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…

And this is marvellous that this profane king saith that an Angel was sent from God, save that it is evident in the profane writers, that there was alway some thing known of the angels. This was a certain before conceived persuasion of the angels: like as also amongest all people there is some taste that there is a God. And where Daniel said before that the fourth which was in the furnace was called the son of God by the king of Babel, even then, as I have said, Nebuchadnezzar professed himself that he understood something of the Angels: but now he speaketh more plainly, that God hath sent his Angel. And how the Angels do help the elect and the faithful, I there touched briefly, and I do not use to stand long upon common places. For this place it is enough to note, that the wicked which never heard any thing of God or of true holiness, did yet hold this principle, that God useth the ministry of his Angels to save his. And this moved Nebuchadnezzar to say, that an Angel was sent from God to deliver his servants.

And this is merueilous that this prophane kyng sayth that an Angell was sent from God, saue that it is euident in the prophane writers, that there was alway some thyng knowne of the angels. This was a certaine before conceiued persuasion of the angels: lyke as also amongest all people there is some tast that there is a God. And where Daniel sayd before that the fourth which was in the fornace was called the sonne of God by the kyng of Babel, euē thē, as I haue sayd, Nebuchadnezer professed hymselfe that he vnderstode something of the Angels: but now he speaketh more plainly, that God hath sent his Angell. And how the Angels do helpe the elect and the faythfull, I there touched briefly, and I do not vse to stād long vpon cōmon places. For thys place it is enough to note, that the wicked which neuer heard any thing of God or of true holines, did yet holde this principle, that God vseth the ministery of his Angels to saue hys. And thys moued Nebuchadnezer to say, that an Angell was sent from God to delyuer hys seruauntes.

Then he addeth: Which trusted in him. Which is also to be noted, for it is added as the cause why these three were so marvellously delivered: because they put their trust in God. And although Nebuchadnezzar was but almost like a stock or a block concerning the doctrine of faith: yet God would teach us by this stone or block, and make us ashamed, and lay unto our charge the want of faith, which causeth that we can not commit our lives to Gods will, and boldly undertake all dangers when need requireth. For if we were fully persuaded that God is the keeper of our life, surely no menaces, no threatenings, no terrors, no nor finally any deaths could stop us from going forward in our office. But infidelity and distrust in God is the cause of our slothfulness: and so often as we turn forth of the way, so often as we defraud God of his honour, so often as we fail traitorously,