But the nations to whom that law was not given, after they have come through the New Testament to these oracles, by thirsting much have gone beyond the earth, because in them they have savored not earthly, but heavenly things.And the reason why this is done is as it were sought; "for the barren," she says, "hath born seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble." Here all that had been prophesied hath shone forth to those who understood the number seven, which signifies the perfection of the universal Church, For which reason also the Apostle John writes to the seven churches, (3) showing in that way that he writes to the totality of the one Church; and in the Proverbs of Solomon it is said aforetime, prefiguring this, "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath strengthened her seven pillars." (4) For the city of God was barren in all nations before that child arose whom we see.(5) We also see that the temporal Jerusalem, who had many children, is now waxed feeble.Because, whoever in her were sons of the free woman were her strength; but now, forasmuch as the letter is there, and not the spirit, having lost her strength, she is waxed feeble.
"The Lord killeth and maketh alive:" He has killed her who had many children, and made this barren one alive, so that she has born seven.Although it may be more suitably understood that He has made those same alive whom He has killed.For she, as it were, repeats that by adding, "He bringeth down to hell, and bringeth up." To whom truly the apostle says, "If ye be dead with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (6) Therefore they are killed by the Lord in a salutary way, so that he adds, " Savor things which are above, not things on the earth;" so that these are they who, hungering, have passed beyond the earth."For ye are dead," he says: behold how God savingly kills! Then there follows, "And your life is hid with Christ in God:" behold how God makes the same alive! But does He bring them down to hell and bring them up again? It is without controversy among believers that we best see both parts of this work fulfilled in Him, to wit our Head, with whom the apostle has said our life is hid in God."For when He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all," (7) in that way, certainly, He has killed Him.And forasmuch as He raised Him up again from the dead, He has made Him alive again.And since His voice is acknowledged in the prophecy, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell," (3) He has brought Him down to hell and brought Him up again.By this poverty of His we are made rich; (9) for "the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich." But that we may know what this is, let us hear what follows: "He bringeth low and lifteth up;" and truly He humbles the proud and exalts the humble.Which we also read elsewhere, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." (10) This is the burden of the entire song of this woman whose name is interpreted "His grace."Farther, what is added, "He raiseth up the poor from the earth," I understand of none better than of Him who, as was said a little ago, "was made poor for us, when He was rich, that by His poverty we might be made rich." For He raised Him from the earth so quickly that His flesh did not see corruption.
Nor shall I divert from Him what is added, "And raiseth up the poor from the dunghill." For indeed he who is the poor man is also the beggar.(11)But by the dunghill from which he is lifted up we are with the greatest reason to understand the persecuting Jews, of whom the apostle says, when telling that when he belonged to them he persecuted the Church, "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; and I have counted them not only loss, but even dung, that I might win Christ." (12) Therefore that poor one is raised up from the earth above all the rich, and that beggar is lifted up from that dunghill above all the wealthy, "that he may sit among the mighty of the people," to whom He says, "Ye shall sit upon twelve thrones," (13) "and to make them inherit the throne of glory."For these mighty ones had said, "Lo, we have forsaken all and followed Thee." They had most mightily vowed this vow.