John Trapp on Ezra 10:5-6

Verſe 5. Then aroſe Ezra] According to the counſel of Shecaniah, ver. 4. How forcible are right words; Job 6.25. One ſeaſonable ſpeech falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a ſtrong and ſweet operation; as that ſimilitude uſed by Peter martyr, reading upon the firſt to the Corinthians had upon Galeacius Caracciolus that Noble Italian convert: & as ſome ſpeeches of Staupicius, had upon Luther; who was likewiſe much confirmed and cheared up by conference with an old Prieſt at Erford; who largely diſcourſed about juſtification by faith, Life of Luther by Mr. Clark. and explained the Articles of the Creed to him.

And made the chief Prieſts, the Levites, and all Iſrael to ſwear] [non-Latin text not transcribed]. An oath is a fence: and, added to a vow or covenant: it, doth notably conduce (as a holy exorciſm) to conjure down our rebellious wills, and as cords or chains to hamper our treacherous hearts, that they backſlide not like back ſliding heifers; Moiſt bodies (as water) muſt be put into cloſe Veſſels: ſo muſt mans heart be bound together by ſtrongeſt helps, and reſolutions. Neither caſt we any new ſnare hereby upon ourſelves, (1 Cor. 7.35) but rather a new provocation to the payment of an old debt we owe to God. Such was that of Jacob, Gen. 28.20. and 31.13. of David, Pſal. 119.106. Of the Nazarites, Num. 6.2, 3. Rechabites, Jer. 35.6. This ſhewes a very earneſt deſire to obey: it ſharpneth alſo our prayers, and diſhearteneth the Devil: who ſeeing us thus peremptory and reſolute, will deſpair, and depart.

Then Ezra roſe up from before the Houſe of God] Where God had promiſed to hear prayers for Chriſts ſake, whereof that houſe was a type. See ver. 1.

And went into the chamber of Johanan] As a fit meeting-place, where they might conſider, conſult and give counſel. Over the Counſel-chamber at Venice is written, Let nothing be done here againſt the Weal-publike. A Profeſſour of the Turks Law proclaimeth before they adviſe or attempt ought, That nothing be done againſt Religion. Over the Town hall in Zant are ſet theſe two Verſes in letters of gold.

Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conſervat, honorat, Nequitiam, pacem, crimina, jura, bonos.

Think the ſame we muſt needs of this holy Conclave or Council-chamber, where the Sanhedrin was preſent, and Ezra Preſident.

He did eat no bread, nor drink no water] Though faſting and faint with much mourning; yet no food would down with him, till he had gone thorough-ſtitch with the work. It was his meat and drink to do the will of his Heavenly Father. So it was good Jobs, chap. 23.12. and our Saviours, Matth. 21.17, 23. It was then, when diſappointed of a breakfaſt at the barren Fig-tree, and coming hungry into the City, he went not into a Victualling-houſe, nor into a Friends houſe to refreſh himſelf: but into Gods Houſe, where he continued teaching the people all that day.

For he mourned becauſe of the tranſgreſſion] It was not then a natural abſtinence, ariſing from ſickneſſe; nor a civil for healths ſake; or for ſome other wordly reſpect: but a Religious faſt, which is uſually to be held out a whole day, uſque dum Stellae in Coelo appareant. (as an old Canon hath it) till the Stars appear, in the sky: yet ſo as that nature be chaſtiſed, not diſabled for duty.