John Trapp on Isaiah 5:8

Ver. 8. Wo unto them that joyn houſe to houſe] The Prophet goeth on in the Expoſition of his Parable, ſhewing us ſome more of thoſe wild or ſtinking grapes, with the ſad effects thereof, to the end of the Chapter. He beginneth with Covetouſneſs (that Root of all evil, as Paul calleth it, 1 Tim. 6.10. that Metropolis of all wickedneſs, as Bion) and throweth a Wo at it, as do alſo ſundry other Prophets. Covetous perſons are of the Dragons temper, who (they ſay) is ſo thirſty, that no water can quench his thirſt. Covetouſneſs is a dry drunkenneſs, ſaith One, an inſatiable Dropſie, and like Hell it ſelf, ver. 14. — inſatiabiliter cava guttura pandit: its Never-enough will be once quit with fire enough in the bottom of Hell. Here they are brought in joyning houſe to houſe, as Shallum did at Jeruſalem, Jer. 22.13, 14. as Nero did at Rome for the enlarging of his Palace to a vaſt extent: whence that of the Poet, Martial.Roma domus fiet, Veios migrate Quirites, Si non & Veios occupet iſta domus.

That lay field to field] encroaching upon others, and engroſſing all to your ſelves: as Will. the Conquerer did at New-forreſt, wherein 46. Pariſh Churches were demoliſhed, with the removing of all the Inhabitants, to make room for beaſts or dog[illegible: 1 letter]-game. But in true account, Parva ſeges ſatis eſt: laudato ingentia rura, Exiguum colito.

The holy Patriarchs were content to dwell in Tents. Abrahams only purchaſe was a burying place. David in that Letany of his (as One calleth it) bleſſeth himſelf from thoſe men of Gods hand who have their portion here, Pſalm 17.14. Chriſt biddeth us lay up Treaſures, and build Tabernacles for our ſelves in Heaven: and having food and rayment, ſaith the Apoſtle, let us therewith be content, 1 Tim. 6.

Lucan. l. har. Lib. 4.Diſcite quam parvo liceat producere vitam: Et quantum Natura petat.

If a man will ſtudy rather to ſatisfie his hunger then his humour, a little will ſerve. But it is as eaſie to quench the fire of Aetna, as the thoughts ſet on fire by covetouſneſs.Juvenal. Ʋnus Pelaeo juveni non ſufficit orbis.

Till there be no place] ſc. left unſeized upon by you: uſ que ad deſitionem loci, no place or room for any other.

That they may be placed alone] Man is a ſociable creature, and not born for himſelf. Ariſtotle calleth him Natures good-fellow: but the covetous caytiff hath put off all Humanity, and would have all to himſelf, be placed alone. And herein, as Ambroſe rightly obſerveth, he is worſe then the unreaſonable creatures. Avis avibus ſe aſſociat, ſaith he, pecus pecori adjungitur, piſcis piſcibus, Birds, Beaſts and fiſhes ſort and ſhoale together, and account it no loſs, but a comfort to be in company of their own kind. Solus tu homo, conſortem excludis, includis feras: Lib. de Naboth and Ahab. cap. 3. ſtruis habitacula beſtiarum, deſtruis hominum; Onely thou, O ſorry man, ſhutteſt out men like thy ſelf, incloſeſt for cattle, pulleſt down houſes, ſetteſt up pinfolds and ſheep-cotes, &c. And yet thou canſt not live without poor Labourers: Onely thou hateſt to have them live by thee.