Quest. 57. That this kingdome which God shall raise vp must be vnderstood of the kingdome of Christ.
Vers. 44. The God of heauen shall set vp a kingdome. Caluin here setteth downe cer∣taine reasons, out of the Rabbine Barbinel whereby he would prooue, that this kingdome cannot be referred to Iesus the sonne of Mary: his reasons are these six in all.
1. Seeing these foure kingdomes here described are terrene and visible, the fift also which should destroy the other must be also visible, for vnlike things cannot be compared together.
Contra. 1. It is not necessarie, that all things should be like in a comparison: nay here is rather an opposition betweene the 4. kingdomes, and this fifth, then a comparison, and in that it is to destroy the rest, it must be vnlike vnto the rest: the Rabbines argument therefore followeth not; The fift kingdome shall destroy the former foure, Ergo it shall be of the same kind with the rest: the contrarie is better inferred, that therefore it shall be vnlike vnto the rest.
2. Ar. If religion made a difference between these kingdomes, then were they not foure but one: for all of them were giuen to idolatrie, and so followed the same superstition.
Contra. 1. It is necessarie that the 5. kingdome, which should abolish all the rest, should differ in the truth and sinceritie of religion from them: but it is not necessarie, that the foure Monarchies one destroying and confounding another, should be of diuerse religi∣on: for kingdomes that are of the same superstition, may be one enemie vnto another, as one error may be contrary to another.
3. Argum. It is said of this kingdome, that it shall not be giuen vnto an other: but the Turke now possesseth a great part of the kingdome of Christians: And among themselues also religion is diuided, and many distast the Gospel; therefore this cannot be vnderstood of the kingdome of Christianitie.
Contra. 1. By this kingdome, which God should raise vp, is not vnderstood any visible or externall kingdome: though the Turke haue surprised the terrene kingdomes and nati∣ons, which sometime the Christians possessed, yet the spirituall kingdome of Christ is not resigned vnto them, nor to any other. 2. Euen among Christians there may be diuisions, and many carnall men may liue in the Church, but they belong not to the spirituall king∣dome of Christ, though they remaine in the externall societie of the visible Church.
4. Argu. If this be the kingdome of Christ, who was borne vnder Augustus Caesar, when the Romane Monarchie in a manner beganne, then the fourth Monarchie, and this