John Trapp on Hosea 4:8

Verſ. 8. They eat up the ſin of my people] that is, the ſin-offerings, as Exod. 29, 14. This they might lawfully do, Levit. 6. and 10.17. But they were greedy dogs; and looked every one to his gain from his quarter, Eſay 5.6.11. They winked at the peoples ſins, and cared not what evils they fell into, ſo that they would bring in ſtore of fat and good expiatory ſacrifices, which made for the Prieſts advantage. They ate that on earth which they were to diſgeſt in hell: they fed upon ſuch diet as bred the the worm of conſcience, that never dyes. Juſt ſo the Papiſts do at this day: they teach the people, though they ſin, yet by giving mony for ſo many Maſſes to be mumbled over, by a greaſie Prieſt, or by ſo many indulgences and Dirges purchaſed of the Popes pardon-mongers, they ſhall be delivered, etiamſi, per impoſſibile, matrem Dei vitiaſſent. I tremble to Engliſh it. Tecelius told them ſo in Germany; and got huge maſſes of mony for the Popes coffers. The common ſort of Papiſts (for want of better teaching) will ſay, When we have ſinned we muſt confeſſe: and when we have confeſſed,Specul. Europ. Pſal. 14. we muſt ſin again, that we may confeſſe again; and make work for new indulgences and Jubilees. But have theſe workers of iniquity no knowledge, that eat up Gods people as they eat bread? that drink up the blood of ſouls, much more worth [illegible: 1 letter]hen the lives, that Davids men had jeoparded to procure him the water of the well of Bethlehem, which therefore he durſt not drink of? This ſurely is that filthy lucre Miniſters ſhould be free from 1 Pet. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. 5.2. Let all non-reſidents look to it, that carry onely forcipes et mulctrum thoſe inſtruments of a fooliſh ſhepherd Zech. 11.15. (See the Note there) feeding themſelves but ſtarving the flock: an heavy account will they one day make to the Arch-ſhepheard, of this their ſacrilegious rapacity.

and they ſet their hearts on their iniquity.] Heb. they lift up their ſouls: that is, they not onely prick up their ears, as Danaeus expounds it to liſten after ſins and ſin-offerings, but they greedily deſire and earneſtly look after ſuch emoluments, ſuch belly timber: being gulae mancipia ſlaves to their guts, and wholly given up to gormandiſe. See the ſame expreſſion: and in this ſenſe Jer. 12.27. Deut. 24.15. Ezek. 24.25. and compare the practiſe of Popiſh Prieſts, who make infinite gain of every thing almoſt, as their ringing of Saints-bels, places of buriall, ſelling of licenſes for marriage and meates, ſelling of corpſes and Sepulchres. All things are ſaleable and ſoluble at Rome: and the ſavour of gaine ſweet, though it come out of a ſtinking ſtewes, or Jewes counting-houſe. The Prieſts had a trick by wires to make their Images here wag their chaps a pace, if ſome good gift were preſented: as if otherwiſe,Act. and Mon. to hang the lip in token of diſcontent.