John Trapp on Daniel 4:27

Ver. 27. Wherefore, O King, let my counſel be acceptable unto thee] Happy was Nebuchadnezzar in ſuch a faithful counſellor at hand to adviſe him: more happy then his ſucceſſors Cyrus and Cambyſes were in Croeſus King of Lydia, who yet more enriched them by his counſel then by all the wealth they had from him. But Nebuchadnezzar was as yet uncounſellable, till God had tamed and humbled him.

Anticipa judicium ejus verâ reſc[illegible: 1 letter]piſcentiâ. Jun. Break off thy ſins by righteouſneſſe] Be abrupt in the work, for delayes are dangerous, Heb. 3.7, 13. cut the cart-ropes of vanity as ſoon as may be, leſt they pull down upon us heavieſt judgements. For the diverſion of Gods anger, get ſin removed: take the bark from the tree, and the ſap can never find the way to the boughs.

And thine iniquities by ſhewing mercy to the poor] Nebuchadnezzar had been an open oppreſſor: Daniel therefore preacheth unto him of righteouſneſſe and mercy. So Paul diſcourſed of righteouſneſſe, and temperance, and the Judgement to come, Acts 24.25. before Felix (who was inexplebilis gurges, ſaith Tacitus, a covetous caytiff) and Druſilla, a filthy adultereſſe. Let this be a Mirrour for Miniſters.

If it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity] An futura ſit prorogatio. Et ſane fuis aliqua prorogatio, nempe per annum. Repentance ever findeth favour, yea the very ſhadow of it, as in Ahab, 1 Kings 21. ult. Hierom thinks it probable, that Nebuchadnezzar did for a time, as Daniel had adviſed him, and had therefore for a temporary repentance a temporary tranquillity. Chryſoſtom's Note upon this text is, Prolata eſt ſententia ut non fi[illegible: 1 letter]t. God is Judex liber, non juratus, as Zanchy ſaith well, he puniſheth as he pleaſeth.