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

Here is described a sodeine chaūge in a kyng no lesse cru∣ell thē proude. We haue sene before how proudly he requi∣red that wicked worshyp of the seruauntes of God, and when he did sée that they dyd not obey his commaundemēt, how fierce he was agaynst thē. And now Daniel declareth how soone hys pride was brought downe and his cruelty qualed. But it is to be noted, that the king was not so chaū∣ged that hee did cast of wholly his old nature and maners. For when he was touched with this present miracle, hée did in déede geue glory vnto God, but it was for a moment: he did not earnestly repent. And such examples are diligent∣ly to be noted: for many men by one fact will iudge of eue∣ry

man. Howbeit the most wicked contemners of God may for a tyme submit them selues vnto hym, and shall not dis∣semble it in the sight of men, but shal do it earnestly: because that GOD verely doth compell them thereunto with hys power: yet in y^e meane season they kepe within their hartes both pride and cruelty. Such was the turnyng of kyng Ne∣buchadnezer. For he being amased with y^e miracle, could resist God no longer: yet he was not constant in his conuer∣sion, as we shall sée afterward.

Let vs know therfore that the wicked which are not re∣generate with the spirite of God, are driuen many times to worshyp God: but this is onely a particulare motion in thē, and the rest of their lyfe doth not aunswere vnto it. But whē God reformeth his seruaunts, he also taketh in hand to gouerne them vnto the end, and doth encorage them to perseuerance, and confirmeth them with his spirite. Yet is it to be marked that the glory of God is set forth by this temporall and chaungeable conuersion of the wicked, be∣cause, will they nill they, they are compelled to geue place vnto God for a tyme: wherby the greatnes of his power is knowen. God doth therfore cause that to serue to his glory which doth nothyng profite the reprobate, but rather tur∣neth vnto them to a greater iudgement. For Nebuchad∣nezer was lesse to be excused after that he knowledged the God of Israel to be the most high and onely God, and after∣ward straight wayes returned to his superstitions.

Daniel sayth that hee came neare to the mouth of the for∣nace, and that he said: Sadrach, Mesach, and Abednego the seruauntes of the hie God, go forth and come hether. A little before he would haue had his Image worshypped, and that to be counted the onely God in heauen and in earth, onely because it was his pleasure. For we sée that he did chalenge so much to hym selfe that he would haue all Religion and worshyp of God subiect to his lust and pleasure: but now as though he were a new man, he calleth Sadrach, Mesach, and Abednego the seruaūtes of the high God. What place then doth he put him selfe in and all the Chaldees? Verely

that they do worshyp fayned Gods and Idols, which they haue forged for them selues. But God dyd wryng out this word from the cruell and proud kyng: like as wicked men are compelled by tormentes to speake that they would not.

Thus therfore doth Nebuchadnezer confesse the God of Israel to be the hye God, as though he had bene vpō the racke, but not willyngly neither of a well disposed minde. He doth not dissemble this before men (as I haue sayd) but his minde was neither pure nor vpright, but onely boy∣led out with a particular motiō: so that we may say that this was rather a violent then a voluntary motion.

After Daniel sayth that his companions came forth of the middes of the fire. By the which wordes he confirmeth agayne this miracle. For God might haue quenched the fire of the fornace: but he would haue it burne in the sight of all men, that thereby the power of this deliueraunce might be more euident. And by the way this is to be noted, that these thrée men walked in the fornace whiles the kyng commaū∣ded them to come forth: because God had geuen them none other commaundement, They dyd sée that they remayned safe and sound in the middes of the fornace. They were cō∣tent with that present benefite of God, and they thought not them selues at libertie, whiles that by the kynges voyce they were called forth.* 1.1 Like as when Noah was in y^e Arke he did sée his health and life to lye as it were in the graue: therfore did he attempt nothyng whiles he was commaun∣ded to go forth. Euen so sayth Daniel, that his companions went not forth of the fornace whiles the kyng commaun∣ded it. For then they vnderstode that they pleased God, whē they had heard it at y^e kyngs mouth: not that he was a Pro∣phet or a preacher, but because they were cast into the for∣nace by his commaundement: and so now when he calleth them out they know that the end is appointed of theyr tor∣ment, & so they come forth as it were from death vnto life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 8.16.