John Trapp on Ezra 8:22

Verſ. 22. For I was aſhamed] Heb: I bluſht and was abaſht, I knew not how to put on the face to do it, neither could I bring my mind to crave a convoy, though it might have been of great uſe to us: leſt the name of God ſhould thereby be diſhonoured, and his excellencies queſtioned. It is the ingenuity of Saints to ſtudy Gods ends more then their own, and to be far more troubled when any thing croſſeth him, then when themſelves are croſſed or diſappointed. Propter te Domine, propter te, is the good mans Motto. Choice and excellent ſpirits are all for God, whatever becometh of themſelves.

Verſ. 22. Becauſe we had ſpoken to the King, ſaying] They had ſpoken good of Gods Name, and amply ſet forth his power, providence, goodneſſe, and other Attributes, being no whit aſhamed ſo to do before Kings, as Pſal. 119.46. ſo did Chryſoſtome, Baſil, Latimer, Lambert, John Colet, Dean of Pauls, and Founder of the Free-ſchool there. He, for the bold and faithful diſcharge of his duty, in a Sermon before Hen. the eighth at the ſiege of Tournay was called to his trial by the Kings Counſellours: but the iſſue proved happy: for he gave ſo great content to the King,M. Clark in his Life. that he taking a cup of Wine ſaid, Deane, I drink to you: let every one take whom he will for his Confeſſour, you ſhall be my Doctour. Holy Ezra found no leſſe favour with this might Monarch, whom he had well informed in the manifold excellencies of God, as appeareth by this and ſundry other preceding paſſages.

The hand of our God is upon all them, &c.] To hide them in the hollow of it till the indignation be overpaſt; to hold them by their right hand, and ſo to guide them by his Counſel, that he may afterwards take them to his glory, Pſal. 73.23, 24.

But his power and his wrath] Id eſt, His powerful wrath, his anger armed with power; for vanae ſine viribus irae; Pſal. 90.11. Jam. 4 10. But who knoweth the power of thine anger, ſaith Moſes? even according to thy fear ſo is thy wrath. Let him fear thee never ſo much, he is ſure to feel thee more, if once he fall into thy fingers; into that mighty hand of thine (as St. James ſtileth it) before which ten thouſand Kings cannot ſtand. Let God-forſakers therefore do as thoſe Elders of Iſrael did, 2 Kings 10.3, 4, 5.

Is againſt all them that forſake him] Such are all they, 1. That forſake not their ſins, Job 20.17. Iſa. 55.7. 2. That know not God, Iſa. 1.3, 4. Eph. 4.18. 3. That truſt to idols, or creature-comforts, arm of fleſh. 1 Kings 9.9. Joſh. 24.20. Jer. 2.13. 4. Church-forſakers, and Apoſtates, Heb. 10.25, 38. God hath againſt all theſe, and will conſume them after that he hath done them good, Joſh. 24.20. Pſal. 73.27. 1 Chron. 28.9. Jon. 2.8. Jer. 17.13. Deut. 31.16. 2 Chron. 12.5. and 15.2. and 24.20.