Was it not an admirable thing that a sort of poor captives, contemned of all as miserable abjects and slaves; yea held and esteemed as detestable as the disease of the pestilence, should notwithstanding be restored and sent home into their Country by infidel Kings? Besides, that they should be furnished §2with all things fit for their journey, and order taken for their affairs: as also for the building of the City, and restoring of the §3Temple? But yet behold wonders much greater then these, which came to pass afterwards; when there were but a few of the people which would return back again, and the most were so discouraged,1 that they preferred so miserable a servitude before so blessed and happy a freedom. When a small handful (I say) of them then returned into Judea, in respect of that great multitude which was led into captivity, yet fell there out greater lets and hinderances. For were there not conspiracies,2 new hatreds & grudgings raised up against this people, who were in too much contempt and disgrace already? Did not the work cease, and was not all §1means procured to hinder the finishing of §2it? In which respect they might well have thought that the Lord had brought them out in vain, seeing they were now exposed to greater dangers then ever they were before. After the Temple was built, things succeeded §3no whit better; for they were environed on all sides with mighty adversaries, who hated them most deadly, and vexed them without ceasing. Afterwards they were visited §4with sundry afflictions and persecutions; so as it might seem they were as good as overwhelmed and rooted out by them. Yet notwithstanding God ceased not still miraculously to preserve them even in the midst of fire and sword. If we consider their poor and miserable estate, and the sore trials they were put to by tyrants, we may well admire how any one of them escaped.
Was it not an admirable thing that a sort of poore captiues, contemned of all as miserable abiects and slaues; yea held and esteemed as detestable as the disease of the pestilence, should notwithstanding bee restored and sent home into their Country by infidell Kings? Besides, that they should be furnished §2with all things fit for their iourney, and order taken for their affaires: as also for the building of the Citie, and restoring of the §3Temple? But yet behold wonders much greater then these, which came to passe afterwards; when there were but a few of the people which would returne backe againe, and the most were so discouraged,1 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,2 new hatreds & grudgings raised vp against this people, who were in too much contempt and disgrace already? Did not the worke cease, and was not all §1meanes procured to hinder the finishing of §2it? 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 before. After the Temple was built, things succeeded §3no whit better; for they were inuironed on all sides with mightie aduersaries, who hated them most deadly, and vexed them without ceasing. Afterwards they were visited §4with sundry afflictions and persecutions; so as it might seeme they were as good as ouerwhelmed and rooted out by them. Yet notwithstanding God ceased not still miraculously 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.
- 1See Exod. 14.11.12.
- 2What impediments happened to the Jews in their return.What impediments happened to the Iewes in their returne.
