Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 4 · Doctrines
4. The places of doctrine.
1. Doctr. That the ende of ciuill gouernment is the peace and prosperitie of the subiects.
v. 2. which is the 31. of the former chapter according to the vsuall diuision: Peace be multiplied vntounto you. Nabuchadnezzer a wise and politike King sendeth this salutation to his subiects: shewing thereby that a good Prince is not onelyonly to wish, but to procure the peace of his subiects: therefore the Apostle would hauehave prayer made especially for kings, that vnderunder them we may liue a godly and peaceable life, 1. Tim. 2. 1. This Tullie well perceiued thus writing, vt gubernatori cursus secundus, Medico salus, Imperatori victoria, &c. as the pilot of a shippe propoundeth to himselfe the prosperous course of the shippe, the physitian the health of his patient, the captaine victorie, so the good gouernour seeketh the welfare and happie life of his citizens. lib. 5. de repub.
2. Doctr. That we are to pray euen for Tyrants and cruell gouernours.
v. 16. The dreame be to them that hate thee. In that Daniel prayeth for Nabuchadnezzer, and wisheth that this calamitie might fall vponupon his enemies, and that he might escape it; it sheweth, that the subiects are to pray euen for the prosperitie of euill gouerners: for euen vnderunder them they receiue some benefit: a badde gouernment is better then no gouernment. So the Prophet Ieremie biddeth the Iewes pray for the prosperitie of the citie, whether they were carried captiue,1. Tim. 2. 1. for in the peace thereof shall ye hauehave peace, Ierem. 29. 7. And S. Paul exhorteth that supplications, and prayers should be made for kings: who then were Tyrants, and persecuters of Gods Church.
3. Doct. Of the office and parts of a good Magistrate.
v. 19. Nabuchadnezzer is compared to a goodly faire spreading tree: by the which similitude are set forth many excellent parts, that should be found in a Prince. 1. As the tree spreadeth her boughes abroad, and who so will commeth vnderunder the shadow of them, so a Prince should giuegive accesse to all his louing subiects freely to come vntounto him, not to shut himselfe vp from them. 2. The beautie of the tree and comely grace, setteth forth the maiestie and authoritie of the Prince, which ought to be reuerenced of all. 3. It is full of fruit, so the King should yeeld releefe vntounto his subiects, be bountifull and beneficiall, not gathering or taking from the subiects, where the necessitie of the gouernment requireth not. 4. The shadow of the tree signifieth defence from wrong: that vnderunder the gouernment of the Prince subiects may finde comfort and releefe. 5. The birds dwell in the branches, and the beasts couch vnderunder the shadow: so the king should to all his subiects high and low extend his fauour, according vntounto eueryevery ones qualitie and degree. ex Polan.
4. Doctr. God tempereth and moderateth his iudgements with merciemercy.
v. 22. Seuen times shall passe ouer thee, till thou know, &c. God might in his iustice hauehave suffered Nabuchadnezzer all his life long, for his exceeding great pride, to liue among the bruit beasts: but he doth onelyonly limit him a certaine time so long, till he was brought to acknowledge God: So that God remembreth merciemercy in the midst of his iudgements, according to that saying, Psal. 30. 5. Weeping may abide at euening, but ioy commeth in the morning. Bulling. 1. Cor. 19. 10.And the Apostle saith, God is faithfull, and will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you are able, but will euen giuegive the issue with the tentation, that ye may be able to heare it: As here Nabuchadnezzer had a gratious issue of his tentation.
5. Doctr. Of the necessitie of good Counsellers.
v. 24. Let my counsell be acceptable vntounto thee. Happie was this king, which had so faithfull a Counseller at hand to aduise him: But miserable is the state of such Princes, who are beset with bad counsellers, as Rehoboam was, who followed the headie and rash counsell of the young men: such a wicked counseller was Haman to Assuerus, and Achitophel to Absolom. Therefore Hom…dius a wise Senatour of Rome, as Fulgosus writeth, lib. 7. was wont to say, that he had rather hauehave an euill Prince with good counsellers about him, then a good Prince with euill. If he be an enemie to the Commonwealth, who clippeth the kings coine, he is much more, which by euill counsell corrupteth the minde of the Prince. Pintus.
6. Doctr. What manner of almes are acceptable vntounto God.
v. 24. Breake off thy sinnes by righteousnes, &c. Simply to giuegive almes, it is not pleasing vntounto God; for the Pharisies gaue almes, but it did nothing auaile them, because they did it of a vaine ostentation: they which giuegive almes, and yet liue in sinne, as though they would buie out their licentious life by their sinne, doe therein deceiue themselues: the Apostle saith, Without faith, it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11. 6. almes then not proceeding of faith, can not be accepted.In …. c. 75▪ 76. Augustine therefore saith well, Qui vult ordinate eleemosynas dare, debet à seipso incipere, &c. he that will giuegive almes orderly must beginne with himselfe: he must first looke into his owne conscience, and see his owne pouertie and nakednes: mendicat à te anima tua, esurit iustitiam, thy owne soule beggeth of thee, it hungreth after iustice. Perer.
7. Doctr. Of true repentance.
v. 24. Breake off thy sinnes by righteousnesse, &c. 1. Here the parts of true repentance are set downe, which are these two, to depart from sinne, and to follow righteousnes: as the Prophet Isai saith, Cease to doe euill, learne to doe well, Isa. 1. 16.
2. Hence also the effects of true repentance are gathered, which are the fruits of righteousnes: so that in vaine doth one afflict himselfe, if he doe not alter and change his life: such are reprooued by the Prophet, Isa. 58. 5. that did afflict their soules for a day, and bow downe their head like a bulrush, and yet continued in their sinne.
3. The qualitie of true repentance is here also expressed, that it may not be deferred or put off, but speedily prosequuted: which is signified by this phrase of breaking off. As the Apostle to the Hebr. c. 3. 7. vrgeth that place, to day if you will heare his voice, harden not your hearts.
4. The benefit of true repentance followeth, it procureth peace, and tranquilitie, and preuenteth the iudgements of God: as here Nabuchadnezzer is promised, that by this meanes, his peace might be prolonged: So our blessed Sauiour saith, Luk. 13. 3. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Polan.
8. Doctr. That God seeth and knoweth all things.
v. 28. While the word was in the kings mouth, &c. God heard the very proud words which Nabuchadnezzer spake, and in that very instant and moment, sent his Angel to denounce the iudgement decreed against him. So then nothing is hid from God, neither our thoughts, as the Prophet Dauid saith, Thou vnderstandest my thoughts a farre off, Psal. 139. 2. nor our words, as it followeth in the same place, v. 4. There is not a word in my tongue, but thou knowest it wholly, O Lord: much lesse can our workes be hid, as Rev. 2. 2. I know thy workes. So that as the Apostle saith, All things are naked, and open to his eyes, with whome we hauehave to doe, Heb. 4. 13.
9. Doctr. Gods iudgements come of a sudden.
v. 28. As a voice came from heauen, euen while the word was in the kings mouth: so the iudgements of God ouertake the wicked when they looke not for them: so Noahs flood came vponupon the old world, and the destruction of Sodome vponupon the wicked: So the day of the Lord, as the Apostle saith, shall come as a theefe in the night, and as the trauell vponupon a woman with child, 1. Thess. 5. 2. 3. It behooueth vsus therefore to be sober and watchful, as our blessed Sauiour saith, Those things which I say vntounto you, I say vntounto all men, watch, Mark. 13. 37.
10. Doct. Gods iudgements meete with sinnes in the same kind.
v. 29. They shall driue thee from men. Nabuchadnezzer is here punished in the same things wherein he had sinned: he was not so much lifted vp before in pride, as he is now humbled, and cast downe: As he had banished many out of their countries, and taken them captiue, so he is now exiled himselfe, and driuen from the companie of men: his foode was daintie and delicate before, now he feedeth with oxen: then he was apparelled in purple, and other rich attire, now horrido pilo totus obtegitur, he is all couered with haire: then he was annointed with balme and pretious oyntment, now he is wet with the dew of heauen. Oecolampad.
11. Doct. True repentance is the gift of God.
v. 31. At the ende of these daies I Nabuchadnezzer lift vp mine eyes to heauen, &c. Vntill it pleased God to turne this proud kings heart, nothing could make it stoope. He had receiued many warnings, and was foretold of this his downefall, and was aduised by Daniel by repentance to preuent this calamitie: and beeing in this great miserie, he was not mooued therewith, till the time was expired, and the Lord mooued his heart: So our blessed Sauiour saith, Ioh. 6. 44. No man commeth vntounto me, except the father draw him, &c.