Commentaries 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

2 Then Nebuchadnezer the king sent forth to gather together the nobles, the princes, and the dukes, the iudges, the receiuers, the counsellers, the officers, and all the gouerners of the prouin∣ces, that they should come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezer y^e king had set vp.

3 So the nobles, Princes, and Dukes, the Iudges, the Receiuers, the Counsellers, the Of∣ficers, and all the Gouerners of the Prouinces were assembled vnto the dedicatyng of the I∣mage that Nebuchadnezer the kyng had set vp: and they stode before the Image, which Nebu∣chadnezer had set vp.

4 Then an herald cryed aloud: Be it knowne to you, o people, nations, and langages,

5 That when ye heare the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, sackebut, psalteries, dulcimer, and all instrumentes of musicke, ye fall downe and worship the golden image which Nebuchad¦nezer the king hath set vp.

6 And who so euer falleth not downe and wor∣shippeth, shall the same houre be cast into the midest of an hote fiery fornace.

7 Therefore assone as all the people heard the sound of the cornet, trumpet, harpe, sackebut, psalterie, & all instrumentes of musicke, all the people nations, and languages fell downe and worshypped the golden Image, that Nebuchad∣nezer the kyng had set vp.

8 By reason whereof at that same tyme came men of the Chaldeans and greuously accused the Iewes.

Although their purpose is not heare expressed that accu∣sed Sadrach Mesach and Abednego, yet of the end by pro∣bable coniecture we do gather that this was done of a set purpose when the kyng set vp the golden Image. For we do sée how they were obserued and marked amongest so great a multitude. And (as was sayd before) it semeth that

Nebuchadnezer dyd folow the commune policie of kyngs. For though they presumptuously despise God, yet do they arme them selues with Religion to establish their power, and for this purpose onely do they dissemble some kynde of Religion, to containe the people in obedience. Whereas then the Iewes were mixed with the Chaldees and Assiri∣ans, the kynges policie was to preuent all controuersies, and therefore doth he set vp this Image in a famous place, that it might bee a proufe and a triall whether the Iewes would ioyne them selues to the rites of the Babilonians. And this place may minister some probable coniecture that the kyng was moued hereunto by his counsellers, because they were not well content that straunge men of an other nation should be head officers of Babylon, who yet were but as slaues: for by the law of armes they were taken pri∣soners.

Wherefore seyng the Chaldees grudged at this, their malice & enuy moued them to geue the kyng this counsell. For els how commeth it to passe that they so sodainly per∣ceiue that the Iewes, namely Sadrach, Mesach, and Abed∣nego do no worship nor reuerence to the Image: Surely it appeareth that they dyd as it were lye in wayt to espy what the Iewes would do, and thereby may we gather that they imagined this crafty accusation at the first when as they counselled the kyng to make this Image. And that with cla∣mor and tumult they do accuse the Iewes, hereby do we per∣ceiue that their mindes were full of enuy and hatred. It might be sayd, that they were styrred with zele, as supersti∣tious men would haue all other bound to their madnes, as also cruelty foloweth such foolish zele alwayes: but here it is euident that enuy onely caryed away the Chaldees with such clamors to accuse the Iewes. And it is vncertaine whe∣ther they speake of the whole nation, that is to say, of all the exiles generally, or of these thrée onely. This is probable and lykely, that they dyd restrayne their accusation to these thrée. For if these thrée had bene brought down, they would easily haue conquered the rest. For few would haue bene

found so constant amongest all the people. It is very lyke therfore that these outrageous cryers do assayle those whō they compted most bold & constant: and so labour to bryng them down from that hygh dignitie, in the which they could not abide to behold them.

Here may it bee demaunded why they spared Daniel, when it is not lyke that hee would dissemble any thyng at all when the kyng commaunded the Image to be worshyp∣ped which he had set vp. It may be that they absteined frō Daniel for a tyme, whom they knew to be in the kynges fa∣uour: & that they dyd accuse these thrée which might more easily and with lesse labour be oppressed. I suppose that this craft moued them that they dyd not name Daniel together with these thrée, lest peraduenture the fauour that he was in should mitigate the kynges wrath. Now foloweth the forme of their accusation.

O King, Liue thou for euer. That was their common sa∣lutation. It is added afterward: Thou O king, for vehe∣mency, as though they should say: thou of thy kyngly ma∣iesty hast made a decree, that who so euer should heare the voyce of the Trumpet, Harpe, Pipe, and other instru∣mentes of musike, hee should fall downe before the gol∣den Image, and who so euer refused thys, should be cast in∣to the fornace of flaming fire. But here are Iewes whom thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon. This they put to in despite, to charge them with ingrati∣tude, that they being brought to so great honor by the king should despise the kinges commaundement, and intice o∣thers by theyr ensample to like disobedience. We sée ther∣fore that this was spoken to amplify the crime, that the king had set them ouer the prouince of Babylon, & they did not worship the golden Image neither honor his Gods.

We sée that the Chaldees in all this accusatiō haue one∣ly this respect, to condemne Shadrah, Meshach, and Abed∣nego of this crime onely, that they did not obey the kinges commaundemement. For they doo not dispute of theyr re∣ligion, because that was not profitable for them, to call into

question whether the Gods that they worshipped were worthy such worship or no. Therefore they passe with si∣lence that thing which they thinke not to be expedient, and they lay fast holde of this darte: that the kinges maiesty is contemned, because these thrée do not worship the Image which the king by his decrée had commaunded.

Here agayne doo we sée that supersticious persons doo not apply theyr minde nor care to search out the true or right worship of God: but casting of this care, they follow onely theyr foolishe boldenes and theyr owne lust. Where∣fore seing such foolishe temeritie is set foorth vnto vs by the holy ghost, as it were in a glasse, let vs learne that our re∣ligion and worshipping of God can not be allowed by God, vnlesse it be grounded of the worde of God: and that in this poynt therefore the authoritie of men is nothing to be re∣garded. For except we be assured that the religion which we follow doth please God, what so euer by mans autho∣ritie can be brought to the confirmation thereof, it is weake and nothing woorthe.

Forthermore, seing we sée these holy men charged with the crime of vnthankefulnes and also of rebellion, there is no cause why we shoulde thinke much to suffer the same at thys day. Those that falsely accuse vs, do lay rebellion to our charge, because (forsooth) that we despise the decrées of princes which would binde vs to their errors and blindnes. But as we shall sée afterwarde, we haue an easy and ready defence: yet must we suffer this reproch for a while before the worlde, as though we were stubburne and rebellious: And though the wicked do charge vs with ingratitude and a thousand reproches moe, yet must we beare theyr sclaun∣ders paciently for a season, whiles the Lord come with hys brightnes and glory to mayntayne our innocency.