Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 11 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Verſe 1. ASK you of the Lord rain] Ask it and have it:Hoſ. 10.12. Open your mouthes wide, and he will fill them. Seek yee the Lord till he come, and rain righteouſneſſe upon you: Surely as the Sunne draws up vapours from the earth and ſea, not to retain them, but to return them: and as thin vapours come down again in thick ſhowers of rain: So God calls for our prayers, for our profit: and does for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, Epheſ. 3.20. Ask we muſt, Ezek. 36.37. Prayer is an indiſpenſable duty. Our Saviour taught his diſciples to pray. He himſelf was to ask of his Father, and then he ſhould have the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for his poſſeſſion, Pſal. 2.8. He could have had preſently twelve legions of Angels to reſcue him: but then he was to ſend to heaven for them by prayer, Mat. 26.53. I came for thy words, that is, for thy prayers ſake, ſaith the Angel to Daniel. As well as God loved him, he looked to hear from him, Dan. 10.11, 12. for he will grace his own Ordinances, and make his people know both their diſtance and dependance.
Rain in the time of the latter rain] Rain is the flux of a moiſt cloud; which being diſſolved by little and little, by the heat of the Sun, lets down rain by drops out of the middle region of the air. This, if it come right in due time and meaſure, it maketh much for the fattening of the earth, Pſal. 65.11. laying the heat, nouriſhing the herb and tree, Eſay 44.14. refreſhing all creatures, graſſe, fruits, &c. Lev 26.4. Jam. 5.18. Eſay 30.23. So if otherwiſe, it proves a great puniſhment. Joel 1.Joel 1.10, 11, &c. 17, 19, &c. Great expectation there was in Judaea and thoſe Eaſtern parts of the former and the latter rain. That, fell in the ſeed-time about Autumne: this, in the Spring …ide, cauſing the corn to ear, and kearn before harveſt. Both were to be ſought of God alone. For are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cauſe rain? or can the heaven give ſhowres? No, no; Theſe come by a divine decree, Job 28.26. God prepares rain, Pſal. 147.8. he diſpenſeth it in number, weight, and meaſure, Job 28.25. not a drop falls in vain, or in a wrong place: he alſo with-holds it when, and where he thinks good, Amos 4.7. The Egyptians uſed in a profane mockery, to tell other Nations, that if God ſhould forget to rain, they might all chance to ſtarve for it. The rain they though was of God, but not their river: which therefore God threateneth to dry up, Ezek. 29.3, 9. Eſay 19.5, 6.Nat. quaeſt. lib. 4. cap. 2. Art am. l. 1. Jer. 2.13. as alſo he did (as both Seneca and Ovid teſtifie) in the raigne of Cleopatra. The creatures at beſt are but broken ciſterns. Not fountains, but ciſterns onelyonly; and thoſe broken too; there's no truſting to them: they were never true to thoſe that truſted them.
So the Lord ſhall make bright clouds] Nubes curſitantes, thin clouds, that flie ſwiftly in the air, moſt commonly before and after very rainy weather. R. Salomon interprets the word here uſed, not lighenings, which yet are ſignes and fore-runners of rain, Pſal. 135.7. Ier. 10.13. but clouds bringing rain. Clouds are nothing elſe but vapours thickened in the middle region of the air, by the cold invironing and driving them together: that they may be as ſo many heavenly bottles holding water, to be ſeaſonably diſtilled. How they are upheld, and why they fall here, and now, and by drops, not by ſpouts (ſith they are veſſels as thin as the liquor contained in them) we know not, and wonder.
and give them ſhowres of rain] Heb. rain, rain, that is, plentifull rain upon his inheritance:Eccleſ. 12.2. Eſay 45.19. the clouds ſhall return after the rain, and one ſhowre is unburthened, another ſhall be brewed. God ſcorns to ſay to the ſeed of Iacob, Seek ye me in vain: or that any of his ſuitours ſhould go ſad away, for want of an anſwer. David asked his for life: and God gave him more, even length of dayes for ever and ever, Pſal. 21.4. Many came to Chriſt for cure of their bodies, he cured them on both ſides: and was better to them then their prayers. Gehezi asked Naaman for a talent of ſilver: nay, take two, ſaid he: and he preſſed it upon him. So ſaith God to his, Ask and ſpare not, that your joy may be full. Ye are not ſtraitened in me, but ye are ſtraitened in your own bowels. Ye have not, becauſe ye ask not: and he is worthy to want it, that may have it for asking onelyonly.
to every one graſſe] Graſſe for the cattle, and corn for the food of man, as the Chaldee expounds it.
Verſe 2. For the idols have ſpoken vanity] q. d. Therefore ask good things at Gods hands, as rain, food, and all neceſſary proviſion: becauſe Idols and ſoothſayers cannot help you to theſe things. If they promiſe you (as they will) beleeve them not: for they lie as faſt, as once Rabſhakeh did for his Maſter: when he promiſed the people a land of corn and wine,Eſay. 36.17. a land of bread and vineyards. And they will finally ſerve you, as Abſaloms mule ſerved her Maſter: whom ſhe left at his greateſt need, to hang betwixt heaven and earth, as rejected of both. Lo ſuch are all creature-comforts golden deluſions, lying vanities, apples of Sodom, nec vera, nce veſtra, 1 Cor. 7. 31.the faſhion of this world, ſaith Paul; the phantaſies of mens brain, ſaith Luke, Act. 25.23. the ſemblances and empty ſhews of good, without any reality, or ſolid conſiſtency, ſaith Solomon often. They are, ſaith our Prophet here, a wicked deceit, and coſinage. An arrant lie, a falſe dream, a vain or empty comfort that utterly deceiveth a mans confidence, and maketh him, in the fulneſſe of his conceited ſufficiencie, to be in ſtraights. Theſe here for inſtance: viz. the Jews that had been carried captives as a flock without a guide, ſheep without a ſhepherd, and ye had not (till after ſome while at leaſt) abrenounced their Idols, Ier. 44.22. Ezek. 9.
therefore they went their way as a flock] Driven by the butcher to the ſlaughter-houſe. Idolatry is a land-deſolating ſin: as beſides theſe Jews (the more ingenuous of them at this day confeſſe, that in all their puniſhments there is ſtill an ounce of the golden-calf made by them in the wilderneſſe) the Greek Church was undone by it. The worſhipping of Images they defended with tooth and nail (as they ſay) and eſtabliſhed it in the ſecond Councell of Nice; not long before the Turk took Nice, and made it the ſeat of his Empire, in oppoſition to Conſtantinople, which at length he took alſo; and brought in Mahometiſme, that foul impiety, which quickly over-ſpread the whole Eaſt and South, like as Popiſh Idolatry did the Weſt and North. But this iniquity will be their ruine. Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. She hath fallen culpably, ſhe ſhall therefore fall penally.foreign. And why? She is become the habitation of devils, that is, of idols. See Rev. 9.20. 1 Cor. 10.20.
Verſe 3. Mine anger was kindled againſt the ſhepherds] Paſtores Impoſtores: the greedy prieſts, and falſe prophets main cauſes of the captivity: becauſe through their default, there was no knoledge nor fear of God in the land, Eſay 5.13. Hoſ. 4.6, 7. See Ier. 23.1. Ezek. 34.1.
and I puniſhed the goats] The Grandees and Governours, temporall and Eccleſiaſticall. See Ezek. 34.17. They ſhould have been as the hee-goats before the flock, Ier. 50.8. worthy Guides to God. But they were goats in another ſence, unruly, and naſty, and laſcivious (as thoſe two filthy fellows for inſtance, whom for their adultery the kind of Babylon roaſted in the fire, Ier. 29.22.) and ſuch as begat kids of their own kind, men of their own make, and went before them in wickedneſſe, as the goats lead the flocks.
for the Lord of hoſts] Better to read it, but the Lord of hoſts, &c. And this is ſpoken for the comfort of thoſe that called upon God, and abhorred Idols, and Idol-ſhepherds, that were in ſpeciall covenant with him, and therefore owned by him, as his flock, or peculiar charge. Now, to ſuch he promiſeth to feed them as him ſheep, and to furniſh them as his horſe for ſervice, his goodly warre-horſe, mainly reſpected by his Maſter, as Bucephalus was by Alexander. Plin. l. 8. c. 41.This may in part be underſtood of the Maccabees victories: but principally of the Apoſtles, thoſe white horſes, upon which they rode thorow the world, conquering and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. Saint Paul is fitly compared to that war-horſe in Job, chap. 39.20. whoſe neck is clothed with thunder, and the glory of his noſtrils is terrible. He mocketh at fear, and turneth not back from the ſword. He goeth on to meet the armed man, and ſwalloweth the ground with fierceneſſe, and rage, &c.
Verſe 4. Out of him came forth the corner] Angulus, not Angelus as ſome Vulgar Latine tranſlations have it: and A Lapide juſtly finds fault with it.Chap. 35. A like fault Surius and Caranza (his fellow-popelings) are content to wink at, nay to defend in the Laodicene Councell, becauſe it makes for their Angel-worſhip. For whereas the Councell truely ſaith, foreign, Chriſtians muſt not pray to Angels. They make the words to be Non oportet Chriſtianos ad angulos congregationes facere. Chriſtians ought not hold their meetings in corners; and they make the title ſay, the ſame thing. but is this fair dealing, thus to falſifie antiquity for their own ends, and to maintain their own errours? As for the Text.
Out of his came forth, &c.] That is, Out of Judah ſhall be had all things neceſſary, both at home (and here the Prophet proceeds from the foundation to the nails, or faſtening of the houſe together) and abroad: both for the maſtering of the enemy by the Battle-bowe, &c. and the making of him tributary: for
Out of him ſhall come every exactour] ſc. Of homage and tribute, as the fruit of their victory. Danaeus ſenceth it thus. Out of Judah ſhall go every oppreſſour which did vex his people before, God driving him forth.
Verſe 5. And they ſhall be as mighty men] Or, as Giants, as Gabriels, they ſhall be ſtrong in the Lord,Ruth. 2.11. and in the power of his might, they ſhal do worthily in Ephratas, and be famous in Bethlehem: their bow ſhall abide in ſtrength, and the armes of their hands be made ſtrong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: from thence is the ſhepheard, the ſtone of Iſrael. PlutarchGen. 49.24. If it could be ſaid of Mithridates, a meer Atheiſt, that he never wanted any courage nor counſel; how much of Gods warriours, ſuch as Iudas Maccabeus, eſpecially Meſſiah the Prince, who treads down his enemies as the mire of the ſtreets, ſetting his feet in their necks and making them to be found liars unto him, that is to yeeld him at leaſt a forced and fained ſubjection.
and they ſhall ſight becauſe the Lord is with them] This is enough to make them fight up to the knees in blood, that they have God to ſtand by them: not onelyonly as a ſpectatour, or Agonotheta (though that's ſomwhat: dogs and other baſer creatures will fight luſtily when their maſters are by, and to ſet them on) but as a Captain of the Lord Hoſts, as Chriſt is called, and a Coadjutor, a Champion, a man of war Exod. 15.3. Yea, he alone is a whole army of men, he is Van and Rei…e both, Iſai. 52.12. The ſhields of the earth belong to him, the Militia of the world is his Pſal. 47.9. he hath magnleh choloth and matteh choloth, as the Rabbins well obſerve, armies both above, and beneath, as his horſe and foot to fight for him people.
and the riders on horſes ſhall be confounded] As they were in the conqueſt of Canaan, where the enemies had horſes and chariots, when the Iſraelites had neither, as Orig…n obſerveth: and as they were in all Davids wars, and the reſt of the victorious kings of Iſrael, who according to the Law Deut. 17.16. made no uſe of horſes (but ſaid An horſe is but a vain thing for battel &c. God takes no delight in the ſtrength of an horſe) and ever fought on foot with ſingular ſucceſſe. So did the Maccabees, Ziſca, and after his the Bohemians, the Engliſh in France at the battle of Spurres (ſo the battle of Terwin was called in Henry the eighth his time, from the French poſting away to ſave their lives.)Spied. 1000.
Verſe 6.A Lapide And I will ſtrengthen the houſe of Judah] Robuſtos, as quaſi Gabricles efficiam. See Chap. 12.8. Eſay 10.34. See verſe 5. of this chapter. The Saints ſhall be ſtrengthened with all migh. according to his glorious power, Col. 1.11. at the Reſurrection eſpecially, when Chriſt ſhall change their vile bodies, and make them like unto his glorious body in ſtrength, agility, beauty &c. The bodies of the Saints, ſaith Luther, ſhall have that power as to toſſe the greateſt mountains in the world like a ball. Auſelme ſaith ſuch, as they ſhall be able to ſhake the whole earth at their pleaſure. Our Saviour ſaith, that they ſhall be as the Angels of God Luk. 20.36. more like ſpirits then bodies, while they are here, In quiet and confidence is their ſtrength Eſay 30.15. and again in the ſame chapter verſe 7. their ſtrength is to ſit ſtill. They expected much ſtrenght from Egypt: but the Prophet tells them that by ſiting ſtill and waiting for the ſalvation of God by faith, they ſhall have an Egypt, Heb. 11.34.and better, out of weakneſſe they ſhould be made ſtrong, wax valiant in fight, turn to flight the armies of the aliens, as the Maccabees did, and as Michael and his Angels Rev. 12. the noble Army of the Apoſtles, who were more then Conquerours: and Martyrs who tired their tormentours and laughed at their cruelty: the valour of the patients, the ſavageneſſe of the perſecutours ſtrove together; till both exceeding nature and belief, bred wonder and aſtoniſhment in beholders and readers. Theſe were thoſe lion-like men of the tribe of Judah that took the kingdom by violence. Judah which ſignifieth the Confeſſour, had the kingdom, as Levi had the Prieſt-hood, both forfeited by Reuben who was weak as water. Gen. 49.
and I will ſave the houſe of Joſeph] that is, Ephraim, but for the ten tribes, whom God here promiſeth to ſave, not to bring back, ſaith the Geneva-Note on Ver. 9. But others there are that gather from theſe words and theſe that follow, that God will not onelyonly preſerve them, but reduce and reſettle them in their own countrey, yea, and multiply them ſo abundantly, as that their countrey ſhall not be able to hold them Verſe 10. Whence cometh Aſhurs and Egypts ſubjection to Chriſt; that is, all the tract of the Eaſt, and of the South verſe 1. and their perpetual eſtabliſhment in the faith.
Verſe 12 And I will bring them again to place them] I will place them in their houſes as Hoſ. 11.11. The Sept. render it, I will cauſe them to dwell.foreign compoſ. The Caldee I will gather together their captivity. Some ſpecial mercy is aſſured them by this ſpecial word of a mixt conjugation.
for I have mercy upon I them] Heres a double cauſe alledged, of theſe ſo great and gracious promiſes: and both excluding works. Firſt Gods mere mercy. Secondly his Election of grace, for I am the Lord their God. This latter is the cauſe of the former: for God choſe his people for his love, and then loveth them for his choice. The effects of which love are here ſet down. 1. That he heareth their prayers, I will hear them. 2. That he reaccepteth and reſtoreth them in Chriſt, as if they had never offenced againſt him. They ſhall be as though I had not caſt them off. That was a cutting ſpeech, and far worſe then their captivity Jer. 16.13. When God not onelyonly threateneth to caſt them out of their countrey into a ſtrange land, but that there he would ſlew them no favour. Here he promiſeth to pitty them; and then they muſt needs think deliverance was at next door by.
and they ſhall be as though I had not caſt them off] And this the ſooner, and the rather, becauſe they called them out-caſts, ſaying, This is Zion whom no man ſeeketh after Jer. 30.17. The Jewiſh Nation, ſaith Tully, ſhew how God regards them that have been ſo oft overcome, viz. by Nehuchad-nezzar, Pompey &c. God therefore promiſeth to provide for his own great name, by being fully reconciled to his poor people, whom the world looked upon abjects. for I am the Lord their God And if I ſhould not ſee to their ſafey,Pſal. 119. it would much reflect upon me. This David well knew, and therefore prayes thu, I am thine, Lord ſave me.
and will hear them, Or, I will ſpeak with them: ſpeak to their hearts. It is no more, ſaith One, then if a man were in a fair dining-room with much good company, and there is ſome ſpeciall friend whom he loveth dearly, that calleth him aſide to ſpeak in private of buſineſſe, that neerly concerneth him: and though he go into a worſe room, yet he is well enough pleaſed. So if God, in loſſe of friends, houſes, countrey, comforts whatſoever, will ſpeak with us, will anſwer us, the loſſe will be eaſily made up. Philip Lantgrave of Heſſe being a long time priſoner under Charles 5. was demanded what upheld him all that time? He anſwered, that he had felt the favour of God, and the Divine conſolations of the Martyrs. There be Divine comforts that are felt onelyonly under the croſſe. I will bring her into the wilderneſſe, and there ſpeak to her heart Hoſ. 2.13. Iſrael was never ſo royally provided for, with Manna, Quails, and other cates, as when they were in the wilderneſſe. The croſſe is anointed with comfort, which makes it not onelyonly light, but ſweet: not onelyonly not troubleſome and importable, but deſirable and delightful, ſaith Bernard. Thy preſence O Lord made the very gridiron ſweet to Laurence, ſaith another; How eaſily can God make up our loſſe; and breaches?
Verſe 7. And they of Ephraim ſhall be as a mighty man] The ſame again, and in the ſame words, for more aſſurance; becauſe the return of the ten Tribes might ſeem a thing more incredible, Erant enim quaſi putridum cadaver ſaith Calvin here: they were as rotten carkaſſes, and they had obiter onelyonly heard of theſe promiſes; as if ſome grain of feed ſhould be dropt by the high-way-ſide: for they were now as aliens from the Common-wealty of Iſrael.
and their hert ſhall rejoyce as throught wine] Which naturally exhilarateth Pſal. 104.15.foreign and is called by Plato one of the Mitigaters of humane miſery See Prov. 31.6. with the Note. Some nations uſe to drink wine freely before they enter the battel to make them undaunted. Some think here may be an alluſion to ſuch a cuſtom. I ſhould rather underſtand it of that generous wine of the ſpirit Eph. 5.18.
yea, their children ſhall ſee it] Therefore they were not to antedate the promiſes, but to wait the accompliſhment which ſhould certainly be, if not them, yet to theirs after them, even a full reſtauration in due ſeaſon.
Verſe 8. I will hiſſe for them and gather them] As a ſhepheard hiſſeth or whiſtleth for his flock. See Judg. 5.16. where it ſhould not be tranſlated the bleatings of the flocks, but the hiſſings or whiſtlings of the ſhepheards to their flocks, when they would get them together. God, who hath all creatures at his beck and check, can eaſily bring back his haniſhed, gather together his diſperſed with a turn of a hand Zech. 13.7. with a blaſt of his mouth, as here; as if any offer to oppoſe him herein, he can blow them to deſtruction Iob. 4.9. He can frown them to death Pſal. 80.16. He can cruſh them between his fingers, as men do a moth Pſal. 39.11. and crumble them to crattle Pſal. 146.4. Like ſheep they are laid in the grave, death ſhall feed on them: and the upright ſhall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty ſhall conſume in the grave from their dwelling. Pſal. 49.14.
For I have redeemed them] I have in part, and that's a pledge of the whole; my hands alſo ſhall finiſh it, as Chap 4.9. God doth not his work to the halves; neither muſt we: but if he ſhall be All in All unto us, we muſt be altogether His, Cant. 2.16. His is a covenant of mercy, ours of obedience: which muſt be therefore full and finall, as Chriſt hath obtained for us an entire, and everlaſting redemption. Heb. 9.12.
and they ſhall increaſe as they have increaſed] By verue of that promiſe to Abraham Gen. 13.16. I will multiply thy ſeed as the duſt of the earth: and Gen 15.5. as the ſtars of heaven. This promiſe was not preſently fulfilled; for when they came into Egypt they were but ſeventy ſouls of them. But under the Egyptian ſervitude, they increaſed abundantly Exod. 1.7. they ſpawned (as the word ſignifies) and bred ſwiftly: ſo that they went thence 600000. ſtrong. Exod. 12.37. So that they ſoon became a mighty and populous nation Dent. 26.5. Judea was not above 200 miles long, and 50 miles broad: not near the half of England by much; yet what huge armies had they, when the two tribes and the other ten met in the field, one againſt another? And even at this day (whatever is become of the ten tribes: whether they be in China, or America) the Jews are a very great and numerous people. It is thought that there is not any one nation under heaven ſo great in number as that is, if the diſperſed Jews might all be gathered together into one place: And who knows what we may (ſome of us) yet live to ſee? The late Clavis Apocalypt…ica promiſeth great matters to fall out within theſe three or four yeers.
Verſe 9. And I will ſow them among the people] Scatter them indeed, but for an excellent purpoſe, that they may bring forth fruit to God: and be a bleſſed means of bringing in the fulneſſe of the Gentiles harveſt. Some kinde of the knowledge of God was diffuſed by the Jew wherever they came: and when at length the Goſpel was preached by the Apoſtles, they firſt dealt with the Jews (who had their Synagogues in all places) as it was neceſſary Act. 13.46. that as they had been the onelyonly people of God, ſo now they might be the firſt invited gueſt. This invitation when they put from them and ſo judged themſelves unworthy of…ternal life, what remained but that the halt and the blinde Gentiles ſhoul be fetcht in from the high wayes and hedges, that ſo Gods houſe might be full. So then their deſperſion was a ſemination: and their exile opened a gate for the Goſpel. hence alſo it is called foreign a diſſemination, or ſcattering: as when a man ſoweth ſeed abroad. 1 Pet 1.1. Iam. 1.1.
and they ſhall remember me in far countries] Saint Paul teſtifieth that the twelve tribes inſtantly ſerved God day and night Act. 26.7. a great deal better, doubtleſſe, then they do at this day; being as reverend in their Synagogues, as grammer-boyes are at ſchool when their Maſter is abſent,Spec. Europ. ſaith an eye witneſſe.
and they ſhall live with their children, and turn again] They or their poſterity ſhal. Gods promiſes bear a long date many times,foreign and the beleeving Hebrews are told that they had need of patience, or tolerance: that after they had done the will of God, and ſuffered it too, if need be, they might receive the promiſe. Heb. 10.36. And they are further exhorted to run with patience the race that is ſet before them:Heb. 12.1. wherein he that beleeveth maketh not haſt, but can want and wait for what he wiſheth, till God pleaſe: being deſirous rather that God may be glorified then himſelf gratified, if both may not ſtand together.
Verſe 10. I will bring them again alſo out of the land of Egypt] whither they fled for fear of the Babylonians Jer. 44.Antiq. l. 11. Chap. 2. and where it ſeems they became a mighty people, if that be true which Ioſephus writeth, viz. that Ptolomic Philadelph ſent back an hundred and twenty thouſand of them into Judea, and by that royall beneficence obtained the ſeventy Seniours to be ſent by Eleazar the High-prieſt,Gualther: praelat. in Com. in Ma…e. for the tranſlating of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. His ſucceſſour Ptoiomaeus Lathurus was nothing ſo courteous: for he ſlew 30000. of them with unheard-of cruelty: and made the living devour the dead.
and gather them out of Aſſyria] whither the ten tribes were carried captive, and ſcattered all abroad through the one hundred twenty and ſeven province, as Haman ſuggeſted to the king Eſth. 3.8.
and I will bring them into the land of Gilcad and Lebanon] that is, into Judea (the bounds whereof were Lobanus and Gilead) a figure of the Church, that land of delights. See Cant. 4.1, 8. Gods Hephſibah Iſa. 62.4. O praeclaram illam dieculam? when ſhall it once be? The comfort is, God can make a nation conceive and bring forth, both in one day Eſay 66.8. O pray, pray, pray, as Pſal. 14.7. and as the poor Jews pray at this day, Let thy kingdome come ſpeedily, Bimherah bejamenu.and even in our dayes.
Verſe 11. And he ſhall paſſe thorough the ſea &c.] who ſhall? The people for want of roome, ſaith Junius: they ſhall enlarge their quarters into Egypt,Tranſiens per mare angu…s. Aſſyria and other nations ſubduing them to Chriſt. God ſhall (ſay others, and I think better) he ſhall fright the ſea, and miraculouſly deliver his people, as once he did at the red ſea, which threatened to ſwallow them, but God made it to preſerve them. He will remove all rubs and Remora's, all obſtacles and impediments: Neither Egypt, nor Aſſyria ſhall be able to hinder what God will have done. See Iſa. 11.15. The miſunderſtanding of this and the like texts to this, might haply occaſion that unhappineſſe that befell the Jews in Creet Anno 434, The devill under the name of Moſes (whom he perſonated) perſwaded thoſe poor creatures, that he was ſent from God, to bring them home againe to their own countrey. This they ſoon beleeved (as they are wondrous apt to work themſelves into the fooles paradiſe of a ſublime dotage) and leaving all their good to others, followed this ſeducer (who had ſpent a whole yeer in travelling over the countrey for the purpoſe) together with their wives and children to the top of a ſteep rock that hung over the ſea. Thither when they were come, this mo… Moſes commanded them to wrap their heads in their upper garments, and ſo to th… themſelves from the rock toward the ſea, aſſuring them of a ſafe paſſage. They readily obeyed him: and in that ſort periſhed a great many of them. And more had followed, but that (as God would have it) ſome Chriſtian fiſhermen, being there at that inſtant, took up ſome of them as they were ſ…oting upon the waves, and ready to periſh: who afterwards returning to the reſt of the Jews, told them how they had been cheated, and how nar…owly they had eſcaped:Funcc. Chron. whereupon they being all enraged (as they had reaſon) ſought for this Seducer to put him to death. But when he could not poſſibly be found any where, they ſoon concluded that it was the very devill that old man-ſlayer: and diverſe of them, moved by this calamity, became Chriſtians. The Jews generally beleeve that their Meſſias when he commeth ſhall do ſuch miracles as Moſes wrought at the red ſea.Hieron. Remig. Huge. They tell us alſo that in the time of the Maccabees, diverſe Jews that had ſled into Greece paſſed through the narrow ſea of Propontis, that runs betwixt Chalcedon and Conſtantinople, to go back into their own countrey.
and all the deepes of the rivers ſhall dry up] As once Iordan did before Joſhuah and the people: and as Rev. 16.12. Euphrates ſhall do before thoſe kings of the Eaſt, which ſome make to be the Eaſtern Jews: and the drying up of Euphrates, to be the downfall of the Turkiſh Empire. Event will be the beſt interpreter, when all's done.
Verſe 12. And I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord] that is, in Chriſt the head of the Churches: for by his own ſtrength ſhall no man prevaile, ſaith holy Hannah 1 Sam. 2.9. and without me ye can do nothing, ſaith Chriſt the true vine,Ioh. 15.5. from whom we have both the bud of good deſires, the bloſſom of good reſolutions, and the fruit of good actions. Only we muſt fetch our ſtrength by faith from Chriſt: and pray as Eſay 51.9. Awake, awake, put on ſtrength, O arm of the Lord.
and they ſhall walk in his name] i. e. in his ſtrength and to his glory. See that ſweet promiſe Iſa. 40.29, 30, 31. See alſo the Note above on verſe 6.