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…

If there had been any drop of a Godly mind in him, truly he should have fled to the mercy of God, he should ⟨image 71⟩have weighed with himself by how many ways he had provoked his wrath, he should have given himself wholly to the works of charity: as he had executed grievous tyranny against all, so should he have given himself to humanity and mercy, as the Prophet had exhorted him: but he is so far from doing this, that he doth vomit out vain boastings, which do show that his mind doth swell with disdainfulness, and also with the contempt of God. Because therefore here is noted the space of the time, hereby it appeareth that God will sometimes defer his judgements, if peradventure they will repent even which seem altogether desperate: But the reprobate do abuse that humanity and mercy of God, because they do more harden their harts by this occasion, whiles they suppose that God ceaseth from doing the office of a judge when he suffereth for a season.

If there had bene any droppe of a Godly mynde in hym, truely he should haue fled to the mercy of God, he should ⟨image 71⟩haue weighed with hymselfe by how many wayes he had prouoked hys wrath, he should haue geuen hymselfe wholy to the workes of charity: as he had executed greuous tyranny agaynst all, so should he haue geuen hymselfe to humanity and mercy, as the Prophet had exhorted hym: but he is so farre from doing thys, that he doth vomit out vayne boastinges, which do shew that hys mynde doth swell with disdainfulnes, and also with the contempt of God. Because therefore here is noted the space of the tyme, hereby it appeareth that God will sometymes deferre hys iudgements, if paraduenture they wyll repent euen which séeme altogether desperate: But the reprobate do abuse that humanity and mercy of God, because they do more hardē theyr harts by thys occasion, whiles they suppose that God ceaseth frō doyng the office of a iudge when he suffereth for a season.

At the end [then] of twelve months, the king walked in his palace, and spake, and said: This doubling of the word, doth express that the king spake of a purposed pride. The Prophet might have said more simply, [the king spake] but he saith, that he spake and said. Whereby I suppose that the Prophet meaneth that the king did, as it were vomit forth that which he had before conceived and purposed in his heart: Is not this that great Babylon, which I have built for my kingly palace by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty. In these words we see no open blasphemy which should offend God so greatly: but we must consider that the king did speak thus, to challenge unto him self all things, as though he were in the place of God. And this may be gathered by the words: Is not this Babylon the great? He boasteth of the greatness of his city as though he would set it against the heavens, as the old Giants did. Which, saith he. This Pronoun doth seem also to be put for vehemency. Which I (saith he) have built, and that with the might of my power. We see how he spoileth God of his honour, challenging all things unto him self.