John Trapp on Ezra 5:4

Verſe 4. Then ſaid we unto them] We (Tatnai, Shether-Boznai and their companions) thus ſaid, and thus enquired: ſee verſe 16. and be ſenſible, how wicked men conceive miſchief, and bring forth iniquity, and their belly prepareth deceit, Job 15.35. Not their heads onely are hammering it, but their bellies are hatching it: they take a kinde of contemplative kinde of pleaſure in their wily projects, as the Epicure doth in his dainties, he delights to be acting them over a forehand.

What are the names of the men] They that are minded to do miſchief unto others, will do what they can to know their names. I have heard of one (ſaith Maſter Fox) who being ſent to the Chriſtian Congregation in Queene Maries dayes in London to take their names, and to eſpy their doings, yet in being amongſt them was converted,Acts & Mon. fol. 1881. and cried them all mercy. Tremellius readeth this text otherwiſe, Then anſwered we them thus, and [told them] what were the names of the men, who builded this building. He meaneth, as I conceive, We were not aſhamed or afraid to make them a round and ready anſwer; and to give them the names of our chieftains, Zerubbabel, Jeſhuae, Haggai, Zechariah, &c. This was better then that of thoſe cold friends to Religion, 1 Kings 18.11. who (when the Prophet had ſaid, If the Lord be God, follow him) held their peace, and thought it good policy to reſerve themſelves. Better alſo then that of the bondſlaves of Antichriſt, who receive his mark in their hand, the which they may, as occaſion ſerveth, cover or diſcover. Rev. 13.16. The ſervants of the God of heaven and earth (ſuch as were theſe in this Chapter, verſe 11.) receive his mark in their foreheads, where it may be ſeene and read of all,Hom. de 2. Martyr. Rev. 7.3. The Primitive Chriſtians were called in deriſion Confitentes: and Chryſoſtome ſaith of them, that they would not be kept from viſiting the Martyrs in priſon, tametſi multis tesroribus, &c. though they were much threatened, and puniſhed for ſo doing.