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.

4. Places of doctrine.

1. Doct. The Scripture the rule of truth.

v. 2. Now I will shewe thee the truth: The truth is onely reuealed in Scripture; the truth of God is first manifested vnto the world in Christ, as he saith, Ioh. 14. 6. I am the way, the truth, and the life: and this truth is reuealed in Scripture, as our blessed Sauiour saith, Ioh. 17. 17. thy word is the truth: the Scriptures of truth are committed to the Church, which is called the pillar of truth, 1. Tim. 3. 15. not because it beareth vp the truth; but it rather is borne vp by the truth: but both because the truth of God is onely reuealed to the Church, as here the Angel deliuereth the truth of this prophesie vnto Daniel: and the truth is set forth and professed in the world by the Church, as a light set vpon a pillar, or a beacon raised vp∣on a mountaine.

Doctr. 2. Of the impotencie of images.

v. 8. He shall carrie away captiue their gods, with their molten images: quales dij sunt, qui cap∣tiui ducuntur, what manner of gods are these which are carried into captiuitie? Bulling. so the Prophet Isay derideth the idols of the Chaldeans, Bel and Nebo, which were carried vpon beasts into captiuitie, Isay. 46. 1. how should they be able to helpe others, that can doe nothing for themselues?

Doct. 3. Victorie not alwaies a signe of a good cause.

v. 11. And the multitude shall be giuen into his hand: Ptolome Philopator a most vitious king, who slue Eurydice his both sister and wife, and vsed both a male concubine Agathocles, and his sister Agathoclea: yet he ouercommeth Antiochus Magnus, not so bad as himselfe: which sheweth that the victorie alwayes falleth not on the better side, as the Israelites figh∣ting against Beniamin, hauing the better cause, were twice ouercome, Bulling.

Doct. 4. The Church of God maketh a land glorious.

v. 16. He shall stand in the pleasant (glorious, or beautifull) land: which was Iudea, not so much glorious because of the fertilitie thereof, Pintus, or for the miracles done therein, Lyran, for many great workes had beene done in Egypt: but because there was the Temple and publike seruice and worship of God: this sheweth that religion maketh lands famous and glorious, Polan.

Doct. 5. Of the fidelitie of wiues to their husbands.

v. 17. She shall not stand on his side: Antiochus the great gaue his daughter Cleopatra vn∣to Ptolome Epiphanes, thinking to vse her as an instrument to destroy him; but she contrarie to the expectation of her father, cleaueth to her husband: wherein she shewed the part of a dutifull obedient wife, preferring the life and safetie of her husband before her fathers vn∣godly desire: thus the Scripture saith, for this cause shall a man forsake father and mother, and cleaue to his wife, Genes. 2. If in the degrees of lawfull affection the wife (or husband) must be preferred before the parents, much more in vnlawfull desires, Polan.

6. Doctr. That tribute must be paied to the Prince.

v. 20. Then shall stand vp in his place, one that shall raise taxes. This was Seleucus Calli∣nicus, who raised immoderate taxes. Tribute is to be paied vnto Princes, and they may law∣fully take it: for what God giueth, they may take: but such things are giuen vnto Princes: as our blessed Sauiour saith, Giue vnto Cesar, the things that are Cesars: and such things are to be yeilded vnto the Magistrate, because they are helps to suppresse the euill that disturbes the peace: and in that behalfe they are due, as the Apostle sheweth, Rom. 13. 4. 7. But two cautions are to be obserued: 1. that such taxes be moderate, not excessiue, tending to the ouerthrow and vndoing of the subiect: as Seleucus here was such a raker: and the king of Spaine of late daies, who exacted the tenth part of the things which were sold in the low countries. 2. such taxes and leuies of money, must not be wasted in ryot and excesse, but ••mploied for the most part to the good of the Commonwealth.

7. Doct. Religion is not to be compelled or vrged by torment.

v. 33. They shall fall by flame, by sword. Antiochus did wickedly force the faithfull by such torments to forsake their religion: so doth that Antichrist of Rome, that by fire and sword forceth men vnto his superstitions. Lactantius saith well, Religio cogi non potest, ver∣bis potius, quam verberibus res agenda est, religion is not to be forced, by words rather then swords the matter must be handled. Among the Protestants none are put to death for reli∣gion, but for their rebellion, and sedition, and practising against the state.

8. Doctr. The ende of persecution is to trie and purge the faithfull.

v. 33. Some shall fall, &c. to trie and purge them, and make them white. There are two ends of persecution: the one is, that triall may be made of the constancie and faithfulnes of the seruants of God: the other to purge out that drosse which is in them, and to wash them white: whereby we see, that the most faithfull seruants of God haue their blemishes, errors, and imperfections, and therefore had neede to be purged. Calv.