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…

Here do the nobles of Darius bewray their craft, whiles they do watch Daniel and that with mutual conspiracy. For they had none other cause that moved them to make that decree, but to draw Daniel unto death. Therefore they assemble them selves together and find Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. If Daniel had prayed privily, he had not been in danger of those trains: but he did not doubt to offer him self unto death: for he knew to what end the decree was made, and he knew that the nobles would come. We see therefore how he went willingly to death, and that for none other cause but that he might retain the true worship of God even in outward profession. Let them go now which will cloak their treason, whiles they pretend that men may not rashly cast them selves into danger: and that, seeing wicked men lye in wait for them on every side, they are ware therefore that they do not unadvisedly cast their lives away. For Daniel by their reason were to be blamed of to much simplicity and foolishness, because he went into known danger wittingly and willingly. Howbeit (as we have said) he could not have escaped this danger but he should after a sort have fallen from God. For straight way they would have cast him in the ⟨image 114⟩teeth: Wherefore doest thou leave of from thy wonted manner? why shuttest thou the windows? why darest thou not boldly pray to thy GOD? It appeareth evidently that thou doest more esteem the king then the reverence and fear of God. Therefore Daniel because the honour of God should so have been diminished, offereth him self as a sacrifice unto death willingly, as we have said.

Here do the nobles of Darius bewray their craft, whiles they do watch Daniel and that with mutuall cōspiracy. For they had none other cause that moued them to make that decrée, but to draw Daniel vnto death. Therfore they assemble them selues together and finde Daniel praying and makyng supplication before his God. If Daniel had prayed priuely, he had not bene in daunger of those traynes: but he dyd not doubt to offer hym selfe vnto death: for hee knew to what ende the decrée was made, and he knew that the nobles would come. We sée therfore how he went willyngly to death, and that for none other cause but that he might reteine the true worshyp of God euen in outward profession. Let them go now which will cloke their treason, whyles they pretend that men may not rashly cast them selues into daunger: and that, seyng wicked men lye in wayte for them on euery side, they are ware therfore that they do not vnaduisedly cast their lyues away. For Daniel by their reason were to be blamed of to much simplicitie and foolishnes, because he went into knowne daunger wittingly and willingly. Howbeit (as we haue sayd) he could not haue escaped this daunger but he should after a sort haue fallen from God. For straight way they would haue cast him in the