Remark the Fifth, Then at the end of Daniel's deep Humiliation, upon the twenty fourth of Marth did the blessed Messiah appear to comfort dejected Daniel, ver. 4, 5, 6. when Daniel had thus voluntarily abridged himself of voluntary Delights, macerating and mortifying his Flesh, that he might pray the more earnestly for his poor afflicted Brethren, with whom he did sincerely sympathize, putting his Soul in their Souls stead. N.B. When his Fasting had inflamed his Praying, and his Praying had sanctified his Fast∣ing for three full Weeks, then comes Christ the Comforter with an Answer of Peace to his Prayers. Then he lift up his Eyes and looked, to wit, after his Fasting, Prayer, and Me∣ditation, so long for due Preparation, and he beheld Christ coming, &c. ver. 5.
Mark 1. Who this Ish-Achad, Hebr. one or certain Man (as we read it) was, is controverted among the Learned. This Man (so called because he appeared in humane form) some say was an Angel, either Gabriel who had appear'd to Daniel, Dan. 8.16. and 9.21. or Michael named after here, Dan. 10.13, 21. call'd the Arch-Angel; Jude ver. 9. as Grotius saith: But Junius, Piscator, Polanus, and Calvin say better, that it was Christ himself, who was afterwards to become very Man, and this was a Prelude of his Incarnation (saith Tertullian) as were his many humane Appearances in the Old Testa∣ment. Three Reasons they render to prove it the Messias, 1. His Regal and Sacerdotal Apparel can be congruous to no Angel, but to the Angel of the Covenant, &c. 2. His prodigious Splendour and Majesty (which overwhelmed Daniel) could be no less than that of the Son of God, &c. 3. That Parallel Place, Rev. 1.13. hath the like Description of Christ with this here, both as to his Habit, and as to the End of his appearing, name∣ly to reveal the future Fates of the Church.
Mark 2. The glorious Manifestation of the Majesty of the Messiah here, holdeth forth all the three Offices of our Redeemer, for beside the Regal and Sacerdotal Offices afore∣mentioned; implied by the Robes of a great King, and of the High-Priest, Christ comes as a Prophet to tell Daniel what would come to pass, as he doth in the whole eleventh Chapter of Daniel, and again Dan. 12. throughout. N.B. Just as Jesus tells his Belo∣ved Disciple John (another Ish-Chamudoth a Man of Desires▪ as Daniel was, Dan. 9.23.) both the Arcana Imperii, and the Arcana Ecclesiae, Rev. 1.14, 15, 16, &c. The three first Chapters of the Revelations, declaring the present State of Matters both Civil and Sacred, relating to the seven Golden Candlesticks, and from Chap. 4. to Chap. 22. what was to come, &c.
Mark 3. Brand Myller well observes, that as Christ is call'd [Ish-Achad] one Man here, to denote the Ʋnity of his Person, for though he consist of two Natures, Divine and Humane, yet do they not constitute two Persons: So there were two procreating Causes of Daniel's Affrightment at Christ's Apparition here, to wit, not only his Transcendent Lustre and Glory so suddenly shewn to his Eyes; but also the dreadful sound of his Speech, that beat upon his Ears, ver. 6. which was as the sound of a Multitude or of many Wa∣ters, Rev. 1.15. this signified (saith Polanus) the Divine Efficacy of Christ in teaching Disciples, see Ezek. 1.24. Acts 2.2. Rev. 1.10. the like to this, &c.
Remark the Sixth, The Products of this Glorious Prospect, ver, 7, 8, 9. it seems that Daniel (after his long Solitary retirement for his deep Devotion) had now some Compa∣nions here, which the Providence of God ordered, that there might be proof of this Pro∣phecy (saith Dr. Willet out of Polanus) that none might doubt of it, when Daniel de∣clared i•• to the Church. And though the Effects of this Vision were alike both upon Da∣niel and upon his Companions; as to the Affrightment of it; yet were they unlike in this Respect, that his Companions saw not the Person of Christ appearing to Daniel, but being struck with a Panick Fear at the dreadful Noise, ran away to hide themselves in some Rock by the River, saith Dr. Willet, see the like (saith Grotius) Acts 9.7. and 22.9. God darkens Men's Eyes when and whom he pleaseth, Gen. 19.11. Luke 24.16, &c. such a dread was upon them through Sense of Sin, and fear of Wrath, that they lurk in holes as faln Adam did in a Bush, &c. Their fright at the frightful Noise upon the Wa∣ters (saith Grotius) made them Fly, however this served (saith Calvin) to shew the Truth of the Vision, and Daniel is lest alone, the better to bear his Divine Rapture.
Remark the Seventh, Christ the great Comforter casts Terrour upon Daniel before he calls for a Cup of Cordial and Comfort. N.B. This is God's Method, first there is a casting down, and then cometh a lifting up, Job 22.29. the Preaching of the Law (in the Hand of a Mediator, Gal. 3.19.) casts us down, and then come the Glad tidings of the Gospel to raise ••s up again. Though Daniel stood in his Station, and ran not away with the rest of his Companions, yet a fourfold Effect had this Fright upon him: As 1. He lost his natural Vigour. 2. The Comeliness of his Countenance was Blasted. 3. He is struck down groveling upon the Ground. And 4. Cast into a Dead sleep, and all this to make Daniel