Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 4:17

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones : to the intent that the king may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men .

The decree was Gods, and the demand was of the Holy Angels, if God would enact and ratifie it, the Angels as Commissioners had the dispensation of it put into their hands, and they all consent to it as a just judgment of God to be executed by them according to the will and pleasure of God: and they desire of God it may be done, alluding to the customs of some Nations, and speaking after the manner, for the holy Angels are zealous for Gods honour, and pray him to assert his own soveraignty against the bold encroachments of mortal men, especially rampant and savage Tyrants, to make them know themselves.

This Nebuchadnezzar and his flatterers conceited he was God in Earth, independant and unaccountable to any, and though he had notions of a supream God, yet he confined his Government to Heaven. Iupiter in Heaven, Caesar in Earth rules all, said the Heathen Poet. But the great God will make all men know he rules all in Earth too; and sets up at his pleasure whom he will, and plucks them down again: All power is of God, Rom. 13.1. who doth often make use of his power in this case, thereby declaring he only is Arbitrary and absolute, for instance,

He gives this dignity sometimes to the basest of men, as he took it from Sa[illegible: 1 letter]l and gave it David a poor Shepherds boy, Psal. 78.70, 71. and made him a name among the great men of the Earth, 1 Sam. 2.7, 8. 1 Chron. 17.7, 8.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]