John Trapp on Nahum 2

CHAP. II.

Verſe 1. HE that daſheth in pieces is come up before thy face] Nebuchadnezzar the elder, that maul of the whole earth, Jer. 50.23. that brake and diſperſed the Nations, as a Maul or great Hammer doth the hardeſt ſtones. See how like a right Pyrgopolynicis he vaunteth of his valour, and victories, Eſay 10.8, 9, 10, 11, &c. So Demetrius was ſirnamed Poliorcletes, the Deſtroyer of cities; Attilas called himſelf Orbis flagellum, the ſcourge of the World. Julius Caeſar was Fulmen belli, The thunderbolt of warre: he had taken in his time a thouſand Towns., conquered three hundred Nations, took priſoner one million of men, and ſlain as many. Theſe were Dtſſipatores indeed, and daſhers in pieces, rods of Gods wrath; and this they took to be a main piece of theit ſilly glory. How much more honour was it to Auguſtine, M. Cottons pref to Hilder. on Joh. 4. to be ſtiled Haereticorum malleus, the hammer of Heretikes? and to Mr. Hilderſam, to bee Schiſmaticorum malleus, the maul of Schiſmatikes? and laſtly, to Luther, that he could thus ſay of himſelf: Peſtis eram vivus, moriens ero mors tua Papa? I living, ſtopt Romes breath, And dead, will be Romes death?

Is come up before thy face] Nineveh lay high; and thoſe that went thither, were ſaid to go up, Hoſ. 8.9. Nebuchadnezzar is ſaid here, to be come up to it, long before he did, (which ſets forth Gods omniſcience: Known to him are all his works from the beginning of the world: Act. 15.18. Pſal. 139.2. and preſent to him are all things, both paſt and future) and to come up before Nineveh's face; who thought none durſt have been ſo bold as to look her in the face. But though ſhe had been a terrour, yet now ſhee is a ſcorn: as was likewiſe Ephraim, when he offended in Baal, Hoſ. 13.1. See the Note there.

Keep the munition, watch the way, &c.] Ironicè omnia, q.d. Do all this, if you think it will do any good. But 'tis all to no purpoſe; you are an undone people, your enemies are above fear, and you below hope; you have hitherto delighted in warre, you ſhall now have enough of it; you have troubled the world with your armes, and Armies; now you ſhall meet with your match, a people terrible from the beginning. Up therefore, and do your utmoſt: Neglect nothing that may ſerve for your neceſſary defence; but it will not be: for except the Lord keep the city, the watch-man waketh but in vain, Pſal. 127.1.

Verſe 2. For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Iſrael] Both the ten tribes (carried captive already) and the other two (vexed by Sennacheribs invaſion) have taken their turnes, and have had their part of bitter affliction: and ſhalt thou O Niniveh altogether eſcape unpuniſhed? Never think it. Eſpecially ſith thou haſt exceeded thy commiſſion, and exerciſed an unheard of cruelty upon Gods people: for he was but a little diſpleaſed, but ye have helped forward the affliction Zach. 1.15. See the Note there.

for the emptiers have emptied them out] The Aſſyrians have ſpoyled and pillaged till they have left neither men nor meanes behind them; ſuch clean work they have made, ſweeping all before them, like a ſweeping raine that leaveth no ſood Prov. 28.3. Omnia corradunt & converrunt.

and marred their vine-branches] that is their ſons and their daughters ſaith Lyra: their cities and villages, ſay others: like a malicious vinedreſſer, that not only cuts off the luxurious or barren branches, but pulls up the yong ſprouts by the rootes, and ſo marrs the vineyard. The Aſſyrians endeavoured utterly to deſtroy the whole ſeed of Abraham without any mercy or compaſſion: and this undid them. The jealous and juſt God cannot beare with ſuch boares out of the wood, that waſt his vines Pſal. 80.13.

Ver. 3. The ſhield of his mighty men is made red] Panoplia terrorens auget. All was red a colour much affected by the Medes, Perſians and Caldees) to ſhew that they were a ſanguinary nation, and not more gold-thirſty, Eſai. 13.Herodot: Diod. Sic. Xenophon Curtius then blood-thirſty.

the valiant men are in ſcarlet] A colour affected by martiall men, that would ſeem to feare no colours. The Lacedemonians uſed it much, when they went to fight: that, if they ſhould be wounded, their blood might not appeare upon their apparrell, for the diſcouragement of themſelves, and encouragement of the enemy by ſuch a ſight. The Romiſh Cardinals are clothed in ſcarlet, and are created by a red hat which the Pope giveth them, in a token that they ſhould be ready to ſhed their blood for the Catholike faith: which if they ſhould do (as never any of them yet did) they would be no better then the Devils Martyrs: ſith it is the cauſe, and not the puniſhment, that maketh a true martyr. A Tiburn-tippet, (as plain Mr. Latimer was wont to ſpeake) would well become thoſe ſcarlet-Fathers: who, like bels will be never well tuned, till well hanged; for their blood-guiltineſſe, and ſoule-murther eſpecially. In the kingdome of Naples there were two notable theeves (the one named Pater-noſter, Reinold. de idol Rom. prafet. the other Ave-Maria) who at ſeverall times had murthered one hundred and ſixteen men, and were therefore deſervedly put to a cruel death. But nothing ſo cruel as the Pope and his Conclave deſerve, for their ſending of ſo many ſoules daily to that great red dragon; red with the blood of ſoules which he hath ſwallowed, as St. Peter hath it, 1 Pet. 5.8. Rev. 12.3.

the charrets ſhall be with flaming torches] Thoſe currus falcati charrets armed with ſithes and hookes, with, and in which, they were wont to fight: theſe ſhall be with flaming torches carried along in them, either to light them fighting by night, or elſe to fire the enemies houſes, and to terrify their hearts.

and the firr trees ſhall be terribly ſhaken] with the rattling of the charrets, and clattering of the armour. In a bloody fight between Amurath the third king of Turks and Lazarus Deſpot of Servia, the noiſe of warlike weapons, the neighing of horſes and outcries of men were ſo terrible, and great, that the wild beaſts in the woods ſtood aſtonied therewith, the trees ſeemed to be ſhaken, and the Turkiſh hiſtories to expreſſe the terrour of the day, vainely ſay,Turk. Hiſt. that the Angels in heaven, amazed with that hideous noiſe, for that time forgat the heavenly hymnes &c. The word here rendred terribly ſhaken is rather Chaldee, then Hebrew: as ſpoken of the Chaldees, comming againſt Niniveh.

Verſe 4. The charrets ſhall rage in the ſtreets] ſhall run ſo faſt, as if they were mad that drove them.

they ſhall juſtle one againſt another] Coxabunt they ſhall ſmite ſide to ſide, through haſt and heate of fighting.

they ſhall ſeem like torches] Heb: their aſpect is as of torches: fire ſparkleth out of their eyes that are in them: they look upon the Aſſyrians, as if they would look through them.

they ſhall run like the lightenings] Heb. they ſhall break through as the lightenings; that is, with incredible ſwiſtneſſe: as lightening in an inſtant commeth out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even to the Weſt Mat. 24.27. Luc. 10.18.

Verſe 5. He ſhall recount his worthies Or Gallants, Magnificoes. Theſe, Aſarhaddon the king of Niniveh ſeeing himſelf ſtraighted, ſhall muſter up, and mind of their duties: bidding them now or never play the men, ſith the empire was at ſtake.

they ſhall ſtumble in their walk] thorough fearefulneſſe and faint-heartedneſſe: according to that of the Pſalmiſt, The ſtout-hearted are ſpoyled, they have ſlept their ſleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horſe are caſt into a dead ſleep Pſal. 76.5, 6. God ſtruck a terrour into the Ninivites upon the firſt comming of the Chaldees. See Deut. 11.25. Therefore there is no great credit to be given to Diodorus Siculus, who ſaith,Cap. 7. Lib. 3. that the Chaldees were thrice overcome in fight by the Aſſyrians, when as they came in armes to beſiege Niniveh.

they ſhall make haſt to the wall thereof] The Chaldees ſhall: taking advantage of the Ninivites feare, that cowardly paſſion, that diſarmeth and diſableth a man for his own defence, Or, the Aſſyrians ſhall haſten to the wall as faſt as their fainting and failing legs will carry them; to try what they can do, to keep out the enemy. So the Emperour of Conſtantinople, certainly advertiſed of the Turks purpoſe for the generall aſſault ſhortly to be given,Turk. Hiſt. fol. 345. after that he had many times with teares requeſted to have borrowed mony of his covetous ſubjects, to have been employed for defence of their city; he firſt commended himſelf and them to the Almighty by generall faſting and prayer: and afterwards appointed every captaine and commander to ſome certaine place of the wall, for defence thereof &c. but all in vaine, as here at Niniveh.

and the defence ſhall be prepared] Heb. the covering or coverer, Teſtudo militaris. Some military engine, or moveable defence.

Verſe 6. The gates of the rivers ſhall be opened] Notwithſtanding all fore-mentioned indeavours to ſave the city, the water-gates or thoſe that ſtood neare the river Tigris, flew open either by meanes of that inundation above-mentioned, or by the enemies irruption; or the trechery of ſome that were within.

and the pallace ſhall be diſſolved] Or melted, haply by that inundation: howſoever, by hoſtile impreſſion: whether we underſtand it of the Palace Royall, or the Idol-temple or both(the word will beare either) for it was not unuſual for Princes to have their houſes neare to the temples, as the kings of Judah had Ier. 22.14. The Trojans had their Palladium in the Tower: the Romans their Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in the Capitoll: Conſtantine the great, built the Lateran Church in his Laterane palace; William Rufus, his Weſtminſter-hall, neare the Minſter.

Verſe 7: And Huzza ſhall be led away captive] The Queen; ſo called, becauſe the ſtood firm, and was beſt underlaid of any other, as was thought, Some render it, quae firma ſtabat, ducta eſt in exilium. She that was wont to ſtand at the kings right hand (as Pſal. 45.) which is a place both of dignity and of ſafety. As Chriſt is at Gods right hand Pſal. 110.1. ſo the Church is at his, Pſal. 45.10. and he hath led captivity captive Eph. 4.8. ſpoiled Principalities and powers, made an open ſhew of them, triumphing over them in himſelf, Col. 2.15. This is the ſaints happineſſe: they are out of gun-ſhot, more then Conquerours, even Triumphers, 2 Cor. 2.14.

ſhe ſhall be brought up] whither ſhe would not, to take horſe or coach to go into captivity, as Q. Zenobia was brought in triumph to Rome in golden fetters, by Aurelianus the Emperour.

and her maides ſhall lead her] Her maides of honour; The Gynecium or Seraglio ſhall fall into the hands of rude ſouldiers; and by them be hurried away into a far country. Neither is it without deſert: for omne malum ferè ex Gynaecio; Women are many times meanes of much miſchief: and for their miſcarriages, men fall by the ſword, and the mighty in the warr: the gates alſo of the city lamene and mourn, Eſay. 3.11.25, 26. even for the Ladyes gallantry, whereof we have here an inventory. What a deale of trouble bred Jezabel in Iſrael, Athaliah in Judah, thoſe 2. late turbulent Queen-Mothers in Scotland and France? of which later and her Cardinall Lorraine, One made this ſtinging diſtich, Non audet Stygius Pluto tentare quod audet Effraenis Monachus, plenaque fraud[illegible: 1 letter] anus.

as with the voice of doves] Mourning ſecretly to themſelves, and groaning inwardly;In more in columbarum muſſitantium. Eſay 38.14. & 59.11. as not ſuffered to bark at thoſe that carry them captive, (as Hecuba Queen of Troy did, and is therefore fabled to be turned into a bitch) or to fill the air with complaints of their hard fortunes, as they call it, or to eaſe their grief by loud lamentations; but forced to ſmother it, and take it all to themſelves, which is no ſmall aggravation of it: For Expletur lachrymis egeriturque dolor.Ovid. Their tongues and their tears are womens beſt weapons. Et hic ferè laſciviae, luxus, & libidinis ſinis eſt, ſaith Gualther here. Lo, ſuch, for moſt part, is the end of laſciviouſneſſe, luxury, and luſt. Let women be warned.

tabring upon their breaſts] Not ſinging and playing on inſtruments after their Ladies, as once: but moaning, and groaning, and knocking their breaſts, for the greatneſſe of their grief, and heavineſſe; whereof this is an excellent, and eloquent deſcription.

Verſe 8. But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water] Like a fiſh-pool of water, [non-Latin text not transcribed] and therefore happy: The word here uſed for a pool, or pond, ſignifieth alſo a bleſſing. The Pope was wont to ſay of England, that it was puteus inexhauſtus, his pit that could not be drawn dry. Such a pit, or pool was Nineveh. Populous, wealthy, potent, &c. Eſay 8.7. the Magazine of the whole Eaſt, a rich Cargazon, Turk. hiſt. 843. and not unlike the Iſland Cyprus, anciently called, Macaria, that is, bleſſed, for the plenty, proſperity, and pleaſure there abounding. This invited the Romans to ſubdue it: as the pearls uſually caſt out at the flood, and gathered at the ebbe,Sext. Ruf. Sueton. in vit. Caeſa. cap. 47. drew Caeſars affection for the conqueſt of Britain: and as Nineveh's fiſh-pool did the Chaldean fiſhermen. The greater wealth, the greater ſpoil awaiteth a people, or perſon, Prov. 1.19. As if a tree hath thick and large boughes, every man deſires to be lopping of it. Nineveh's antiquity is here alſo noted. Of old, or, of a long time ſhe hath been Empreſſe of the Eaſt; She was the ſeat of the firſt Monarchy, which ſhe alſo held longeſt of any, even above thirteen hundred yeers. Howbeit this ſhall be now no protection to her, but an article, or an argument againſt her, that ſhe is an old ſinner, and hath been long time heaping up, and hoarding the mammon of unrighteouſneſſe.

yet they ſhall flee away] as waters do when the banks of a pond are broken down: and as fiſh do, when the water is drawn out, or dried up: then they friggle any way. So ſhall the Ninevites flee away, when their city is once broken: pugnae obliti, priſtinaeque virtutis.

Stand, ſtand, ſhall they cry] Their own Commanders, deſirous to rally them: or their enemies, deſirous to ranſack them, and make prize of them: Sed ſurdo fabulam.

but none ſhall look back] Or, cauſe them to turn. Nemo poteſt eos reſupinare: their hearts are fallen into their heels, and they have much more mind to ſave themſelves by flight, then by fight.

Verſ. 9. Take ye the ſpoil of ſilver, take ye the ſpoil of gold] This is the voice of God to the Caldeans; incouraging them to fall on, ſith they are ſure of good booty, plenty of plunder, which he here freely beſtoweth upon them. In like ſort Mahomet the great Turk, the better to encourage his ſouldiers to ſtorm Conſtantinople, cauſed proclamation to be made thorow his Camp the day before, that hee would freely give all the ſpoil of the city for three dayes unto them,Turk hiſt. 345. if they could win it. And for confirmation thereof, he ſolemnly ſwore the Turks great oath, &c. Now the love of money is [non-Latin text not transcribed], ſaith a Father, daring and deſperate.

For there is none end of the ſtore] Fat plunder, as was at Conſtantinople: the wealth whereof, the Turks themſelves wondered at; and were therewith ſo enriched, that 'tis a proverb amongſt them at this day, if any grow ſuddenly rich,Ibid. 347. to ſay, He hath been at the ſacking of Conſtantinople. Neither did they more wonder at their wealth, then derided their folly: for that poſſeſſing ſo much, they would part with ſo little to their Emperour,Ibid. 345. for the defence of themſelves and their Countrey. And the like is reported of Heidelberg.

and glory out of all the pleaſant furniture] Heb. veſſels, or utenſils of deſire: which are ſaid to yeeld glory, becauſe with men one hath ſo much glory and reſpect, as he hath wealth, and rich houſhold-ſtuff. See Gen. 31.1. with the Note. 1 King. 10.23. 2 Chron. 32.27. See here alſo the juſt judgement of God upon ſuch, as ſet their affections upon that coſtly vanity, rich furniture. (Hezechiah ſmarted for it, Eſay 39.2, 6. 2 Chron. 32.27.) or rich attire, which is ſuperbiae nidus, the neſt of pride, ſaith One. The worſt apparell is natures garment; the beſt, but follies garniſh, ſaith Another.

Verſe 10. She is empty, and void, and waſte] An elegant Agnomination in the Originall,Bukab, umebukah, umbylla. kah. beyond Engliſhing: whereby the utter deſtruction, and conſternation of the City and Monarchy is graphically depainted, and ſet forth to the life. See a like elegancy, Jer. 16.15. The laſt word rendred waſte, ſignifieth burſt up, or, void of all verdure; a place where nothing green groweth. Such an horrible devaſtation followeth upon Gods word of command to the Caldees, verſe 9. like as when Chriſt curſed the barren fig-tree,Matth. 21.20. it withered away immediately, though it be the moſt ſucculent of any tree, and beareth the brunt of winter-blaſts unwithered. Gods words, however ſlighted, are not wind, but fire, Jer. 5.13, 14.

and the heart melteth] The heart (in quo fortitudo ſtabulum habet, the ſeat of courage) fell aſunder in their boſomes like drops of water:Crocius. they were cowed out. See Joſ. 2.11. & 5.1. & 7.5. Eſay 13.7. Ezek. 21.12.

and the knees ſmite together] Genua labant, as is uſuall in extreme fear: the blood retreating to the heart,Virg. to releeve it. See Dan. 5.6. Job. 4.4. Eſay 35.3.

and much pain is in all loins] Such pain as befalleth women in travell, Eſay 21.3. and 13.8. Joel 2.6. Mic. 4.9, 10. the doubled form of the Hebrew word implieth the extremity of it. The loins are the ſeat of ſtrength: whence the Latines call weak men,Elumbes. Loinleſſe men.

and the faces of them all gather blackneſſe] Heb. [illegible: 1 letter] pot, i.e. ſuch blackneſſe as is on the ſides of a pot.Olla, lebes, cacabus. See Joel 2.6. Ioy and ſorrow will ſhew themſelves in the face, as in a glaſſe. Now if for a temporall miſchief, there is ſo great a conſternation in wicked men, what ſhall we think there is in hell?

Verſe 11. Where is the dwelling of the Lious, &c.] Where is Nineveh, once ſo terrible, now ſo deſpicable? Leoni mortuo vel mus inſultat. Once none durſt look at it, or mute againſt it, now each paſſenger can inſult over it, enquire where it ſtood, and not be afraid to take this Lion by the beard. God powreth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the ſtrength of the mighty, Job 12.21. when once they turn tyrants, and exerciſe regiment without righteouſneſſe, as Mic. 3.2, 3. Such a mighty hunter, or devourer of men and nations was Nimrod (the firſt founder of this Aſſyrian Monarchy) and became a proverb againſt all tyrants, and perſecutours, Gen. 10.9. Such a Lion was Nero, 2 Tim. 4.17. Such a Tiger Tiberius, (of whom One ſaith, that he laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent ſpirits of his time) Domitian, (who not content with the blood of Chriſtians, commanded all Jews that were of the ſtock of David, to be ſought out, and put to death) Diocleſian, and the reſt of the Primitive perſecutours: As alſo that man of ſinne, the whole pack of Popes, ſucceſſours to Boniface the eighth (who came in like a fox, reigned like a lion, died like a dog) and to Benedict the twelfth, who when he died, had this Epitaph made of him: Hic ſitus eſt Nero, laicis leo, vipera clero: Devius à vero, turba repleta mero. [illegible: 2 letters]ei Medulla hiſt. E[illegible: 1 letter]cleſ. 321.

and the feeding place of the young lions] Where the old ones provided prey fro them, till they could skill to do it for themſelves; that which they would ſoon learn and practiſe, when once grown up. The Aſſyrian young-princes were accuſtomed to rapine, and cruelty from the firſt: being no better then young Tiberims, whom his Tutour Theodorus Gadareus rightly characterized, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. when he ſaid, he was Dirt kned with blood: Or, then Nero the lion; of whom his father Domitius prophecied, that of himſelf and his wife Agrippina (both notoriouſly naught) no good man could be born. Mali corvi, malum ovum. Dio in Nerone Of an ill breed, ne catulus [illegible: 1 letter]idem relinquendus, ſaid the Romans, when they ſlew one of their tyrants together with his young ſonne. It was Maximinus, if I miſtake not.

where the lion, even the old lion walked] The couragious, or hearty lion (named of Leo an heart) walked and ſtalked with his whelps, and none made them afraid.Labi. but now, his heart melteth, his knees knock together for fear, and faintneſſe, as verſe 10. his city Nineveh (that was not onely ſpoliarium latronum, Calv. but ſpelunca leonum) is now no where: it ſhall live by fame onely, time ſhall triumph over it. God will ſtain the pride of all glory, and bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth, Eſay 23.9. So Clara fuit-Sparte, magnae viguêre Mycenae,Ovid. Metant. lib. 15. Vile ſolum Sparte eſt, altae cecidere Mycenae. Oedipodioniae quid ſunt niſi nomina Thebae? &c.

Verſe 12. The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps] i. e. that which might have been enough and ſpare, but that they were unſatiable. So covetous they were and ravenous, that their Poſie might have been, Totus non ſufficit orbis: their deſire of more, was enlarged as hell; greedy lions they were, that could never have enough, Eſay 56.11. As a ſhip may be over-laden with gold and ſilver, even unto ſinking, and yet have compaſſe and ſides enough to hold ten times more: ſo the cormorants and covetous caitives of this world, though they have enough to ſink them; yet never have they enough to ſatisfie them.

and ſtrangled for his lioneſſes] i. e. for his wives and concubines, by whom they were commanded, being captivarum ſuarum captivi, as Plutarch ſaith of the Perſian kings; ſlaves to their ſhe-ſlaves, whom they enriched and adorned with the ſpoils of the ſubdued nations. Cicero in his fifth Action againſt Verres, ſaith, that the kings of Perſia and Syria, (think the ſame of Aſſyria) as they had many wives, ſo they would beſtow upon them whole cities for their maintenance. Antiochus king of Syria, gave two fair cities to his Concubine, 2 Maccab. 4.30. Antony gave all Egypt to Cleopatra. Henry 2. of France, gave to Diana Valentina all the confiſcation of goods made in the kingdom for cauſe of Hereſie, Anno 1554. which cauſed the burning of many good people. Ʋtinam hodie non eſſent leanae, ſaith Calvin here. It were to be wiſhed there were not now adayes lioneſſes,Hiſt. of Councel of Trent. 387. that can of themſelves ſtrangle and devour: but we ſee that there are ſome women that exceed all men in impudency and cruelty. The Queen-mother he meant, in all likelyhood, as Beza did her cruell ſonne Charles 9. Authour of the Maſſacre, in that Verſe of his, made upon the that new ſtarre in Caſſiopeia, 1572.

Tu verò Herodes ſanguinolente time.Camd. Elizab.

and filled his holes with prey, and his denne with ravine] His palaces with treaſure, his coffers with caſh, raked together by evil arts, and oppreſſive practiſes. What elſe was the whole Aſſyrian Empire, but a great theevery? Alexander the Great was told to his teeth, that he was the greateſt thief in the world. And was not Jul[illegible: 3 letters] Caeſar ſuch another? who ſaid, that for a kingdomes ſake right might be vio[illegible: 4 letters]? and who robbed his countrey of her liberty, for the ſatisfying of his unlawfull deſire of ruledome? But for whom all this? ſurely for thoſe that never thanked them for any thing, but fought for their ſpoil.

Verſe 13. Behold I am againſt thee] Ecce me contra[illegible: 1 letter]te: Behold I, Hoc ecce non excitat modo ſed perterrefacit. who am of my ſelf a whole Army of men, Van and Rcare both, Eſay 52.12. I am againſt thee, ſaith the Lord of Hoſtss, who have all creatures at command if need were, as Auxiliaries: and can arm your own forces againſt you, ſheath your own ſwords in your own bowels. Wo be to rhoſe that have God againſt them. The Tigurine rendreth it, En me tibi hoſtem, &c. Deus ſerierum.

and I will burn her charets in the ſmoke,] That is, ſaith Danaeus, I will burn all their munition, and furniture for warre, with a moſt bitter and ſoft fire, that they may be the more grieved, and the more tormented thereby. Others, by ſmoke underſtand the ſuddenneſſe of the judgement q. d. No ſooner ſhall my wrath begin to kindle,Calvin. but I will conſume them: prime impetu, ſo ſoon as ever the flame beginneth to break forth, or rather, before. By charets may be alſo meant, thoſe that were carried in them. The Hebrew gloſſe here is, By ſmoke, that is, by a fire whoſe ſmoke is ſeen afarre off. See Judg. 20.40. Such ſhall be the fire of the laſt day, as A Lapide here noteth out of Hierom: when all the lions, and lions whelps, that is, all tyrants and oppreſſours ſhall be burnt, together with all their charrets, pompes, and meſſengers, ac imprimis corum dux & princeps Antichriſtus, and eſpecially Antichriſt their Captain, and Chieftain. He and his Jeſuites ſhall doubtleſſe then be caſt alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone, Revel, 19.20. Let A Lapide note that.

and the ſword ſhall devour thy young lions! Thou ſhalt bring forth children to the murtherer: and thoſe that have taken the ſword (though never ſo young) ſhall periſh by the ſword, Mat. 26.52. As a Nettle ſtings betime, an Urchin is rough whiles young, and a Crab ſoon goes backward: ſo ſanguinary diſpoſitions will ſoon diſcover themſelves.

And I will cut off thy prey from the earth] Thou ſhalt be no further terrible, and troubleſome to the nations, whom thou haſt vexed and ſpoiled. Of Baldwin that Apoſtate, One ſaith, that when he died, deſiit ſimul maledicere & vivere, he ceaſed at once to live and to rail. And of our Henry 2. the Chronicler writeth, that in a great diſtemperature againſt his rebellious ſonnes, he departed the world, which ſo often himſelf had diſtempered. Nineveh the great huntreſſe was now under that wo, Eſa. 33.1.

and the voice of thy meſſengers] thy Heralds, by whom thou haſt proclaimed war, or made unreaſonable demands, or laid hard lawes upon other nations, or exacted grievous tributes, or publiſhed thy new victories, to keep people in awe, or laſtly, blaſphemed my great Name, as Rabſhakeh one of thy meſſengers will do, 2 King. 18.19. Theſe ſhall all be ſilenced, an end ſhall be put to them and thee.