John Trapp on Habakkuk 3:17

Verſe 17. Although the figtree ſhall not bloſſom] Here the Prophet ſheweth a well ſettled and a ſedate mind indeed: that he had attained, and by prayer waded unto a bleſſed compoſedneſſe and ſabbath of ſpirit, ſuch as the cock on the dunghill medled not with, neither knoweth the worth of: it being the moſt precious and peerleſſe jewel that ever the heart of man came acquainted with. It hat been before noted, that the Prophet here taketh out his own leſſon of living by faith in the faile of outward comforts. Origens teaching and living were ſaid to be both alike: Habakkuks were ſo. Divinity is practicall: If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if ye do them: As leſſons of Muſick muſt be practiſed, and a copy not read onely, but imitated: ſo is it here. It is a bluſhful thing quando dicta factis erubeſcant, as Tertullian hath it;Plus ſanctimoniae conſpicitur in ipſo libello, quàm in libelli Auihore. when mens lives put their words to the bluſh, when Sanctiores ſunt aures plebis quàm corda ſacerdotum, there are more heavenly doctrines in the peoples cares, then ever were in the preachers heart, as Hilary hath it: when (as One ſaid of Eraſmus his Enchiridion) there is more holineſſe in an Authours book, then in his boſom: Exemplis ſanè qui docet, ille docet. Ariſtotle requireth in a Teacher,Ariſt Rhetor. Epiſt. ad Epbeſ. that he ſhew himſelf a patern of his own rules: and it is a good thing to teach (ſaith Ignatius, [non-Latin text not transcribed] if thou practiſe the ſame that thou teacheſt. That is an excellent commendation indeed that is given to a late eminent Divine amongſt us,Mr. Sam. Crook. that his life was but one continued Commentary upon his doctrine: and an exemplary ſermon conſiſting of living words, or of words tranſlated into works. The juſt ſhall live by his faith, ſaith Habakkuk: and that I do ſo, it ſhall well appear by my living upon God, when I have nothing elſe to ſubſiſt with; by beleeving him upon his bare word, and that againſt ſenſe in things inviſible, and againſt reaſon in things incredible.

Although the figtree &c.. q d. Let warr come on, and with warr famine; as it befell Ieruſalem at the laſt ſiege in the dayes of Zedekiah, 2 King. 25.3. Ier. 52.6. Lam. 2.11, 12. there was no relief left for the people, the enemy had eaten up all, as Joel 2. and made cleane work, ſo that faithleſſe men were woe-begone, and ready to run mad for the ſight of their eyes Deut. 28.24. with 51. and to devour their own fingers, as Pope Boniface 8. did, when ſhut up cloſe priſoner in St. Angelo and ſorely ſtraitened.