John Trapp on Daniel 6:10

Ver. 10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was ſigned] Which he knew not, belike, till it was proclaimed and publiſhed: and then, it may be, he did as much againſt it, as Latimer did herein like caſe, by writing his mind unto King Henry the eighth, after the Proclamation for aboliſhing Engliſh books. See his letter in the book of Martyrs, and marvel at his heroical boldneſſe and ſtoutneſſe;Act. & Mon. 1591. who as yet being no Biſhop, ſo freely and fearleſly adventuring his life to diſcharge his conſcience, durſt ſo boldly to ſo mighty a Prince, in ſuch a dangerous caſe, againſt the Kings law and Proclamation, ſet out in ſuch a terrible time, take upon him to write and to admoniſh, that which no counſellor durſt once ſpeak unto him, in defence of Chriſts Goſpel.

He went into his houſe] He left the Court (as no fit aire for piety to breath in) and get him home,Exeat Aul[illegible: 1 letter] qui v[illegible: 1 letter]lit eſſe pius. where he might more freely and comfortably converſe with his God. Tutiſſimus est qui rariſſime cum hominibus, plurimum cum Deo colloquitur, ſaith a good Divine: that is, he is ſafeſt, who ſpeaketh ſeldom with men, but oft with God.

And his windows being open in his chamber] This was his wont, belike, at other times: and now he would not break it, to the ſcandal of the weak, and the ſcorn of the wicked, who watched him, and would have charged him with diſſimulation. ſhould he have done otherwiſe. Say not therefore What needed he thus to have thruſt himſelf into obſervation? could he not have kept his conſcience to himſelf, and uſed his devotions in more ſecrecy? our Politick-Profeſſours and Neuter-paſſives indeed could and would have done ſo. But as Baſil anſwered once to him that blamed him for venturing too far for his friend, Non aliter aware didici, I never learned to love any otherwiſe: ſo might good Daniel here have done; his zeal for God would not ſuffer him to temporize, or play on both hands. It ſhall well appear to his greateſt enemies, that he is true to his Principles, and no flincher from his religion. His three companions were alike reſolved, chap. 3. and Paul, Act. 21.13. and Luther when to appear at Wormes, and many more that might here be mentioned.

Toward Jeruſalem] For the which he was now a petitioner, ſith the time to favour her, yea the ſet time was come, Pſal. 102.13. There alſo ſometime had ſtood the Temple, not without a promiſe of audience to prayers made in or toward that holy place, 1 King. 8.43. which alſo was a type of Chriſt, &c.

He kneeled upon his knees] Conſtantino the Great (as Euſebius telleth us) would have this as his portraiture, a man on his knees praying: to ſhew that that was his uſual practice and poſture.

Three times a day] At morning, noon, and night: thus conſtantly, beſide other times alſo upon emergent occaſions. All the power and policy of Perſia could not keep God and Daniel aſunder, no not for a few dayes, Philip. 3.20. Epheſ. 2.19. 'tis a part of our [non-Latin text not transcribed] our City-employment or ſpiritual-trading with God, to pray: and if prayer ſtand ſtill, the whole trade of godlineſs ſtandeth ſtill too. Clean Chriſtians therefore, typed by thoſe clean beaſts in the law, Levit. 11.3. muſt rightly part the hoof. rightly divide their time, giving a due ſhare thereof to either of their callings as Daniel did: ſanctifying both by prayer, and at hours of beſt leiſure, Pſal. 55.17.

And prayed and gave thanks before his God] Chald. Confeſſed, either his ſins, that he might get pardon thereof: or elſe Gods benefits, the glory whereof he thankfully returned unto him. Prayers and praiſes are like the double motion of the lungs. Let every breath praiſe the Lord.

As he did aforetime] An excellent cuſtome doubtleſſe and moſt worthy to be kept up:

Ariſt. Ethic. lib. 8. cap. 5. [non-Latin text not transcribed].