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…

Now, although this was a singular privilege which God did them vouchsafe to bestow upon his people & his Prophet: yet have we great cause at this day to lament, that kings do so proudly contemn the gifts of God in all the best men which might be most profitable rulers of the people, and in the mean season set so much by blockheads, like themselves, and men that are given to covetousness and extortion, yea most cruel and dissolute in all wickedness. Seeing then we see that there is no wisdom or discretion in kings to discern who are worthy of rule and authority, we may worthily bewail the state of the world: for this is unto us a manifest spectacle of the vengeance of God, when kings are so destitute of wisdom. But king Darius alone shall be sufficient at the great day to condemn them: who had so great a judgement, that he doubted not to set over all his officers, a man that was a stranger and a captive. This was therefore a right princelike and heroical virtue, that Darius preferred one captive before all his familiars. But now kings regard nothing else but to set in authority their bawds, their jesters, & their flatterers. So in the mean time they set none up but evil men, of no value, and whom God hath marked with some note of ignominy: ⟨image 107⟩who though they be unworthy to be counted in the number of men, yet are they kings of kings: for kings are at this day for the most part but servants. And this cometh upon them for their slothful negligence, which refuse and cast away from them all cares, and will take no pains. Therefore are they compelled to commit the government unto others, retaining only the title to themselves. These things (as I have said) are certain tokens of Gods wrath: because the world is unworthy that God should stretch forth his hand to govern it.

Now, although this was a singular priuiledge which God did thē vouchsafe to bestow vpō his people & his Prophet: yet haue we great cause at thys day to lament, that kynges do so proudly contemne the giftes of God in all the best men which might be most profitable rulers of the people, and in the meane season set so much by blockeheades, like themselues, and mē that are geuen to couetousnes and extortion, yea most cruell and dissolute in all wickednes. Seyng then we sée that there is no wisdome or discretion in kynges to discerne who are worthy of rule and authority, we may worthely bewayle the state of the world: for thys is vnto vs a manifest spectacle of the vengeaunce of God, when kinges are so destitute of wisdome. But king Darius alone shalbe sufficient at the great day to condemne them: who had so great a iudgement, that he doubted not to set ouer all hys officers, a man that was a straunger and a captiue. This was therefore a right princelike and heroicall vertue, that Darius preferred one captiue before all his familiars. But now kynges regard nothing els but to set in authority their baudes, their iesters, & their flatterers. So in the meane tyme they set none vp but euill men, of no valewe, and whom God hath marked wyth some note of ignominy: