John Trapp on Joel 3:20

Verſe 20. But Judah ſhall dwell for ever,] Perpetuitas Eccleſiae declaratur, ſaith Mercer: The perpetuity of the Church is declared, and aſſured. The blood of Martyrs is the ſeed of the Church. Chriſt is with his to the end of the world: and thoſe Roman perſecutours who ſought to root out Chriſtian Religion, and erected pillars in memory of what they had done, or rather attempted that way, what got they thereby but perpetuall ignominy, beſides the irrepairable loſſe of their ſouls, bodies, and fortunes? Tu vero,Beza. Herodes ſanguinolente, time. The Church as the Palm-tree, ſpreadeth and ſpringeth up the more it is oppreſſed: as the bottle or bladder,Duris ut ilex tonſa bipennibus. Horat. Cur. 4.4. Plin. l. 18. c. 16. that may be dipt, not drowned: as the oak that taketh heart to grace from the maims and wounds given it, and ſprouts out thicker: as Fenugreek, which the worſe it is handled, the better it growes, as Pliny ſaith. No fowl is more preyed upon then the pigeon; no creature more killed up then ſheep: yet are there more pigeons then birds of prey, more ſheep then ſlaughter-men, &c.