Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 7:2

2 The good man is perished out of the earth : and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood , they hunt every man his brother with a net .

Who loves, and is kind to men in need, and is so from the sense of Gods goodness, and in a designed imitation of God, is Godly in the frame of his heart, and course of life towards God, and beneficent to men for God's sake.

Is dead and gone, and left no Heir of his godlike vertues.

Out of Israel and Iudah too, though Hezekiah was (probably) now their King.

An honest, plain hearted man, who thinketh no deceit, but speaketh the truth, that is, without crooked and perverse designes, such one may possibly, but not easily, be found among the people of the ten, and of the two Tribes.

This proves the Prophets charge against this people, for the good and upright man imagineth not evil against any, but it is evident that in Israel (and Iudah too) the temper of the most was sly, designing and watching to do mischief, to the ruining of Families, the murthering of Innocents, and siezing their Estates, Ahab like, 1 Kings 21. Prov. 1.19.

They proceed with all diligence, craft and power, as a Hunter that hath set his Toils, and is now by all his arts endeavouring to bring the prey into the Toils, that he may make his advantage by it.

Were they strangers they so hunted, 'twere barbarous, but this is inhumanely barbarous, these bloody men hunt and destroy their brethren, the Seed of Iacob, the Worshippers of the God of Iacob, their own Circumcised Brethren.

Which is spread before hand, and laid close; so 'tis secret premeditated cruelty and rapine, they do universally exercise against each other.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 span]