The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

It is no doubt, but that Satan intended by the dispersion of the Jews, so to have profaned the whole Seed of Abraham, that among them should neither have remained the true knowledge of God, nor yet the Spirit of Sanctification; but that all should have come to a like contempt of God:¹ For I pray you, for what purpose was it, that Daniel and his fellows were taken into the Kings Court, were commanded to be fed at the Kings Table, and were put to the Schools of their Divines, Soothsayers and Astrologians? It may be thought that it proceeded of the Kings humanity, and of a zeal that he had, that they should be brought up in virtue and good learning; and I doubt not but it was so understood of a great number of the Jews; but the secret practise of the Devil was understood of Daniel, when he refused to defile himself with the Kings meat, which was forbidden to the Seed of Abraham in the Law of their GOD. Well, God beginneth shortly after to show himself mindful of his promise made by his Prophet, and to trouble Nebuchadnezzar himself, by showing to him a vision in his dream, which did the more trouble him, because he could not forget the terror of it; neither yet could he remember what the Vision and the parcels thereof were: Whereupon were called all Divines, Interpreters of dreams, and Soothsayers, of whom the King demanded, If they could let him understand what he had dreamed; But while that they answer, That such a question used not to be demanded of any Soothsayer or Magician, for the resolution thereof only appertained to the gods, whose habitation was not with men; the charge was given▪ That they all should be slain;² and amongst the rest Daniel was sought (whose innocency the Devil envied) to have suffered the same judgement: He reclaimeth, and asketh time to disclose that secret; (I only touch the History, to let you see by what means God increaseth his knowledge) which being granted, the vision is revealed unto him, he showeth the same unto the King, with the true interpretation of it; adding, That the knowledge thereof came not from the Stars, but only from the God of Abraham, who only was, and is, the true God:

It is no doubt, but that Sathan intended by the dispersion of the Iewes, so to have prophaned the whole Seed of Abraham, that among them should neither have remained the true knowledge of God, nor yet the Spirit of Sanctification; but that all should have come to a like contempt of God: