John Trapp on Hosea 10:4

Verſe 4. They have ſpoken words,] Bubbles of words, great ſwelling words (as 2 Pet. 2.18.) thereby thinking to bear down, and outface the Prophets, and the godly-party. They ſpeake violent words, (as the Chaldee hath it) robuſtious words, as if they would yet carry it (though their king could not help them) by confederacies, and covenants, confirmed with oathes: holding that rule of the Priſcilianiſts for Goſpel (as they ſay.)

Iura, perjura: ſecretum prodere noli:

And that maxime of Machiavel, that Religion it ſelf (in contracts and covenants) ſhould not be cared for; but onely the appearance, becauſe the credit is an help, the uſe a cumber: but all theſe are but words, ſaith the Prophet, and thoſe but winde: they ſhall do them no good, becauſe without God.

Quid niſus? riſus: conamina? inania, vana: Conventus? ventus: foedera? verba mera.

Swearing falſly in making a covenant,] A foul buſineſſe, whether it be underſtood of covenanting with God (whereof before) or with the Aſſyrian, with whom they broke, to ingratiate with So king of Egypt, 2 King. 17. How God plagueth perjurers, &c. covenant-breakers, ſee Zach. 5.3. and Mal. 3.5. with the Notes. He will appoint the ſword to avenge the quarrell of his Covenant, Lev. 26.25. as he did upon Jeruſalem, not leaving there one ſtone upon another: upon thoſe ſeven golden candleſticks, long ſince broken in pieces for their breach of covenant: upon Bohemiah, that ſeat of the firſt open and authorized Reformation, whatever will yet become of England, &c.

thus judgement ſpringeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.] Heb. Of my field, where I have plowed and made long furrowes, fitted for good ſeed, wherein I looked for judgement, but behold oppreſſion; for righteouſneſſe, but behold a crie, Eſay 5.7. This root of bitterneſſe, theſe ſtalks of hemlock (that venemous weed, full of deadly poyſon) is bad any where, but worſt of all, when found in Gods field, noted for an habitation of juſtice, and mountain of holineſſe, Jer. 31.23. Where ſhould a man look for juſtice, but where holineſſe is profeſſed?Luther. ſith primo pracepto reliquorum omnium obſervantia praecipitur, the ſecond Table of the Law is included in the firſt: yea the keeping of all the ten is enjoyned in the firſt commandement?Velejus. Of Rome it was anciently ſaid, that all the neighbouring cities were the better for her example of ſingular care to do juſtice. It ſhould be ſo ſaid of the city of God: where when judgement is turned into wormwood, and the fruit of righteouſneſſe into hemlock, as Amos 6.12. Well it may grow till it be ripe in the field, but God will not ſuffer it to ſhed, to grow again, but cuts it up by a juſt and ſeaſonable vengeance.