John Trapp on Daniel 9:21

Ver. 21. Yea whileſt I was ſpeaking in prayer] This he recognizeth and celebrateth, as a ſweet and ſingular mercy. God ſometimes heareth his people before they pray, Iſa. 65.24. Pſal. 21.3. (David was ſure up betimes when he prevented the Lord with his prayer, Pſal. 88.13. and 119.147.) ſomet[illegible: 1 letter]mes whiles they are praying (as he did thoſe, Act. 4.31. and 12.5, 17. and Luther who came leaping out of his ſtudy▪ where he had been praying, with Vicimus, Vicimus in his mouth: that is, we have gained the day, got the conqueſt) but if not ſo, yet certainly when they have now prayed, Iſa. 30.12. Jon. 2.1. Jer. 33.3. Mat. 7.7. Luther affirmeth that he oft gat more ſpiritual light by ſome one ardent prayer, Ipſe ego in una aliqua ardenti oratione meae plura ſaepe didici quam ex multorum librorum lectione aut accuratiſſima meditatione conſequ[illegible: 1 letter] potuiſſem. Tom. 1. According to the account of Aſtronomers it muſt be ab[illegible: 1 letter]ve 160. millions of miles from heaven to earth. All this ſpace the Angel came flying to Daniel in a little time. then ever he could do by the reading of many books, or by moſt accurate meditation thereupon:

Even the man Gabriel] i. e. The Angel Gabriel in mans ſhape.

Whom I had ſeen in the viſion] And whom I had good cauſe to remember the longeſt day of my life, for the good offices he had done me formerly.

Being cauſed to fly ſwiftly] Heb. with wearineſſe of flight. Not that the Angels flee, as fouls (though a certain Frier (a lyar certainly) undertook to ſhew to the people a feather of the Angel Gabriels wings) or that they are ever wearied with ſpeeding Gods commiſſions and commands, for the Churches good: Sed datur hic aſſumptae ſpeciei, but theſe things are ſpoken to our apprehenſion.

Touched me] With a familiar touch, in token of encouragement: prenſando mimirum, ut ſolent qui contact[illegible: 2 letters] familiari promptam benevelam que mentem indicant.

About the time of the evening oblation] When the joynt prayers of Gods people were wont to come up before him, quaſi manu facta: and Daniel hopeth they may do ſo again. Qui nihil sperat, nihil orat.