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…

This place is worthy to be noted. For first this answer is to be learned, that when men are about to bring us to deny God, we must shut our ears, and take no farther advisement. For even then begin we to do great injury unto God, when we dispute whether we may decline from his pure worship or no, what so ever cause may thereunto move us. And would to God this were well known to all men, that the glory of God doth excel and surmount all things, that all must be brought law when the diminishing or obscuring thereof is intended.

This place is worthy to be noted. For first this aūswere is to be learned, that when men are about to bryng vs to deny God, we must shut our eares, and take no farther aduisement. For euen then begyn we to do great iniury vnto God, when we dispute whether we may decline from hys pure worship or no, what so euer cause may therunto moue vs. And would to God this were well knowne to all men, that the glory of God doth excell and surmount all thinges, that all must be brought law when the diminishyng or obscuryng therof is intended.

But this craft beguileth many now a days, that they think it lawful to way, as it were in balance, whether it be better for a time to turn from the true worship of God, when any profit doth offer it self of the other side: as we do see at this day such dissemblers, of whom the world is full, to have their colours to cloak their wickedness, when either they worship the Idols with the wicked, or else they deny either privily or openly the true Religion. O what is to be done, the man that is in any office will say? I see how much good I can do if I dissemble a little and do not show my self what I am: for this plains would not only hurt me privately but all others. If the king have none that may sometimes pacify his anger, the wicked thereby shall be unbridled and have their will and liberty to drive him unto all cruelty. It is better therefore that some keep a mean and so hearken and lye in wait what the wicked do, and so though they can not do it openly, yet by some secret practises they may turn away the danger from the heads of the godly.

But this craft beguileth many now a dayes, that they thinke it lawful to way, as it were in balance, whether it be better for a tyme to turne from the true worshyp of God, when any profite doth offer it selfe of the other side: as we do sée at this day such dissemblers, of whom the world is full, to haue their colours to cloke their wickednes, when either they worshyp the Idoles with the wicked, or els they deny either priuely or openly the true Religion. O what is to be done, the man that is in any office will say? I sée how much good I can do if I dissemble a little and do not shew my selfe what I am: for this playnes would not onely hurte me priuately but all others. If the kyng haue none that may sometymes pacifie his anger, the wicked thereby shalbe vnbridled and haue their will and libertie to driue hym vnto all cruelty. It is better therfore that some kéepe a meane and so hearken and lye in wayte what the wicked do, and so though they can not do it openly, yet by some secret practises they may turne away the daunger from the heades of the godly.