Vers. 17. For brasse I will bring gold, and for iron will I bring siluer, and for wood brasse, and for stones iron. I will also make thy gouernment peace, and thine exactors righteousnesse.
THe Prophet alludes to the building of the old and ancient Temple, and compares it with the spirituall and heauenly. As if hee should say, When you shall bee carried away captiue, then you will bewaile the ruine of the Temple: but I will so worke, that you shall build it after a more excellent manner. In stead of brasse then, I will bring gold, and in stead of iron, siluer; for wood, brasse, and for stones, iron. As if he had said, All shall bee full of magnificence and glorie in that se∣cond Temple which shall succeed the first. Now we know that this prophesie was neuer accomplished in the externall restauration of this people. Nay, it is certaine that the beautie of the second Temple was farre in∣ferior to the first: Ezra. 3.12.13. It followes then, that the Prophet who in spirit, saw the true redemption, recites not only that which should fall out presently after the returne of the people; but publisheth the excellencie of the spirituall Temple, which is the Church of Christ: we must therefore come by a di∣rect line, as it were vnto Christ, if wee will attaine the true meaning of this prophesie. In his kingdome these things were fully ac∣complished, and the dignity of the first Tem∣ple was much surpassed: For the Lord shed abrode the gifts of his holie spirit, which farre excelled either gold, siluer, or precious stones. Wee may now then see the Temple built of precious stones, as it was in Chapter 54.11.12.
As concerning the word superintendance, others tanslate tribute. Neither do I doubt but the Prophet meant closelie to compare ye miserable seruitude, vnder which the peo∣ple should be held, with that excellent dig∣nitie, to which they were afterwards aduan∣ced. For to peace and iustice, he opposeth the exactors, who vniustly tyrannised ouer them, whilest the Iewes were vexed with the coue∣tousnesse and crueltie of the Babylonians. Now he shewes that the exactors being cut off, there shall be no other superintendancie then peace and iustice. This was more fullie accomplished, when we were deliuered from the tyrannie of the diuell by Christ. For by his Gospell he erected a kingdome of righte∣ousnesse, which is not yet finished. But wee are to wait for his last comming to see the perfection thereof: and yet in the meane while to content our selues with these first fruits.