John Trapp on Ezekiel 4:1

CHAP. IV.

Ver. 1. THou alſo ſon of man] Hitherto we have had the Preface: followeth now the Prophecy it ſelf, which is both concerning the fall of earthly Kingdoms, and alſo the ſetting up of Chriſts Kingdom amongſt men. The ſiege, famine and downfal of Jeruſalem is here ſet forth to the life, four years at leaſt before it fell out: not in ſimple words, but in deeds and pictures, as more apt to affect mens minds: like as he is more moved who ſeeth himſelf painted as a thief or skellum hanged, then he who is only called ſo. This way of teaching is ordinary with the Prophets,Oecol. and was uſed alſo by our Saviour Chriſt: as when he ſet a child in the midſt, waſht his diſciples feet, inſtituted the ſacraments, &c.

Take thee a tile] An unburnt tile, ſaith Lyra; and ſo fit to pourtray any thing upon: ſome take it for a fourſquare Table, like a tile or brick, that will admit engravement. Jeruſalem, the glory of the Eaſt, was here pictured upon a tileſheard. How mean a thing is the moſt ſtately City on earth to that City of pearle, the heavenly Jeruſalem?

And pourtray upon it the City] Not with the penſil, but with the g[illegible: 1 letter]aving tool: Where yet (as in Timanthes his works) more was ever to be underſtood then was delineated.