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The eight Exercise.
Wherein Graserus laboureth, in the explanation of the 42. and 43. verses, to remooue the receiued interpretation, which is of Antiochus exploits against Egypt and other countries, and to applie this prophesie vnto the Romane Antichrist, and his attempts against forren nations.
Argum. 1. As before by the pleasant land he would haue vnderstood generally the whole visible Church: so by Egypt he insinuateth all those barbarous nations in the vn∣knowne parts of the world, in India America, whether the Romane Antichrist hath also ex∣tended his hand.
1. In all the prophesie before concerning Antiochus, the name of Egypt is not vsed, but it is described by the name of the South: which sheweth that an other kind of Egypt is here signified.
2. Neither is here any mention made of the king of the South: it was then such an E∣gypt, as the king of the South did not meddle with: which was not Egypt, for that was vn∣der Ptolome the king of the South.
3. If the land of Egypt were here properly signified, then a tautologie, or vaine repetiti∣on of the same thing should be admitted, seeing in that sense mention is made of Egypt in the next verse. p. 382. 383.
Ans. 1. Though this land be not in the prophesie concerning Antiochus expressely na∣med Egypt, it sufficed to be so called once before in this chapter, v. 8. that it may be knowne in the rest of the prophesie following, what is meant by the king of the South.
2. Though here the king of the South be not named, yet Egypt is vnderstood to be his kingdome by the former parts of this vision: as v. 8. Egypt is expressely mentioned, and then it followeth v. 9. the king of the South shall come into his kingdome.
3. The contrarie followeth, because the same name of Egypt is againe repeated in the next verse, that it is not to be taken in an other sense, but rather the same word is to be vn∣derstood after one and the same manner, where the circumstances of the place otherwise in∣ferre not: neither is it therefore a vaine repetition: for the same word is repeated, both by way of explanation, and for greater emphasis sake, that speciall note should be taken of this surprising euen of Egypt.
Argum. 2. By the Libyans and Cushites or Aethiopians, Graserus also would haue vn∣derstood, the Americans in the West, and by the Cushites the Indian countries in the East. His coniectures are these:
1. The words Lubbim and Cushim are not here fully expressed with van, as els where, but onely with kibbutz in stead of vau schurech: which may signifie, that not the Aethiopi∣ans, which inhabited beyond Egypt toward the South eastward, nor the Lybians, which dwelt in the nearer parts of Africa toward Europe, but such nations are rather to be vnder∣stood, as came of them: such are the Indians and Mores of the West and East India. p. 389.
2. The phrase here vsed, of extending or stretching forth the hand, signifieth, that he should vnprouoked set vpon these countries, and without any great labour take them, as by the putting forth of his hand: and beside, the distance of these places is hereby noted, that he should stretch out his hand vnto them, as beeing not otherwise within his reach, or vnder his command. p. 391.
3. He shall haue power ouer the treasure of gold and siluer, and ouer all the precious things of Egypt: this cannot be vnderstood of Egypt literally: for though their might be a∣bundance of siluer and gold, yet the hauing power ouer the hid treasures, and ouer precious things, as pe••rles; precious stones, so well agreeth not to Egypt: Hereby rather is signifi∣ed the rich spoyles which the Spainyards, the Bishop of Romes right hand, haue taken from the poore Indians, and so haue corrupted all Europe with their Indian siluer and gold: And so Augustine speaking of Antichrist saith, dabit credentibus in se abundantiam auri & argen∣ti, he shall giue to such as beleeue in him abundance of siluer and gold, Graser. p. 394. 395.
4. And this shall be done successiue & per certos progressus, successiuely, and by certaine pases as it were, and degrees: so Graserus interpreteth the word bemitzeghadau, at his foote∣steppes or pases. p. 386. But this was not true of Antiochus, whome Iunius supposeth to haue done all this in his last two yeares: nor yet of the Papists Antichrist, who they imagine, shall raigne but 3. yeares and an halfe. p. 398.