A17641:248
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 › Meditation
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.
Nebuchadnezzar doth here tell his dream, the interpretation whereof shall follow afterward. Yet because the bare narration should be unprofitable unless we speak something of the matter, it is necessary that we touch somewhat thereof, and the rest shall be differed. Now first of all under the figure of a tree was Nebuchadnezzar described, not that he did perform the full office of a king, but because God hath appointed kingdoms and dominions in the world to this end that they should be like trees, of whose fruit all mortal men should taste and eat, and under whose shadow they should also find rest and comfort. And this ordinance of God is of such force, that the very tyrants, although they be very far from right and true government ⟨p. 43⟩by moderation, yet whether they will or no, they are compelled to be trees: for it is better to live under a most cruel tyrant, than to live without any regiment. Let us imagine that all were of like authority: what will such a disorder bring in the end? No man will give place to an other: every man will try what he were able to do: so shall there be all licentious liberty to rob and to steal, to beguile & to kill one an other: finally all mens lusts shall be set at liberty. Therefore have I said that tyranny may better be borne, then a dissolute disorder where there is no government at all, where there is none that hath power over others to keep them in order.
Nebuchadnezer doth here tell hys dreame, the interpretation whereof shall follow afterward. Yet because the bare narration should be vnprofitable vnles we speake somthing of the matter, it is necessary that we touch somewhat thereof, and the rest shalbe differred. Now first of all vnder the figure of a tree was Nebuchadnezer described, not that he did performe the full office of a kyng, but because God hath appointed kyngdomes and dominions in the world to thys end that they should be like trées, of whose fruite all mortall mē should tast and eate, and vnder whose shadow they should also finde rest and comfort. And this ordinance of God is of such force, that the very tyrantes, although they be very farre from right and true gouernment ⟨p. 43⟩by moderation, yet whether they wyll or no, they are compelled to be trées: for it is better to liue vnder a most cruell tyraunt, thē to liue without any regiment. Let vs imagine that all were of like authority: what wyll such a disorder bring in the end? No man will geue place to an other: euery man will try what hee were able to do: so shall there be all licencious liberty to rob and to steale, to begile & to kill one an other: finally all mens lustes shall bee set at liberty. Therefore haue I said that tyrāny may better be borne, then a dissolute disorder where there is no gouernment at all, where there is none that hath power ouer others to kéepe them in order.