John Trapp on Jeremiah 12:1

CHAP. XII.

Ver. 1. RIghteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee] Or, though I ſhould contend with thee. Eſt elegans [non-Latin text not transcribed]. This the Prophet fitly premiſeth to the enſuing diſceptation, that he might not be miſtaken. Thy judgements ſaith he, are ſometimes ſecret, alwayes juſt: this I am well aſſured of, though I thus argue.

Yet let me talk with thee of thy judgements] Let me take the humble boldneſſe ſo to do, that I may be further cleared and inſtructed by thee.

Wherefore doth the way of the wicked proſper?] Viz. Whil'ſt better men ſuffer; as now the wicked Anathothites do, whil'ſt I go in danger of my life by them. This is that noble queſtion which hath exerciſed the wits and moleſted the minds of many wiſe men, both within and without the Church. See Job 21.7.—13. Pſal. 37.1. and 73.1, 2,—12. Hab. 1.4, 5. Plato, Cicero, Seneca, Epictetus, Claudian againſt Ruffin, &c.

Wherefore are they all happy] Heb. at eaſe. Not all neither; for ſome wicked have their payment here, their hell afore-hand. To this queſtion the Lord (who knoweth our frame, Pſal. 103.) being content to condeſcend where he might have judged, calmly maketh anſwer, ver. 5. like as Chriſt in like caſe did to Peter, Joh. 21.21, 22.