John Trapp on Amos 4:9

Verſe 9. I have ſmitten you with blaſting and mildews &c.] This, by immoderate raine: that, by drought cauſed by an Eaſt-wind, that ventus vrens & exſiccans. God cannot poſſibly want a weapon to tame a rebell.

when your gardens and your vineyards increaſed] Or were trimmed and tricked up. Taxat nimium eorum ſtudium ſaith Mercer. The Prophet here taxeth their overmuch paines taken, and coſt caſt away in multiplying and dreſſing their hort-yards, and Vineyards: when in the meane while, they neglected the ſincere ſervice of God: and ſuffered their own hearts to lie like the ſluggards field, that was all grown over with thornes and briars, Prov. 24.31. that is, with luſts and ſins, under which lurketh that old ſerpent.

the palmer-worme] which is worſe then the locuſt, as Hierom noteth: for the locuſt feeds only on the tops of the eares of corne as he flies (and thence hath his name in Greek) but palmer-wormes ſtick cloſe to the fruits or flowers they light on: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and will not off, till all be conſumed. It is the laſt and worſt of evils, ſaith He: and leaves nothing behind it: omnia corradit & converrit, makes cleane work. See Ioel. 1.3, 10, 11, 12. &c. with the Notes.

yet have ye not returned unto me] No not yet: but have rejected the remedy of your recovery: ſee verſe 8.