Daniel (as appeareth) was one of the first captives that were led from Judah, of whom Jeremiah speaketh, that they were very good figs, pleasant to the Lords taste which were first carried captive. For God promiseth to give them hearts to know him, and that they shall be his people, and that he will be their God. Jer. 24. 1throughout the Chapter. Again the king was ruled by the counsel of the Prophet Jeremiah and so found favour. 2. Kings. 25.27. 2Thus in the midst of Gods rods and scourges our gracious God is mindful of his mercies and always sendeth comfort to all his, though by means far contrary to mans reason, & much passing our capacities. And hereby we may perceive how incomprehensible Gods judgements are unto man. For Daniel was as an Angel amongest men, so that if there were any good amongest that people, Daniel was as the principal. For Ezekiel 3reckoneth Daniel amongest the three just, by whom it was most like amongest all mortal men, that God would be pleased and pacified, yet is Daniel carried into captivity to be a slave under this cruel king of Babylon: & other men most wicked, provoking continually Gods wrath against them did remain quiet at home in their nests. God doth not deprive them of their natural country, neither cast them forth of that heritage: which was a sign and pledge of his fatherly adoption. Now if any man would take upon him to determine the cause why Daniel was carried away among the first, shall not such one show his own madness? Let us therefore learn reverently to have in admiration the profound judgements of God which do so far pass our capacities,4 and in the mean season remember this sentence of Christ: If they have done this in a green tree, what shall be done to the dry? Seeing this was done to Daniel, what great mercy and long sufferance of God towards us is this, to spare us so long wallowing in sin? For who dare compare him self to Daniel? Nay we are unworthy to loose his shoe latchets, as is the old Proverb. For all his great tentations could not turn him from the true service of his God, as followeth. But where ⟨p. 2⟩he saith that God delivered Jehoiakim into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, it is to our comfort, that we may see that Nebuchadnezzar did not overcome the king nor take away the captives by his own power or counsel or policy:
Daniel (as appeareth) was one of the first captiues that were led from Iudah, of whom Ieremy speaketh, that they were very good figs, pleasant to the Lords tast which were first caryed captiue. For God promiseth to giue thē heartes to know hym, and that they shall be hys people, and that he will be theyr God. Ier. 24. 1throughout the Chapter. Agayn the kyng was ruled by the counsell of the Prophet Ieremy and so found fauour. 2. Kyngs. 25.27. 2Thus in the middes of Gods roddes and scourges our gratious God is myndfull of hys mercyes and alwayes sendeth comfort to all hys, though by meanes farre contrary to mans reason, & much passing our capacities. And hereby we may perceiue how incomprehensible Gods iudgementes are vnto man. For Daniel was as an Aungell amongest men, so that if there were any good amongest that people, Daniel was as the principall. For Ezechiel 3reckeneth Daniel amongest the thrée iust, by whom it was most lyke amongest all mortall men, that God would be pleased and pacified, yet is Daniel caryed into captiuitie to be a slaue vnder this cruell king of Babylon: & other men most wicked, prouokyng continually Gods wrath agaynst them did remayne quiet at home in their nestes. God doth not depriue them of their naturall countrey, neither cast them forth of that heritage: which was a signe and pledge of his fatherly adoptiō. Now if any man would take vpon him to determine the cause why Daniel was caryed away among the first, shall not such one shew hys owne madnes? Let vs therfore learne reuerently to haue in admiration the profound iudgementes of God which do so farre passe our capacities,4 and in the meane season remember this sentence of Christ: If they haue done this in a greene tree, what shalbe done to the dry? Seyng this was done to Daniel, what great mercy and long sufferance of God towardes vs is this, to spare vs so long wallowyng in sinne? For who dare compare hym selfe to Daniel? Nay we are vnworthy to loose hys shoe latchets, as is the old Prouerbe. For all hys great tētations could not turne hym from the true seruice of hys God, as foloweth. But where ⟨p. 2⟩he sayth that God deliuered Iehoiakim into the handes of Nebuchadnezer, it is to our comfort, that we may sée that Nebuchadnezer dyd not ouercome the kyng nor take away the captiues by hys owne power or counsaile or pollicy:
- 1Jere. 24.Iere. 24.
- 22. K. 25.27
- 3Ezek. 14.
- 4Luc. 23.31.
