John Trapp on Micah 2:1

CHAP. II.

Verſe 1. VVO to them that deviſe iniquity,] Or, labour, affliction, vanity, a lie. The Hebrew word Aven, is of large uſe; applied to all kinde of ſinne, which cauſeth pain, ſorrow, and miſery: and here in particular to covetouſneſſe, that root of all evil to a mans ſelf, and others, 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. Our Prophet flings a Wo at it, as doth likewiſe Habakkuk, chap. 2.9. calling it an evil covetouſneſſe, as the Prophet Eſay tells us, that for the uniquity of his covetouſneſſe, God was wroth with Iſrael and ſmot him, Eſay 57.17. The world counts it a light offence: and caſts a cloak of good husbandry over it, 1 Theſ. 2.5. But this diſguiſe will ſerve ſuch, no better, then that which Ahab once put on and periſhed. Let no man deceive you with vain words, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. (thoſe plaiſtered words, 2 Pet. 2.3. uſed by hels Proctours) for becauſe of theſe things (ſc. fornication, covetouſneſſe, &c. thoſe peccadillo's as they are counted) cometh the wrath of God upon the children of diſobedience, Epheſ. 5.6. For why? They deviſe iniquity, cogitant quaſi coagitant, they plot and plow miſchief, being men of wicked devices, Prov. 14.2. talking eftſoons to themſelves, as that covetous caitif did, Luk. 12.17. beating their brains about their worldly projects, and reſting no more, no not upon their beds by night (a time and place appointed for reſt, when men ſhould together with their clothes put off their cares, and compoſe themſelves to ſleep; that nurſe of nature, and ſweet parentheſis) then one doth upon a rack, or bed of thorns.

Thus they work evil upon their beds,] They work hard at it, having the devil for their task-maſter, who ſhall therefore alſo be their pay-maſter. He hath their ſouls here as in a ſling, 1 Sam. 25.29. violently toſſed about and reſtleſſe: they are his drudges and dromedaries, driven about by him at his pleaſure 2 Tim. 2.26. wholly acted and agitated by him Eph. 2.2. having as many Lords as luſts,1 King. 21.4. wherewith their hearts are night and day exerciſed, 2 Pet. 2.14. without intermiſſion. See this in Felix, who at the ſame inſtant trembled and coveted a bribe: in Ahab, who ſick of Naboths vineyard, laid him down upon his bed, but reſted not. His heart did more afflict and vex it ſelf with greedy longing for that bit of earth, then the vaſt and ſpacious compaſſe of a kingdome could counter-comfort.

when the morning is light they practiſe it] And ſo they loſe no time, being up and at it by peep of day; when others are faſt aſleep, and ſo more eaſily ſurpriſed and circumvented by them. The morning is the moſt precious part of the day: and ſhould be employed to better purpoſe. But wickedneſſe proceedeth from the wicked, as ſaith the proverb of the Ancients 1 Sam. 24.13. and as they like not to have God in their heads Pſal. 10.4. nor hearts Pſal. 14.1. ſo neither in their words Pſal. 12.4. nor wayes Tit. 1.16. but the contrary: Surely ſatan is rightly called the God of this world; becauſe as God at firſt did but ſpeak the word and it was done, ſo if the devill do but hold up his finger, give the leaſt hint, they are ready preſt to practiſey.

becauſe it is in the power of their hand] The Vulgar hath it, Becauſe their hand is againſt God: and indeed the ſame word El ſignifieth God and Power. The Seventy render it, Becauſe they have not lifted up their hands to God (an exerciſe proper and fit for the morning Pſal. 5.4.) The Tigurine, Quia viribus pollent, They have ſtrength enough to do it.Nihil cogitant quod non idem patrare auſint De Monachit. Lutherus. Their hand is to power (ſo the Originall hath it) that is, ſaith Calvin, quantum poſſunt, tantum audent, they dare do their utmoſt, they will try what they can do: their hand is ever ready to rake and ſcrape together commodity; neither can they be hindred either by the feare of God, or any reſpect to righteouſneſſe.