But it seemes the Prophet passeth his bounds, when he magnifies this deliuerance in such excessiue speeches. For we reade not that the riuers were heere turned into blood, nor that a grosse and palpable darknesse troub∣led the aire, or that the first borne were slaine, or that any vermin were sent to deuoure the fruits of the earth; neither any of the like wonders which came to passe in Egypt: none of these happened, as wee know in Babylon. What meanes hee then by this new deliue∣rance? This hath caused almost all the wri∣ters that are Christians, to expound this place simply of Christs comming: wherein no doubt they haue been deceiued no lesse then the Iewes, who onely restraine this to the de∣liuerance out of Babell. And therefore as I haue said in another place, wee must heere comprehend the whole time that passed be∣tweene the deliuerance out of Babylon, vn∣till the comming of Christ. The redemption out of Egypt may bee compared to the first birth of the Church; because the people were then gathered into a body, and the Church was established, which before was without forme: yet this redemption ended not at the peoples comming forth of Egypt, but conti∣nued till they were possessed of the land of Canaan, which was giuen them after the Kings were driuen thence. The like may bee said of this birth by which the Iewes were brought out of Babylon, and restored home into their owne Country: for this restaura∣tion must not bee restrained to their going out of Babylon onely, but it stretcheth it selfe vnto the comming of Christ; during which space of time, there came great and wonder∣full things to passe indeed.
[ 1] Was it not an admirable thing that a sort of poore captiues, contemned of all as mise∣rable abiects and slaues; yea held and estee∣med as detestable as the disease of the pesti∣lence, should notwithstanding bee restored and sent home into their Country by infidell Kings? Besides, that they should be furnished [ 2] with all things fit for their iourney, and or∣der taken for their affaires: as also for the building of the Citie, and restoring of the [ 3] Temple? But yet behold wonders much grea∣ter then these, which came to passe after∣wards; when there were but a few of the people which would returne backe againe, and the most were so discouraged, that they preferred so miserable a seruitude before so blessed and happy a freedome. When a small handfull (I say) of them then returned into Iudeah, in respect of that great multitude which was led into captiuitie, yet fell there out greater lets and hinderances. For were there not conspiracies, new hatreds & grud∣gings raised vp against this people, who were in too much contempt and disgrace already? Did not the worke cease, and was not all [ 1] meanes procured to hinder the finishing of [ 2] it? In which respect they might well haue thought that the Lord had brought them out in vaine, seeing they were now exposed to greater dangers then euer they were be∣fore. After the Temple was built, things suc∣ceeded [ 3] no whit better; for they were inuiro∣ned on all sides with mightie aduersaries, who hated them most deadly, and vexed them without ceasing. Afterwards they were visi∣ted [ 4] with sundry afflictions and persecutions; so as it might seeme they were as good as o∣uerwhelmed and rooted out by them. Yet notwithstanding God ceased not still mira∣culously to preserue them euen in the midst of fire and sword. If we consider their poore and miserable estate, and the sore trials they were put to by tyrants, wee may well admire how any one of them escaped.
That we may the better vnderstand then how wonderfull this deliuerance was, and in what sort it surpassed the first, wee must haue an eye to the histories of things begun and continued vntill Christs comming; who then added infinite graces and benefits to the former: for doubtlesse the second deliuerance was greater then the first.
Neither is this any constrained exposition, but it agrees with the maners of speech vsed among the Prophets: for they haue alwaies respect vnto the Messiah, and incessantly did they fix their eies vpon him. The Prophet Haggai therefore will giue vs much light for the vnderstanding of this place. For he shews, that when the Temple was built, the olde men which had seene the excellencie of the first, wept, saying; that this latter was nothing in cōparison of the former: and hardly could they be perswaded but that God had vtterly forsaken them, and that his promises were of none effect. Bur Haggai to comfort them, and to shew that the glory of the second Temple shall far surpasse the first, albeit the outward forme of it were lesse beautifull, brings them forthwith to the Redeemer, saying on this manner: Thus saith the Lord of hostes; Yet a little while, and I will shake the hea∣uens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land, and all nations: the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glo∣ry, saith the Lord of hostes. The gold and sil∣uer is mine, saith the Lord of hostes: the glo∣rie of this house shall bee greater then the first: Haggai 2.7. As Haggai then continues the restauration of the Temple till Christs com∣ming, to which he refers the true glory of it: so this deliuerance out of Babylon held on the course thereof till Christ; for these things are conioined together, or rather haue affi∣nitie one with another; so as it is no maruell though he say, it did euery way surpasse that deliuerance out of Egypt.