John Trapp on Hosea 7:12

Verſe 12. When they go,] Yea, flee (as the dove doth very ſwiftly, pleaſing her ſelf in the clapping of her wings, and cutting of the air) they cannot flee ſo high, but I ſhall eaſily reach them, Obad. 3.4. for in the thing wherein they deal proudly, I am above them, Exod. 18.11. I can over-top them, melt their waxen wings, and bring them down with a vengeance.Pſal. 94.11. He taketh the wiſe in their own craftineſſe. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wiſe that they are vain, 1 Cor. 3.19, 20. So ſaith the Apoſtle out of the Pſalmiſt; but with this difference. The Pſalmiſt ſaith, the thoughts of men, the Apoſtle, the thoughts of the wiſe, meaning the worlds wizards, the choiſeſt and moſt picked men, the greateſt politicians, the moſt nimble and Mercuriall wits, quorum praecordia ex meliore luto finxit Titan. Theſe God will take, ſaith Paul: he will lay hold upon them, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Fugientes in curſu deprehendit manu que injectâ captat, Eraſ. Annot. as they are running away, (ſo the word ſignifieth) as bruit beaſts made to be taken and deſtroyed, 2 Pet. 2.12. or as fiſhes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the ſnare: ſo are the ſons of men ſnared in an evil time, when it falleth ſuddenly upon them, Eccleſ. 9.12.

I will ſpread my net upon them,] as a skilfull fowler. By net, underſtand captivity, and other miſeries, compared to a net, Ezek. 12.13. & 17.20. & 19.8. Lam. 1.13. Pſal. 9.16. wherein being once caught, the more they ſtruggle, the faſter they ſtick: the more they ſeek to extricate themſelves, the more they are intangled: ſnares are round about them, and ſudden fear ſurprizeth them, Iob 22.10. the ſteps of their ſtrength ſhall be ſtraitned: and their own counſels ſhall bring them down, Iob 18.7.

I will bring them down as the fowles of the heaven,] Though they may think themſelves extra jactum, out of gun-ſhot, I will cauſe them to deſcend, as the Hebrew word ſignifieth: and though lifted up to heaven, as Capernaum, and neſted in the clouds; yea among the ſtars, as Edom, Obad. 4. yet ſhall they be brought down to the nethermoſt hell. God will meet with them in their out-ſtrayes, caſting his net over them: or bring them down with his bowe, whileſt (with the fooliſh bird) they are gazing at the bolt: hee hath wayes enough to hamper ſuch as go out of his way: to be for a gin, and for a ſnare unto them, Eſay 8.14. to ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded, Pſal. 64.7. How are they brought into deſolation in a moment? they are utterly conſumed with terrour, Pſal. 73.19.

I will chaſtiſe them as their congregation hath heard.] Or, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Sept. Ligabo eos Kimchi. Judg. 8.16. I will binde them (as a bird is bound in a net that ſhe cannot ſtir forth) and, by binding, nurture them: as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, by tawing and tearing them with thorns and briars of the wilderneſſe. The hypocrites in heart, heap up wrath: thy cry not when God bindeth them, Iob 36.13. God expects men ſhould cry peccavi, when they are bound as Paul was, to be beaten with rods; and not be ſilent in darkneſſe, 1. Sam. 2.9. or, not make moan when he hath them under hand. Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. Ye muſt now do ſo, that would not hear the word ſounding in thei Congregations.

I will chaſtiſe them as their Congregation hath heard.] Crebrò & clarè, I have plainly and plentifully told them my minde: and foretold them by my Prophets, what would be the iſſue of their evil practiſes. Sed ſurdo fabulam, They would not hear Moſes and the Prophets. See 2 King. 17.13. 2 Chron. 24.18.19. They thought that my words were but wind, Jer. 5.13. and that all my threats were but in terrorem, to fright them a little, and not in good-earneſt. Therefore they ſhall finde that the juſt Lord is in the middeſt of them, he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgement to light, Zeph. 3.5. he faileth not: but the unjuſt knoweth no ſhame, feareth no colours, trembleth not at Gods word though it come never ſo cloſe to his conſcience, though it even daſh him in the mouth as it were, and make him ſpit blood. See Ier. 7.13.