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.

12. Controv. Bellarmine arrow_forward confuted, who by diuers arguments out of this chapter would prooue the Pope not to be Antichrist.

1. Argum. Antichrist shall raigne onely 3. yeares and an halfe, called here a time, two times, and an halfe: which is defined to be a 1260. daies, Apoc. 11. 3. and 12. 6. But the Pope hath raigned in the Church now more then 1500. yeares at the least: therefore the Pope is not that Antichrist. Bellarm. lib. 3. de Rom. pontif. c. 8.

Ans. 1. The proposition is false: for this place of Daniel is vnderstood of Antiochus, that so long the Sanctuarie should lie prophaned and polluted by him: he was indeede a type of Antichrist, but not in euery respect, as namely in the time and continuance of his ty∣rannie: types doe not answer in euery respect vnto the thing that is shadowed forth, but onely in that wherein they are types: as Dauid and Salomon were types of Christ, yet it fol∣loweth not, that Christs kingdome shall continue but 40. yeares, because they raigned no longer.

2. That tearme of a 1260. daies, mentioned in the Apocalyps, Polanus taketh to signifie that time precisely, namely 3. yeares and an halfe, when the Church of Christ fled from Ieru∣salem vnto a towne called Pella, where they were preserued, during which time the citie was besieged, and at the last taken and destroied: but these daies are rather taken propheti∣cally for so many yeares, 1260. during which time the mysterie of iniquitie did worke in the Church: which tearme some beginne in the yeare 300. so Napier vpon the Reuelation, propos. 36. Iunius also taketh those daies for so many yeares, Apoc. 11. 3.

3. In that he saith the Pope hath raigned 1500. yeares in the Church, therein he confes∣seth that the Pope is the Antichrist, that taketh vpon him to raigne in the Church: whereas S. Peter saith, 1. ep. 5. 3. Not as though ye were Lords ouer (Gods) inheritance. And thus also is euident by his confession, that the said tearme of a 1260. daies taken for yeares, and begin∣ning in the yeare 300. will make that summe of 1500. and somewhat more.

2. Argum. When Antichrist commeth, all externall ceremonies of religion shall cease, and the publike worship of God: but so is it not vnder the Pope: for they haue the daily sa∣crifice of the Masse: Ergo. Bellarm. lib. 3. c. 7.

Ans. 1. Whereas it is here said, v. 11. That the daily sacrifice shall be taken away: it is vnder∣stood not of Antichrist, but of Antiochus, who in deede caused the daily sacrifice to cease: as the author of the bookes of the Macchabees taketh it, 1. Macchab. 1. 57. and Ioseph. lib. 2. antiquit. c. 10. so also Chrysostome expoundeth, and Hierome vpon the 11. chap. v. 30, 31.

2. Neither is it true, that all outward ceremonies of religion shall cease vnder Antichrist: for he shall fit in the Temple of God, and so reteine some outward markes of Christian reli∣gion, as baptisme, and yet in deede be an enemie to the Christian faith.

3. Though in the reformed Church there is (thankes be to God) publike exercise of the right sernice of God; yet vnder the Papacie, the true worship of God is abolished: idolatrie, invocation of Saints, and other strange worships are brought in.

4. The Masse is not that daily sacrifice here spoken of, it is rather that abominable idol, which abrogateth the vertue of Christs sacrifice vpon the crosse, and maketh the oblation of a peece of hallowed bread a sacrifice propitiatorie for the quicke and the dead.

3. Argum. They which goe about to abrogate the sacrifice of the Eucharist, are the fore∣runners of Antichrist: but the Protestants, not the Papists abolish the sacrifice of the Eucha∣rist: Ergo. Bellar. ibid.

Answ. 1. The Protestants doe obserue and keepe the true institution of the Lords Sup∣per, called the Eucharist: which they celebrate as an Eucharisticall and commemoratiue sa∣crifie, not as propitiatiue, as the Papists doe: for Christ hath with one offring consecrated for euer, them, that are sanctified, Heb. 10. 14. therefore he was not to offer himselfe vp often, Heb. 9. 25. we vse it as a commemoration of Christs sacrifice, according to his owne com∣mandement: doe this as oft as ye doe it in remembrance of me: Thus Theodoret writeth, hauing mooued this question, cur noui testamenti sacerdotes mysticum sacrisicium peragunt, &c. why the Priests or ministers of the newe testament doe celebrate a mysticall sacrifice, seeing Christ by his sacrifice, hath made other sacrifices not now to be necessarie: clarum est ijs, qui in rebus diuiuis sunt eruditi, nos non aliud offerre, sed illius vnius & salutaris memoriam pera∣gere, it is well knowne to those which are skilfull in diuine things, that we offer no other sa∣crifice, but celebrate a memorie of that one healthfull sacrifice: for this the Lord himselfe

commanded, doe this in remembrance of me, &c. so Theodoret in c. 8. ad Hebraeos.

2. But the Papists indeede haue abrogated the true vse of the Eucharist; turning bread into flesh, a Sacrament into a sacrifice, a commemoration into an oblation, eating and drin∣king, into gazing, and shaking to and fro, and lifting vp: in stead of worshipping God, ado∣ring a peice of bread: and such like profanations haue they brought in of the Lords Supper.

4. Argum. 45. dayes after the death of Antichrist, Christ shall come vnto iudgement: But the Pope hath raigned these 500. yeares in the Church, vtroque gladio, by both swords, euen by the protestants owne confession, and yet Christ is not come vnto iudgement: Ergo. Bellar. lib. 3. de Roman. Pontisi. c. 9.

Answ. 1. If iust 45. dayes after the death of Antichrist, Christ shall come to iudge the world, then they which liue at that time shall be able to assigne the verie day of Christs comming, and so shall be wiser then the Angels, to whom the day and houre of Christs comming is vnknowne.

2. This prophesie of a 1335. dayes concerneth not Antichrist, it was fulfilled in the death of Antiochus, who miserably ended his dayes 45. dayes after the restitution of reli∣gion among the Iewes: see before quest. 26.

3. In that arrow_back Bellarmine confesseth, that the Pope hath raigned so long with both swords, therein he sheweth him to be the Antichrist: for Christ saith, learne of me, for I am humble and meeke, Matt. 11. 29. and the Prophet Isay saith, speaking of the kingdome of Christ, c. 11. 9. then shall none hurt or destroy in all the mountaine of mine holinesse: the Pope then, that kil∣leth and destroyeth with the sword the innocent sheepe of Christ, is the verie Antichrist.