A17641:257
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.
Hitherto Nebuchadnezzar hath described the beauty and excellency of his state by the figure of a high tree, which shadowed the beasts and fed them with fruit, and gave quiet nests to the fowls of heaven in his branches. Now followeth the cutting down of the tree. I have seen (saith he) in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold a watch man and a holy one came down from the heavens. There is ⟨image 57⟩no doubt but by the watchman he meaneth an angel. He is also called holy for a further declaration. And the Angels are so called worthily, because they watch continually to execute Gods commandments. For they are not subject unto sleep, because they are not nourished with meat nor drink, but live a spiritual life: therefore also they have no need of sleep, for we fall into sleep by meat and drink. Finally because the Angels have no bodies: therefore they watch always by their spiritual nature. Howbeit not only their nature, but their office is also here expressed. Therefore because God hath them always ready at his appointment, and he doth send them to execute his commandments, therefore are they called watchmen. It is read in the Psalm:1 Ye Angeles which perform his will, because they go to and fro by an incomparable swiftness, and fly straight ways from the heaven unto the earth, and from the uttermost part of the earth unto the contrary, from the east unto the west. Because therefore that the Angels are so ready to accomplish that which God commandeth, they may well be called watchmen.
Hetherto Nebuchadnezer hath described the beauty and excellency of his state by the figure of a high trée, which shadowed the beastes and fed them wyth fruite, and gaue quiet nestes to the foules of heauen in his braunches. Now followeth the cutting downe of the trée. I haue seene (sayth he) in the visions of my head vpon my bed, and beholde a watch man and a holy one came downe from the heauens. There is ⟨image 57⟩no doubt but by the watchman he meaneth an angell. He is also called holy for a further declaration. And the Angells are so called worthely, because they watch continually to execute Gods cōmaundemēts. For they are not subiect vnto sléepe, because they are not nourished wt meate nor drinke, but liue a spirituall lyfe: therfore also they haue no néede of sléepe, for we fall into sléepe by meat and drinke. Finally because the Angels haue no bodyes: therefore they watch alwayes by their spirituall nature. Howbeit not onely their nature, but their office is also here expressed. Therfore because God hath them alwayes ready at hys appoyntment, and he doth send them to execute hys commaundementes, therefore are they called watchmē. It is read in ye Psalme: