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…

I do pass over the privy crafts and wicked conspiracies, whereof they can be the best witnesses unto me, that are the greatest enemies to Religion. I name no man: it is enough to have pointed them with the finger, who are but over well known. It is no marvel though they which depend of the changeable state and the diverse issue of things, continue doubtful in this confused invasion of so many beasts. But they reject the blame of their infidelity iniustly and wickedly upon the holy Gospel of Christ. Let us grant that all hell with the infernal furies do enter into battle: will God sit idle in the heavens to forsake and betray his own cause? And when he shall stand up against them, can the crafts of men be they never so subtle, or yet their forces be they never so great, let God to have the victory? The Pope, they say, will bring with him a long train of confederates. It is a just reward of incredulity, to tremble at the sound of the fall of the leaf. And what say you, unwise and unprovident counsellors? let Christ go that no new strangeness do trouble us. Therefore shall you perceive shortly after this, how much better it had been to have God merciful, and despising all vain terrors, to rest upon his protection, then to provoke him to open war, lest they should offend and displease the evil and wicked spirits. Surely when all things are examined to the uttermost by the Popes defenders, the superstition which hitherto hath reigned, is none other but an evil thing well and cunningly laid up and placed, which they think ought not to be stirred, because it seemeth that it can not be touched without some loss and detriment. But unto them which desire Gods glory, and which are settled in true Religion, there must be a far contrary purpose, that is, that they do so offer their labours unto God, that they commit all the issues thereof to his providence, who if he had promised ⟨image 7⟩nothing unto us, peradventure there might be some just cause to fear and continually to doubt: but seeing that he hath so oft testified that his assistance shall never fail in the setting forth of the kingdom of his Christ, it is the only way to do well to settle our selves in this confidence.

I do passe ouer the priuy craftes and wicked conspiracies, wherof they can be the best witnesses vnto me, that are the greatest enemies to Religion. I name no man: it is enough to haue pointed them with the finger, who are but ouer well knowne. It is no maruaile though they which depend of the chaungeable state and the diuerse ishue of thynges, continue doubtfull in this confused inuasion of so many beastes. But they reiect the blame of their infidelity iniustly and wickedly vpon the holy Gospell of Christ. Let vs graunt that all hell with the infernall furies do enter into battayle: will God sit idle in the heauēs to forsake and betray his owne cause? And when he shall stand vp agaynst them, can the craftes of men be they neuer so subtill, or yet their forces be they neuer so great, let God to haue the victory? The Pope, they say, will bryng with hym a long trayne of confederates. It is a iust reward of incredulity, to tremble at the sounde of the fall of the leafe. And what say you, vnwise and vnprouident counsaylers? let Christ go that no new straungenes do trouble vs. Therfore shall you perceaue shortly after this, how much better it had bene to haue God mercyfull, and despisyng all vayne terrours, to rest vpon his protection, then to prouoke hym to open warre, lest they should offend and displease the euill and wicked spirites. Surely when all thynges are examined to the vttermost by the Popes defenders, the superstition which hetherto hath reigned, is none other but an euill thyng well and cunnyngly layd vp and placed, which they thinke ought not to be styrred, because it semeth that it can not be touched without some losse and detriment. But vnto them which desire Gods glory, and which are setled in true Religion, there must be a farre contrary purpose, that is, that they do so offer their labours vnto God, that they commit all the ishues therof to his prouidence, who if he had promised