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

25 And thys is the writing which he hath writ∣ten, mene, mene, tekel, vpharsin.

26 Thys is the interpretation of the thing, me∣ne, God hath numbred thy kyngdome and hath finished it.

27 Tekel, thou art weighed in the balance & art found to light.

28 Peres, thy kyngdome is diuided and geuen to the Medes and Persians.

Here Daniel doth expound those foure wordes which were written on the wall. The king could not read them, eyther because he was astonished, or because God had trou∣bled all hys senses, and had, as it were dawbed vp his eyes. And the same may we say also of the Mages and Soothsay∣ers. They myght haue read, if they had not bene blynded by God. Daniel doth first of all therefore rehearse those fower wordes, mene, mene, tekel, vpharsin. Then doth he

interprete thē. One word is twise rehearsed, Mene. Some do thus diuide it, that both the yeares of the life of y^e king, and also the tyme of the kynges raygne was numbred. But this subtilty semeth not substantiall. Therefore I thinke that this word was added twise for cōfirmation: as though the Prophet should say, that the number was now fulfilled. For in accomptes it is easy to fayle, as the prouerbe is. Wherefore that Beltsazar myght vnderstand that hys lyfe and hys kingdome was now at an end, God doth affirme that the number is full and perfect: as though he should say, that there should not be added one minute of an houre to the terme appointed. And thus doth Daniel hym selfe in∣terprete the same God (sayth he) hath numbred thy king∣dome, that is, God hath appoynted and determined an end of thy kingdome, so that it must néedes come to an end be∣cause the tyme is accomplished.

Although here God speake but to one king, and the wri∣ting was set before hys eyes: yet may we gather a generall doctrine hereof, that God hath determined a certayne time to all kingdomes.* 1.1 The scripture testifieth the same of euery one of our liues. If God then haue appointed to euery mā hys dayes, much more may it be sayd of publike Empyres and kingdomes, because they are of greater importance. Therefore let vs know that not onely kinges do lyue or die, but that kyngdomes are chaunged also by Gods ap∣pointment (as is sayd before) and that they are so set vp by God, that he appointeth them also their certayne end. And hereof should we take comfort when we sée tyrauntes deale so outragiously that there is no measure in their lustes and cruelly. When then they do so rage as though they would mixe heauen and earth together, let vs remember this doc∣trine: that their yeares are numbred. God knoweth how long it is expedient for them to raigne: he can not be de∣ceaued. For vnles he did know it to be profitable for the church and his elect that y^e tyrantes should rage for a time, doubtles he would straight wayes bridle them and plucke them downe: but because he hath appointed the number

from the beginning, let vs know that the full tyme of ven∣geaūce is not yet come, as long as he suffereth thē to abuse so licenciously their rule and power graunted vnto them of God.

Now foloweth the exposition of the word, tekel. Be∣cause thou wast weighed in the balance (sayth he) and wast found faulty. Heare Daniel declareth that God doth so or∣der hys iudgementes, as if he did holde the balance in hys hand. It is a similitude borowed of the custome of men. We know that the vse of the balance is, that there should be a certaine measure and an equall distributiō in thinges. So also is it written that God doth all thinges by waight and measure, because he doth nothing confusedly,* 1.2 but with such measure, that there can be neither more nor lesse, as the common saying is. For this cause Daniel sayth: that Beltsazar was weighed in the balaunce, that is to say, that God was not hasty in punishing of hym, but did execute that pu∣nishment iustly, after his vsuall manner and continuall or∣der: because he was found faulty, that is, because he was light and of no weight: As though he should say, thou supposest that thyne honour should be spared, and because all men do reuerence thee, thou thinkest thy selfe worthy of honour. Thou art deceaued (sayth he) for the iudgement of God is otherwise. God doth not vse the common balance, but he hath waightes of hys owne, and thereby thou art found faulty, that is, nothing worth, a man of no reputation. There is no doubt but the tyraūt was greatly moued with these wordes: but because hys end was come, he was for∣ced to suffer the voyce of the preacher. And vndoubted∣ly God dyd bridle hys rage because he should not ryse vp a∣gaynst Daniel.

In the end is added this word [Peres] for the word [Vp∣harsin], that his kingdome is diuided, that is to say, by the Medes and the Persians. I doubt not but that God did sig∣nify by that word the destruction of the Monarchy which was at hand. When he sayth therefore [Vpharsin] and they shall diuide, he meaneth that this Monarchy can continue

no longer, because he will diuide it and breake it asunder. But the Prophet doth allude very aptly to y^e diuision which was made betwixt the Medes & the Persians: and so was their shame encreased: for the Babylonians were compel∣led to serue two sundry Lordes.

It is a great griefe whē any people hath gottē dominion farre and large, and beyng afterward ouercome, should be cōpelled to beare the yoke of one Lord: but when there be two Lordes, this increaseth the griefe. So therefore Dani∣el doth shew, that the vengeaunce of God shall not be sim∣ple when the Monarchy of Babylon is scattered abroad: and this shal also encrease the greatnes of the punishment, that the Medes and the Persians shall rule ouer them. But true it is that the Citie was taken by the strength and in∣dustry of Cyrus: but because Cyrus did geue so great ho∣nor to hys father in law, that he did willingly admit hym to the society of the kyngdome, therefore the Medes and the Persians are sayd to haue diuided betwixt them that kyng∣dome, although there was properly no diuision of the king∣dome. Cyrus afterward, as he was rauished wyth an insa∣tiable ambition and couetousnes, was drawen forth into other warres. But Darius, who was aboue 60. yeares old, (as we shal sée afterward) did remaine quietly at home. He was of y^e Medes, as is well knowne. For if we shall be∣leue many historiographers, his sister the mother of Cyrus was, as it were banished into Persia, because there was a prophecy of the greatnes of Cyrus. Who because his Grād∣father had geuen hym out to be destroyed, did afterward reuenge this iniury: yet not so cruelly but that he spared his life. He was cōtent that he should remayne in some honor, and made hym a gouernor. And after this hys sonne rayg∣ned ouer the Medes, and Cyrus suffered it willingly. Then Cyrus maried hys daughter. So what for kinred, and what for y^e loue of thys new affinity, he was wylling to haue hym pertaker of hys Empire. In thys sēse doth Dani∣el speake of y^e diuisiō of y^e Monarchy to be at hand: because the Medes and the Persians should diuide it betwixt them.

29 Then at the commaundement of Beltsazar, they cloched Daniel wyth purple, & put a chaine of golde about hys necke, and made a proclama∣tion concerning hym, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdome.

It is meruaile that the king gaue such commaunde∣ment when he was thus roughly handled of the Prophet. It appeareth that hys hart did then fayle hym. For before he would haue raged wythout measure, and would haue commaunded thys holy Prophyt of God to haue bene put to death. How then doth it come to passe that he commaun∣deth hym to be appareled like a kyng, and causeth hym to be proclamed the third in the kingdome? Some thinke that thys was done because the lawes of the kinges of Babylon were in great reuerence, yea their wordes were sure, and whatsoeuer they spake was vnchaungeable & inmoueable. They thinke therefore that this came of the regard of hys honor, that king Beltsazar did performe his promise. But I suppose that he was first astonished when he heard the Prophet, and so became like a blocke or a stone: howbeit I thinke that he did thys for his owne safety. For he myght haue bene brought into contempt with his nobles if he had not shewed some courage. Wherefore that he myght shew hymselfe not to be moued, he commaunded Daniel thus to be adorned, as though that threatning had bene of no force. He did not despise that which had bene spoken by the Pro∣phet: but he would haue hys Princes perswaded and all them which were at the feast, that God did threaten onely to make thē afrayde, but not to execute so greuous punish∣ment. And the kynges when they are most afrayde, are yet very ware of this alwayes that they shew no signe of their feare: for they thinke that their authority should therby de∣cay. Wherefore, that he may kéepe hys authority wyth hys subiectes, he would séeme altogether careles and wythout all feare. I doubt not but that thys was the deuise of thys

tyraunt, when he commaunded Daniel to be adorned with purple and princely ornamentes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iob. 14.5.
• * 1.2

  Sap. 11.21