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…

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.

We sée then when kinges do extoll them selues ouer much, they set them selues forth to open shame: in so much that they be the slaues of their seruauntes. And this is ouer common in earthly princes. They which get great authoritie and fauour at their handes, do flatter them in all things, and they worship thē as Gods. There is no kinde of flattery which they do not inuēt to bring thēselues into fauour. But in the meane season what libertie is there in those Idoles? For they are suffred to do nothing: no, they can not be familiare euen with their best and most faithful frendes, whiles they are obserued and watched of their kepers. To conclude, if they be compared with those miserable persons which are kept in most strayte prison, there is none shut vp in so déepe a dongeon, although he haue thrée or foure kepers, which hath not more libertie then these kynges. But (as I haue sayd) this is the most iust iudgement and vengeance of God. For seyng they can not conteine them selues in the order & degrée of men, but will pearce euen aboue the cloudes, and be equall with God, it is necessary that they be made a mocking stocke. Hereof it commeth that they are seruaunts to their seruauntes, and dare speake nothing fréely, neither haue they any man their frende, neither dare they call this or that man vnto them, nor graunt vnto this man or that man what they would. Thus they rule therfore as seruauntes in earthly kingdomes, because they remember not that they are of the nomber of mortall men.