A17641:516
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 6 › 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.
The king (as I have said) being afraid by the threatening and menacing of his nobles, doth appoint Daniel to die. And hereby we gather that the kings themselves have ⟨p. 105⟩that reward which their pride deserveth, when they are compelled to obey like slaves unto their flatterers. How was Darius deceived by the craft of the Princes, even because he supposed, that his Empire should be now established, if he could thus try the obedience of all men, that no man should pray to any God for a whole month long? Therefore he thought, that he should be both above God and man, if he had tried such an obedience in all his subjects. Now we see how Princes do stubbornly rise against God, when they dare threaten death, except men be obeyed.
The king (as I haue sayd) beyng affrayd by the threatnyng and manacing of his nobles, doth appoint Daniel to die. And hereby we gather that the kinges themselues haue ⟨p. 105⟩that reward which their pride deserueth, when they are cō pelled to obey like slaues vnto their flatterers. How was Darius deceaued by the craft of the Princes, euen because he supposed, that his Empire should be now established, if he could thus trye the obedience of all men, that no man should pray to any God for a whole moneth long? Therfore he thought, that he should be both aboue God and man, if he had tryed such an obedience in all his subiectes. Now we sée how Princes do stubbernly rise agaynst God, when they dare threaten death, except men be obeyed.
We see then when kings do extol them selves over much, they set them selves forth to open shame: in so much that they be the slaves of their servants. And this is over common in earthly princes. They which get great authority and favour at their hands, do flatter them in all things, and they worship them as Gods. There is no kind of flattery which they do not invent to bring themselves into favour. But in the mean season what liberty is there in those Idols? For they are suffered to do nothing: no, they can not be familiar even with their best and most faithful friends, whiles they are observed and watched of their keepers. To conclude, if they be compared with those miserable persons which are kept in most strait prison, there is none shut up in so deep a dungeon, although he have three or four keepers, which hath not more liberty then these kings. But (as I have said) this is the most just judgement and vengeance of God. For seeing they can not contain them selves in the order & degree of men, but will pierce even above the clouds, and be equal with God, it is necessary that they be made a mocking stock. Hereof it cometh that they are servants to their servants, and dare speak nothing freely, neither have they any man their friend, neither dare they call this or that man unto them, nor grant unto this man or that man what they would. Thus they rule therefore as servants in earthly kingdoms, because they remember not that they are of the number of mortal men.