A17641:164
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.
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.
When they object these Arguments, they think that God is answered: As though Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could not have pretended the same, or as though it had not come into their minds thus to say: behold we are now