Matthew Poole and continuators on Daniel 6:22

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions mouths that they have not hurt me : forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me ; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt .

He had his eye specially to him whose C[illegible: 1 letter]use and Honour was concerned in this matter. The Lord either took the Lion-hunger away from them▪ or made Daniel appear terrible to them; or literally▪ shut their mouths.

Because by faith he trusted in the Lord, H[illegible: 1 letter]b. 11.33. therefore the Papists from hence falsly conclude Justification by Works and Merits, a[illegible: 1 letter]signing fallaciously a false cause instead of a principal, formal and meri[illegible: 1 letter]orious Cause; for the word forasmuch or because in Scripture doth often signifie an occasion rather than a Cause, Psal. 25.11. Pardon my sin for it is great. David did not use to argue thus▪ but the contrary, Dan. 9.7, 18. Daniel pleads the innocence of his cause to the King in Suffering, not the righteousness o[illegible: 1 letter] his Person; and that the Lord delivered him to assert his Honour in his unjust Sufferings.

Nor have I sinned against thee, O King; the Fear of God is set before Honouring of Kings, 1 Pet. 2.17.