath been collected from several books, such as were the history of the Creation composed by _Moses_, _Gen_. ii. 4. the book of the generations of _Adam_, _Gen._ v. i. and the book of the wars of the Lord, _Num._ xxi. 14. This book of wars contained what was done at the Red-sea, and in the journeying of _Israel_ thro' the Wilderness, and therefore was begun by _Moses_. And _Joshua_ might carry it on to the conquest of _Canaan_. For _Joshua_ wrote some things in the book of the Law of God, _Josh._ xxiv. 26 and therefore might write his own wars in the book of wars, those being the principal wars of God. These were publick books, and therefore not written without the authority of _Moses_ and _Joshua_. And _Samuel_ had leisure in the reign of _Saul_, to put them into the form of the books of _Moses_ and _Joshua_ now extant, inserting into the book of _Genesis_, the race of the Kings of _Edom_, until there reigned a King in _Israel_.

The book of the _Judges_ is a continued history of the _Judges_ down to the death of _Sampson_, and therefore was compiled after his death, out of the Acts of the _Judges_. Several things in this book are said to be done _when there was no King in _Israel__, _Judg._ xvii. 6. xviii. 1. xix. 1. xxi. 25. and therefore this book was written after the beginning of the reign of _Saul_. When it was written, the _Jebusites_ dwelt in _Jerusalem_, _Jud._ i. 21 and therefore it was written before the eighth year of _David_, 2 _Sam._ v. 8. and 1 _Chron._ xi. 6. The books of _Moses_, _Joshua_, and _Judges_, contain one continued history, down from the Creation to the death of _Sampson_. Where the _Pentateuch_ ends, the book of _Joshua_ begins; and where the book of _Joshua_ ends, the book of _Judges_ begins. Therefore all these books have been composed out of the writings of _Moses_, _Joshua_, and other records, by one and the same hand, after the beginning of the reign of _Saul_, and before the eighth year of _David_. And _Samuel_ was a sacred writer, 1 _Sam._ x. 25. acquainted with the history of _Moses_ and the _Judges_, 1 _Sam._ xii. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. and had leisure in the reign of _Saul_, and sufficient authority to compose these books. He was a Prophet, and judged _Israel_ all the days of his life, and was in the greatest esteem with the people; and the Law by which he was to judge the people was not to be published by less authority than his own, the Law-maker being not inferior to the judge. And the book of _Jasher_, which is quoted in the book of _Joshua_, _Josh._ x. 13. was in being at the death of _Saul_, 2 _Sam._ i. 18.

At the dedication of the Temple of _Solomon_, when the Ark was brought into the most holy place, there was nothing in it but the two tables, 1 _Kings_ viii. 9. and therefore when the _Philistines_ took the Ark, they took out of it the book of the Law, and the golden pot of Manna, and _Aaron_'s Rod. And this and other losses in the desolation of _Israel_, by the conquering _Philistines_, might give occasion to _Samuel_, after some respite from those enemies, to recollect the scattered writings of _Moses_ and _Joshua_, and the records of the Patriarchs and Judges, and compose them in the form now extant.

The book of _Ruth_ is a history of things done in the days of the _Judges_, and may be looked upon as an addition to the book of the _Judges_, written by the same author, and at the same time. For it was written after the birth of _David_, _Ruth_ iv. 17, 22. and not long after, because the history of _Boaz_ and _Ruth_, the great grandfather and great grandmother of _David_, and that of their contemporaries, could not well be remembered above two or three generations. And since this book derives the genealogy of _David_ from _Boaz_ and _Ruth_, and omits _David_'s elder brothers and his sons; it was written in honour of _David_, after he was anointed King by _Samuel_, and before he had children in _Hebron_, and by consequence in the reign of _Saul_. It proceeds not to the history of _David_, and therefore seems to have been written presently after he was anointed. They judge well therefore who ascribe to _Samuel_ the books of _Joshua_, _Judges_, and _Ruth_.

_Samuel_ is also reputed the author of the first book of _Samuel_, till the time of his death. The two books of _Samuel_ cite no authors, and therefore seem to be originals. They begin with his genealogy, birth and education, and might be written partly in his lifetime by himself or his disciples the Prophets at _Naioth_ in _Ramah_, 1 _Sam._ xix. 18, 19, 20. and partly after his death by the same disciples.

The books of the _Kings_ cite other authors, as the book of the Acts of _Solomon_, the book of the _Chronicles_ of the Kings of _Israel_, and the book of the _Chronicles_ of the Kings of _Judah_. The books of the _Chronicles_ cite the book of _Samuel_ the Seer, the book of _Nathan_ the Prophet, and the book of _Gad_ the Seer, for the Acts of _David_; the book of _Nathan_ the Prophet, the Prophecy of _Ahijah_ the _Shilonite_, and the visions of _Iddo_ the Seer, for the Acts of _Solomon_; the book of _Shemajah_ the Prophet, and the book of _Iddo_ the Seer concerning genealogies, for the Acts of _Rehoboam_ and _Abijah_; the book of the Kings of _Judah_ and _Israel_ for the Acts of _Asa_, _Joash_, _Amaziah_, _Jotham_, _Ahaz_, _Hezekiah_, _Manasseh_, and _Josiah_; the book of _Hanani_ the Seer, for the Acts of _Jehosaphat_; and the visions of _Isaiah_ for the Acts of _Uzziah_ and _Hezekiah_. These books were therefore collected out of the historical writings of the antient Seers and Prophets. And because the books of the _Kings_ and _Chronicles_ quote one another, they were written at one and the same time. And this time was after the return from the _Babylonian_ captivity, because they bring down the history of _Judah_, and the genealogies of the Kings of _Judah_, and of the High Priests, to that captivity. The book of _Ezra_ was originally a part of the book of the _Chronicles_, and has been divided from it. For it begins with the two last verses of the books of _Chronicles_, and the first book of _Esdras_ begins with the two last chapters thereof. _Ezra_ was therefore the compiler of the books of _Kings_ and _Chronicles_, and brought down the history to his own time. He was a ready Scribe in the Law of God; and for assisting him in this work _Nehemias_ founded a library, and _gathered together the Acts of the Kings and the Prophets, and of _David_, and the Epistles of the Kings, concerning the holy gifts_, 2 _Maccab._ ii. 13. By the Acts of _David_ I understand here the two books of _Samuel_, or at least the second book. Out of the Acts of the _Kings_, written from time to time by the Prophets, he compos'd the books of the Kings of _Judah_ and _Israel_, the _Chronicles_ of the Kings of _Judah_, and the _Chronicles_ of the Kings of _Israel_. And in doing this he joined those Acts together, in due order of time, copying the very words of the authors, as is manifest from hence, that the books of the _Kings_ and _Chronicles_ frequently agree with one another in words for many sentences together. Where they agree in sense, there they agree in words also.

So the Prophecies of _Isaiah_, written at several times, he has collected into one body. And the like he did for those of _Jeremiah_, and the rest of the Prophets, down to the days of the second Temple. The book of _Jonah_ is the history of _Jonah_ written by another hand. The book of _Daniel_ is a collection of papers written at several times. The six last chapters contain Prophecies written at several times by _Daniel_ himself: the six first are a collection of historical papers written by others. The fourth chapter is a decree of _Nebuchadnezzar_. The first chapter was written after _Daniel_'s death: for the author saith, that _Daniel_ continued to the first year of _Cyrus_; that is, to his first year over the _Persians_ and _Medes_, and third year over _Babylon_. And, for the same reason, the fifth and sixth chapters were also written after his death. For they end with these words: _So this _Daniel_ prospered in the reign of _Darius_ and in the reign of _Cyrus_ the_ Persian. Yet these words might be added by the collector of the papers, whom I take to be _Ezra_.

The Psalms composed by _Moses_, _David_, and others, seem to have been also collected by _Ezra_ into one volume. I reckon him the collector, because in this collection I meet with Psalms as late as the _Babylonian_ captivity, but with none later.

After these things _Antiochus Epiphanes_ spoiled the Temple, commanded the _Jews_ to forsake the Law upon pain of death, and caused the sacred books to be burnt wherever they could be found: and in these troubles the book of the _Chronicles_ of the Kings of _Israel_ was entirely lost. But upon recovering from this oppression, _Judas Maccabæus_ gathered together all those writings that were to be met with, 2 _Maccab._ ii. 14. and in reducing them into order, part of the Prophecies of _Isaiah_, or some other Prophet, have been added to the end of the Prophecies of _Zechariah_; and the book of _Ezra_ has been separated from the book of _Chronicles_, and set together in two different orders; in one order in the book of _Ezra_, received into the Canon, and in another order in the first book of _Esdras_.

After the _Roman_ captivity, the _Jews_ for preserving their traditions, put them in writing in their _Talmud_, and for preserving their scriptures, agreed upon an Edition, and pointed it, and counted the letters of every sort in every book: and by preserving only this Edition, the antienter various lections, except what can be discovered by means of the _Septuagint_ Version, are now lost; and such marginal notes, or other corruptions, as by the errors of the transcribers, before this Edition was made, had crept into the text, are now scarce to be corrected.

The _Jews_ before the _Roman_ captivity, distinguished the sacred books into the Law, the Prophets, and the _Hagiographa_, or holy writings; and read only the Law and the Prophets in their Synagogues. And Christ and his Apostles laid the stress of religion upon the Law and the Prophets, _Matt._ vii. 12. xxii. 4. _Luke_ xvi. 16, 29, 31. xxiv. 44. _Acts_ xxiv. 14. xxvi. 22. _Rom._ iii. 21. By the _Hagiographa_ they meant the historical books called _Joshua_, _Judges_, _Ruth_, _Samuel_, _Kings_, _Chronicles_, _Ezra_, _Nehemiah_, and _Esther_, the book of _Job_, the _Psalms_, the books of _Solomon_, and the _Lamentations_. The Samaritans read only the _Pentateuch_: and when _Jehosaphat_ sent men to teach in the cities, they had with them only the book of the Law; for the Prophecies now extant were not then written. And upon the return from the _Babylonian_ captivity, _Ezra_ read only the book of the Law to the people, from morning to noon on the first day of the seventh month; and from day to day in the feast of Tabernacles: for he had not yet collected the writings of the Prophets into the volume now extant; but instituted the reading of them after the collection was made. By reading the Law and the Prophets in the Synagogues, those books have been kept freer from corruption than the _Hagiographa_.

In the infancy of the nation of _Israel_, when God had given them a Law, and made a covenant with them to be their God if they would keep his commandments, he sent Prophets to reclaim them, as often as they revolted to the worship of other Gods: and upon their returning to him, they sometimes renewed the covenant which they had broken. These Prophets he continued to send, till the days of _Ezra_: but after their Prophecies were read in the Synagogues, those Prophecies were thought sufficient. For if the people would not hear _Moses_ and the old Prophets, they would hear no new ones, no not _tho they should rise from the dead_. At length when a new truth was to be preached to the _Gentiles_, namely, _that Jesus was the Christ_, God sent new Prophets and Teachers: but after their writings were also received and read in the Synagogues of the Christians, Prophecy ceased a second time. We have _Moses_, the Prophets, and Apostles, and the words of Christ himself; and if we will not hear them, we shall be more inexcusable than the _Jews._ For the Prophets and Apostles have foretold, that as _Israel_ often revolted and brake the covenant, and upon repentance renewed it; so there should be a falling away among the Christians, soon after the days of the Apostles; and that in the latter days God would destroy the impenitent revolters, and make a new covenant with his people. And the giving ear to the Prophets is a fundamental character of the true Church. For God has so ordered the Prophecies, that in the latter days _the wise may understand, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand_, Dan. xii. 9, 10. The authority of Emperors, Kings, and Princes, is human. The authority of Councils, Synods, Bishops, and Presbyters, is human. The authority of the Prophets is divine, and comprehends the sum of religion, reckoning _Moses_ and the Apostles among the Prophets; and _if an Angel from Heaven preach any other gospel_, than what they have delivered, _let him be accursed_. Their writings contain the covenant between God and his people, with instructions for keeping this covenant; instances of God's judgments upon them that break it: and predictions of things to come. While the people of God keep the covenant, they continue to be his people: when they break it they cease to be his people or church, and become _the Synagogue of Satan, who say they are _Jews_ and are not._ And no power on earth is authorized to alter this covenant.

The predictions of things to come relate to the state of the Church in all ages: and amongst the old Prophets, _Daniel_ is most distinct in order of time, and easiest to be understood: and therefore in those things which relate to the last times, he must be made the key to the rest.

Notes to Chap. I.

[1] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 5, 6, 7.

[2] 2 Chron. xxxiv.

[3] 2 Chron. xii. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9. & xv. 3, 5, 6.

[4] 2 Chron. xiv. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.

[5] 2 Chron. xv. 3, 12, 13, 16, 18.

[6] 2 Kings xvii. 27, 28, 32, 33.

[7] 2 Kings xvii. 34, 41.

[8] Gen. xxxvi. 31.

* * * * *

CHAP. II.

_Of the Prophetic Language._

For understanding the Prophecies, we are, in the first place, to acquaint our-selves with the figurative language of the Prophets. This language is taken from the analogy between the world natural, and an empire or kingdom considered as a world politic.

Accordingly, the whole world natural consisting of heaven and earth, signifies the whole world politic, consisting of thrones and people, or so much of it as is considered in the Prophecy: and the things in that world signify the analogous things in this. For the heavens, and the things therein, signify thrones and dignities, and those who enjoy them; and the earth, with the things thereon, the inferior people; and the lowest parts of the earth, called _Hades_ or Hell, the lowest or most miserable part of them. Whence ascending towards heaven, and descending to the earth, are put for rising and falling in power and honour: rising out of the earth, or waters, and falling into them, for the rising up to any dignity or dominion, out of the inferior state of the people, or falling down from the same into that inferior state; descending into the lower parts of the earth, for descending to a very low and unhappy estate; speaking with a faint voice out of the dust, for being in a weak and low condition; moving from one place to another, for translation from one office, dignity, or dominion, to another; great earthquakes, and the shaking of heaven and earth, for the shaking of kingdoms, so as to distract or overthrow them; the creating a new heaven and earth, and the passing away of an old one, or the beginning and end of the world, for the rise and ruin of the body politic signified thereby.

In the heavens, the Sun and Moon are, by interpreters of dreams, put for the persons of Kings and Queens; but in sacred Prophecy, which regards not single persons, the Sun is put for the whole species and race of Kings, in the kingdom or kingdoms of the world politic, shining with regal power and glory; the Moon for the body of the common people, considered as the King's wife; the Stars for subordinate Princes and great men, or for Bishops and Rulers of the people of God, when the Sun is Christ; light for the glory, truth, and knowledge, wherewith great and good men shine and illuminate others; darkness for obscurity of condition, and for error, blindness and ignorance; darkning, smiting, or setting of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, for the ceasing of a kingdom, or for the desolation thereof, proportional to the darkness; darkning the Sun, turning the Moon into blood, and falling of the Stars, for the same; new Moons, for the return of a dispersed people into a body politic or ecclesiastic.

Fire and meteors refer to both heaven and earth, and signify as follows; burning any thing with fire, is put for the consuming thereof by war; a conflagration of the earth, or turning a country into a lake of fire, for the consumption of a kingdom by war; the being in a furnace, for the being in slavery under another nation; the ascending up of the smoke of any burning thing for ever and ever, for the continuation of a conquered people under the misery of perpetual subjection and slavery; the scorching heat of the sun, for vexatious wars, persecutions and troubles inflicted by the King; riding on the clouds, for reigning over much people; covering the sun with a cloud, or with smoke, for oppression of the King by the armies of an enemy; tempestuous winds, or the motion of clouds, for wars; thunder, or the voice of a cloud, for the voice of a multitude; a storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and overflowing rain, for a tempest of war descending from the heavens and clouds politic, on the heads of their enemies; rain, if not immoderate, and dew, and living water, for the graces and doctrines of the Spirit; and the defect of rain, for spiritual barrenness.

In the earth, the dry land and congregated waters, as a sea, a river, a flood, are put for the people of several regions, nations, and dominions; embittering of waters, for great affliction of the people by war and persecution; turning things into blood, for the mystical death of bodies politic, that is, for their dissolution; the overflowing of a sea or river, for the invasion of the earth politic, by the people of the waters; drying up of waters, for the conquest of their regions by the earth; fountains of waters for cities, the permanent heads of rivers politic; mountains and islands, for the cities of the earth and sea politic, with the territories and dominions belonging to those cities; dens and rocks of mountains, for the temples of cities; the hiding of men in those dens and rocks, for the shutting up of Idols in their temples; houses and ships, for families, assemblies, and towns, in the earth and sea politic; and a navy of ships of war, for an army of that kingdom that is signified by the sea.

Animals also and vegetables are put for the people of several regions and conditions; and particularly, trees, herbs, and land animals, for the people of the earth politic: flags, reeds, and fishes, for those of the waters politic; birds and insects, for those of the politic heaven and earth; a forest for a kingdom; and a wilderness for a desolate and thin people.

If the world politic, considered in prophecy, consists of many kingdoms, they are represented by as many parts of the world natural; as the noblest by the celestial frame, and then the Moon and Clouds are put for the common people; the less noble, by the earth, sea, and rivers, and by the animals or vegetables, or buildings therein; and then the greater and more powerful animals and taller trees, are put for Kings, Princes, and Nobles. And because the whole kingdom is the body politic of the King, therefore the Sun, or a Tree, or a Beast, or Bird, or a Man, whereby the King is represented, is put in a large signification for the whole kingdom; and several animals, as a Lion, a Bear, a Leopard, a Goat, according to their qualities, are put for several kingdoms and bodies politic; and sacrificing of beasts, for slaughtering and conquering of kingdoms; and friendship between beasts, for peace between kingdoms. Yet sometimes vegetables and animals are, by certain epithets or circumstances, extended to other significations; as a Tree, when called the _tree of life_ or _of knowledge_; and a Beast, when called _the old serpent_, or worshipped.

When a Beast or Man is put for a kingdom, his parts and qualities are put for the analogous parts and qualities of the kingdom; as the head of a Beast, for the great men who precede and govern; the tail for the inferior people, who follow and are governed; the heads, if more than one, for the number of capital parts, or dynasties, or dominions in the kingdom, whether collateral or successive, with respect to the civil government; the horns on any head, for the number of kingdoms in that head, with respect to military power; seeing for understanding, and the eyes for men of understanding and policy, and in matters of religion for [Greek: Episkopoi], Bishops; speaking, for making laws; the mouth, for a law-giver, whether civil or sacred; the loudness of the voice, for might and power; the faintness thereof, for weakness; eating and drinking, for acquiring what is signified by the things eaten and drank; the hairs of a beast, or man, and the feathers of a bird, for people; the wings, for the number of kingdoms represented by the beast; the arm of a man, for his power, or for any people wherein his strength and power consists; his feet, for the lowest of the people, or for the latter end of the kingdom; the feet, nails, and teeth of beasts of prey, for armies and squadrons of armies; the bones, for strength, and for fortified places; the flesh, for riches and possessions; and the days of their acting, for years; and when a tree is put for a kingdom, its branches, leaves and fruit, signify as do the wings, feathers, and food of a bird or beast.

When a man is taken in a mystical sense, his qualities are often signified by his actions, and by the circumstances of things about him. So a Ruler is signified by his riding on a beast; a Warrior and Conqueror, by his having a sword and bow; a potent man, by his gigantic stature; a Judge, by weights and measures; a sentence of absolution, or condemnation, by a white or a black stone; a new dignity, by a new name; moral or civil qualifications, by garments; honour and glory, by splendid apparel; royal dignity, by purple or scarlet, or by a crown; righteousness, by white and clean robes; wickedness, by spotted and filthy garments; affliction, mourning, and humiliation, by clothing in sackcloth; dishonour, shame, and want of good works, by nakedness; error and misery, by drinking a cup of his or her wine that causeth it; propagating any religion for gain, by exercising traffick and merchandize with that people whose religion it is; worshipping or serving the false Gods of any nation, by committing adultery with their princes, or by worshipping them; a Council of a kingdom, by its image; idolatry, by blasphemy; overthrow in war, by a wound of man or beast; a durable plague of war, by a sore and pain; the affliction or persecution which a people suffers in labouring to bring forth a new kingdom, by the pain of a woman in labour to bring forth a man-child; the dissolution of a body politic or ecclesiastic, by the death of a man or beast; and the revival of a dissolved dominion, by the resurrection of the dead.

* * * * *

CHAP. III.

_Of the vision of the Image composed of four Metals._

The Prophecies of _Daniel_ are all of them related to one another, as if they were but several parts of one general Prophecy, given at several times. The first is the easiest to be understood, and every following Prophecy adds something new to the former. The first was given in a dream to _Nebuchadnezzar_, King of _Babylon_, in the second year of his reign; but the King forgetting his dream, it was given again to _Daniel_ in a dream, and by him revealed to the King. And thereby, _Daniel_ presently became famous for wisdom, and revealing of secrets: insomuch that _Ezekiel_ his contemporary, in the nineteenth year of _Nebuchadnezzar_, spake thus of him to the King of _Tyre_: _Behold_, saith he, _thou art wiser than _Daniel_, there is no secret that they can hide from thee_, Ezek. xxviii. 3. And the same _Ezekiel_, in another place, joins _Daniel_ with _Noah_ and _Job_, as most high in the favour of God, _Ezek._ xiv. 14, 16, 18, 20. And in the last year of _Belshazzar_, the Queen-mother said of him to the King: _Behold there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king _Nebuchadnezzar_ thy father, the king, I say, thy father made master of the magicians, astrologers, _Chaldeans_ and soothsayers: forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same _Daniel_, whom the king named _Belteshazzar__, Dan. v. 11, 12. _Daniel_ was in the greatest credit amongst the _Jews_, till the reign of the _Roman_ Emperor _Hadrian_: and to reject his Prophecies, is to reject the Christian religion. For this religion is founded upon his Prophecy concerning the _Messiah_.

Now in this vision of the Image composed of four Metals, the foundation of all _Daniel_'s Prophecies is laid. It represents a body of four great nations, which should reign over the earth successively, viz. the people of _Babylonia_, the _Persians_, the _Greeks_, and the _Romans_. And by a stone cut out without hands, which fell upon the feet of the Image, and brake all the four Metals to pieces, and _became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth_; it further represents that a new kingdom should arise, after the four, and conquer all those nations, and grow very great, and last to the end of all ages.

The head of the Image was of gold, and signifies the nations of _Babylonia_, who reigned first, as _Daniel_ himself interprets. _Thou art this head of gold_, saith he to _Nebuchadnezzar_. These nations reigned till _Cyrus_ conquered _Babylon_, and within a few months after that conquest revolted to the _Persians_, and set them up above the _Medes_. The breast and arms of the Image were of silver, and represent the _Persians_ who reigned next. The belly and thighs of the Image were of brass, and represent the _Greeks_, who, under the dominion of _Alexander_ the great, conquered the _Persians_, and reigned next after them. The legs were of iron, and represent the _Romans_ who reigned next after the _Greeks_, and began to conquer them in the eighth year of _Antiochus Epiphanes_. For in that year they conquered _Perseus_ King of _Macedon_, the fundamental kingdom of the _Greeks_; and from thence forward grew into a mighty empire, and reigned with great power till the days of _Theodosius_ the great. Then by the incursion of many northern nations, they brake into many smaller kingdoms, which are represented by the feet and toes of the Image, composed part of iron, and part of clay. For then, saith _Daniel_, [1] _the kingdom shall be divided, and there shall be in it of the strength of iron, but they shall not cleave one to another._

_And in the days of these Kings_, saith _Daniel_, _shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountains without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold._

Notes to Chap. III.

[1] Chap. ii. 41, &c.

* * * * *

CHAP. IV.

_Of the vision of the four Beasts._

In the next vision, which is of the four Beasts, the Prophecy of the four Empires is repeated, with several new additions; such as are the two wings of the Lion, the three ribs in the mouth of the Bear, the four wings and four heads of the Leopard, the eleven horns of the fourth Beast, and the son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven, to the Antient of Days sitting in judgment.

The first Beast was like a lion, and had eagle's wings, to denote the kingdoms of _Babylonia_ and _Media_, which overthrew the _Assyrian_ Empire, and divided it between them, and thereby became considerable, and grew into great Empires. In the former Prophecy, the Empire of _Babylonia_ was represented by the head of gold; in this both Empires are represented together by the two wings of the lion. _And I beheld,_ saith [1] _Daniel_, _till the wings thereof were pluckt, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it_; that is, till it was humbled and subdued, and made to know its human state.

The second Beast was like a bear, and represents the Empire which reigned next after the _Babylonians_, that is, the Empire of the _Persians_. _Thy kingdom is divided_, or broken, saith _Daniel_ to the last King of _Babylon_, _and given to the _Medes_ and _Persians__, _Dan._ v. 28. This Beast _raised itself up on one side_; the _Persians_ being under the _Medes_ at the fall of _Babylon_, but presently rising up above them. [2] _And it had three ribs in the mouth of it, between the teeth of it_, to signify the kingdoms of _Sardes_, _Babylon_, and _Egypt_, which were conquered by it, but did not belong to its proper body. And it devoured much flesh, the riches of those three kingdoms.

The third Beast was the kingdom which succeeded the _Persian_; and this was the empire of the _Greeks_, _Dan._ viii. 6, 7, 20, 21. It was _like a Leopard_, to signify its fierceness; and had four heads and four wings, to signify that it should become divided into four kingdoms, _Dan._ viii 22. for it continued in a monarchical form during the reign of _Alexander_ the great, and his brother _Aridæus_, and young sons _Alexander_ and _Hercules_; and then brake into four kingdoms, by the governors of provinces putting crowns on their own heads, and by mutual consent reigning over their provinces. _Cassander_ reigned over _Macedon_, _Greece_, and _Epirus_; _Lysimachus_ over _Thrace_ and _Bithynia_; _Ptolemy_ over _Egypt_, _Lybia_, _Arabia_, _Coelosyria_, and _Palestine_; and _Seleucus_ over _Syria_.

The fourth Beast was the empire which succeeded that of the _Greeks_, and this was the _Roman_. This beast was exceeding dreadful and terrible, and had great iron teeth, and devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and such was the _Roman_ empire. It was larger, stronger, and more formidable and lasting than any of the former. It conquered the kingdom of _Macedon_, with _Illyricum_ and _Epirus_, in the eighth year of _Antiochus Epiphanes_, _Anno Nabonass._. 580; and inherited that of _Pergamus_, _Anno Nabonass._ 615; and conquered that of _Syria_, _Anno Nabonass._ 679, and that of _Egypt_, _Anno Nabonass._ 718. And by these and other conquests it became greater and more terrible than any of the three former Beasts. This Empire continued in its greatness till the reign of _Theodosius_ the great; and then brake into ten kingdoms, represented by the ten horns of this Beast; and continued in a broken form, till the Antient of days sat in a throne like fiery flame, and _the judgment was set, and the books were opened, and the Beast was slain and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flames; and one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Antient of days_ [3], and received dominion over all nations, and judgment was given to the saints of the most high, and the time came that they possessed the kingdom.

_I beheld,_ saith [4] _Daniel_, _till the Beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flames. As concerning the rest of the Beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time_. And therefore all the four Beasts are still alive, tho the dominion of the three first be taken away. The nations of _Chaldea_ and _Assyria_ are still the first Beast. Those of _Media_ and _Persia_ are still the second Beast. Those of _Macedon_, _Greece_ and _Thrace_, _Asia_ minor, _Syria_ and _Egypt_, are still the third. And those of _Europe_, on this side _Greece_, are still the fourth. Seeing therefore the body of the third Beast is confined to the nations on this side the river _Euphrates_, and the body of the fourth Beast is confined to the nations on this side _Greece_; we are to look for all the four heads of the third Beast, among the nations on this side of the river _Euphrates_; and for all the eleven horns of the fourth Beast, among the nations on this side of _Greece_. And therefore, at the breaking of the _Greek_ empire into four kingdoms of the _Greeks_, we include no part of the _Chaldeans_, _Medes_ and _Persians_ in those kingdoms, because they belonged to the bodies of the two first Beasts. Nor do we reckon the _Greek_ empire seated at _Constantinople_, among the horns of the fourth Beast, because it belonged to the body of the third.

Notes to Chap. IV.

[1] Chap. vii. 4.

[2] Chap. vii. 5.

[3] Chap. vii. 13.

[4] Chap. vii. 11, 12.

* * * * *

CHAP. V.

_Of the Kingdoms represented by the feet of the Image composed of iron and clay._

_Dacia_ was a large country bounded on the south by the _Danube_, on the east by the _Euxine_ sea, on the north by the river _Neister_ and the mountain _Crapac_, and on the west by the river _Tibesis_, or _Teys_, which runs southward into the _Danube_ a little above _Belgrade_. It comprehended the countries now called _Transylvania_, _Moldavia_, and _Wallachia_, and the eastern part of the upper _Hungary_. Its antient inhabitants were called _Getæ_ by the _Greeks_, _Daci_ by the _Latins_, and _Goths_ by themselves. _Alexander_ the great attacked them, and _Trajan_ conquered them, and reduced their country into a Province of the _Roman_ Empire: and thereby the propagation of the Gospel among them was much promoted. They were composed of several _Gothic_ nations, called _Ostrogoths_, _Visigoths_, _Vandals_, _Gepides_, _Lombards_, _Burgundians_, _Alans_, &c. who all agreed in their manners, and spake the same language, as _Procopius_ represents. While they lived under the _Romans_, the _Goths_ or _Ostrogoths_ were seated in the eastern parts of _Dacia_, the _Vandals_ in the western part upon the river _Teys_, where the rivers _Maresh_ and _Keresh_ run into it. The _Visigoths_ were between them. The _Gepides_, according to _Jornandes_, were upon the _Vistula_. The _Burgundians_, a _Vandalic_ nation, were between the _Vistula_ and the southern fountain of the _Boristhenes_, at some distance from the mountain _Crapac_ northwards, where _Ptolemy_ places them, by the names of _Phrugundiones_ and _Burgiones_.[1] The _Alans_, another _Gothic_ nation, were between the northern fountain of the _Boristhenes_ and the mouth of the river _Tanais_, where _Ptolemy_ placeth the mountain _Alanus_, and western side of the _Palus Mæotis_.

These nations continued under the dominion of the _Romans_ till the second year of the Emperor _Philip_, and then for want of their military pay began to revolt; the _Ostrogoths_ setting up a kingdom, which, under their Kings _Ostrogotha_, _Cniva_, _Araric_, _Geperic_, and _Hermanaric_, increased till the year of Christ 376; and then by an incursion of the _Huns_ from beyond the _Tanais_, and the death of _Hermanaric_, brake into several smaller kingdoms. _Hunnimund_, the son of _Hermanaric_, became King over the _Ostrogoths_; _Fridigern_ over the _Visigoths_; _Winithar_, or _Vinithar_, over a part of the _Goths_ called _Gruthungi_ by _Ammian_, _Gothunni_ by _Claudian_, and _Sarmatæ_ and _Scythians_ by others: _Athanaric_ reign'd over another part of the _Goths_ in _Dacia_, called _Thervingi_; _Box_ over the _Antes_ in _Sarmatia_; and the _Gepides_ had also their King. The _Vandals_ fled over the _Danube_ from _Geberic_ in the latter end of the reign of _Constantine_ the great, and had seats granted them in _Pannonia_ by that Emperor, where they lived quietly forty years, viz. till the year 377, when several _Gothic_ nations flying from the _Hunns_ came over the _Danube_, and had seats granted them in _Mæsia_ and _Thrace_ by the _Greek_ Emperor _Valens_. But the next year they revolted, called in some _Goths_, _Alans_ and _Hunns_, from beyond the _Danube_, and routed the _Roman_ army, slew the Emperor _Valens_, and spread themselves into _Greece_ and _Pannonia_ as far as the _Alps_. In the years 379 and 380 they were checkt by the arms of the Emperors _Gratian_ and _Theodosius_, and made a submissive peace; the _Visigoths_ and _Thervingi_ returned to their seats in _Mæsia_ and _Thrace_, the _Hunns_ retired over the _Danube_, and the _Alans_ and _Gruthingi_ obtained seats in _Pannonia_.

About the year 373, or 374, the _Burgundians_ rose from their seats upon the _Vistula_, with an army of eighty thousand men to invade _Gallia_; and being opposed, seated themselves upon the northern side of the _Rhine_ over against _Mentz_. In the year 358, a body of the _Salian Franks_, with their King, coming from the river _Sala_, were received into the Empire by the Emperor _Julian_, and seated in _Gallia_ between _Brabant_ and the _Rhine_: and their King _Mellobaudes_ was made _Comes domesticorum_, by the Emperor _Gratian_. _Richomer_, another noble _Salian Frank_, was made _Comes domesticorum_, and _Magister utriusque Militiæ_, by _Theodosius_; and A.C. 384, was Consul with _Clearchus_. He was a great favourite of _Theodosius_, and accompanied him in his wars against _Eugenius_, but died in the expedition, and left a son called _Theudomir_, who afterwards became King of the _Salian Franks_ in _Brabant_. In the time of this war some _Franks_ from beyond the _Rhine_ invaded _Gallia_ under the conduct of _Genobald_, _Marcomir_ and _Suno_, but were repulsed by _Stilico_; and _Marcomir_ being slain, was succeeded in _Germany_ by his son _Pharamond_.

While these nations remained quiet within the Empire, subject to the _Romans_, many others continued so beyond the _Danube_ till the death of the Emperor _Theodosius_, and then rose up in arms. For _Paulus Diaconus_ in his _Historia Miscell._ _lib._ xiv. speaking of the times next after the death of this Emperor, tells us: _Eodem tempore erant Gothi & aliæ gentes maximæ trans Danubium habitantes: ex quibus rationabiliores quatuor sunt, Gothi scilicet, Huisogothi, Gepides & Vandali; & nomen tantum & nihil aliud mutantes. Isti sub Arcadia & Honorio Danubium transeuntes, locati sunt in terra Romanorum: & Gepides quidem, ex quibus postea divisi sunt Longobardi & Avares, villas, quæ sunt circa Singidonum & Sirmium, habitavere:_ and _Procopius_ in the beginning of his _Historia Vandalica_ writes to the same purpose. Hitherto the _Western Empire_ continued entire, but now brake into many kingdoms.

_Theodosius_ died A.C. 395; and then the _Visigoths_, under the conduct of _Alaric_ the successor of _Fridigern_, rose from their seats in _Thrace_ and wasted _Macedon_, _Thessaly_, _Achaia_, _Peloponnesus_, and _Epirus_, with fire and sword for five years together; when turning westward, they invaded _Dalmatia_, _Illyricum_ and _Pannonia_; and from thence went into _Italy_ A.C. 402; and the next year were so beaten at _Pollentia_ and _Verona_, by _Stilico_ the commander of the forces of the _Western Empire_, that _Claudian_ calls the remainder of the forces of _Alaric_, _tanta ex gente reliquias breves_, and _Prudentius_, _Gentem deletam_. Thereupon _Alaric_ made peace with the Emperor, being so far humbled, that _Orosius_ saith, he did, _pro pace optima & quibuscunque sedibus suppliciter & simpliciter orare_. This peace was ratified by mutual hostages; _Ætius_ was sent hostage to _Alaric_; and _Alaric_ continued a free Prince in the seats now granted to him.

When _Alaric_ took up arms, the nations beyond the _Danube_ began to be in motion; and the next winter, between A.C. 395 and 396, a great body of _Hunns_, _Alans_, _Ostrogoths_, _Gepides_, and other northern nations, came over the frozen _Danube_, being invited by _Rufinus_: when their brethren, who had obtained seats within the Empire, took up arms also. _Jerome_ calls this great multitude, _Hunns_, _Alans_, _Vandals_, _Goths_, _Sarmatians_, _Quades_, and _Marcomans_; and saith, that they invaded all places between _Constantinople_ and the _Julian Alps_, wasting _Scythia_, _Thrace_, _Macedon_, _Dardania_, _Dacia_, _Thessaly_, _Achaia_, _Epirus_, _Dalmatia_, and all _Pannonia_. The _Suevians_ also invaded _Rhætia_: for when _Alaric_ ravaged _Pannonia_, the _Romans_ were defending _Rhætia_; which gave _Alaric_ an opportunity of invading _Italy_, as _Claudian_ thus mentions.

_Non nisi perfidiâ nacti penetrabile tempus,_
_Irrupere Getæ, nostras dum Rhætia vires_
_Occupat, atque alio desudant Marte cohortes_.

And when _Alaric_ went from those parts into _Italy_, some other barbarous nations invaded _Noricum_ and _Vindelicia_, as the same Poet _Claudian_ thus writes:

----_Jam foedera gentes_
_Exuerant, Latiique auditâ clade feroces_
_Vendelicos saltus & Norica rura tenebant._

This was in the years 402 and 403. And among these nations I reckon the _Suevians_, _Quades_, and _Marcomans_; for they were all in arms at this time. The _Quades_ and _Marcomans_ were _Suevian_ nations; and they and the _Suevians_ came originally from _Bohemia_, and the river _Suevus_ or _Sprake_ in _Lusatia_; and were now united under one common King called _Ermeric_, who soon after led them into _Gallia_. The _Vandals_ and _Alans_ might also about this time extend themselves into _Noricum_. _Uldin_ also with a great body of _Hunns_ passed the _Danube_ about the time of _Chrysostom_'s banishment, that is, A.C. 404, and wasted _Thrace_ and _Mæsia_. _Radagaisus_, King of the _Gruthunni_ and succesor of _Winithar_, inviting over more barbarians from beyond the _Danube_, invaded _Italy_ with an army of above two hundred thousand _Goths_; and within a year or two, A.C. 405 or 406., was overcome by _Stilico_, and perished with his army. In this war _Stilico_ was assisted with a great body of _Hunns_ and _Ostrogoths_, under the conduct of _Uldin_ and _Sarus_, who were hired by the Emperor _Honorius_. In all this confusion it was necessary for the _Lombards_ in _Pannonia_ to arm themselves in their own defence, and assert their liberty, the _Romans_ being no longer able to protect them.

And now _Stilico_ purposing to make himself Emperor, procured a military prefecture for _Alaric_, and sent him into the _East_ in the service of _Honorius_ the _Western_ Emperor, committing some _Roman_ troops to his conduct to strengthen his army of _Goths_, and promising to follow soon after with his own army. His pretence was to recover some regions of _Illyricum_, which the _Eastern_ Emperor was accused to detain injuriously from the _Western_; but his secret design was to make himself Emperor, by the assistance of the _Vandals_ and their allies: for he himself was a _Vandal_. For facilitating this design, he invited a great body of the barbarous nations to invade the _Western Empire_, while he and _Alaric_ invaded the _Eastern_. And these nations under their several Kings, the _Vandals_ under _Godegisilus_, the _Alans_ in two bodies, the one under _Goar_, the other under _Resplendial_, and the _Suevians_, _Quades_, and _Marcomans_, under _Ermeric_, marched thro' _Rhætia_ to the side of the _Rhine_, leaving their seats in _Pannonia_ to the _Hunns_ and _Ostrogoths_, and joined the _Burgundians_ under _Gundicar_, and ruffled the _Franks_ in their further march. On the last of _December_ A.C. 406, they passed the _Rhine_ at _Ments_, and spread themselves into _Germania prima_ and the adjacent regions; and amongst other actions the _Vandals_ took _Triers_. Then they advanced into _Belgium_, and began to waste that country. Whereupon the _Salian Franks_ in _Brabant_ took up arms, and under the conduct of _Theudomir_, the son of _Ricimer_, or _Richomer_, abovementioned, made so stout a resistance, that they slew almost twenty thousand of the _Vandals_, with their King _Godegesilus_, in battel; the rest escaping only by a party of _Resplendial_'s _Alans_ which came timely to their assistance.

Then the _British_ soldiers, alarm'd by the rumour of these things, revolted, and set up Tyrants there; first _Marcus_, whom they slew presently; then _Gratian_, whom they slew within four months; and lastly _Constantine_, under whom they invaded _Gallia_ A.C. 408, being favoured by _Goar_ and _Gundicar_. And _Constantine_ having possessed a good part of _Gallia_, created his son _Constans Cæsar_, and sent him into _Spain_ to order his affairs there, A.C. 409.

In the mean time _Resplendial_, seeing the aforesaid disaster of the _Vandals_, and that _Goar_ was gone over to the _Romans_, led his army from the _Rhine_; and, together with the _Suevians_ and residue of the _Vandals_, went towards _Spain_; the _Franks_ in the mean time prosecuting their victory so far as to retake _Triers_, which after they had plundered they left to the _Romans_. The _Barbarians_ were at first stopt by the _Pyrenean_ mountains, which made them spread themselves into _Aquitain_: but the next year they had the passage betrayed by some soldiers of _Constans_; and entring _Spain_ 4 Kal. _Octob._ A.C. 409, they conquered every one what he could; and at length, A.C. 411, divided their conquests by lot; the _Vandals_ obtained _Boetica_, and part of _Gallæcia_; the _Suevians_ the rest of _Gallæcia_; and the _Alans_ _Lusitania_ and the _Carthaginian_ Province: the Emperor for the sake of peace confirming them in those seats by grant A.C. 413.

The _Roman Franks_ abovementioned, having made _Theudomir_ their King, began strait after their conquest of the _Vandals_ to invade their neighbours also. The first they set upon were the _Gauls_ of _Brabant_[2]: but meeting with notable resistance, they desired their alliance: and so those _Gauls_ fell off from the _Romans_, and made an intimate league with the _Franks_ to be as one people, marrying with one another, and conforming to one another's manners, till they became one without distinction. Thus by the access of these _Gauls_, and of the foreign _Franks_ also, who afterwards came over the _Rhine_, the _Salian_ kingdom soon grew very great and powerful.