Exodus 10

Before the first verse

VERS. 1-3--... *For I have hardened his heart,* etc. He did not say this as though God had need of anyone's malice, but it is thus to be understood, as if he should say: I have been patient over him and his servants, that I might not take them away, so that my signs might come upon them in order; for because the evil mind was becoming the more obstinate through the patience of God, for this, that I was patient over him, it is said, *I have made his heart heavy.* The plagues of the Egyptians are the instruction of the children of Israel, lest they be hardened in like manner, and suffer like things. When the pestilent man is punished, the little one shall be the wiser. The ten plagues with which Egypt is scourged through the Israelites can be compared to the times of the Roman empire, because these things were done in a figure of us. The Christian and the Israelite people are of one God; the cause of both was one and made subject, the Synagogue to the Egyptians, the Church to the Romans. The Egyptians persecuted, and the Romans also persecuted. There Moses is contradicted ten times, here ten edicts against Christ. There diverse plagues of the Egyptians, here diverse calamities of the Romans. There first blood flows from the wells and rivers; here the first plague under Nero, that everywhere there was the blood of the dying, either corrupted by diseases in the City, or poured out by wars throughout the world. There the second plague, frogs in the inner chambers; famine almost destroyed the inhabitants: here under Domitian unbridled henchmen, at the command of a bloody prince, and want, dispersed almost all the Roman citizens. There the third plague, sciniphs, most savage little flies, which in midsummer fly in swarms through squalid places, and are borne with a burning bite into the hair of men and the bristles of cattle: here the third plague stirred up the Jews under Trajan, who, whereas before, being scattered, they were quiet as though they were not, being moved by a sudden heat, went about ravaging. Besides, many cities in those same times fell down by an earthquake. There the fourth plague, dog-flies, nurslings of rottenness, mothers of worms; here under Marcus Antoninus a pestilence poured into many provinces gave over to rottenness and to worms Italy and the city of Rome, and the army of the Romans scattered through diverse winter quarters and dissolved by death. There the fifth plague, of cattle and of beasts of burden: here under Severus the persecutor, by civil wars, the very bowels and supports of the commonwealth, that is, the commons of the provinces and the legions of soldiers, were broken in pieces. There the sixth plague, swelling blisters and running ulcers: here the plague which followed the persecution of Maximinus, who had commanded that especially the bishops and clerics, the popular crowd being passed over, the chief men of the Churches, should be tortured; and, swelling frequently with anger and perfidy, it was exalted not through the slaughter of the common people, but through the wounds of dying princes and men of power. There the seventh plague, hail gathered in the air, which was destruction to men and to beasts: here under Gallus and Volusianus, who succeeded Decius the persecutor, a pestilence was poured through all the spaces of the Roman empire, and gave nearly the whole human race to death. There the eighth correction, locusts stirred up on every side: here nations stirred up on every side laid waste the Roman world with slaughters and burnings. There the ninth plague, darkness that might be handled, threatening more of peril than working it: here, while Aurelian the persecutor was decreeing, amid dreadful whirlwinds a terrible thunderbolt fell at his very feet, showing what so great an avenger would do, were he not patient; although within six months three emperors were slain, Aurelian, Tacitus and Florianus. There the tenth and last plague, the slaying of the firstborn: here the destruction of all the idols, which, being made first, they loved among the first. There the king proved the power of God, and felt it, and feared, and let the people of God go free: here also he did all these things, and even believed. There the people of God was not drawn back to servitude, nor here afterwards compelled to idolatry. There the precious vessels of the Egyptians were handed over to the Hebrews: here the precious temples of the pagans passed over to the Church of the Christians. Upon the Egyptians, pursuing the Hebrews who had been let go after the ten plagues, the destruction of the sea rushed in: upon us also, as we journey, the persecution of the Gentiles remains, until we pass through the Red Sea, that is, the fire of judgment, with Christ as leader and as judge. But those who persecute Christians shall be drowned, with their king Antichrist, in the pool of eternal fire.