Vers. 25. Therefore hee hath pow∣red vpon him his fierce wrath, and the strength of the battell: and set it on fire round about, and hee knew not; and it burned him vp, yet hee considered not.
BEcause Gods chastisements which had be∣gun to seize vpon them, and were after∣ward to be finished in their captiuitie, were very grieuous, therefore the Prophet sets forth the vehemencie of them by these simi∣litudes. For he saith, that the Lord will powre out his vvrath: as if some thunder-clap should fall vpon their heads with great violence; or as if the vvaters should ouerflow, and make great breaches thorowout a whole Country; as the waters gushed forth hastily in the de∣luge, after the windowes of heauen were broken, and that the bottels thereof were set open: Gen. 6.11. In the next place he vseth an other figure, saying, that God will gather to∣gether his forces to fight vvith this people, and to assaile them to the vtmost. If any vnderstand this of the enemies which the Lord raised vp against the Iewes, I gainsay him not: for it is certaine that they came forth by Gods iust iudgement. For what was Nebuchadnezzer but Gods rod? Yet I rather thinke it should bee taken by way of similitude; to wit, that God entred by violence as an enemie armed, and powred out his fierce vvrath vpon them.
Now he hath diuers means to fight against vs; for hee corrects his people sometimes by plague, sometimes by the sword, sometimes by famin: and therefore I thinke that in this similitude hee comprehends all sorts of affli∣ctions wherewith the Lord smites his people. And if wee thinke them now and then too sharpe, let vs consider the vglinesse of our sinnes, and we shall perceiue that they be not excessiue, neither that he is too seuere and rigorous in punishing vs.
And he knew it not.] He cries out againe a∣gainst this grosse sottishnes wherewith ye Iews were so possessed, that they could no way feele their misery; neither could they so much as lift vp their eies to heauen, to acknow∣ledge Gods hand which smote them.
But he put it not vpon his heart.] This phrase of speech signifies to consider of a thing se∣riously and diligently; for if we thought vp∣on it, and had it vvell grauen in our hearts that God is the Iudge, and that hee iust∣lie chastiseth vs, wee should forthwith re∣pent. The world at this day is pressed vn∣der manie calamities; there is almost no cor∣ner