A17641:244
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 4 › Part › ¶ The Prayer.
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.
O Beltsazar chief of the Mages, because that I do know that the spirit of the holy Gods is in thee, and that thou knowest all secretes, declare thou my visions and the interpretation thereof.
O Beltsazar chief of the Mages, because that I do know that the spirite of the holy Gods is in thee, and that thou knowest all secretes, declare thou my visions and the interpretation therof.
We said before that the king did thus humbly entreat Daniel, because he was brought to an extremity. For he did not seek unto him at the first, but consulted with his enchanters. Whom he then despised, he is now compelled to worship and reverence. He calleth him Beltsazar: the which name doubtless did sore wound the hart of the Prophet. For he had an other name given him of his parents even from his infancy, whereby he might know that he was a Jew and that he had his original of a holy and elect nation. Now that his name was changed (as we have said in an other place) it was done undoubtedly by the craft of ⟨image 54⟩the tyrant, that he might by little and little forget his kindred. Therefore king Nebuchadnezzar would by changing his name make the holy servant of God degenerate. Therefore as oft as he was called by this name, there is no doubt but that he was much offended. Howbeit he could not remedy the matter because he was a captive, and (as he did know) he had to do with proud and cruel people that were now conquerors. Again, in the next verse Nebuchadnezzar saith that this name was according to the name of his God. Wherefore seeing Daniel had his own proper name of the judgement of God which his parents had given him, Nebuchadnezzar would put away that holy name of his religion, and calleth him Beltsazar in honour: the which name is very like to be derived of the name of his Idol. Wherefore this was double grief to the holy Prophet, that he was spotted with such a foul blot, that he bare the mark of the Idol in his name. But he must bear this cross also amongest the other scourges of God. Thus did God exercise his servant many ways in the bearing of his cross.