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

28 But Daniel prospered in the kingdome of Darius and in the kingdome of Cyrus the Per∣sian.

Here is an antithesis secretly touched betwixt the state of Daniel vnder the two Monarchies, the Persians and the Chaldees. For Daniel did sometymes rise vp vnder Ne∣buchadnezer, and in the end when this Monarchy was at the point of destruction, he began to be knowne agayne: but all that tyme that y^e Chaldees raigned, he was vnknowne and despised. All men had heard that he was an excellent Prophet: but he was cast forth of the Court: and though he sometyme had sitten at the kynges gate and was in great dignity: yet was he now and then sent away. Wherefore so long as the Monarchy of the Chaldees endured, Daniel was in no hie honour that lasted any space: but vnder the Monarchy of the Persians and Medes he prospered & was in continuall honor. For Cyrus and Darius were not so negligent to forget how meruailously God had wrought by hym. So was he in honour not onely wyth Darius, but also wyth Cyrus. And it is euident that he left Babylon & went to some other place. Although it is not like that he was long amongest the Medes, for Darius or Cyaxeres died shortly after, and because he wanted an heyre male, all his autho∣rity came to Cyrus alone, who was his nephew, the sonne of his sister, and also his sonne in law by the mariage of hys daughter.

There is no doubt but that Daniel here commendeth the grace of God and his fauour towardes him. For thys was no small comfort in his banishment, that he found such fauour amongest straunge and barbarous nations, and that he was in such hie honour that all men did reuerence hym. God did mitigate the sorow of his banishment and captiuity wyth thys comfort. Agayne Daniel doth not here regard hymselfe onely as a priuate person, but the end of his honor. For God would haue his name to be renowned and pray∣sed throughout all those countreyes where Daniel was wel knowne. For no man could cast his eyes vpon Daniel but the glory and power of the God of Israel did appeare. Thys would Daniel note. In the meane tyme there is no doubt

of the other side, but that the want of his countrey was bit∣ter and greuous vnto hym: not as it is wont to be to others, but because the land of Canaan was the peculiar heritage of the people of God.

When Daniel therefore was caried away from thence, and afterward was caried farther, euen vnto the Medes, and in the end to the Persians, so that there was no hope of returne: there is no doubt but that he mourned continually. For that great honour that he had amongest prophane men, was not so much estemed of him, but that he preferred that pledge of Gods fauour and fatherly adoption, that is to say, the land of Canaan. Doubtles he had that grauen in hys hart which was written before by Dauid:* 1.1 I had rather to be a dore keper in the courtes of the Lord, then to be in the greatest wealth of the wicked. Agayne: I had rather to be in the house of God, then to dwell in the tentes of the wicked. So was Daniel taught. And Ezechiel* 1.2 doth not name him in vayne amōgest the thrée most holy mē which haue bene from the beginning of the world. This was a most hie commendation that he was ioyned with Iob and Noah, euen whē he was a young man, or at the least in his midle age, so that he should be the third in so rare and incredible holynes. Seing then he was such a one, there is no doubt but that he was stricken with most greuous sorow when he did sée that he was appointed to perpetuall banishment, so that he had no hope of his re∣turne, that he might worship God in his temple and offer sacrifices with the residue. Yet lest he should be vnthankfull vnto God, he would here testify that he felt Gods singular fauour, that whereas he was an exile and banished from his countrey, & was also spitefully drawen away amōgest other captiues, he was yet honorably entreated of y^e Medes & the Persians. This is y^e ful meaning. For it is certaine y^t Cyrus after Darius was dead (as I haue said) was y^e successor of y^e whole Monarchy, & we shall sée afterward y^t Daniel dwelt with Cyrus, who raigned almost 30. yeares: and so there was a long tyme betwixt his death & the death of Darius.

Wherfore this came not to passe without y^e meruaylous counsell of God, that the chaunge of the kingdomes did not shake the state of Daniel, as it is often séene. For new Em∣pires (as we know) are as it were the alteration of y^e world. But Daniel stoode stil in his degrée, that the goodnes of God myght be euidently séene in hym: and that whether soeuer he should go, he should cary with hym some testimony of Gods fauour.

¶ The Prayer.

GRaunt almighty God, seyng it hath pleased thee to testify thy power vnto vs by man that is wrapped in many errours: that we be not blinde at this day in so great a light which is offered vnto vs by the sonne of righteousnes Christ Iesus: and in the meane season also that we be not ashamed to take profit of the wordes of a prophane man which was not instructed in thy law, but onely admonished by one miracle did so mightely mag∣nify thy name. Graunt therefore that we may learne by hys example, not onely to knowledge thee the most hie God, but also the onely God. And like as thou hast boūd vs vnto thee whē thou madest thy couenaunt with vs in the bloud of thy onely begotten sonne that we should cleaue vnto thee by true faith, and so renounce all clowdes of errors, graunt that we may alway behold that light vnto the which thou callest vs, and by the which thou leadest vs, whiles that we come to the contemplation of thy glorious maiesty, that we be∣ing made like vnto thee, may in the end haue the full fruition of that glory which we now do onely beholde in part and a farre of. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 48.
• * 1.2

  Ezech. 14.