A17641:53
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.
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.
8 But Daniel purposed in his hart not to be polluted with the portion of the kings meat and drink, and he desired of the master of the Eunuchs that he might not be polluted.
8 But Daniel purposed in his hart not to be polluted with the portiō of the kynges meat and drinke, and he desired of the master of the Eunuches that he might not be polluted.
Hear again Daniel declareth that he had always his ⟨image 16⟩heart bent to avoid all things that might any way pollute him and make him forget him self and his state. But here some do doubt whether any such matter were in the meat and the drink, that Daniel ought to abstain from them. For this seemeth some note of superstition. And we know that all things are pure unto the pure: which rule is true in all worlds. Again we do read no such thing of Joseph. And it is very like that Daniel afterward did use such meats when he was in his great authority with the king. Wherefore this was not alway observed of Daniel, and therefore it may seem now either an unadvised zeal or to much singularity. To this may be answered: that God allowed it in Daniel & in his fellows, as it were by miracle, preserving them fair liking in their mourning & strait diet, and therefore it is not to be doubted but by Gods spirit they were thus at the first moved to abstain for a time from the kings delicates, and so to record that they were exiles and captives, brought from the holy City and the holy kindred of Abraham, into an Idolatrous country and people whose manners were abominable unto them. And so they count their fine meats and dainty fare, pollution and abomination for the consequence that would have ensued if they had greedily given them selves unto them. For Daniel knew the danger, that they should have been corrupted with heathnish manners, if they had thus at the first given them selves up to have been abused with sumptuous fare and princely dishes. Wherefore abstaining from them, he keepeth his mind in reverence to God, he retaineth the remembrance of his own state and country, he disappointeth the king of his crafty purpose, and groweth into more credit through Gods providence.