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 doth Nebuchadnezer repeate that which he had spoken of before, that is, that he séeketh the interpretation of the dreame. He knew what figure had bene shewed vn∣to hym: but he could not vnderstand the counsayle of God, neyther yet perswade wyth hymselfe whereto it belonged: therefore hée trieth in thys part the fayth of Daniel. He affirmeth that he saw a dreame, that Daniel might be more ready to interprete it: and he addeth this also to the same end, that all the wyse men of hys kyngdome could not de∣clare the dreame. Where he confesseth after a sort, all the

Astrologians, Southsayers, and all other of that kynde which sayd they knew all thinges, to be false and deceitfull. For some were Augures, some Southsayers, some dreame readers, others Astrologians, which did not onely dispute of the order, and course, and distance of the starres and of the property of them, but also which would foretell by the aspectes of the starres, all that was to come. Whereas thē they did boast so greatly of the knowledge of all things, Nebuchadnezer doth confesse that they were deceauers. For he ascribeth this to Daniel, because he had a diuine spi∣rit. Wherefore he excludeth all the wyse men of Babylon frō so great a gift, because he perceaueth by experience that they were destitute of the spirit of God. He doth not speake playnely, but thys is easely gathered of hys wordes, that falshode was found in all the wise Chaldees. Agayne in the second part he seperateth Daniel forth of their number, & also noteth the cause: euen because he had a diuine spirit. Wherefore Nebuchadnezer doth here geue vnto God that which is due vnto him, and doth also acknowledge Da∣niel to be hys Prophet and minister.

In that he calleth the Angels holy Gods, it is no mer∣uaile (as we haue sayd before) seyng he was a prophane man and not exercised in the doctrine of true religion, but onely had tasted certayne principles. And we know that by common opiniō y^e Angels were mixed with God. Therfore Nebuchadnezer speaketh after the common maner when he saith, that y^e spirit of the holy Gods doth dwel in Daniel.