Page 934
For behold, I will lift vp mine hand vpon them: and they shal be a spoyle to those that serued them, and ye shall know that the Lord of hostes hath sent me.
* 1.1A Making of the matter more plaine, that they should vnderstand by what meanes, or after what maner so many nations, and so mightie, the which persecuted and spoyled the Church of God, might bee destroyed: namely, for that God himselfe will execute and take vengeance vpon them, & will lift vp his hand vpon them. And God, whatsoeuer he will doe, he can doe. And therefore it is not without an Emphasis, or vehemencie and force, the which is sayd in this place (I) and (mine hand). And by this word (lift vp) God sheweth that they shal flee vnto no quarters and coasts of the world, vnto the which he will not turne his hand against them. For in all parts of the world the Church of God hath been afflicted by them.* 1.2 Finally, he amplifieth or encreaseth their punishment by the lamentable falling out of the matter, and by the circumstance of the persons. For they the very selfe same proude enemies of God shall be a pray vnto their owne seruants, that is, vnto those nation•• ouer whom they reigned tyrannically before, and shall be spoyled by them: not by any other noble or famous nations, vnto whom it should not be so reprochfull and hard to be in subiection, and to yeeld vnto. But at his hands, whom thou hast vsed, and vexed like a slaue, what gentlenes or curtesie canst thou looke for? And least that so great, and so wonderfull vengeance and threatning of God might seeme to bee vaine, the Prophet, or the Angell himselfe ap∣pealeth vnto the issue and falling out of the matter, that they may vnderstand these things to bee true, and that he may confirme or strengthen the godlie, and terrifie or make afrayd the vngodlie.