Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

But it seems the Prophet passeth his bounds, when he magnifies this deliverance in such excessive speeches. For we read not that the rivers were here turned into blood, nor that a gross and palpable darkness troubled the air, or that the first borne were slain, or that any vermin were sent to devour the fruits of the earth; neither any of the like wonders which came to pass in Egypt: none of these happened, as we know in Babylon. What means he then by this new deliverance? This hath caused almost all the writers that are Christians, to expound this place simply of Christs coming: wherein no doubt they have been deceived no less then the Jews, who only restrain this to the deliverance out of Babel. And therefore as I have said in another place, we must here comprehend the whole time that passed between the deliverance out of Babylon, until the coming of Christ.¹ The redemption out of Egypt may be compared to the first birth of the Church; because the people were then gathered into a body, and the Church was established, which before was without form: yet this redemption ended not at the peoples coming forth of Egypt, but continued till they were possessed of the land of Canaan, which was given them after the Kings were driven thence. The like may be said of this birth by which the Jews were brought out of Babylon, and restored home into their own Country: for this restoration must not be restrained to their going out of Babylon only, but it stretcheth it self unto the coming of Christ; during which space of time, there came great and wonderful things to pass indeed.

But it seemes the Prophet passeth his bounds, when he magnifies this deliuerance in such excessiue speeches. For we reade not that the riuers were heere turned into blood, nor that a grosse and palpable darknesse troubled the aire, or that the first borne were slaine, or that any vermin were sent to deuoure the fruits of the earth; neither any of the like wonders which came to passe in Egypt: none of these happened, as wee know in Babylon. What meanes hee then by this new deliuerance? This hath caused almost all the writers that are Christians, to expound this place simply of Christs comming: wherein no doubt they haue been deceiued no lesse then the Iewes, who onely restraine this to the deliuerance out of Babell. And therefore as I haue said in another place, wee must heere comprehend the whole time that passed betweene the deliuerance out of Babylon, vntill the comming of Christ.¹