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…

The Nephew of king Nebuchadnezzar forgetting this example, doth rage against the God of Israel, doth pollute the vessels of the temple, and maketh a triumph with his Idols. But when God setteth forth a sign of his judgement, he calleth for the Chaldees and Mages, and forgetteth Da: niel. Can this be excused by any means? We see therefore that mens minds are over prone to the crafts of Satan, and this proverb is true: the world would be deceived. And this is worthy to be noted, because that many men now a days would gladly pretend ignorance in the stead of a shield in doubtful matters. But they may easily be answered, that they are willingly blinded, yea that they shut their eyes against the manifest light. For if God did count king Beltsazar inexcusable because he had a Prophet once offered unto him, what shall it avail us at this day, to pretend these colourable excuses? Oh if I knew certainly which were the will of God, I would straight ways obey. For God daily crieth openly and calleth us unto him, and showeth the way, but there is none that answereth, or followeth, or at the least very few. Therefore we ought diligently to consider the example of the king of Babylon, when we see that he is very diligent, & yet in the mean season doth not seek God as he ought. Wherefore? He wandereth about the bush, he seeth that he is taken and that he can not escape Gods judgement: but in the mean time he ⟨image 90⟩seeketh comfort at the Mages and Chaldees, that is to say, at the deceivers. For they had been already found so to be once or twice, as we have seen before: and this ought to have been published and known unto all.

The Nephue of king Nebuchadnezer forgetting thys example, doth rage agaynst the God of Israell, doth pollute the vessels of the temple, and maketh a triumph wyth hys Idols. But when God setteth forth a signe of his iudgemēt, he calleth for the Chaldees and Mages, and forgetteth Da: niel. Can thys be excused by any meanes? We sée therefore that mens myndes are ouer prone to the craftes of Sathan, and this prouerbe is true: the world would be deceaued. And thys is worthy to be noted, because that many men now a dayes would gladly pretend ignoraunce in the stead of a shield in doubtful matters. But they may easely be answered, that they are willingly blinded, yea that they shut their eyes agaynst the manifest light. For if God did count king Beltsazar inexcusable because he had a Prophet once offered vnto hym, what shall it auayle vs at thys day, to pretend these colourable excuses? Oh if I knew certainely which were the will of God, I would straight wayes obey. For God dayly cryeth openly and calleth vs vnto hym, and sheweth the way, but there is none that answereth, or followeth, or at the least very feawe. Therefore we ought diligently to consider the example of the kyng of Babylon, when we sée that he is very diligēt, & yet in the meane season doth not séeke God as he ought. Wherefore? He wandreth about the bush, he séeth that he is taken and that he can not escape Gods iudgement: but in the meane tyme he