A17641:137
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.
Biblical commentary book of Daniel › Chapter 3 › Part › Meditation
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.
Nebuchadnezzar, after that he had professed the God of Israel to be the true God, doth fall again to this foul Idolatry: wherein after the custom of the Idolaters he uttereth his own pride and ambition. Wherein God would have his wicked hart to be made manifest. Who might have been thought by his former confession to have been wholly changed: but by this it appeareth that in his fairest show of words he remained wicked. And as this is the manner of all superstitious persons, when they pretend their Religion and think that they serve their God, yet will they be seen and praised of the world: so many times they will mix policy with their Religion, to bring men into an uniformity. And these two things are hear manifest. His Idol is so costly and great that his fame must needs spread, and he straitly chargeth all nations both Jews and Gentiles upon pain of death to ⟨image 32⟩join in this Idolatry.
NEbuchadnezer, after that hee had professed the God of Israel to be the true God, doth fall agayne to this foule Idolatry: wherein after the custome of the Idolaters hee vttereth his owne pryde and ambition. Wherein God would haue his wicked hart to be made manifest. Who might haue bene thought by hys former confession to haue bene wholly chaūged: but by this it appeareth that in his fayrest shew of wordes he remained wicked. And as this is the maner of all superstitious persons, when they pretend their Religiō and thinke that they serue their God, yet will they be seene and praysed of the world: so many tymes they will mixe policie with their Religion, to bryng men into an vniformitie. And these two thinges are heare manifest. His Idole is so costly and great that his fame must nedes spred, and he straitly chargeth all nations both Iewes and Gentiles vppon payne of death to ⟨image 32⟩ioyne in this Idolatry.
Thus for policy he will stablish one Religion in all the nations that were under him, lest by the mixture of the Jews that were stiff in their religion, or by any other people any tumult might arise, and by such tumult any shaking or diminishing of his dominion. Thus do many Princes when they publish laws for Religion, rather regard their own quietness and commodity, then what God requireth by his word. And this bold temerity hath been amongest them from the beginning, that sometimes they would make new Gods, sometime they would appoint GOD a law how he should be worshipped: but they would rarely or never subject them selves only & wholly to the word of God. Whereby their madness is manifest, that whiles they pretend to worship God they set them selves above God, and worship their own fantasy and folly. They think it is not for their Princely dignity to be in obedience under God, or to set forth his word simply, but they will have their proceedings to be of more authority: and putting in the name of the King or the Queen, they think the matter is prejudicate and sufficient, that GOD may be worshipped none other ways then it pleaseth them and as they have decreed by their authority. And in such commandments we may see that all those which depend only of their fathers and antiquity, are easily overcome to change their Religion, and they only are able to stand fast against such thundering threatenings of Princes, which have their consciences grounded upon Gods holy word.