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…

Here followeth the book of Daniel the Prophet, the utility & commodity whereof, how great it is, may more easily be understand by the going forward in the same, then aptly in few words be declared. But I will now give some taste yet thereof, which may the better prepare us to the reading, & make us more attentive. And before I do come so far, I will briefly comprehend the sum of the book and so divide it as may best further us. Wherefore we will divide it into two parts. First Daniel rehearseth how he attained authority even amongest the infidels. For it was necessary that he should be raised up to his prophetical office after a strange & rare manner. All things (as is well known) were so confused and so far out of order amongest the Jews, that scarcely could any man believe that there remained yet any Prophet. Jeremiah was a live in the beginning, and Ezekiel afterward. Also the Jews had their Prophets after their return: but Jeremiah & Ezekiel had almost ended their course when Daniel began to Prophecy. Others, as Haggai, Zakari, and Malachi were created Prophets to exhort the people: so that their office seemed to be limited. As concerning Daniel, he could scarcely be counted for a Prophet unless God had set him up after a marvellous manner, as I have said. ⟨image 10⟩This shall we see to the end of the vj. chapter, that he was adorned of God with special notes and tokens, that the Jews might fully be assured that God had given him unto them for a Prophet, unless they would condemn them selves of filthy ingratitude against God. His name was famous amongest the Babylonians, and much honoured. If the Jews had despised him that was had in admiration even of the profane Gentiles, was not this as it were of set purpose to quench & to tread under foot the grace of God? Daniel therefore had certain notes and tokens whereby he might be known the Prophet of God, & whereby his vocation might be ratified.

HEre foloweth the boke of Daniel the Prophet, the vtility & commoditie wherof, how great it is, may more easily bee vnderstand by the goyng forward in the same, then aptly in fewe wordes be declared. But I will now giue some tast yet therof, which may the better prepare vs to the readyng, & make vs more attentiue. And before I do come so farre, I will briefly comprehend the summe of the boke and so diuide it as may best further vs. Wherfore we will diuide it into two partes. First Daniel rehearseth how he atteined authoritie euen amongest the infidels. For it was necessarie that he should be raysed vp to his propheticall office after a straunge & rare maner. All thinges (as is well knowne) were so cōfused and so farre out of order amongest the Iewes, that scarcely could any man beleue that there remained yet any Prophet. Hieremias was a lyue in the begynnyng, and Ezekiel afterward. Also the Iewes had their Prophetes after their returne: but Hieremias & Ezekiel had almost ended their course when Daniel began to Prophecy. Others, as Haggaei, Zakari, and Malachi were created Prophets to exhort the people: so that their office seemed to be limited. As concernyng Daniel, he could scarcely be counted for a Prophet vnles God had set hym vp after a maruelous maner, as I haue sayd.