A17641:12
Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…
Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially for the use of the family of the right honourable Earle of Huntingdon, to set forth as in a glass, how one may profitably read the Scriptures, by considering the text, meditating the sense thereof, and by prayerCommentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially for the vse of the family of the ryght honorable Earle of Huntingdon, to set forth as in a glasse, how one may profitably read the Scriptures, by consideryng the text, meditatyng the sense therof, and by prayer
London: printed by John Daye, 1570London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1570
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First of all an history, though lamentable, yet very profitable doth offer it self, that Daniel and his companions were carried into captivity whiles the Kingdom and Priesthood continued: as though God had given up to extreme calamity and misery the chief flour of the chosen people. And what at the first view can be thought more unmeet, then that children endued as it were with Angelical virtues, should be taken as a spoil, and made slaves to a proud Conqueror, when as the most wicked men and proud contemners of God did remain at home safe and sound? Is this the reward of Godliness and of an innocent life, whiles that the wicked flatter them selves because they escape unpunished, that the Saints & Godly should suffer the punishment which they had deserved? Howbeit here do we see as in a lively image, that God when he spareth and pardoneth the most wicked for a space, doth try his servants like gold and silver, lest it should grieve us to be cast into the furnace of trial or fining fire, whiles that profane persons do live in rest at pleasure.
First of all an history, though lamentable, yet very profitable doth offer it selfe, that Daniel and hys companiōs were caryed into captiuity whiles the Kyngdome and Priesthode continued: as though God had giuen vp to extreme calamity and misery the chief floure of the chosen people. And what at the first vew can be thought more vnmete, then that children endued as it were with Angelical vertues, should be taken as a spoyle, and made slaues to a proude Conquerer, whē as the most wicked men and proude contemners of God dyd remaine at home safe and sound? Is this the reward of Godlynes and of an innocent lyfe, whiles that the wicked flatter them selues because they escape vnpunished, that the Saintes & Godly should suffer the punishment which they had deserued? Howbeit here do we see as in a lyuely image, that God when hee spareth and pardoneth the most wicked for a space, doth try hys seruauntes lyke gold and siluer, lest it should greue vs to be cast into the fornace of triall or fynyng fyre, whiles that prophane persons do lyue in rest at pleasure.
Secondly there followeth an example of more then mans wisdom, and of a singular continency, with an heroical stoutness of mind, whiles that those godly young men being tempted in that tender age with courtly delicates, do not only pass over without regard, the dainties that were offered them, through their temperance: but because they perceived them selves to be craftily assaulted that they might fall by little and little from the pure worship of God: to the intent that they might rid them selves from these snares of Satan, they do boldly and constantly despise, not without great danger of death, the honour embrued with poison.