A17641:564
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.
Peace be multiplied unto you. We know that kings do thus fawn upon their subjects, and use gentle prefaces that they may more easily obtain their purposes, and also that they may have them more obedient subjects. And this is a thing that costeth them nought, to wish peace to their subjects. And in the mean time (as I have said) by this bait they do often times seek favour to prepare their subjects to further bondage. By the name of peace it is well known that a prosperous state is understand: as though he should say, I wish you to do well and prosperously.
Peace be multiplied vnto you. We know that kynges do thus faune vpon their subiectes, and vse gentle prefaces that they may more easily obteine their purposes, and also that they may haue them more obedient subiectes. And this is a thyng that costeth them nought, to wish peace to their subiectes. And in the meane tyme (as I haue sayd) by this bayte they do often times séeke fauour to prepare their subiectes to further bondage. By the name of peace it is wel knowen that a prosperous state is vnderstand: as though hee should say, I wishe you to do well and prosperously.
Afterward he addeth: That a decree is made in his presence, that is to say, that he of his authority doth command all his subjects: that they all do fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. By the which fear and trembling he understandeth ⟨image 129⟩nothing but reverence and worship. But thus use all profane men to speak, which are afraid at the naming of God. Yet it seemeth that he would express that the power of the God of Israel was evident, which ought to move them all to reverence and worship him, and that with fear and trembling. And this manner of speech seemeth to be taken of a true principle: because God is never truly worshipped but when men are humbled and brought down. Therefore God nameth him self many times terrible: not that he would drive his servants to worship him by fear: but because (as I have said) the minds of men can never be well prepared to due reverence, unless they fully perceive the power of God, so that they are afraid of his judgement. But if fear only should have place in the minds of men, he could not frame them to true holiness. For that sentence of the Psalm