John Trapp on Amos 3:8

Verſe 8. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath ſpoken, who can but propheſie?] Who that knoweth the terrour of the Lord, can dare to do otherwiſe, when he commandeth it? Shall men fear fire, water, bears, lions, &c. and not the great and terrible God? If he roar upon his ſervants, and ſay as to Jeremy he once did. Thou therefore, gird up the loynes of thy minde, and ariſe, and ſpeak unto them all that I command thee; be not diſmayed at their faces, leſt I confound thee before them: We muſt roar againſt mens ſinnes, and bee inſtant,Jer. 1.17. though they roar againſt us for ſo doing, and threaten never ſo much. Micaiah will not budge for a Kings authority, when once he had ſeen the Lord in his Majeſtie; nor Paul for an Angels, Gal. 1. the reſt of the Apoſtles for the Sanhedrims, Acts 4.19. & 5.25, &c. When the Emperour threatned Baſil with impriſonment, baniſhment, death, he anſwered; Let him threaten boyes with ſuch fray-bugs: I am reſolved: neither menaces nor flatteries ſhall ſilence me, or draw me to betray a good cauſe or conſcience. If I deal not plainly and faithfully with your ſouls, ſaid Bernard, Bern. de tempore. 99. Vobis erit damnoſum, mihi periculoſum. Timeo itaque damnum veſtrum, timeo damnationem ineam ſi tacuero. i. e. it will be ill for you, and worſe for mee. The truth is, you would be betrayed, and I ſhould be damned, if I ſhould hold my peace. Let me be accounted proud, pragmaticall, any thing,Luth. ep. ad Staple. rather then found guilty of ſinfull ſilence, when the Lord calleth me to ſpeak, ſaith Luther. Theſe were men whoſe hearts were fraught with the reverentiall fear of God; and therefore found themſelves neceſſitated to bee faithfull: beſides the love of Chriſt conſtraineth them, 2 Cor. 5.14. ſo that they could do no leſſe, they could not but ſpeak, &c. Act. 4.19.