Hexapla in Danielem: that is, A six-fold commentarie vpon the most diuine prophesie of Daniel wherein according to the method propounded in Hexapla vpon Genesis and Exodus, sixe things are obserued in euery chapter. 1. The argument and method. 2. The diuers readings. 3. The questions discussed. 4. Doctrines noted. 5. Controversies handled. 6. Morall observations applyed. Wherein many obscure visions, and diuine prophesies are opened, and difficult questions handled with great breuitie, perspicuitie, and varietie ... and the best interpreters both old and new are therein abridged. Diuided into two bookes ... By Andrevv Willet Professour of Diuinitie. The first booke.

Quest. 21. Whether the Romane or Turkish Empire be signified by this fourth beast.

1. The Rabbines by this fourth beast vnderstand the Empire of the Turkes, of which o∣pinion are R. Ab. Ezra, and R. Saadiah; because mention is made afterward of one like the sonne of man, to whom power and dominion was giuen, which sheweth that the Mes∣siah should raigne after this fourth kingdome should be dissolued, whom because they hold not yet to be come, they would haue this vision vnderstood of the Turkish Empire. And to make their opinion more probable, they ioyne the Greeke and Romane Empire together, comprehending them both vnder the third beast: And Ab. Ezra, doubteth not to call A∣lexander king of the Romanes. So by this deuise they would prooue Christ Iesus not to be the Messiah, because he was borne vnder the third Empire.

Contra. 1. Herein the Rabbines shew their great ignorance in confounding the Greeke and Romane Empire: vnlesse it be because Constantinople was called newe Rome, and they finde that one of the Romane Emperours was called Alexander, which are slender reasons to confound the two Empires. 2. neither was Alexander knowne vnto the Romanes, who yet at time were of great power, and mightier then diuerse kings. 3. this vision cannot be applyed vnto the Empire of the Turkes: for it cannot be shewed, how he hath 10. hornes, that is, so many kings, nor what that little horne should be, before the which three other were pluckt away.

2. Some doe apply this vision to the Romane Empire alone, and that but vnto the first comming of Christ, as Calvin.

3. Some doe vnderstand the Romane Empire, that it shall continue to the ende of the world: as Hierome saith, that toward the ende of the world when the Romane Empire shall be destroyed, there shall rise tenne kings, which shall deuide the Empire among them: But neither of these opinions can stand: for whereas these kingdomes are described by the simi∣litude of beasts, whose crueltie they should imitate toward the people of God; before the first comming of Christ the Romanes had not practised such crueltie against the Iewes, as that therein they should haue beene vnlike to all which went before them: neither yet is the Romane Empire to continue vnto the ende of the world, which was long since dis∣solued.

4. Pappus thinketh that both the Turkish tyranie, and the proud iurisdiction of the Popes of Rome, are described vnder this last beast, shewing how all the properties of the lit∣tle horne agree vnto them both, in their small beginnings, their subtiltie and hypocrisie, their blasphemie against Christ and his gospel: Neither neede it seeme strange saith he, that two diuerse gouernements are signified by one horne, because they both propound vnto them the same ende and scope, the subuersion of the Church, and vse the same weapons in gene∣rall, crueltie, and blasphemie.

Contra. 1. This fourth kingdome shall be destroyed by the comming of the Messiah in the flesh, as was prophesied before in the vision of the image, c. 2. 44. and here also, v. 13. one like the sonne of man came in the clouds, which is to be vnderstood not of his second commming to iudgement, but of his first comming to finish the worke of our redemption, as shall be shewed more at large, when we come to that place: now neither Turke nor Pope were then head of the world, when the Sonne of man came in the flesh, nor diuerse hundred

yeares after. 2. this fourth beast should be more cruell, then any of the rest toward the peo∣ple of God then, for whose comfort this vision was reuealed to Daniel: but the Romanes before the comming of Christ had beene more equall toward the Iewes, then any of the o∣ther Monarchies. 3. this horne came forth of the fourth beast: the beast signifieth but one Monarch or kingdome, as the other three before: therefore two kingdomes, and the same opposite the one to the other, cannot be comprehended vnder one horne: other reasons why the Romane Monarchie is not understood neither in this, nor that other vision tending to the same ende, c. 2. see at large, c. 2. quest. 49.

5. Seeing then that the Romane Empire is here excluded, all that labour may be spared which Pererius taketh to shew wherein the Romane power consisted, by what meanes they attained vnto their large dominion, and whether iustly or vniustly, as impertinent to this place: yet it shall not be amisse, to take a short viewe of that, which is set downe by him touching these three questions. 1. Their greatnesse consisted, first in the largenesse of their dominion,* 1.1 which extended Westward to Spaine, Southward to Ethiopia, and Eastward to Armenia: in so much that Appian affirmeth, that the other three Monarchies had not the half part, of the Romane Empire. Secondly, in their prouision for warre: the Romanes had al∣waies in a readines 200. thousand footemen, 40. thousand horsemen, 300. Elephants for warre, 3000. chariots, amour in store for 300. thousand, 2000. shippes, 1500. gallies, 80. great shippes: this strength they were of vnder Adrian the Emperour, as Appian wri∣teth. Thirdly, their strength consisted in their riches and treasure: they had of treasure in a readinesse in diuerse places, 75. thousand Egyptian talents: a talent of Egypt weighed 80••. which is equiualent to 8000. Italian peices of gold: the whole summe will amount to 600 times tenne hundred thousand, that is, 600 millions of gold. 2. Touching the means where∣by they enlarged their Empire, they were these. 1. the loue of libertie. 2. their ambitious desire to rule. 3. their affecting of praise and renowne. 4. their militarie discipline. 5. their curtesie to their friends, and seueritie against their enemies. 3. Some part of their kingdome they got vniustly, as Pompey tooke Asia from the rightfull kings: Cyprus they tooke from Ptolome, Sardinia from Carthage. Some countries were giuen and bequeathed vnto them, as Asia by Attalus will, Bythinia by Nicodemus testament: the Cyrenians, and Pentapolis by Ptolome, Lybia by king Appio••, Perer. But all this discourse here is superfluous, seeing in this place we haue nothing to doe with the Romanes, but as it is typically shadowed forth in the kingdome of the Seleucians.

6. It remaineth then that this fourth beast must represent the kingdome of Syria, where∣in tenne kings succeeded one another, the last of which was Antiochus Epiphanes, who is the little horne here spoken of: That this interpretation is most probable, shall appeare in the handling of the seuerall parts of this vision: neither is it new, taken vp by Iunius onely, Polanus, and others; but Hierome maketh mention of one Polichronius, who so vnderstood it and Theodoret also sheweth the same to haue beene the opinion of some, though he re∣solue vpon the Romanes: And yet we denie not but that typically also vnder the kingdome of the Seleucians, is shadowed forth the Monarchie of the Romans, as S. Iohn in the descrip∣tion of the beast with seuen heads and tenne hornes, hath relation vnto this vision, thereby implying the Romane Monarchie, Apocal. 13. 1.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wherein the Romane pow∣er chiefely con∣sisted.