For this cause he shows in the first place, that it is he which is their redeemer, and the holy one, the better to persuade them that he held those whom he had chosen to be his peculiar people dear and precious unto him. Notwithstanding, Object. this seems contrary to that which we have seen before in the 33. Chapter, Woe to thee that robbest, when thou wast not robbed: the Lord meant by this that he would avenge himself upon the cruelty of the Babylonians, and render them that measure which they had met out unto others: now he shows that the Persians took arms by his commandment, that by means thereof he might work his peoples deliverance. Ans. But these things may be easily reconciled, to wit, that the Lord had respect to his people even then whilst he scourged the Chaldeans: for as his providence extends it self over the whole world in general, so hath he a special care of his Church: and as he dearly loves his Saints, so he turns all things to their salvation. It is not without cause then that he saith he sent them to perform this work by his free grace, because he meant thereby to procure the salvation of his Church. In the same sense he adds, that at his commandment he brought them down: for albeit the Medes and Persians1 had another end, yet their journey was governed by an heavenly instinct. And thus God meant to show what love he bare to his chosen people aforehand, lest they should have fainted in their extreme anguishes and afflictions. This promise therefore was of great use, in respect the poor captives might from hence greatly comfort themselves that they were beloved of God, although all the world besides contemned, hated, and rejected them as the offscouring of all things, seeing they saw that God in the end was minded to succour them, and for their sakes to destroy the Monarchy of the Babylonians.
For this cause he shewes in the first place, that it is he which is their redeemer, and the holy one, the better to perswade them that he held those whom he had chosen to be his peculiar people deare and pretious vnto him. Notwithstanding, Obiect. this seemes contrarie to that which we haue seene before in the 33. Chapter, Woe to thee that robbest, when thou wast not robbed: the Lord meant by this that he would auenge himselfe vpon the crueltie of the Babylonians, and render them that measure which they had met out vnto others: now hee shewes that the Persians tooke armes by his commandement, that by meanes thereof he might worke his peoples deliuerance. Ans. But these things may be easily reconciled, to wit, that the Lord had respect to his people euen then whilest he scourged the Chaldeans: for as his prouidence extends it selfe ouer the whole world in generall, so hath he a speciall care of his Church: and as he dearly loues his Saincts, so he turnes all things to their saluation. It is not without cause then that he saith he sent them to performe this worke by his free grace, because he meant thereby to procure the saluation of his Church. In the same sense he addes, that at his commandement hee brought them downe: for albeit the Medes and Persians1 had another end, yet their iorney was gouerned by an heauenly instinct. And thus God meant to shew what loue he bare to his chosen people aforehand, lest they should haue fainted in their extreme anguishes and afflictions. This promise therefore was of great vse, in respect the poore captiues might from hence greatly comfort themselues that they were beloued of God, although all the world besides contemned, hated, and reiected them as the ofscouring of all things, seeing they saw that God in the end was minded to succor them, and for their sakes to destroy the Monarchie of the Babylonians.
- 1Medes and Persians.
