A17641:291
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.
By the way we may note the constancy of the servant of God, in that he doth not insinuate unto the king by subtle means what should come upon him, but openly declareth with many words, how foul and shameful a condition was appointed for him. They shall cast thee out (saith he) from among men. If he had said: thou shalt be as a common person among men, and shalt nothing differ from the base people, now that had been very grievous unto a king. But when the king is cast out of all humane society, that he may not have one corner amongest them, neither is it granted that he may lead his life with the Neatherds and Swineherds: how grievous and horrible this was, every man may conjecture by his own mind. Yet doth not ⟨image 65⟩Daniel here doubt to pronounce this sore judgement. And the words that follow are of the same importance: Thou shalt feed of the grass, thou shalt be watered with the dew of heaven, and thy dwelling shall be with the wild beasts. Where the prophet teacheth that this punishment is at hand unto the king of Babylon, that he shall be brought to extreme ignominy and shame, & that he shall differ nothing from brute beasts. This liberty then (as I have said) is worthy to be noted, that we may know that the servants of God which have the charge to teach and to preach unto others, can not execute their offices faithfully, unless with close eyes they pass by and despise all the haughtiness of the world.
By the way we may note the constancie of the seruaunt of God, in that he doth not insinuate vnto the king by subtle meanes what should come vpon him, but openly declareth with many wordes, how fowle and shamefull a condition was appoynted for hym. They shall cast thee out (saith he) from among men. If he had sayd: thou shalt be as a common person among men, and shalt nothing differ from the base people, now that had bene very greuous vnto a king. But when the king is cast out of all humane society, that he may not haue one corner amongest them, neither is it graunted that he may lead his life with the Neatherdes and Swinherdes: how greauous and horrible this was, euery man may coniecture by his owne minde. Yet doth not ⟨image 65⟩Daniel here doubt to pronounce this sore iudgement. And the wordes that folow are of the same importance: Thou shalt feede of the grasse, thou shalt be watred with the dew of heauen, and thy dwelling shalbe with the wilde beastes. Where the prophet teacheth that this punishment is at hand vnto the king of Babylon, that he shalbe brought to extreame ignominy and shame, & that he shall differ nothing from brute beastes. Thys liberty then (as I haue sayd) is worthy to be noted, that we may know that the seruauntes of God which haue the charge to teach and to preach vnto others, can not execute theyr offices faythfully, vnlesse with close eyes they passe by and despise all the hautines of the world.