A17641:175
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.
At the first sight God seemeth here to forsake his servants because he doth not openly help them. The king commandeth them to be cast into a fiery furnace: no help appeareth from the heavens. Wherefore this was a full and perfect trial of their faith. They were now armed, as we did see before, to suffer all things. For they do not answer so constantly only because they trusted in the present help of God: but because they were determined to dye, and a better life did so comfort their minds, that they were content to lose this present life.
At the first sight God séemeth here to forsake hys seruantes because he doth not openly helpe them. The kyng commaundeth them to be cast into a fiery fornace: no helpe appeareth from the heauens. Wherfore this was a full and perfect triall of their fayth. They were now armed, as we did sée before, to suffer all things. For they do not aunswere so constantly onely because they trusted in the present helpe of God: but because they were determined to dye, and a better life dyd so comfort their mindes, that they were content to lose this present lyfe.
This was the cause that they were not afraid for the terrible commandment of the king, but they followed their course, even to suffer death without all fear for the honour of God. For there remained no third thing, but either to choose to dye, or else to deny the worship of the true God. By the which example we are taught to premeditate this immortal life in our quiet state, that if it so please God, we do not doubt to lay down our lives for the testimony of the truth: for this is one cause why we are so fearful. Again, when we do come into present danger, then do we tremble and quake, because whiles we are forth of danger we vainly imagine to our selves a continual security. So long therefore as God giveth us quietness, we must apply our minds to meditate the life to come, that the world may wax vile unto us, and that we may be ready so oft as need shall be, to give our blood for the testimony of the truth. For this history is not set forth unto us, that we should only commend and magnify the virtue and constancy of these three holy men, but it is set forth for us to imitate their constancy.