A17641:267
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.
And here must we note two persons to be attributed unto them. For in the first place Daniel maketh them to subscribe unto Gods decree, afterward he saith that they require or demand. And this may well be, that the Angels do require in their petitions that all mortal creatures may be abased, that God alone may have the preeminence, and that all things may thus be brought down that obscure the glory of God. It is meet and right that the Angels require this continually, seeing we know that there is nothing that they do more desire, then that they them selves should worship God, and all creatures with them. And when they do see Gods authority to be diminished by mans pride and arrogancy, then doubtless they require this, that God would bring down under his obedience and yoke those proud men that set up their crests against him.
And here must we note two persons to be attributed vnto them. For in the first place Daniel maketh them to subscribe vnto Gods decrée, afterward he sayth that they require or demaunde. And thys may well be, that the Angels doo require in theyr peticions that all mortall creatures may be abased, that God alone may haue the preeminence, and that al things may thus be brought downe that obscure the glory of God. It is méete and right that the Angels require thys continually, seing we know that there is nothing that they doo more desire, then that they them selues should worshyp God, and all creatures with them. And when they do sée Gods authoritie to be diminished by mans pride and arrogancy, then doubtles they require thys, that God would bring downe vnder his obedience and yoke those proude men that set vp theyr creastes agaynst hym.
Now do we see why Daniel saith that this sentence is in the decree of the watchmen and in their word a request: as though he should say, thou hast all the Angels thine, adversaries. For with one consent and as it were with one mouth, they do accuse thee before God, that thou doest obscure his glory, as much as in thee lieth: and God agreeing to their requests, hath decreed to cast thee away, and to make thee contemptible & shameful before all the world: and this decree is ratified by all the Angels, as it were common with him and them. For their consent and subscription might have some authority with this profane king. And doubtless God (as he doth many times) doth now accommodate the vision to this mans capacity, who was never taught in the law, but had only a confused knowledge of the divinity: so that he did not discern betwixt God and the Angels. And yet this sentence is also true, that the sentence was published by the common decree of all the heavenly army, and that together by supplication and request: