A17641:433
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…
Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially for the use of the family of the right honourable Earle of Huntingdon, to set forth as in a glass, how one may profitably read the Scriptures, by considering the text, meditating the sense thereof, and by prayerCommentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially for the vse of the family of the ryght honorable Earle of Huntingdon, to set forth as in a glasse, how one may profitably read the Scriptures, by consideryng the text, meditatyng the sense therof, and by prayer
London: printed by John Daye, 1570London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1570
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Biblical commentary book of Daniel › Chapter 5 › Part › Meditation
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
God hath many causes and those many times most secret, why he doth extol him and cast down an other. Howbeit this must we know without all doubt, that no kings come to authority unless GOD lend them his hand, and still stablish them therein: and when he will take away their power, they fall speedily: not that there cometh anything by chance in these mutations and changes, but because that God, as is written in the book of Job, 1doth loose their girdles whom he had before girded.
God hath many causes and those many tymes most secret, why he doth extoll him and cast downe an other. Howbeit this must we know without all doubt, that no kyngs come to authority vnles GOD lend them hys hand, and styll stablishe them therein: and when hee wyll take away their power, they fall spedely: not that there commeth anything by chaunce in these mutations and chaunges, but because that God, as is written in the booke of Iob, 1doth loose their girdles whom he had before girded.
Then it followeth: whom he would kill he killed, whom he would he did smite Some think that the abuse of the kings power is here noted. But I had rather take it simply, that Nebuchadnezzar had authority to cast down whom he would, and to exalt whom he would that it was in his power to give life and to take away life. I do not therefore refer these words to tyrannical lust, as though Nebuchadnezzar had murdered many innocents, had shed mans blood without reason, or had spoiled many of their possessions, and had made other rich or raised them to honours: I do not take it so: but that it was in his power either to kill or to give life, to set up or to cast down.