A17641:434
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.
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.
Then it followeth: whom he would kill he killed, whom he would he did smite Some thinke that the abuse of the kinges power is here noted. But I had rather take it simply, that Nebuchadnezer had authority to cast downe whom he would, and to exalt whom he would that it was in hys power to geue lyfe and to take away lyfe. I do not therefore referre these wordes to tyrannicall lust, as though Nebuchadnezer had murthered many innocentes, had shed mās bloud without reason, or had spoyled many of their possessions, and had made other rich or raysed them to honours: I do not take it so: but that it was in hys power either to kill or to geue life, to set vp or to cast downe.
To be short, me think that Daniel doth here describe what power kings have, which may thus freely deal with their subjects: not because it is lawful, but because none dare speak against it. For whatsoever pleaseth the king, all men are compelled to agree thereunto, or at the least no man dare stir against it. Seeing that kings then have ⟨image 98⟩such liberty, Daniel declareth that this king Nebuchadnezzar was not raised hereunto by his own industry, wisdom, or counsel, or by his good fortune: but he saith that he gate this great Empire, and that he was terrible unto all, because God had adorned him with that glory. In the mean time yet it behoveth all kings to regard, what is lawful and what GOD permitteth them to do. For as they are kings, so must they consider also that they must once give accounts to the most high king. We can not gather hereby then that kings are constitute of God to be lawless, to live without order and to do what they list. But the Prophet (as I have said) speaketh of the power that they have. And seeing that kings have power of death and life over their subjects, he saith that the life of them all was in king Nebuchadnezzars hand.