John Trapp on Micah 2:7

Verſe 7. O thou that art named the houſe of Jacob] That haſt a name to live but art dead Rev. 3.1. that art called a Jew, and makeſt thy boaſt of God Rom. 2.17. that haſt a form of knowledge Rom. 2.20. and a form of godlineſſe 2 Tim. 3.5. a ſemblance of ſanctimony Luke 8.18. acting religion, playing devotion, as if it were a neme onely; or as if it were enough to be named the houſe of Jacob, or to have his voice, though the hands are the hands of Eſau, the practiſe nothing ſuitable to the profeſſion. Thus many amongſt us content themſelves with the bare name of Chriſtians: as if many a ſhip hath not been called Safe-guard or Goodſpeed, which yet hath fallen into the hands of Pirates. The devil will ſurely ſweep, and hell ſwallow all ſuch Nominaliſts: ſuch ſhall find that an empty title yeelds but an empty comfort at the laſt. What was Dives the better for this, that Abraham called him ſonne, or Iudas that Chriſt called him friend, or the rebellious Iewes that God ſtileth them his people? Doth he not elſewhere diſclaim them, and call them a ſinful nation, a people laden with iniquity; the people of his wrath and of his curſe? May not all Formaliſts fear Jacobs fear? Gen. 27.12. My father peradventure will feel me, and I ſhall ſeem to him as a deceiver: and I ſhall bring a curſe upon me, and not a bleſſing. Our heavenly Father will ſurely feel us in our addreſſes: and if he find us but complementing, and contenting our ſelves to be called the houſe of Jacob, he will confute our vain confidences, and cut us out of the roll; as he did Dan and Ephraim, who were named the houſe of Jacob, and yet for their wickedneſſe are paſſed by in the reckoning up of the twelve tribes, Rev. 7. as if they were ſouldiers put out of pay, and caſhiered.

Is the ſpirit of the Lord ſtraitned] or ſhortned? Is he a penny-father? hath he but one bleſſing?Mal. 2.15. Is there not with him the reſidue of the ſpirit? plenteous redemption, an exceeding abundant goodneſſe even to a ſuperpleonaſme? [non-Latin text not transcribed]. 1 Tim. 1.14. Where then is the fault that you are no more Jacob-like, plain-hearted and perſwaſible; that ye refuſe to be reformed, hate to be healed, ſaying to me, Depart, and to my Prophets, Drop not, &c. Neither curſe ye nor bleſſe ye, as he ſaid to Balaam? wherein if they ſhould hearken to you, and be ruled by you, yea, ſhould you ſtraitly threaten them with bonds to ſpeak henceforth to no man in my name, as Act. 4.17. yet my word is not bound,2 Theſſ. 3.1. 2 Tim. 2.9. but runs and is glorified: my ſpirit is not ſtraitned, but is free and not fettered. I tell you, that if theſe (Prophets) ſhould hold their peace,Luk. 19.40. and not drop, the ſtones would immediatly cry out: which againſt change of weather do ſtand with great drops of water to confute your unyeeldingneſſe. Turn ye therefore now at my reproof; behold, I will turn out my ſpirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you, Prov. 1.23. I will do it howſoever; yea, in deſpite of you I will do it, as ſome ſenſe the foregoing verſe, reading it thus (and the original will bear it) Drop ye not, but they ſhall drop.

Are theſe his doings?) i.e. Such as God doth approve of, or rather, are theſe Jacobs doings? tread you in the ſteps of your father Jacob? did he ever ſilence the Prophets, and withſtand thoſe that were ſent unto him? Did he not rather lie low, put his mouth in the duſt and crie out, ſpeak, Lord, for thy ſervant heareth. Good is the word of the Lord which ye have ſpoken, &c. And whereas ye will be apt enough to replie that Iacob had no other cauſe: for the Prophets never ſpake but good and comfortable things to him, it is anſwered in the next words.

Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?] Heb. upright; that pondereth his paths by the weights of my word, and turneth not to the right hand nor to the left, Pro. 4.26, 27. but walketh exactly, accurately, and preciſely, Eph. 5.15. keeping within my precincts, &c. Do not my words do good to ſuch, and ſpeak they not peace to him? David felt it as ſweet as honey, Pſ. 119.103. But as honey cauſeth pain to exulcerate parts, though of it ſelf it be ſweet and medicinal: ſo doth the word of God to exulcerate conſciences. Children, though they love to lick in honey, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Al. Aphrod. Probl. yet they will not endure to have it come neer their lips, when they have ſore mouths: ſo is it here. Excellently ſaith Saint Auſtin, Adverſarius est nobis, quamdiu ſumus & ipſi nobis, &c. The word of God is adverſary to none, but ſuch as are their own greateſt adverſaries, &c. It may well be compared to Moſes rod, which whiles he held it in his hand, it flouriſhed and brought forth almonds; but being caſt on the ground it turned into a ſerpent. Did it not take hold of thoſe refractaries, Zech. 1.6. that would not take hold of Gods covenant, and chuſe the things that pleaſed him, Eſay. 56.4? Doth it not ſtill ſting wicked people with unqueſtionable conviction and horrour; when as great peace have they which love Gods law, Pſal. 119.165. and nothing ſhall offend them?