A17641:441
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.
This verse needeth no long exposition, because Daniel doth repeat only that which he had written before, that ⟨image 99⟩his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar, though he were not changed into a beast, yet at the least he was cast forth of mans company, & that he was deformed throughout all his body, & that he him self abhorred mans company & would rather dwell with brute beasts. This was a horrible example, especially in such a great monarch, and worthy to be left in memory to the posterity from hand to hand even to a thousand generations, if that Monarch had endured so long. But that his nephew had so soon forgotten this lesson, hereby is he worthily reproved of shameful security and carelessness. This then is the cause why Daniel doth again rehearse the history: He was cast forth from the sons of men (saith he) and his hart was like the beasts, that is to say, he was destitute of reason and judgement for a time. And we know that this is the chief difference betwixt men and beasts, that men do understand and judge: but the brute beasts are only carried by their senses. God therefore showed a terrible example upon this king when he thus spoiled him of reason and understanding.
This verse nedeth no long exposition, because Daniel doth repete onely that which hee had written before, that ⟨image 99⟩hys grandfather Nebuchadnezer, though hee were not chaunged into a beast, yet at the least he was cast forth of mās company, & that hee was deformed throughout all his body, & that he him selfe abhorred mans cōpany & would rather dwell with brute beastes. This was a horrible exāple, especially in such a great monarch, and worthy to be left in memory to the posteritie frō hand to hād euen to a thousand generatiōs, if that Monarch had endured so long. But that his nephew had so soone forgotten this lesson, hereby is hee worthely reproued of shamefull securitie and carelesnes. This then is the cause why Daniel doth agayne rehearse the history: He was cast forth from the sonnes of men (sayth he) and his hart was lyke the beastes, that is to say, he was destitute of reason and iudgement for a tyme. And we know that this is the chief difference betwixt men and beastes, that men do vnderstand and iudge: but the brute beastes are onely caryed by their senses. God therfore shewed a terrible example vpon this kyng when he thus spoyled him of reason and vnderstandyng.