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…

Here doth Nebuchadnezzar declare how he did know the high God at length. He doth not show what lessons he had received before, but because his pride was tamed at length by this dream, therefore doth he only make mention thereof. Yet there is no doubt but he called into memory also his former dreams and condemned him self of ingratitude, that he had buried so great power of God, and that he had blotted out with wicked oblivion so great benefits as God had given him. Here then only he speaketh of the last dream, as we shall see afterward. But before he come to the dream, he saith: that he was quiet. Whereby he noteth the circumstance of the time, that we may know that he was corrected of God because prosperity had made him drunken, and as it were brought him in sleep. It is no marvel though it were so with him: for it is an old proverb, that fullness engendereth fierceness, as we do see horses when they are much pampered, to kick, to be fierce and not to abide the rider. The same also is seen amongest men. For if God treat them favourably and bountifully, they wax fierce, they are outrageous against all men, they shake of the yoke of God him self, and in the end they forget that they are men. And seeing David did so, what will profane men do, or such as are over much addicted to the word? For David doth confess that he was deceived with his quietness and felicity, that he thought nothing was more to be feared:¹ I said in my felicity or in my quiet state: J shall not be moved. And afterward he saith: O Lord thou hast chastised me, and J was amazed. Seeing that David then promised unto him self perpetual quietness in the world, because God had spared ⟨image 52⟩him for a time, how ought our tranquillity to be suspected lest we settle in our dregs? Nebuchadnezzar therefore doth not recite in vain that he was quiet in his house and flourishing in his palace: for this was the cause of his boldness and pride that caused him to despise God so carelessly.

HEre doth Nebuchadnezer declare how hée did know the hye God at length. He doth not shew what lessons he had receaued before, but because his pride was tamed at lēgth by this dreame, therfore doth he onely make mention thereof. Yet there is no doubt but he called into memory also his former dreames and condemned him selfe of ingratitude, that he had buried so great power of God, and that he had blotted out with wicked obliuion so great benefites as God had geuen him. Here then onely he speaketh of the last dreame, as we shall sée afterward. But before he come to the dreame, he sayth: that he was quiet. Whereby he noteth the circumstance of the tyme, that we may know that hee was corrected of God because prosperitie had made him dronken, and as it were brought him in sléepe. It is no maruell though it were so with him: for it is an old prouerbe, that fulnes engendreth fiercenes, as we do sée horses when they are much pampered, to kicke, to be fierce and not to abide the rider. The same also is séene amongest men. For if God treat them fauourably and bountifully, they waxe fiece, they are outragious agaynst all men, they shake of the yoke of God him selfe, and in the end they forget that they are men. And seyng Dauid did so, what will prophane men do, or such as are ouer much addicted to the word? For Dauid doth confesse that he was deceiued with hys quietnes and felicitie, that he thought nothyng was more to be feared: