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…

Now it followeth: that God worketh according to his will in the army of heaven, and in the dwellers upon earth. This might seem absurd, that God is said to do as he will, as though he had neither moderation, nor equity, nor rule of justice. But we must mark that which we have spoken in an other place, that men are governed by laws, because their wills are perverse, and are carried hither and thither after their own lusts without measure: but God is a law unto him self, because his will is most perfect justice. Therefore as oft as the Scripture setteth forth unto us the power of God, and doth command us to be content therewith, it doth not attribute unto God a tyrannical Empire, as the wicked do falsely imagine. But because we do not leave of to speak against God, and do set our reason against his secrete counsels, and so strive with him as though he did not that justly and wisely which is not allowed of us: therefore that the holy ghost might bridle this presumption, he doth pronounce that God doth all things after his own will. Let us then remember that when we hear mention made of God, there can no perverse nor unjust thing be laid unto him: his will is not changed by any lust, but is great justice. Seeing then it is so, let us also remember how great, how stubborn and how proud our rashness is, which dare cast ⟨p. 65⟩and object this or that against God. Whereof it followeth that this doctrine is necessary to cast upon us a bridle of modesty, that God doth all things after his own will, as it is said in the Psalm:¹ our God is in heaven, he hath done what soever he would.

Now it followeth: that God worketh according to hys will in the army of heauen, and in the dwellers vpon earth. This might séeme absurde, that God is sayd to do as he will, as though he had neither moderation, nor equity, nor rule of iustice. But we must marke that which we haue spoken in an other place, that men are gouerned by lawes, because their willes are peruerse, and are caryed hither and thether after their owne lustes without measure: but God is a law vnto him selfe, because his wil is most perfect iustice. Therfore as oft as the Scripture setteth forth vnto vs the power of God, and doth commaunde vs to be content therewith, it doth not attribute vnto God a tyrannicall Empire, as the wicked do falsely imagine. But because we do not leaue of to speake agaynst God, and do set our reason agaynst his secrete counsailes, and so striue with him as though he dyd not that iustly and wisely which is not allowed of vs: therfore that the holy ghost might bridle this presūption, he doth pronoūce that God doth all things after his owne will. Let vs then remember yt when we heare mētion made of God, there cā no peruerse nor vniust thyng be layd vnto him: his will is not chaunged by any lust, but is great iustice. Seyng then it is so, let vs also remember how great, how stubburne and how proude our rashnes is, which dare cast