John Trapp on Lamentations 2

CHAP. II.

Ver. 1. HOw hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud?] Heb. with a thick cloud: nothing like that bright cloud wherein he appeared to his people, as a token of his grace, at the dedication of the Temple, 1 Kings 8.10. How comes it about, and what may be the reaſon of it? Oh in what a wonderful manner and by what ſtrange means hath the Lord now clouded and covered his people (whom he had eſtabliſhed as Mount Zion) with blackeſt calamities and confuſion[illegible: 1 letter]s, taking all the luſtre of happineſſe and of hope from her, and that in his anger, and again in the day of his anger?

— tantaene animis coeleſtibus irae?

And caſt down from heaven to the earth] i. e. From the higheſt pitch of felicity, to the loweſt plight of miſery. This was afterwards indeed Capernaums caſe: but when Micah the Moraſhite prophecied,Mic. 3.12. Jer. 26.18. that Zion ſhould be plowed as a field and Jeruſalem laid on heaps, it ſeemed a Paradox, and very few believed him. Chriſt's diſciples alſo had a conceit that the Temple and the world muſt needs have one and the ſame period: which occaſioned that mixt diſcourſe made by our Saviour, Mat. 24. But Gods gracious preſence is not tyed to a place: The Ark, Gods foot-ſtool (as here it is called) was tranſportative till ſetled in Sion: ſo is the Church militant in continual motion, till it come to triumph in heaven: and thoſe that with Capernaum are lifted up to heaven in the abundance of means, may be brought down to hell, for an inſtance of divine vengeance.

And remembred not his foot-ſtool] The Temple and therein the Ark: to teach them, that he was not wholly there included; nieither ought now to be ſought and worſhipped anywhere but above. Surſum corda.

Sept.Ver. 2. The Lord hath ſwallowed up all the habitations of Judah] [non-Latin text not transcribed], as the ſea ſwalloweth up a ſhip; as an earthquake ſwalloweth up whole town-ſhips: as fire ſwalloweth up fuel, or as Moſes his ſerpent ſwallowed up the Sorcerers ſerpents.

And hath not pitied] This was worſe then all the reſt. Iſa. 47.6.

He hath thrown down] Not ſhaken them only and ſo left them ſtanding; but utterly ſubverted them, and that in great diſpleaſure, Deo irritato, & irato, God ſet on the Chaldees, and was the Author, not of their evil will, but of their work.

He hath brought them down to the ground] Though for their height they ſeemed to threaten heaven.

He hath polluted the Kingdom and the Prieſts] Which were held holy and inviolable: Profanavit regnum coeli, ſay ſome Rabbines here, He hath profaned the Kingdom of heaven: for ſo they accounted the Commonwealth of Iſrael; which Joſephus calleth [non-Latin text not transcribed] a God-government. But now God had diſpriviledged them, and caſt them off as a thing of naught.

Ver. 3. He hath cut off in his anger all the horn of Iſrael] i. e. All the ſtrength and beauty: the royal majeſty eſpecially, Pſal. 89.24. & 132.17.

He hath drawn back his right-hand] Wherewith he was wont to ſhelter them, and to fight for them: Or, Iſraels right-hand, ſc. by diſabling them: for it is God that ſtrengtheneth and weakeneth the arm of either party, Ezek. 30.24.

And he burned againſt Jacob] Or, in Jacob: i. e. He declareth his diſpleaſure among his people as clearly as a flame of fire that is eaſily diſcernd.

Ver. 4. He hath bent his bow like an enemy] He doth not only help the enemies, but himſelf fighteth againſt us with his own bare hand. He hath bent his bow, id eſt, vim ſuam ultricem, ſaith Origen, that is, his avenging force: So the Poet faineth that Apollo ſhot his deadly ſhafts into the camp of the Grecians.

He ſtood with his right-hand] Heb. He was ſet: Vulg. Firmavit dextram ſuam, he held his right hand ſteddily, that he might hit what he ſhot at.

In the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion] In Jeruſalem that was ſweetly ſituated, as a tabernacle pitcht in a pleaſant plain; but now a field of blood.

He hath poured out his wrath like fire] i. e. Abundantly and moſt vehemently, perinde ac Aetna, Hecla, &c.

Ver. 5. The Lord was an enemy] This, the ſecure and fooliſh people would not be drawn to beleeve, till now they felt it: therefore it is ſo reiterated.

He hath ſwallowed up Iſrael, he hath deſtroyed, &c.] This he had ſaid before,Redundanti copia exponit quae autea dixcrat. ver. 2. but in caſes of this kind people love to ſay the ſame things over and over.

And hath increaſed—mourning and lamentation] Heb. lamentation and lamentation, q. d. this is all he hath left us. And this ſhe ſpeaketh mourning, but not murmuring: non litem intendit Deo, ſed confeſſionem edit.

Ver. 6. And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle] Redit ad deplorandam religionem: nothing grieves a good ſoul ſo much as the loſſe of religious opportunities. Old Eli's heart was broke before his neck, at the news of the Ark taken.

As if it were of a garden] As if it were ſome cottage or hovel ſet up for a ſhort time in a garden, for the repoſe of the gardiner, Eſ. 1.8.

He hath deſtroyed his places of the aſſembly] Whence we were wont to hope for help, in anſwer to our prayers. There it was that he formerly brake the arrows of the bow, the ſheild, and the ſword, and the battle, Pſal. 76.3. See the Note there. Hence 2 Chron. 4.9. the great Court of the Temple, where the people uſed to pray, is called Gnazarah, that is help and defence.

The King and the Priest] Zedekiah, and Serajah; and with them, the Kingdom and the Prieſthood, Haec jam pro vili, ſub pedibuſque jacent.

Ver. 7. The Lord hath caſt off his Altar] She goeth over it again, as the main matter of her grief, that ſhe was bereft of the outward exerciſes of religion.Longe fecit, procul removit à ſe quaſi remed oſam, ſibi ingratam & moleſtam. His altar God had caſt into a corner, as that which was an eye-ſore to him: — his Sanctuary he abhorred or diſſolved, &c.

They have made a noiſe in the houſe of the Lord] Where God was wont to be praiſed with heart and voyce, now the enemies reboate and roar out Jo triumphe, Jo Paean, Victoria, all's our own.

Ver. 8. The Lord hath purpoſed to deſtroy] Non caſu, non ſubito, non temere, ſed maturo & deſtinato decreto. Gods Providence (which is nothing elſe but the carrying on of his decree) extendeth to ſmalleſt matters; much more to the ſubverſion of States and Cities.

He that ſtretcht out a line] ſc. Of deſtruction, or a levelling line: See 2 King. 21.13. Eſa. 34.11. Jeruſalem was built by line; and ſo it was deſtroyed by him who doeth all things in number, weight and meaſure.

Ver. 9. Her gates are ſunk into the ground] So they ſeem to be, becauſe laid on the ground, and covered with rubbiſh. The Rabbines fable, that the gates ſank indeed into the ground, that they might not come into the enemyes power, becauſe the Ark had once paſſed thorough them; and when the Prieſts that carried it ſang, Lift up your heads O ye gates, &c. they opened of their own accord.

The Law is no more] ſc. Read, or regarded. Inter arma ſilent leges: the noiſe of wars drowneth the voice of Laws.

Her Prophets alſo find no viſion from the Lord] See Pſal. 74.9. with the Note. Jeremy was alone, and haply thought when he ſaw all ruined, that he ſhould propheſie no more. Ezekiel and Daniel were far remote. This was no ſmall affliction that is here complained of. How woe-begone was ſinful Saul, when in his diſtreſſe he could have no anſwer from God, either by Ʋrim, or Viſion, &c. but had the devil to preach his funeral?

Ver. 10. The elders of the daughters of Zion] Who ſat once aloft paſſing ſentence; and held themſelves, haply, too high to be told their duties by a poor Prophet.

Sit upon the ground] After the manner of mourners.

And keep ſilence] Who were wont to be the oracles of the Countrey.

They have caſt duſt upon their heads] Thoſe white heads of theirs, which they had ſtained with foul practiſes.

They have girded themſelves with ſackcloth] Heb. ſacks, inſtead of ſilkes.

The virgins of Jeruſalem] Who were wont to walk haughtily, and with ſtretchtout necks, Iſa. 3.16.

Hang down their heads to the ground] As if they were aſhamed of themſelves, and had ſmall joy of their beauty, and former bravery.

Ver. 11. Mine eyes do fail with teares] Thoſe fountaines (as the Hebrew word ſignifieth) are even drawn dry. I have wept till I can weep no more, as David did; or I have wept my ſelf blind, as Fauſtus the ſon of Vortiger (once King of England) is ſaid to have done.

My bowels are troubled] Heb. bemudded. See chap. 1.20.

My liver is poured upon the earth] I have well-nigh vomited up my gall, as Job 16.13.

For the deſtruction] Heb. the breach even to ſhivers: as young trees or ſhips are broken by tempeſts.

Becauſe the children and ſucklings ſwoon in the ſtreets] Miſerabile etiam hoſtibus ſpectaculum, a rueful ſight.

Ver. 12. They ſay to their mothers] Lege & luge. Tu quibus iſta leges incertum eſt, Lector, ocellis: Ipſe quidem ſiccis ſcribere vix potui. As oft as I read the Lamentations of Jeremy (ſaith Gregory Nazianzen) my voice faileth me,Orat. 1. pacificat. and I am overwhelmed with teares: the miſery of that poor people cometh under my view as it were; and my heart is therewith very much affected, and afflicted.

Where is corn and wine] Frumentum dicunt non panem: Corn they would have been glad of, though unground ſaith one: Wine they ask for and not water, which noteth an ill cuſtome in their mothers to drink wine, and to give it their little ones: but by corn and wine here may be meant neceſſary food, to keep them alive.

When their ſoul was poured out into the mothers boſom] As it were giving them their lives again, ſeeing they yeelded them no food to preſerve them alive.

Ver. 13. What thing ſhall I take to witneſſe for thee?] q. d. Thou art ſuch a mirrour of Gods heavy judgements, that I know not whence to borrow arguments, nor where to find examples for thy comfort, ſo matchleſſe is thy miſery. It exceedeth that of the Egyptians under Moſes, of the Canaanites under Joſhua, of the Philiſtines under David, of the Hebrews under Eli, &c. It is even imparallel, and inexpreſſible: I have but one Simile to ſet it forth by: and it is this,

Thy breach is great, like the ſea] As far as the ſea exceedeth the rivers, ſo doth thy calamity exceed that of other nations.

Who can heal thee?] None but an Almighty Phyſician: ſurely in mans judgement, thy bruiſe is incureable, and thy wound is grievous, Jer. 30.12.

Ver. 14. Thy Prophets] Thine and not mine; for thou art miſerable by thine own election, acceſſary to thine own ruine.

Have ſeen vain and fooliſh things for thee] Viſions of vanity, ſapleſſe and ſavourleſſe ſtuffe: the fruit or rather froth of their own fancies, Jer. 23.9, 10, &c.

And they have not diſcovered thine iniquity] Conviction maketh way for converſion, and ſo preventeth utter ſubverſion.

But have ſeen for thee falſe burdens] viz. Againſt Babylon: in confidence whereof thou haſt been hardened and heartened in thy ſinful practices, to thine utter undoing.

And cauſes of baniſhment] ſc. Eventually, and as it hath proved.

Ver. 15. All that paſſe by thee clap] See chap. 1.18.

Is this the City] Gods palace upon earth, the porch of Paradiſe, &c. as they ſaid of Jezabel when ſhe lay torn with dogs, Is this that Jezabel?

O quantum haec Niobe Niobe mutatur ab illa?

Ver. 16. All thine enemies opened their mouths againſt thee] They ſpeak largely and freely to thy diſhonour, the very banks of blaſphemy being broken down, as it were.

We have ſwallowed her up] But ſhall find her to be hard meat, ſuch as they ſhall digeſt in hell. See ver. 2, 5.

Certainly this is the day that we look for] Pray we, that the Papiſts may never ſee here their long looked for day, as they have long called it.

Ver. 17. The Lord hath done that which he had deviſed] Or, performed what he purpoſed. See ver. 8.

He hath fulfilled his Word that he had commanded] That is, his threats annexed to his commands, and of as great authority as they.

In the dayes of old] And not two or three dayes only ſince Gods menaces are ancient, and infallible: not uttered in terrorem only: neither it his forbearance any acquittance.

And he hath cauſed thine enemy to rejoyce over thee] Still the Prophet calleth off this diſtreſſed people from the jeares and inſolencies of their enemies whom they too much looked upon, to the juſt judgement of God who turned thoſe dogs looſe upon them, to bark at them, and to bait them, in manner aforeſaid.

Ver. 18. Their heard cryed unto the Lord] i. e. They cryed ſeriouſly at leaſt, if not ſincerely. Some think it was not a cry of the Spirit for grace; but only of the Fleſh, for eaſe and freedom from affliction: wherefore the Prophet in the next words turneth to the walls of Jeruſalem which were now broken down, bidding them weep, ſith the people would not. And ſurely the ſtony walls of mens houſes, ſtanding with bells of water on their faces before foul weather, ſhall witneſſe againſt ſuch hard hearts as relent not, and ſo prevent not the terrible tempeſt of Gods wrath for their iniquities. There are that render and ſenſe the text thus, Their heart cryeth againſt the Lord, i. e. the adverſaries ſet their whole power to deviſe blaſphemy againſt God: let the Church therefore pray in hope to be heard and to ſpeed the better for the others inſolencies. Theſe by wall underſtand the people within the wall; Others O Mure, qui nunc es merae ruinae, O poor ſhattered wall; or O City which art now nothing but bare walls, without houſing and inhabitants.

Ver. 19. Ariſe, cry in the night] A fit time for meditation and prayer, as we read of David, Pſal. 119. and of the ſon of David, Luk. 21.

In the beginning of the watches] When others are in their firſt (which is their deepeſt and ſweeteſt) ſleep, break thy ſelf of thy reſt, that thou mayſt give God no reſt. Eſa. 62.6, 7. Omnibus ſignis et modis miſeriam tuam expone Domino, beſtir thee every way: al[illegible: 1 letter]'s but little enough.

Pour out thine heart like water] That is, ſaith Sanchez, weep till thou haſt wept thy very heart out, if it were poſſible. Or as others, poure out thine heart to God in humble and ingenuous confeſſion and ſupplication: but then pour it forth as water, (whereof every drop will come out) and not as oyle, whereof ſome will ſtill ſtick to the ſides of the veſſel. Tundens pectus & non effundens vitia, ea conſol[illegible: 1 letter]d[illegible: 1 letter]t, ſaith Auſtin. He who pretendeth to repent, and yet parteth not with his ſins, doth but increaſe them.

Lift up thine hands toward him] But withal thy heart, chap. 3.41.

For the life of thy young children] See on ver. 11, 12.

Ver. 20. Behold, O Lord, and conſider to whom thou haſt done this] Even to thine own inheritances, who ſuffer harder and heavier things commonly then any others: And why? Ingentia beneficia, ingentia flagitia, ingentia ſupplicia, their offences are increaſed, their puniſhments are aggravated by their obligations.

Shall the women eat their fruit, children of a ſpan-long? 2 King. 6. Joſeph. de bel. l. 7. cap. 8.] That they did ſo in the ſiege of Jeruſalem by the Chaldees, it appeareth by this queſtion. In the famine of Samaria under Joram they did likewiſe: as alſo at the laſt deſtruction of Jeruſalem by the Romans: and at the ſiege of Sancerra in France, Anno 1572. See the ſad effects of ſin, and ſhun it, if but for the ill conſequents of it.

Shall the Prieſt and the Prophet be ſlain in the Sanctuary of the Lord?] It ſeems they were ſo, (but who they were we read not) although God had cautioned, Touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harm. Prieſts were ſlaughtered, where they uſed to ſlaughter beaſts for ſacrifices: but it may be they were nothing better then Thomas Becket the devils Martyr here,Act. & Mon. and Adam Beton that butcherly Archbiſhop in Scotland, who when himſelf was butchered, cryed out Kill me not, for I am a Prieſt.

Ver. 21. The young and the old lye on the ground in the streets] Oh the woe of war! oh the bloody work that the ſword maketh whereſoever it is in commiſſion! Well may it be called an evil, an only evil by an Antonomaſie, Eſa. 45.7.

Ver. 22. Thou haſt called as in a ſolemn day my terrours] i. e. My terrible enemies the Chaldees, being called in by thee their Generaliſſimo, came on as chearfully as if they had come to a ſolemn feaſt or ſome merry-meeting; and not to a ſiege, and to a bloody war; which they cannot but know to be utrinque triſte, ſuch as both ſides uſually ſuffer by.

Thoſe that I have ſwadled and brought up] Singula haec verba ponderanda ſunt: ſingula enim ingens habent pathos. Here every word is very ponderous, and pathetical: Indeed this whole book is ſo: which is the reaſon that there is no great cohaerence in ſome places thereof to be diſcovered. For as he that is under ſome grievous affliction, without obſerving of order, now cryes, now prayes, now laments, now complains, &c. ſo doth the Prophet here, in the name of the Church, pour forth himſelf tumultuarily in a flood ſuch words as his grief miniſtred unto him: and grief is no methodical ſpeaker.