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…

Daniel doth declare that the power of God was manifest to the heathen men, both to the king himself and to his courtiers, who had conspired unto the death of these holy persons. He saith therefore that the king trembled at this miracle: like as God many times compelleth the wicked to acknowledge his power. How so ever they do amaze themselves and harden all their senses, yet will they nill they, they are compelled to feel Gods power. Daniel declareth that this came to pass to king Nebuchadnezzar. He trembled therefore and did arise hastily and spake unto his counsellors, saying: Have we not cast three men bound into the furnace? And they answered, it is so. Where it is no doubt, but that both Nebuchadnezzar was compelled by Gods secret inspiration thus to demand, and they also thus to confess. For Nebuchadnezzar might have come straight way to the furnace, but God would wring this confession out of his enemies mouths, that they together with their king should grant, that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered by no earthly means, but by a rare and marvellous power of God. Let us note therefore that the wicked were witnesses of Gods power, not willingly, but because God did put into the kings mouth this question, and also because he did not suffer them to speak any thing but the truth.

Daniel doth declare that the power of God was manifest to the heathen men, both to the king himselfe and to his courtyers, who had conspired vnto the death of these holy persons. He sayth therefore that the king trembled at this msracle: like as God many times compelleth the wicked to acknowledge his power. How so euer they do amase themselues and harden all their senses, yet will they nill they, they are compelled to féele Gods power. Daniel declareth that this came to passe to king Nebuchadnezer. He trembled therefore and did arise hastely and spake vnto hys counsellers, saying: Haue wee not cast three men bounde into the fornace? And they answered, it is so. Where it is no doubt, but that both Nebuchadnezer was compelled by Gods secret inspiration thus to demaunde, and they also thus to confesse. For Nebuchadnezer might haue come streight way to the fornace, but God would wring this confession out of his enemies mouthes, that they together with their king should graunt, that Sadrach, Mesach, and Abednego were deliuered by no earthly meanes, but by a rare and meruelous power of God. Let vs note therfore that the wicked were witnesses of Gods power, not willingly, but because God dyd put into the kinges mouth this question, and also because he did not suffer them to speake any thing but the truth.