John Trapp on Hosea 10:8

Verſe 8. [non-Latin text not transcribed] unde [non-Latin text not transcribed]. The high places alſo of Aven, &c.] Sept. the Altars, ab Alto dicta. Of Aven, for Beth-aven, (whereof before) a place ſo hatefull now, that God loathes at large to mention it: he even cuts off the head of it, as he had threatned to do by the Altars verſe 2. So Jeconiah degenerating, is Coniah, &c.

the ſinne of Iſrael,] that damning ſinne of idolatry here committed, that wickedneſſe with a witneſſe, which makes God abhorre places as well as perſons, and turns them into ſin as it were. What is the tranſgreſſion of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jeruſalem? Mich. 1.5.

ſhall be deſtroyed.,] Thus, mans ſinne brings deſtruction upon the creatures. It is as poyſon in a glaſſe, that cauſeth the glaſſe to be broken, and caſt upon the dunghill. The veſſels that held the ſin-offering, if made of earth, they were to be broken; if of braſſe, or other metalls, to be purged with fire: as one day the earth and viſible heavens alſo ſhall be for the defilement that mans ſinne hath ſet upon them.

The thorn and the thiſtle ſhall come upon their altars,] There ſhall be nil niſi ſolitudo in terris, Tarnou. aegritudo in animis, &c. See the Note on chap. 9. verſ 6.

they ſhall ſay to the mountains, Cover us,] This they ſhall ſay out of the ſenſe and terrour of Gods juſt judgements driving them to deſperation. —tellus prius ima dehiſcat, &c. Ariſtides commendeth Themiſtocles for this, that he never was ſo perplexed by any evil occurrence, as to wiſh that the earth would ſwallow him up quick, or to pronounce the dead happy. Rivet well obſerveth here, that Iudaea, as it was full of hills and rocks, ſo they were wont to dig themſelves therein caves and dennes, wherein to hide in time of danger. To theſe David oft repaired, and ſo ſecured himſelf from Saul. And to theſe he alludeth when he calleth God his Rock, Pſal. 18.2. and the Rock of his refuge, Pſal. 94.22. And of theſe places of ſecurity Ioſephus writeth,Antiq. l. 14. cap. 26. De bel. Jud. [illegible: 1 letter]ib. 1. cap. 12. deſcribing the forme of them. Now when they were in thoſe holes of the hills, and were diſtreſſed by the enemy there, what wonder though they ſaid to the mountains, fall upon us, cover us bury us alive, eruſh us to pieces, grinde us to powder, rather then that we fall into the bloody fingers of theſe mercileſſe monſters; who will put us haply to a lingring death, kill us peecemeal, as Tiberius did thoſe he was angry with:Sueton. and as the Canibals of America, when they take a priſoner, feed upon him alive, and by degrees, to the unutterable aggravation of his horrour and torment. Our Saviour foretold his diſciples, that at the laſt deſtruction of Jeruſalem, men ſhould crie out to the mountains on this manner: And ſo ſhall the Antichriſtian rout alſo do one day, Rev. 6.16. They that would not worſhip the Lamb, ſhall finde him a Lion: thoſe that would not caſt away their tranſgreſſions, but faced the heavens, ſhall run into the rocks to hide them; thoſe that would not aſpire to eternity, ſhall deſpair of mercy; thoſe that would not lift up their eyes to the everlaſting mountains, from whence comes help, ſhall now in vain tire the deaf mountains, with hide us, help us. Now what can the mountains do more then give an eccho to ſuch help us; for they need help alſo: the wrath of God is upon the creature, &c.