John Trapp on Amos 2:4

Verſe 4.Ideò deteriores quia meliores eſſe debebant. Zach. 1.19. For three tranſgreſſions of Judah,] who were therefore worſe then the above-mentioned Nations, becauſe they ought to have been better. Beſet they were with enemies round about, who dealt cruelly with them: and this ſhould have made them to cleave more cloſe to God: theſe hornes puſhing and ſcattering them, ſhould have puſhed them home to him: but it proved otherwiſe. For Judah alſo is found to to be incorrigibly flagitious, guilty, as the former, of three transgreſſions and of four, &c. worſe in them then in others, becauſe in Judah was God known, and to them were committed the Oracles of God, whom they might hear eftſoons ſcreeking out unto them, when they were putting forth their hands to wickedneſſe, Oh do not this abominable thing. But they tanquam monſtra marina, as One ſaith,Jer. 44.4. like ſo many Sea-Monſters paſſed by Gods words with a deaf ear.

They deſpiſed the law of the Lord,] They would none of his counſell: they liked well to live in Gods good land, but not to live by Gods good lawes: like thoſe in the Goſpel, they rejected the counſel of God within themſelves, Luk. 7.30. and that with ſcorne and disdain, as the word here uſed ſignifieth. See the Note on Hoſ. 6.6.

and have not kept his commandements,] though holie, juſt, and good, though ſuch, as if a man keep them, (be it but Evangelically, ſi faciat, etia[illegible: 1 letter]ſi non perficiat) he ſhall live in them, by a life of grace, as the flame lives in the oyle, or the creature by his food: Though in keeping thereof (how much more for keeping thereof?)Liv. 18.5. there is great reward, Pſal. 19.11.

and their lies cauſed them,] that is, their idols (as the Vulgar well rendreth it) and their will-worſhips: their new inventions, and good intentions, thereby to ſerve and pleaſe God. Theſe are properly called lies: becauſe contrary to the law of truth (whereto they are here oppoſed) and to Davids practiſe, who did the truth, 1 Ioh. 1.6. and could ſafely ſay, I hate and abhorre lying: but thy law do I love, Pſal. 119.163. and ver. 104. Through thy precepts I get underſtanding: therefore I hate every falſe way.

after the which their fathers have walked.] So that they are a race of Rebels, a ſeed of evil-doers, and do fill up the meaſure of their fathers ſins, till wrath come upon them to the utmoſt. This is no ſmall aggravation, Ezek. 20.30. Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations. See Acts 7.51. Muſt I bee provoked by you from one generation to another.