John Trapp on Amos 8:2

Verſe 2. Amos, what ſeeſt thou?] This the Lord asketh, to ſtir up attention and affection in the Prophet; who might haply need as much to be arrouſed, as Zachary in like caſe did, chap. 4.1. with whom it fared as with a drowſie perſon, who though awaked and ſet to work, is ready to ſleep at it.

and I ſaid, A basket of Summer-fruit,] Apples, ſaith Jerome, figs, ſay others: and why not as well grapes ripened in the Summer-ſun-ſhine?Rev. 14.20. & 19.15. Whereby the Holy Ghoſt in the Revelation, deſcribeth ſuch as are ready ripe for the wine-preſſe of Gods wrath? Nahum compareth them to ſtubble, laid out in the Sun a-drying, that it may burn the better, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Nah. 1.10.

The end is come upon my people,] An elegancy in the Originall beyond Engliſhing: the Latine Interpreters have (ſome of them) aſſayed the like, but they fall farre ſhort of it. The Old Teſtament is full of ſuch Agnominations: and God ſeemeth delighted with them. See Jer. 1.11, 12. & 48.2. & 47.43, 44. Lam. 3.47. Amos 5.5. Mic. 1.10, 14. Zeph. 2.4. Exod. 2.10. Gen. 3.20. & 4.1, 25. & 5.29. & 17.5. & 21.5, 6, &c. There is a pedantique ſtile, and a majeſtick: an effeminate eloquence, and a manly. This latter is lawfull, and may very well become the man of God; who yet muſt not wit-wanton it in weightieſt matters; but ſhun thoſe more gay and lighter flaſhes, and flouriſhes, wherewith the emptieſt Celles affect to bee moſt fraught: as they, who for want of wares in their ſhops, ſet up painted blocks to fill up vacant ſhelves, as One well expreſſeth it.

The end is come upon my people,] Exitus & exitium. As the ſummer is the end of the yeer, and the time of ripening fruits: ſo, now that this people are ripe for ruine, An end is come, is come, is eome, it watcheth for them, behold it is come, Ezek. 7.6, 7. even the preciſe time and terme of their finall overthrow.

I will not again paſſe by them any more.] See chap. 7.8. God can paſſe by, that is, pardon his people better then any other, Mic. 7.18.Epheſ. 6. (like as they that are born of God, and partake of the Divine nature, can bear wrongs beſt of any: compell them to go a mile, they'l be content, if it may do good, to go two: yea as farre as the ſhoos of the preparation of the Goſpel of peace will carry them.) But as the Saints of God may not be therefore injured (which was Iulians jearing cruelty) becauſe they are meek: ſo muſt not God be preſumed upon and provoked; becauſe he is mercifull. There is mercy with him, that he may be feared, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: for abuſed mercy turneth into fury: and opportunities of grace are oft ſo headlong, that if once paſt, they are irrecoverable. Wo be to that people, or perſon, to whom God ſhall ſay, I will not again paſſe by you any more.