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 when the authority of Daniel is thus confirmed, something must be spoken of the matters that he treateth. And concerning interpretations of dreams, the first dream of Nebuchadnezzar doth contain (as we shall see) a thing of ⟨image 11⟩most great importance, that is to say, that all the glory & the power of the world must vanish away, and that the kingdom of Christ only shall remain stable, and that there is none other perpetuity. As concerning the second dream of Nebuchadnezzar, therein doubtless the marvellous constancy of Daniel is evident. It was a thing very dangerous so to cast down the Emperor of the whole world as Daniel did. Thou (saith he) wilt not be counted amongest men, but art now worshipped as it were a God, thou shalt hereafter be a beast. There is no man at this day that dare thus speak to Emperors and Kings, either yet that dare admonish them gently when they trespass. Seeing then that Daniel did forewarn the king boldly what great shame he should come unto, doubtless herein he did declare a rare and notable example of his constancy. And thus was his vocation sealed up and more plainly confirmed: for this boldness came of the spirit of God. But we must rather stand of the second part, where we see Gods care towards his Church. The providence of God undoubtedly is spread throughout the world.¹ For if a sparrow do not fall upon the earth without his permission, we may be sure that he provideth for mankind. Therefore nothing cometh unto us by chance. But God in this book doth set us up a light to see that the Church is so governed of him, that he hath a singular care over it. If ever things were so troubled and out of order in the world that men might conjecture that God did sleep in the heavens and forgot mankind, no doubt such was the rolling wheel of those times, yea there were so manifold and strange alterations, that he which was of the most high courage might well faint, seeing there was none end of wars, and sometimes the Egyptians gate the victory, and sometimes there were other stirs and wars in Syria. Seeing then that all things were turned upside down, what could be judged, but that God contemned the world, and that the miserable Jews were deceived of their hope when they thought that GOD which was their deliverer would likewise be their keeper and Saviour at all times.

Now when the authoritie of Daniel is thus confirmed, somethyng must be spoken of the matters that he treateth. And concernyng interpretations of dreames, the first dreame of Nebuchadnezar doth conteine (as we shall see) a thyng of