John Trapp on Ezra 9:7

Verſe 7. Since the dayes of our Fathers] Confeſſion with aggravation is that happy Spunge, that wipeth out all the blottes and blurres of our lives: for, if we confeſſe our ſinnes, and therein lay load enough upon our ſelves, as Ezra here, & Daniel doth c. 9.5. (mark how ful in the mouth theſe good men are, out of the abundant hatred of ſin in their hearts) God is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, &c. 1 John 1.9. But in confeſſion we muſt not extenuate or excuſe: every ſin, muſt ſwel as a toad in our eyes, and we muſt ſpet it out of our mouthes with utmoſt indignation; ſhewing the Lord the iniquity of our ſin, the filthineſſe of our leudneſſe, the abomination of our provocations, Rom. 7.13. Thus if we weigh our ſinnes in a true balance, and put in ſo many weights, as to bring to a juſt humiliation, to a godly ſorrow; then it will prove a right Apology, the ſame that the Apoſtle maketh a fruit and ſign of ſound repentance 2 Cor. 7.11.Chennit. Exam. quae magis deprecatione conſtat, quàm depulſione criminum, ſuch an Apology as conſiſteth rather in deprecating, then defending.

We havebeen in a great treſpaſſe unto this day] And ſo there hath bin a concatenation, a continued ſeries of our ſinnes from one generation to another. We are a race of Rebels, a ſeed of ſerpents, &c.

And for our inquities have we, our Kings and our Prieſts] Our National ſinnes have produced National plagues; which yet we have not improved to a publike or perſonall reformation. Many hands have drawn the cable with greateſt violence; the leproſy hath over-run the whole body: there is (as Phyſicians ſay of ſome diſeaſes) corruptio totius ſubſtantiae, a general defection, a conjuncture, of all perſons, in all ſins and miſeries, which like cloudes cluſter together, and no clearing up by repentance.

And to confuſion of face,] So that we are a ſcorn to our Enemies, and a terrour to our ſelves, in a low and lamentable condition.