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…

But now let us see what was his remedy. He commanded that the Chaldeans, soothsayers, and Astrologians should be called. Hereby we gather how ready the wits of men are to vanity, lies and deceits. Daniel should have been the first among the Chaldeans: and that answer was worthy to be remembered when he showed to the grandfather of king Beltsazar before, that he should be like the wild beasts. Seeing then that this prophecy was thus approved by the success, the authority thereof ought to have stand in force even above a thousand years. He was also daily in the kings sight, yet was he despised, and the king called for all the Chaldeans, Astrologians, Soothsayers, and Mages. In deed the Soothsayers, Astrologians, and Chaldeans were in such high estimation, that they might easily darken the fame of Daniel. For they counted it an unworthy thing that a prisoner should be preferred before their Doctors, when they now knew that they did excel in this glory amongest all people, that they were only wise. Seeing then they would keep that estimation that they were, as it were the counsellors ⟨p. 77⟩of God, it is no marvel though they despised a stranger. Howbeit this thing hath no colour before God. For what can be alleged for the defence of the wicked king? His grandfather was set forth as a spectacle of Gods vengeance never to be forgotten, when he was cast forth of the company of men, when he dwelt with the brute beasts, yea with the wild beasts of the forest. And this could not seem to come by chance. For God had admonished him hereof in a dream, and also made his Prophet an interpreter of the oracle and vision: wherefore the fame of this matter ought to have been in perpetual remembrance amongest the Chaldees.

But now let vs sée what was his remedy. He commaunded that ye Chaldeans, soothsayers, and Astrologians should be called. Hereby we gather how ready the wits of men are to vanitie, lyes and deceites. Daniel should haue bene the first among the Chaldeans: and that aunswere was worthy to be remembred when hee shewed to the grandfather of kyng Beltsazar before, that he should be lyke the wilde beastes. Seyng then yt this prophecy was thus approued by the successe, ye authoritie therof ought to haue stand in force euē aboue a thousand yeares. He was also dayly in ye kyngs sight, yet was hee despised, and the kyng called for all the Chaldeans, Astrologiās, Sothsayers, and Mages. In déede the Sothsayers, Astrologiās, and Chaldeans were in such high estimation, that they might easely darken the fame of Daniel. For they counted it an vnworthy thyng that a prisoner should be preferred before their Doctours, whē they now knew that they did excell in this glory amongest all people, that they were onely wyse. Seyng then they would kéepe that estimation that they were, as it were the counsellers