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. 19. What is meant by a time, two times, and an halfe. v. 7.

Some doe take this for an vncertaine and indefinite time: Some for a certaine and limited tearme: and of both sorts there are sundrie opinions.

Of the first sort: 1. some doe thinke, that the time of the afflictions of the people of God, certissimum esse apud Deum, sed nobis incognitum, is certaine with God, but to vs vnknowne, Bulling. B. so that the meaning is no more but this, these things shall most certainely come to passe, but whether, post modica, vel multa temporis intervalla, after a long or short time, it is not knowne to vs: Bulling.

2. Some because the time is here halued, doe thinke, that thereby is signified, modicum tempus, a short time, a little while: and doe expound it by that place, Apoc. 6. 11. They should rest for a little season, vntill their fellow seruants, &c. were fulfilled. Oecolampad. Pappus.

3. But some contrariwise here vnderstand a long time, tempus hic ponitur pro longo tra∣ctu, tempora, pro longiore tractu, here (time) is put for a long tract or continuance, (times) for a longer. M. Calv. Genevens.

Now all these opinions are confuted by these reasons. 1. because the same phrase of a time, two times, and a part of time, are taken before, c. 7. 25. for a certaine and definite tearme, therefore it is like to be so taken here. 2. this time is diuided, a part of time, there∣fore it is a certaine and definite number: for that which is vncertaine and indefinite vseth not to be deuided into parts. 3. And what comfort had there beene in this prescription and na∣ming of time, if there were giuen no certaine direction, how long this troublesome time should continue.

4. Of the second sort: some take this for a certaine number of yeares, whereof some vn∣derstand by daies yeares, some so many daies literally: by a time, two times, and an halfe, which make yeares three, and an halfe or a part, that is, daies 1225. or thereabout, are signi∣fied so many yeares 1200. and odde: which Melancthon beginneth from Daniels time,

whereof 600. yeares were expired vnto Christ, and about 600. yeares after the sect of the Mahumentans did spring in the East, and religion beganne to be corrupted in the West, by the Bishops of Rome.

5. Osiander beginneth this tearme, where Melancthon endeth it, and continueth it vnto the destruction of the Romane Antichrist, and of his tyrannicall kingdome: But all these things here must be accomplished, while the Church of the Iewes yet continued, which are here called the holy people.

6. They which vnderstand by a time, two times, and an halfe, a yeare, two yeares, and an halfe (as indeede they signifie, as c. 4. seuen times during the humiliation of Nebuchadnez∣zer, are vnderstood to be feuen yeares) some doe referre it vnto the time of Antichrists ty∣rannie, who shall rage again••t the Church of Christ three yeares and an halfe, as Christ prea∣ched three yeares and an halfe, Hierome, Lyran. Hugo. Pintus, with others. But they thinke that their Antichrist shall beare sway longer in the whole: yet the heate of his most cruell and outragious persecution shall continue but 3. yeares and an halfe. But this interpretation is refused vpon the former reason, because this prophesie concerned the holy people of God, that then was: and beside, that imagination of some one singular person to rise vp to be Antichrist, is but a fabulous and phantasticall conceit, as is before shewed, c. 11. Con∣trov. 2.

7. This time then here prescribed and limited, precisely signifieth three yeares, and an halfe, or rather part of time: for so long continued the desolation of the Sanctuarie vnder Antiochus: which beganne in the 145. yeare, the 15. day of the moneth Casteu, 1. Mac∣chab. 1. 57. and ended in the 148. yeare on the 25. day of the same moneth, 1. Macchab. 4. 52. so that the euent of the historie doth very fitly explane this prophesie, Iun. Polan.

But against this exposition, which Porphyrius also did hit vpon, Hierome thus obiecteth: 1. if the time, two times, and an halfe, that is, three yeares and an halfe, must be referred vn∣to Antiochus, whereof mention is made before, c. 7. 25. then that which followeth also in the same place, v. 27. The kingdome vnder the whole heauen shall be giuen vnto the holy peo∣ple of the most high, &c. and all Princes shall serue him, must be applied either to Antiochus, or to the people of the Iewes: which is manifestly false. 2. the defolation of the Temple continued but three yeares, as Iosephus writeth, l. 12. c. 10. but this tearme is of three yeares and an halfe. 3. Lyranus obiecteth, that the persecution vnder Antiochus continued sixe yeares, from the yeare 143. 1. Macch. 1. 21. to the yeare 148. 1. Macch. 4. 52.

Answ. 1. There is no consequent, that those words which follow should be either vn∣derstood of Antiochus, or of the Iewes, who neuer ruled ouer the whole world: for there the Prophet sheweth the destruction and ruine of the tyrannie of Antiochus, by Christ,* 1.1 to whome raigning spiritually in his Church (there called the holy people) the kingdome should be giuen ouer the whole earth. 2. The word chatzi, signifieth not onely the halfe, but the part of a thing: as the same is expressed by an other word pelag, c. 7. 25. which signi∣fieth a diuision: and so indeede the desolation of the Temple continued iust 3. yeares, and a part of a yeare, namely tenne daies, as is before shewed: therefore Iosephus is deceiued, which maketh account but of three yeares: for there were tenne daies aboue. 3. The persecution vnder Antiochus was either of the citie, with spoiling also and robbing onely of the Tem∣ple, or in laying wast the Sanctuarie, and causing the daily oblation to cease: the first conti∣nued aboue sixe yeares, euen 2300. daies, as is prophesied c. 8. 14. but the other endured onely three yeares and ten daies: so these diuers persecutions, had their diuers tearmes: and both may well stand together.

Some thinke that this tearme of 3. yeares and an halfe, sheweth the tearme of Christs persecution in the daies of his flesh, which was iust so many yeares: M. Br. this prophesie may haue such an analogicall application; but the historicall accomplishment was vnder An∣tiochus, as hath beene sufficiently prooued.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See in the Ap∣pendix 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. argum. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. answ. 2.