th the king's meat, which was forbidden to the seed of
Abraham in the law of their God. Well, God began shortly after to show
himself mindful of his promise made by his prophet, and to trouble
Nebuchadnezzar himself, by showing to him a vision in his dream; which the
more troubled him, because he could not forget the terror of it, neither
yet could he remember what the vision and the parts thereof were.
Whereupon were called all the diviners, interpreters of dreams, and
soothsayers, of whom the king demanded, if they could let him understand
what he had dreamed: but while they answered, that such a question used
not to be demanded of any soothsayer or magician, for the resolution
thereof only appertained to the gods, whose habitation was not with men,
the charge was given, that they all should be slain: and amongst the rest,
Daniel, whose innocence the devil envied, was sought to have suffered the
same judgment. He claimed, and asked time to disclose that secret; (I only
touch the history, to let you see by what means God increased his
knowledge) which being granted, the vision was revealed unto him; he
shewed the same unto the king, with the true interpretation of it; adding,
that the knowledge thereof came not from the stars, but only from the God
of Abraham, who alone was and is the true God. Which being understood, the
king burst forth in his confession, saying, "Of a truth your God is the
most excellent of all gods, and he is Lord of kings, and only he that
revealeth secrets, seeing that thou couldst open this secret." And when
Nebuchadnezzar after that, being puffed up with pride by the counsel of
his wicked nobility, would make an image, before which he would that all
tongues and nations subject to him should make adoration; and when
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, would not obey his unjust commandment,
and so were cast into the flaming furnace of fire; and yet by God's angels
were so preserved, that no smell of fire remained on their persons or
garments; this same king gave a more notable confession, saying, "The Lord
God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, is to be praised, who hath sent
his angels, and delivered his worshippers that put trust in him, who have
done against the king's commandment; who have rather given their own
bodies to torment, than that they would worship another god, except their
own God. By me therefore is there made a decree, that whosoever shall
blaspheme the God of Shadrach, Meshach, an