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 Prophet doth prosecute his purpose, and confirmeth that which I have spoken, that king Betsazar would receive no doctrine, but was willingly blinded at Gods judgement. Thou hast lifted thy self up (saith he) against the Lord of heaven. If he had proudly raised him self up against men, that had been a fault worthy of punishment: but when he provoketh God of set purpose, this arrogancy could in no wise be suffered. And he expresseth the manner of his pride when he saith, that he commanded the vessels of the temple to be brought forth, and that he did drink in them. Now the pollution was a wicked sacrilege. But Beltsazar was not content with that wickedness, that he had abused the holy vessels to his riotousness and filthy drunkenness, and that he had set them before his concubines and harlots: but he addeth a more horrible reproach and despite against God: for he praised his Gods of silver, of gold, and of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone, which have no sense at all. This ⟨image 101⟩was not spoken of before: but because Daniel doth here bear the person of a teacher, he doth not speak it so shortly as he did before. For when he said in the beginning of this chapter, that Beltsazar celebrated this filthy feast, he was an historiographer: but now is he a doctor and a teacher. Thou (saith he) hast praised the Gods made of corruptible substance, which neither see, neither hear, nor understand, and thou hast defrauded the living God of his honour, in whose hand thy life is, upon whom thou doest depend, and of whom also thou hast what soever thou boastest upon. Seeing then thou diddest so despise the living God which was so merciful unto thee, how foul and shameful is this ingratitude? We see therefore how severely the Prophet doth here rebuke the wicked tyrant for his sacrilege, for his outrageous pride, and rash boldness, and also for his shameful ingratitude against God.

The Prophet doth prosecute his purpose, and confirmeth that which I haue spoken, that kyng Betsazar would receiue no doctrine, but was willyngly blynded at Gods iudgement. Thou hast lifted thy selfe vp (sayth he) agaynst the Lord of heauen. If he had proudly raised him selfe vp against men, that had bene a fault worthy of punishment: but whē he prouoketh God of set purpose, this arrogancy could in no wise be suffered. And he expresseth ye maner of his pride when he sayth, that he commaunded the vessels of the tēple to be brought forth, and that he did drinke in them. Now ye pollution was a wicked sacrilege. But Beltsazar was not content with that wickednes, that hee had abused the holy vessels to his rioteousnes and filthy dronkenes, and that he had set them before his concubines and harlots: but hee addeth a more horrible reproch and despite agaynst God: for he praysed his Gods of siluer, of gold, and of brasse, of yron, of wood, and of stone, which haue no sense at all. This