A17641:178
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.
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.
This was the cause that they were not afrayde for the terrible cōmaundement of the king, but they followed theyr course, euen to suffer death without all feare for the honor of God. For there remayned no thyrd thing, but eyther to chuse to dye, or els to deny the worship of the true God. By the which example we are taught to premeditate this immortall life in our quiet state, that if it so please God, we do not doubt to lay downe our liues for the testimony of the truth: for this is one cause why we are so fearefull. Agayne, when we doo come into present daunger, then doo we tremble and quake, because whiles we are forth of danger we vaynely imagine to our selues a continuall securitiy. So long therefore as God geueth vs quietnes, we must apply our myndes to meditate the life to come, that the worlde may waxe vile vnto vs, and that we may be ready so oft as néede shalbe, to geue our bloude for the testimony of the truth. For this history is not set forth vnto vs, that we should onely commend and magnify the vertue and constancy of these thrée holy men, but it is set forth for vs to imitate theyr constancy.
And concerning the king Nebuchadnezzar, here Daniel again, as it were in a glass, doth show unto us the pride and arrogancy of kings when their commandments are not obeyed. Surely a hart of iron should have been mollified with this answer, that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did commit their lives unto God, and therefore could not for fear of death be drawn from their faith.