John Trapp on Joel 2:16

Verſe 16. Gather the people, Sanctifie the Congregation &c.] Let the Prieſts Gods miniſters ſee to it, that the people come together: and for the better too, as much as in them lies. For they are to the people in place of watchmen, of Centinels, of Embaſſadors, and in Chriſts own ſtead, who ſeemes to ſay unto them as Pſal. 50.5. Gather my ſaints together unto me, thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by ſacrifice, that they may meet me with intreaties of peace, diſarme mine indignation conceived againſt them, and quench the flame thereof with their tears; not quench the ſpirit in their teachers by their croſſeneſſe, and backwardneſſe to buſineſſe of this nature.

aſſemble the Elders] Whether for age as Iob. 15.10. or for place of authority as Ioſh. 7.6. 1 Sam. 15.30. Ruth. 4.4. Theſe muſt be chief doers and moſt forward at faſts, as was Joſhuah, Jehoſapat, the King of Niniveh, Ezra &c. For 1 they are moſt guilty in regard of their years and their office which either addeth two wings to their, ſins viz. Example, and Scandal, whereby facilè volant, non facilè violant they ſore much higher, and fly much further. 2 Their preſence, counſel, and countenance may be a great furtherance to the work. See Ezek. 46.10. The Prince in the middeſt of the people, when they go in, ſhall go in: and when they goe forth, ſhall go forth. A Lapide ſaith,A Lapide in locum. that the Elder ſort are to meet, becauſe they are leaſt luſtfull, and more prayerfull. It ſhould be ſo I confeſſe: but how many old goats are there abroad, that even hang over hell, which gapeth for them? and as the canker ſooneſt entreth into the white roſe, ſo doth corruption eaſily creep into the white head. He was a rare old man of whom we read, that being tempted to ſin ſaid, Nay: leaſt he ſhould ſtain his white head.

Gather the children and thoſe that ſuck the breſts] For they are church-members, and to them alſo pertain the publike dangers and calamities: out of which times and caſes, children and Novices are not to be tied to theſe auſterities of religion, (as our Saviour ſheweth Mat. 9.17.) as little, as new wine is to be put into old veſels. Add hereunto, that the parents might by the ſight of their poor children (ſubject to Gods wrath by their default,)Eph. 2.3. Rom. 5.12. be brought to a further ſenſe of their own ſinfulneſſe; and moved by their cryes and laments ut ferventius orent, & pl[illegible: 1 letter] rent, to cry and pray more earneſtly.

Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber] The new-married-man was by the law allowed to cheare up his wife Deut. 24.5. and therefore exempted from warfare, and other publike imployments abroad Deut. 20.7 and the wedding-day is called the day of the rejoycing of a mans heart Cant. 3.11. They were wont to have a week of feaſting at ſuch times Gen. 29.27. Fulfill her week ſc. of banquet and bride-ale, as they call it. And it is noted as an abſurd thing in Sampſons wife,Judg. 14.17. that ſhe wept all the ſeven dayes of ſuch a feaſt, when mirth was ſo much in ſeaſon. But is it a time for men to hang their hearts upon the merry pin, when God calles them to hang up their Harps upon the Willow-trees? when the ſword is ſharpened to make a ſore ſlaughter, when it is fourbiſhed and glittereth, and contemneth the rod, (i. e. leſſer and lighter judgements, that uſually fore-run it) ſhould wee then make mirth? Ezek. 21.10. Should men eat, and drink, and marry, and be merry, when to morrow they may look to die, and are already ſtumbling in the valley of the ſhadow of death? Such a thing the old world may do, buried in ſecurity, and to be ſhortly therefore buried in one univerſall grave of waters. But holy Noah was vexed at it: and Ambroſe thinks (not without reaſon) that during the time of the deluge, all the while that he was in the Ark, hee came as little at his wife, as Ʋriah did, while the Ark, and Judah, and Iſrael abode in Tents, and Joab, and the Hoſte encamped in the fields, 2 Sam. 11.11. Nehemiah, though a great Courtier,Neh. 2.2, 3. and the Kings Cup-bearer, could not but be ſad, when it went ill with the Church: all comforts then were but Ichabods to him, hee had no joy of them. Sorrow at ſuch a time is better then laughter: for by the ſadneſſe of the countenance the heart is made better, Eccleſ. 7.3. The mad world is a perfect ſtranger to the truth of this ſacred Poſition, as having ſo far baniſhed ſadneſſe, that they are profeſt enemies to ſeriouſneſſe; and ſtick not to light a candle at the devil (as they ſay) for ſinfull lightſomneſſe. But wo be to ſuch mad Mirth-mongers, ſaith our Saviour, Luke 6.25. and after him, St. James chap. 5.1, 5. and before them both, the Prophet Eſay chap. 22.12, 13, 14. and the Prophet Amos chap. 6.4, 5, 6. What ſo lawfull as the uſe of the marriage-bed, Heb. 13.4? and for whom more lawfull, then for the bride-groom, and bride? Yet in a common calamity, and in a day of reſtraint (as a faſt-day is called, Joel 2.15.) married couples muſt abſtain, 1 Cor. 7.5. where the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of a publike faſt, as Peter Martyr obſerveth.Pet. Mar. in loc Hence Zech. 8.19. they ſeparated themſelves, at ſuch a time. And it is ſpoken of as a foul ſinne, Eſay 58.3. behold in the day of your faſt, ye finde pleaſure. All ſenſuall delights, though never ſo lawfull at other times, muſt bee then ſuſpended and laid aſide: As muſick, mirth, perfumes, Dan. 6.18. brave apparrell, Exod. 33.4, &c. all ornaments of the body, ſoft-lying, 2 Sam 12.16. all cheerfulneſſe and outward joy, Iudg. 20.26. 1 Sam. 7.8. The Roman Cenſor puniſhed one that ſhewed himſelf out of a window,Liv. with a garland upon his head, in the time of the ſecond Punick war.