John Trapp on Lamentations 1:7-8

Ver. 7. Jeruſalem remembred in the dayes of her affl[illegible: 1 letter]ction] Miſery is the beſt art of Memory. Then thoſe priviledges we prized not in proſperity, we recount with regret: Bona à tergo formoſiſſima: Magis carendo quam fruendo. the worth of good things is beſt known by the want of them: and as we ſee things beſt at a diſtance, ſo here. Afflictions are pillulae lucis, that do notably clear the eye-ſight.

The adverſaries ſaw her] ſc. With a ſpiteful and ſcornful eye.

And did mock at her Sabbaths] Calling the Jews in contempt Sabbatarians: and jearing them as thoſe that loſt more then a ſeventh part of their time that way; and telling them in ſcorn, that now they might well awhile to keep a long Sabbath, as having little elſe to doe. Juvenal thus deſcribeth a Jew, — cui ſeptima quaeque fuit lux Satyr. 5.Ignava, & partem vitae non attigit ullam.

Paulus Phagius telleth likewiſe of a black-mouthed Egyptian, who ſaid that Chriſtians were a colluvies of moſt loathſom lecherous people, that had a foul diſeaſe upon them, and were therefore fain to reſt every ſeventh day.

Perpetuo, aſſidue, & graviter peccavit.Ver. 8. Jeruſalem hath grievouſly ſinned] Heb. hath ſinned ſin, hath ſinned ſinningly, doing wickedly as ſhe could, Jer. 3.4. and having many tranſgreſſions wrapped up in her ſins and their circumſtances, Levit. 16.21. And this is here acknowledged as the true cauſe of her calamity. Prophane perſons lay all the blame in this caſe upon God: as He in the Poet, O patria, O divûm domus Ilium, & inclyta bello Maenia Dardanidum: ferus omnia Jupiter Argos Virg. Aeneid. 2.Tranſtulit. — Poſtquam res Aſiae Priamique evertere gentem Immeritam viſum ſuperis, &c.

Therefore ſhe is removed] Heb. therefore is ſhe unto removing or wandering, as Cain was,Ad modum Cain fraetricidae. Figuier. when he went to live in the land of Nod: or as a menſtruous woman is ſeparated from the ſociety of others. Nidah for Niddah.

All that honoured her] When her wayes pleaſed the Lord.

Becauſe they have ſeen her nakedneſſe] Her infamous wickedneſſes, for which ſhe hath done pennance, as it were, and is therefore deſpiſed. Or elſe it is a term taken from a naked captive woman.

Yea ſhe ſigheth and turneth backward] ſc. To hide her nakedneſſe from publick view. Or, going into captivity ſhe looked her laſt look toward her dear country, and fetcht a ſigh.