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…

But because Daniel doth not here declare his own virtue, but the spirit speaketh by his mouth, we must mark that this boldness of mind pleased God in the holy Prophet: and his deliverance doth declare how greatly his Godly fact was allowed, in that he had rather to renounce his own life then to change any thing of his usual custom in serving of God. We do know that this is the chief sacrifice which God requireth, even to pray unto God. For we do testify thereby, that he is the author and giver of all good things unto us: and again we do give a testimony of our faith whiles we fly unto him, and cast all our cares into his bosom, and do offer unto him our requests and desires. Seeing therefore that prayer hath the chief office in the worship and service of God, doubtless it was of no small importance, that the king forbade that any man should pray unto God: for this was a manifest & over gross denial of religion. And hereby do we gather again how blind the pride of this king was, whiles he could subscribe unto their wicked and filthy decree: again how greatly the nobles raged, who that they might destroy Daniel, went about as much as in them lay, to destroy all religion and to pluck down God from heaven. For what remaineth, when men think that they can want the help of God, and so have no care of God at all? We know that unless God do strengthen us every moment with his power, we are easily brought to nought. When the king then did forbid all manner of prayer for a whole month, this was (as I have said) to require of every man to deny God. Therefore Daniel could not obey the decree without great injury unto God and falling from religion, because this prayer is the chief sacrifice that God requireth. Wherefore it is no marvel though Daniel did boldly stand against this cursed decree. And concerning his profession, it was necessary that he should testify before men, that he did stand steadfastly in the worship of God. For if he had changed any thing of his usual order, it had been after a ⟨p. 99⟩sort a denial of his religion. He had not publicly pronounced that he contemned God for Darius pleasure: but the very change had been a sign of a traitorous defection and faithless falling from God. But we know that God doth not only require the faith of the hart and the inward affection, but also the testimony and profession of our religion.

But because Daniel doth not here declare his owne vertue, but the spirit speaketh by his mouth, we must marke that this boldnes of minde pleased God in the holy Prophet: and his deliuerance doth declare how greatly his Godly fact was allowed, in that he had rather to renoūce his owne life then to chaunge any thing of his vsuall custome in seruing of God. We do know that this is the chiefe sacrifice which God requireth, euen to pray vnto God. For we do testify thereby, that he is the author and geuer of all good thinges vnto vs: and agayne we do geue a testimony of our fayth whiles we flie vnto hym, and cast all our cares into hys bosome, and do offer vnto hym our requestes and desires. Seing therefore that prayer hath the chiefe office in the worship and seruice of God, doubtles it was of no small importance, that ye king forbad yt any man should pray vnto God: for this was a manifest & ouer grosse deniall of religion. And hereby do we gather agayne how blinde the pride of thys kyng was, whiles he could subscribe vnto their wicked and filthy decrée: againe how greatly the nobles raged, who that they might destroy Daniel, went about as much as in them lay, to destroy all religion and to plucke downe God from heauen. For what remayneth, when men thinke that they can want the helpe of God, and so haue no care of God at all? We know that vnlesse God do strengthen vs euery moment wyth hys power, we are easily brought to nought. When the king then did forbid all manner of prayer for a whole moneth, this was (as I haue sayd) to require of euery man to deny God. Therefore Daniel could not obey the decrée without great iniury vnto God and falling from religion, because this prayer is the chiefe sacrifice that God requireth. Wherefore it is no meruaile though Daniel did boldly stand against thys cursed decrée. And concerning hys profession, it was necessary that he should testify before mē, that he did stand stedfastly in the worship of God. For if he had chaunged any thing of hys vsuall order, it had bene after a