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 Daniel addeth the decree of the king which he caused to be published: and by this decree and proclamation he testifieth that he was so moved with the deliverance of Daniel, that he gave the most high glory to the God of Israel. Yet do I not think that the king is sufficiently proved ⟨image 128⟩hereby to be of sound religion, as many interpreters do here commend king Darius above measure, as though he had been wholly converted and had received the true worship prescribed in the law of Moses. No such thing can be gathered of the words of the decree: and the matter it self doth declare, that his dominion and kingdom was never purged from superstitions. For king Darius suffered his subjects to serve Idols, and he himself ceased not to be polluted with such filthiness: but he would place the God of Israel in the hiest degree, as though he could couple together fire and water: of the which thing we have spoken before. For the profane men think that they do their duty to the true God, if they do not altogether contemn him, but appoint him some place: but especially when they prefer him above all the Idols, they think that they have satisfied God. But this is foolish. For except all superstitions be abolished, God hath not his right, for he suffereth no companions. Therefore this place doth not show that there was any true or sincere Religion in king Darius: but we may only gather hereby, that he was moved with this miracle, to this end that he should celebrate throughout all nations that were subject unto him, the glory and name of the God of Israel.

Here Daniel addeth the decrée of the king which he caused to be published: and by this decrée and proclamation he testifieth that he was so moued with the deliueraunce of Daniel, that he gaue the most high glory to the God of Israel. Yet do I not thinke that the king is sufficiently proued ⟨image 128⟩hereby to be of sound religion, as many interpreters do here commend king Darius aboue measure, as though he had bene wholy conuerted and had receaued the true worship prescribed in the law of Moses. No such thing can be gathered of the wordes of the decrée: and the matter it selfe doth declare, that hys dominion and kingdome was neuer purged from superstitions. For king Darius suffered hys subiectes to serue Idoles, and he himselfe ceased not to be polluted with such filthines: but he would place the God of Israel in the hiest degrée, as though he could couple together fire and water: of the which thing we haue spokē before. For the prophane men thinke that they do their duty to the true God, if they do not altogether contemne hym, but appoynt him some place: but especially when they preferre hym aboue all the Idols, they thinke that they haue satisfied God. But this is foolish. For except all superstitions be abolished, God hath not his right, for he suffereth no cōpanions. Therfore this place doth not shew that there was any true or sincere Religion in kyng Darius: but we may onely gather hereby, that hee was moued with this miracle, to this ende that hee should celebrate throughout all nations that were subiect vnto him, the glory and name of the God of Israel.