John Trapp on Nahum 3

CHAP. III.

Verſe 1. WOe to the bloody city] Nineveh, that delighteth in warre, which One well calleth, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. the ſlaughter-houſe of mankinde, and Hell of this preſent world, Eſay 95. the Greek word [non-Latin text not transcribed], warre, ſignifieth muſh blood. Beſides that, many murthers were committed in her, and connived at, if not countenanced by a pretence of juſtice. Such a ſanguinary city is Rome: not onely drunk with the blood of ſaints,Jacob. Rev de vita Pontif. pag. 119. but alſo of her own children. Brazutus, ſet on by Hildebrand, was the death of ſix Popes ſucceſſively, within the ſpace of thirteen yeers. Pope John the 22. (who ſat Anno Dom. 1316.) flead a Biſhop, who had ſome way offended him,Ibid. 270. Spec. Europ. and afterwards burned him. Pope Paul the third, poyſoned two Cardinalls, Fulgoſus, and Contarenus, a Biſhop alſo, and Johannes Baptiſta Vergerius, becauſe he ſuſpected them of Lutheraniſme. The Italians generally, as they blaſpheme oftener then ſwear. ſo they murther more then revile or ſlander. Such another citie of bloods is Paris in France: witneſſe that barbarous Maſſacre, wherein they poyſoned the Qeen of Navarre, murthered the moſt part of the peerleſſe Nobility of France, with their wives and children, with a gre[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 word] of the common people, an hundred thouſand in one year, in divers parts of [illegible: 2 letters] Realm. Beſides 6000. Gentlemen, ſlain there in private quarrels, within the ſpace of ten years, as it appears by the kings pardons. Now if the blood of one Abel had ſo many tongues as drops, Gen. 4.8. the voice of they brothers bloods crieth unto me, what ſhall we think will be the woe of ſuch bloody Cities and States? Luther rendreth this Text.Aug. in Pſal. & Libera me de ſanguin. Woe to the murtherous State. Auſtin interpreteth it of all hainous offences, wherewith Nineveh was polluted. But ſurely if other ſinnes have a woe hanging at their heels, according to that of Job, chap. 10.15. If I be wicked, woe unto me; bloody men ſhall have a woe with a witneſſe, as thoſe that walk in the way of Cain, Jude 11. See Ezech. 24.6. Hab. 3.12. and remember that it was the ruin of that great city Nineveh.

It is all full of lies] [non-Latin text not transcribed] ſo the Seventy render it, Ʋniverſa, mendacium. ſhe is wholly made up of fraud and falſhood, mendacio[illegible: 1 letter]um loquaciſſima; no truth in her private contracts, no truſt in her publike tranſactions, and capitulations with other nations; be they never ſo ſtrongly concluded, or never ſo ſolemnly confirmed, yet had they no longer force with them, then ſtood with their own profit. This was ſides Ninivetica, as it was afterwards Punica, and is now Turcica: which will at length prove their downfall; as it befell Nineveh, and Carthage.

and robbery] Or, ravage; ſuch as lions exerciſe, Pſal. 7.3. Liars are commonly theeves: fraudulency is no better then robbery. If I have beguiled any man, Laceratio. ſaith Zacheus, I reſtore him foure-fold, Luke 19.9. as having wronged him no leſſe, then if I had robbed him. Hence they go here coupled. Violence is ſeldome ſundred from conning contrivance; in thoſe eſpecially that hunt after Monarchy, as N[illegible: 1 letter]mrod, Julius Caeſar, Pellem vulpinam leoninae. aſſuere Lyſander (whoſe counſell and practiſe was to eek out the lions hide, with the foxes skin, if need were) Jeroboam, Jehu, Herod, that fox, Julian, Caeſar Borgia, whom Machiavel propounds for a partern to Princes; telling them, that Juſtice it ſelf ſhould not be ſought after, but onely the appearance: becauſe the credit is a help, the uſe a cumber. That great Elixer, called Reaſon of State (though falſely ſo called, unleſſe it be ſeaſoned with Juſtice and Truth) hath ſo tranſmutative a faculty, as to make copper ſeem gold, right wrong, and wrong right: yea, when all pleas fail, it will ſtand for good, whiles there are forces to ſupport it.

The prey departeth not] They fetch in booty continually, they ſpoil and prey upon others without end or meaſure. Once they ſeemed to repent of their luxury and cruelty, at the preaching of Jonas; but now they are [illegible: 1 letter] bad again, or worſe then ever. They tear in pieces (our Engliſh ſeems to bee made of the Hebrew here) and greedily feed upon thoſe murthering morſels of ſin,Tureph. which they muſt di[illegible: 1 letter]geſt in hell, without better repentance, then they were ever yet acquainted with.

Verſe 2. The noiſe of a whip, and the noiſe of the ratling of the wheels] A moſt elegant and lively hypotypoſis or deſcription, of the Chaldees coming to take Nineveh, Tam pulchra, ſaith Hierom, & picture ſimilis, ut omnis meus Jermo ſit vilior, ſo gallant and picture-like a repreſentation of an advancing Army, that no words of mine can come neer it. Virgil is commended for his excellent expreſſions, ſutable to the matter he treateth of. As when he ſets forth the cutting down of trees, by —Son a icta ſecuribus ilex: the ferrimans trade, by —fremit ictibus aerea puppis: the gliding of his boat, by —Labitur uncta vadis abies, &c. But all this is but dull ſhuffe to the divine Rhetorike here to be read. Let thoſe that refuſe to hear Gods ſweet words, fear leſt they be forced to hear the noiſe of the whip, the ratling of the wheels, &c Pſal. 7.12, 13. Luk. 19.42, 44. Prov. 1.24, &c. The enemy is ſent to revenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant: the red horſe is at the heels of the white, Rev. 6.4.

Verſ. 3. The horſeman liſteth up both the bright ſword] Heb. the flame of the ſword, brandiſhed againſt the Sunne, which maketh it ſeem flaming. Such a ſword is mans tongue, thin, broad, long, and of a red ſiery colour. See Pſal. 42.10. and 64.3. Prov. 12.18. David cries out of this murthering-weapon in his bones, whereby they killed him alive, as with a tuck, or rapier; and buried him in their throats, thoſe gaping graves, open ſepulchres.

and the glittering ſpear] Heb. the lightening of the ſpear, becauſe of its bright and ſwift motion. Thus the Prophet perpetuis metapheris & periphraſibus luxuriat (as One ſaith of Apul[illegible: 1 letter]ius) aboundeth with Rhetoricall expreſſions,Turk. hiſt. and continued meraphers. Bajazer the Great Turk, for his valour and skill in handling his arms, was firna[illegible: 1 letter]ed Gilderum, or lightening.

and there is a mul[illegible: 1 letter]tude of ſlain. So that it is not fulgur ex vitro, an empty terrour, a bare fright onely, as a fools dagger, that ratleth and inappeth, but without an edge. [illegible: 1 letter]ide his effectum. See here the ſad effect, loe the tragedy repreſented, behold a multitude of ſlain, and a great number of carkaſſes, &c. This the Prophet ſpake, not with any delight, further then made for the glory of God, and the Churches deliverance: but that hee may ſet forth by this example, what they muſt look for that imitate Ninevites in their practiſes; for ſinne ever ends tragically:Miror te quorum mores imitaris corum exitus non perhor reſcere. Cic. De Naboth Cap. and God is ſtill the ſame, as He is ſet forth Chap. 1.2. I wonder, ſaith Cicero to Verres, that thou ſhunneſt not their vices whoſe fearfull ends thou art much afraid of. And St. Amhroſe, cloſing up the ſad ſtory of Ahab and Iezabel, whom God deſtroied for their wickedneſſe, Fuge ergò dives ejuſmodi exitum, ſaith he Tremble at ſuch di[illegible: 1 letter]mall ends, and be carefull to avoid them: ſuch ends ye ſhall avoyd, if ye carefully flie from ſuch flagitious practiſes.

and agreat number of carkaſſes] Heb. the heavineſſe of dead carkaſſes which lie ſo thick. that the earth ſeemeth to groane under the burthen of them.

there is none end of their corpſes] that lie on heapes like ſo many mountaines: as they did after the fight betweene Amurath king of Turks, and Lazarus Deſpot of Servia.Turk hiſt. 200 which whiles Amurath took a view of, he was ſuddenly ſtabbed to daath by a half-dead ſouldier, ſtarting up from among the carkaſles.

they ſtumble upon their corpſes] And afterwards, perhaps, uſe them inſtead of ſtooles and tables,Lanquet: Chro. as the Suiſſers did the Thuric[illegible: 1 letter]nſes their adverſaries An[illegible: 1 letter]. 1443. banquetting in the place where they won the victory.

Verſe 4. Becauſe of the multitude of the whoredomes of the well-favored harlot] Specious, and therefore gracious with her paramours: of a faire countenance, but foule condition: like Aurelia Oreſtilla, that had beauty, but no good property. Chryſippus cailed beauty the flower of vertue;Cujus praeter formam nihil unquam bonus laudauit. Saluft. but that is not generally true. Diogenes ſaw cauſe to ſay to ſome faire women in his time, O quam bona domus, ſed malus hoſpes; Here's a faire hcuſe, but an ill inhabitant. Niniveh is the well-favored harlot here ſpoken of; her very name ſignifieth a faire habitation. Hierome and others interpret it, ſhe was indeed Vrbs formoſa et famoſ[illegible: 1 letter], faire and famous, but fooliſh and filthy, Meretrix meretriciſſima; ſhe multiplied her whoredomes both corporall and ſpir ituall; for theſe are ſeldome fundred: as we ſee in that once well-favored, but now withered whore of Rome, Rev. 17.1. Roma inverted is Amor, prepoſtrerous love, unnaturall filthineſſe is there as commonly practiſed, as Idolatry. And as a common harlot paints and deckes herſelf to pleaſe her lovers; ſo did Niniveh, ſo doth Rome in her pompous and men-pleaſing worſhips: I have read of a Lady in Paris, that when ſhe ſaw the bravery of a Proceſlion to a Saint, ſhe cried out, Oh how fine is our religion bepond that of the Huguenots. And Sir Walter Rawleigh was wont ſay, that were he to chuſe a religion for fleſhly liberty, and laſciviouſneſſe, he would chuſe Popery: which is indeed an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, none like it.

the miſtreſſe of witch-crafts] Harlots are many of them enchantreſſes; and have their philtra, their love potions, wherewith to enſnare men, and to draw them on to lewdneſſe, and to take away their hearts. Hoſ. 4.11. Athenaeus brings in Plato bewailing himſelf, that he was taken ſo much with a filthy harlot. And Elian telles of a whore that boaſted to Socrates, that ſhe could eaſily get followers from him; not he from her. Of Sampſon and Hercules (whom ſome think to have been the ſame) thoſe two verſes verified, Nam potuit lenam, potuit ſuperare leaenam: Quem fera non potuit vincere; vicit hera.

Think the ſame of idolatry alſo; and if thoſe forceries, whereby the purple whore hath deceived all nations, as St. John (in alluſion to this place) ſaith of her Rev. 18.23. For in that book of the Revelation the holy Ghoſt borrowes all the elegancies and flowers in the ſtory of the old Teſtament: thereby to ſet out the ſtory of the New in ſucceeding ages.

That ſelleth nations through her whordoms] maketh prize of them, as thoſe impoſtours did, 2 Tim. 3.6. and then make ſale of them as her ſlaves 2 Pe[illegible: 1 letter]. 2.3. or otherwiſe uſe them at her pleaſure, as homely as the whore of Babylon now doth thoſe her ſlaves, and ſoules of men Rev. 18.13. whom ſhe ſits upon, even upon peoples, nations, multitudes and tongues, Rev. 17.15. tyrannizing over their conſciences, and appointing them to very meane offices: as that poſture of hers, in ſitting upon them, ſeemeth to import.

Verſe 5. Behold I am againſt thee ſaith the Lord] And I need ſay no more; wert thou but ſenſible of thy miſery herein. Be not thou a terrour to me O Lord, ſaith Jeremiah, and then let what will elſe befall me: I ſhall the better beare it. Doe not you fall upon me your ſelves, ſaid Sampſon to his country men,Judg. 15.12. that came to bind him: and then for the Philiſtines I ſhall order them well enough: ſo faith the good ſoul, Let not God ſet againſt me &c. Tyrants and Oppreſſours ſhal be ſure to have him thei enemy: and this he telles them here againe and againe: to beat downe their vaine conſidence in their greatneſſe: whereby they think to beare down all before them.

And I will diſcover thy ſkirts upon thy face] i.e. I will turne up thy clothes about thy eares: and ſo ſhew all to, thine utter diſgrace; a fit puniſhment for ſo filthy a harlot. Eſa. 47.3. Ier. 13, 22. Eze. 16.37.

And I will ſhew the nations thy nakedneſſe] which nature teacheth to cover:therefore when a man hath committed a ſinne, he bluſheth:Acts & Mon. Honos ſit auri-bus. the bloud as it were would cover the ſinne, that mother of ſhame Rev. 3.18. that the ſhame of thy nakedneſſe may not appeare. The whore of Babylon is, and more and more ſhall be ſerved on this ſort: Rev. 17.16. Aſore God, ye are all bare-toul'd ſaid Mr. Philpot Martyr to the Popiſh Synod, before whom he was convented. The kings of the earth ſhall make Rome deſolate and naked. Luther and many other Proteſtant writers have done it already, by laying her open in her colours to the world: taking the the ſame boldneſſe and liberty to diſcover her lewdneſſe, that ſhe did to commit it.

And the kingdoms, thy ſhamo] who ſhall therehence ſlight thee and hate thee, together with all thy policies and ſuperſtitions, wherby thou haſt enſlaved them.

Verſe 6. And I will caſt abominable filth upon thee] As they do chamber-pots and worſe, upon harlots that are carted. I have read of a heathen people that put the adniterers and adultereſſes heads into the paunch of a beaſt, where all the f[illegible: 2 letters]th lieth; and ſo ſtifled them to death.

And make thee vile] Conſpurcabo, deturpabo to, I will beſpattle thee and make thee ſtink above ground, as lothſome carrion doth; ſo the word ſignifieth. It was long ſince complained of by one of her own ſonnes, that the ſtench of the Church of Rome was gone up to heaven. And by another,Mat. Paris. that of gold ſhe was become ſilver, of ſilver iron, of iron earth, ſupereſſe ut in ſtercus abiret, and now there remained no more, but that ſhe ſhould be looked upon as dung.Theodoricus Vrias Auguſtinianus. Accordingly it followeth.

And I willſet thee as a gazing-ſtock] The Septuagint renders it for an example, others a looking-glaſſe, but Calvin (after R. Salomon and Aber.-Ezra) ponam t[illegible: 1 letter] quaſi ſtercus, I will ſet thee as dung, which men gladly look beſide. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Luther rendereth it Ponam te in terriculamentum, I will make thee a bug-beare. All this was done to Niniveh that great city: and all was done by God, not by Fate, or Fortune, or any neceſſity of Nature, that ſtates and kingdoms muſt have their times and their turnes, their riſe and their ruine, as Politicians dote.Oſorius'de Nobil. l.3.

Ver. 7. And it ſhall come to paſs that all they [illegible: 1 letter]hat look upon thee ſhall flee from thee] Thou ſhalt be a very Magor-miſſabib a terrour to all that are round about thee: ſo that they ſhall decline thee and ſtand a loof off. Reſilient à te, they ſhall leape back from thee (faith the Vulgar tranſlation) as if they had trod upon a ſnake. Vbi ſimul hominum mores exprimit ſaith Gualther. This is the manner of moſt people: they meaſure friendſhip by profit, and ſhamefully forſake thoſe in adverſity, whom they were wont to follow and fawne upon in proſperity. David complaines of ſuch dealing, and Ovid, and many others.

And ſay, Niniveh is laid waſt] which moſt men held impoſſible,Tempera fuerint nubila ſolus eris. Cum fortuna per[illegible: 1 letter]t nulius amicus erit. and never looked to have ſeen ſuch a day. So Rome was called Aurea, and AEterna and the Romans once thought (as it is ſaid Dionyſius did) that the monarchy of the world had been tied unto them with chaines of adamant. But God confuted their golden dreames by breaking their Empire, and giving up their city ſix ſeverall times in one hundred thirty nine yeares, into the hands of the Barbarians: who exerciſed therein all kind of cruelty. Beſides that, it is obſerved that Rome ſince it became Papall was never beſieged by any enemy, but it was taken. The finall ruine of it is daily expected, according to that prophecy of St. John, Rev. 18.2. Lib. 8. Babylon is fallen, is fallen: and that other of Sibylla afore recited, Tota eris in cineres; quaſi nunquam Roma fuiſſes.

Who will bemoane her?] Heb. Who will move (his lips) for her. Some perhaps will ſhake his head, or ſhoot his bolt at her: but none open his mouth to bemone her. It was the juſt hand of God to ſet off all hearts, and ſhut up all mouthes from her, that had been ſo unreaſonably mercileſſe and hard-hearted. Iam. 2.13.

Whence ſhall I ſeek comforters for thee] q.d. So odious thou art, that none will do thee that good office: or if they would, ſo calamitous thou art that no comſort will faſten; For as to ſore eyes the gentleft medicine is troubleſome: ſo is comſort miniſtred to ſuch as are in an hopeleſſe condition. The care that taſteth words, as the mouth doth meat, is at ſuch a time imbittred, and out of taſt.

Ver. 8. Art thou better then populous No?] Heb. No Amon a great corn-countrey, and therefore populous:Amon i.e. Nu. tritia Alma mater for where victuall and good trading is to be had, thither people will repaire apace. No (that is Alexandria) was the nurfing mother of Egypt: and Egypt was called the worlds barn or ſtorehouſe, horreum unde hauriatur Gen. 42.1. It is called Ier. 46.25. Amon de No, and Ezek. 30.11. Hamon No, and Verſe 14.16. No, without any addition. This was the old name of this city, before it was deſtroyed by Nebuchadnezzar: to whom God had given Egypt as his pay for his paines in taking Tyre. It was reedified by Alexander the great, and he called it after his own name Alexandria. Amon it was called, for the reaſons above-given. Though there be that ſech that name of it from Ham the ſon of Noah. Theodoret will have it ſo called from Iupiter Hammon, whoſe ſonne,Lib. 2 p. 51. Pauſan: Lib. 3. Lib. de Iſid. et Oſirid Alexander deſired to be held: and from whom the Egyptian husbandmen were called Ammonii, and their arable Ammonia, as Herodotus writeth. Plutarch alſo telleth us, that the Africans worſhip an unknowne God by the name of Amon, that is (in their language) Heus, tu quis es? This city therefore is called No Amon, probably to diſtinguiſh it from other cities of the ſame name; as Alexandria Egypti, Caeſarea Philippi, Auguſta Vindelicorum. &c. Ioſephus ſaith that it abounded in people,Lib. 2. de bell. Iud. Gap. 16. and wealth: being little leſſe then Hieruſalem in compaſſe. Thinkeſt thou now O Niniveh, (ſaith God here) that thou art in a better or ſafer condition, then this city once was? but I am magnum infoelix nil niſi nomen habet. Let Niniveh go to Ieruſalem, Succurrat illud mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur. to Shiloh Ier. 7.12. and do as Scipio did, when, beholding the downfall of Carthage, he fore-ſaw and bewailed the like future deſtiny of Rome his own countrey.

That was ſituate amnng the rivers] which is held the beſt ſituation for profit, pleaſure,Lib. 17. and ſtrength.

That had the waters round about it [The river Nilus begirt it, (ſaith Strabo,) but could not mott it up from Gods fire. See Pſal. 33.17. Prov. 21.30. with the Note.

Whoſe rampart was the ſea, and her wall was from the ſea] She had the Egyptian ſea on one ſide, and the lake of Mareôtis on the other, which the Hebrews called the Sea.

Verſe 9. Ethiopia and Egypt were her ſtrength] No was the Metropolis of Egypt, and knew no end of her power, as bearing rule over Ethiopia the ſtrong, and Egypt the infinite (ſome read this text) and as having all the reſt of the peoples inhabiting Afrike and Lybia for her confederates.Chus Valida et Egyptij infiniti Druſius See Ier. 46.9. where the Prophet ſpeaketh of ſuch People as brought aide to Egypt againſt the Caldees, but were foiled and worſted: Of the huge armies that Ethiopia was able to raiſe, ſee 2 Chron. 14.9. and 16.8. Egypt for her ſtrength was called Rahab Pſal. 87.4. and 89.11. that is mighty and proud.

Put and Lubim were thy helpers] By Put, Hierome underſtandeth Africa (which was over anent Alexandria, the ſea between) a waſt continent, thrice as big as Europe: and by Lubim Lybia a conſiderable part of that continent, ſomtimes put for the whole. Theſe would have been helpers to No, but could not: becauſe over-powred by Nebuchadnezzar, ſent againſt them by God. Leagues entred into with wicked men, profit not thoſe whom God will puniſh. The Grecian Churches Anno 1438. being afraid of the Turks, ſent and ſubjected themſelves to the Biſhop of Rome; that they might have the help of the Latine Churches: but ſhortly after, they were deſtroyed, and their Empire ſubdued, and ſwallowed up in the Turkiſh greatneſſe. It is gathered by ſome out of Revel. 16.14, 15, 16. that the Pope and his adherents ſhall, towards the end of the world, for the reſtoring of his decayed authority, call in the help, not onely of Popiſh Princes, but of forraign States, out of Aſia, Africa, and America, to ſuppreſſe the heretikes (as they call us) and to root out Religion; but with evil ſucceſſe: for they ſhall aſſociate themſelves onely to be broken in pieces, Eſay 8.9. theſe Auxiliaries ſhall ſpeed no better then thoſe ſubſidiarie Syrians did, 2 Sam. 10.18, 19. they ſhall receive a famous foil at Armageddon; ſuch as Siſera did, at the waters of Megiddo, Judg. 5.19. and a voice from the throne ſhall ſay, It is done; verſ. 16,17.

Verſe 10. Yet was ſhe carried away, ſhe went into captivity] Whereof though there be no other record, yet we ought not to doubt of the truth, ſith it is here alledged by the holy Ghoſt, as a thing either done before, or ſhortly after to bee done, as may be probably gathered from Jerem. 46.25. Ezsk. 30.19, 21. compared with Jer. 20.28. and 44.49. To God (by reaſon of the vaſtneſſe of his being) all things are preſent. As he that ſtands on an high mountain, and looks down, though to the paſſenger that goes by, ſome are before, ſome behinde; yet to him they are all preſent: So here.

her young children alſo were daſhed in pieces, at the top of all the ſtreets] A terrible ſpectacle to thoſe that paſſed by: who were to look for little mercy, when children, in whom there is ſo little guile, or gall, and who are uſually favoured for their innocency, and ignoſcency, met with ſuch hard meaſure. See the Note on Hoſ. 13.16. Warre is an evil; Eſay 45.7. ſuch as no words (how wide ſoever) can ſufficiently ſet forth. Bellum à belluis.

and they caſt lots for her honourable men] whether ſo, for age or authority; the dice were caſt on them for ſlaves, as Obad. 11. A great alteration on the ſuden. Tamberlanes coach-horſes were conquered kings. Adonibezeks doggs, ſeventy kings, gatherings crumbs under his table. Sapores uſed the Emperour Valerian for a footſtool. Craeſus carried captive by Syrus, cries out, O Solon, Procop. lib. 2. de bello Vandal. O Solon. Gilimer led intriumph by Belliſarius, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity: and calls to him for a cruſt to relieve him, a cittern to ſolace him, and a ſpunge to dry his eyes with. Omnia ſunt hominum tenui pendentia ſilo: Et ſubito caſu, quae valuére, ruunt. Henry the fourth Emperour of Germanie, after ten years reigne, was depoſed; and by his enemies driven to that exigent, that he deſired onely a clerkſhip in an houſe at Spire, of his own founding; which was barbarouſly, by the Biſhop of that place, denied him. Our Henry the ſixth, that had been the moſt potent Monarch for dominions that ever England had, was, when depoſed, not the maſter of a Molehill,Dan. hiſt. 189 nor of his own liberty, but beaten, and wounded, &c. to ſhew that mortality is but the ſtage of mutability; when they that were brought up in ſcarlet embrace the dung-hils, Lam. 4.5.

bound in chains] not of gold, as Zenobia was; but of iron, as the word ſignifieth,

Verſe 11. Thou alſo ſhalt be drunken] ſc. with the cup of the wine of Gods wrath, Jer. 25.27. thou ſhalt drink, and be drunk, and ſpue, and fall, and riſe no more, becauſe of the ſword which I will ſend amongst you. This is that [non-Latin text not transcribed], dry drunkenneſſe of them that are drunk, but not with wine, Eſay. 51.21. of them that remember their affliction and their miſery, the wormwood and the gall, Lam. 3.19. If the ſaints ſip ſometimes of the top of Gods cup, the wicked ſhall drink deep of it, yea though it be eternity to the bottom.

thou ſhalt be hid] Or, thou ſhalt lurk, either for fear of the enemy (who waſt once above fear, and thine enemies below hope) or, for ſhame of thine undone condition. See Rev, 6.16. Luke 23.30. Hoſ. 10.8. Or, thou ſhalt vaniſh, and be brought to nothing; as if there never had been any ſuch. Confer Obad 16. Nineveh is nothing elſe now, ſaith One who had been there, but a ſepulture of her ſelf, a little town of ſmall trade, where the Patriarch of the Neſtorians keeps his ſeat at the devotion of the Turk.

thou ſhalt alſo ſeek ſtrength becauſe of the enemy] Or, from the enemie: beg help of them, to whom thou wouldeſt once have ſcorned to be beholden: or of them, againſt whom thou haſt profeſſed, and practiſed open hoſtility.

Verſe 12. All thy ſtrong-holds ſhall be like fig-trees] i. e. tam infirma ac ſificulnea eſſent. Look how the fig-tree caſteth her untimely (or green) figges, when ſhe is ſhaken of a mighty wine, Rev. 6.13. yea, though it be but of a gentle wind, if the figs be ripe, as here, they fall with little ado: ſo ſhall thy munitions, wherein thou truſteſt.

they ſhall even fall into the mouth of the eater] that is, of the Chaldear, who gape for thy deſtruction, and deſires nothing more then to revell in thy ruines. They ſhall take thy fortreſſes as eaſily, as Timotheus did townes; which were ſaid to come into his toyls,Aemuli ipſius dormientem pinxerant, &c. Plut. in Sylla. Introd. to hiſt. by Mat. Paris. O vere Phr[illegible: 1 letter]giae neque enim Phryges Virg. whiles he ſlept. Or, as Charles 5. who in 28. battels in America, waged by his Generalls Cortez, and Pizarro, wan 28. kingdoms.

Verſe 13. Behold thy people in the middeſt of thee are women] i. e. Fearfull, and faint-hearted: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. See Eſay 3.12. Jer. 51.30. and 48.41. And this in the middeſt of thee, where they ſhould be moſt valiant, like cocks on their own dung-hill, as they ſay. Lo, thoſe that formerly faced the heavens, and, by a Cy[illegible: 1 letter]lopical-kind of impiety, ſlighted God, and dared the devil to a duell, how creſt-faln they are and courageleſſe, when the enemy is upon them: the noiſe of a driven leaf, affrights them, Lev. 26. a panick terrour ſeizeth upon them, as it did once upon the Syrians, 2 King. 7. and upon the Imperialiſts, in the warre againſt the Huſſites, ſo that they could not ſtrike a ſtroke: and upon the Burgundians, who expecting a battle, thought long thiſtles were launces, and turned their backs, with thoſe Ephraimites, Pſal. 78.9. It is God that puts mettle into men, that ſtrengthens or weakens the arm of either party, Ezek. 30.24. Theſe lions, as they are called chap. 2.12. that formerly ruſhing out of Nineveh their den, filled it with ravine, tearing and ſpoiling all they met with, are now become Harts and Stagges; that have great horns, but do nothing with them, quia de[illegible: 1 letter]ſt animus, becauſe they want courage: or as thoſe Eretrians, of whom Themiſtocles ſaid, that they were like the ſword-fiſh,Plutarch. that had a ſword indeed, but not an heart to make uſe of it.

the gates of thy land ſhall be ſet wide open] Thy frontier townes and cinqueports, thoſe keyes of the kingdom; aperiendo aperientur ſhall open to give the enemie entrance; as at the ſiege of Jeruſalem, the iron-gate opened of it own accord.

the fire ſhall devoure thy barres] Becauſe God, who is a conſuming fire, ſhall remove out of the enemies way, all obſtacles and impediments: ſo that all ſhall be pervious, and patent to them. Fire God had threatened once before, chap. 2.13. and it may very well be, that the gates were fired without a metaphor. See verſe 15.

Verſe 14. Draw the waters, for the ſiege, &c. A moſt bitter and biting taunt, or mock:Sarcaſmus. whereby the Prophet laugheth to ſcorn the fortifications of the Ninevites, and their diligence and providence in defending themſelves, which ſhall nothing avail them, becauſe God will curſe their enterpriſes, Pſal. 127.1, 2. See the like Sarcaſme chap. 2.1. In thoſe Eaſtern countries there was great ſcarcity of water. Draw thee good ſtore for the better holding out the ſiege: for if water fail thee, thou muſt needs yeeld.

fortifie thy ſtrong-holds] But they ſhall ſoon fail thee, verſe 12. as the tower of Shechem did thoſe that fled to it, and as the ſtrong-hold of Zion did the braving Jebuſites, 2 Sam. 5.7. If God bee againſt us, no other help can relieve us. Braſſe and iron can fence a man againſt a ſword, but not againſt fire.

go into clay and tread the morter] viz. to make brick of. For in maritine, and mooriſh places, where ſtones are not to be had, they uſed to wall their cities, and make their munitions with brick. This, proud Nineveh is commanded here to do, by an Irony, as Theophylact noteth: but ſhe ſhall but labour in the very fire, take pains to no purpoſe: for God will deſtroy the works of her hands, Eccleſ. 5.6.

make ſtrong the brick-kilne] Or, repair it, that all may be ready. And theſe things they did no doubt very diligently: neither were they for that to be blamed. But this was their fault; as it was alſo the fault of the Jews in like caſe, Eſay 22. that they looked not to the Maker of all, neither had reſpect unto him that faſhioned it long ago. See. verſe 8, 9, 10, 11. This, if they had done ſeriouſly, though they had made leſſe preparation, the enemy might have been daunted, and diſmayed as much, as that Duke of Saxony was; who having proclaimed warre againſt the Biſhop of Magdeburg, and underſtanding by his intelligencers, that the Biſhop levied no army, made no preparation, but onely gave out, that he would commit his cauſe to God, who would not fail to take up arms for him; Inſaniat alius, Bucholcer. Chronol. ſaid the Duke, It were a mad prank in me to make warre upon ſuch an one as truſteth in God to right and revenge him. Let who will meddle with ſuch a man: I will not.

Verſe 15. There ſhall the ſire devour thee] There, that is, in thy ſtrong-holds, where thou thinkeſt thy ſelf moſt ſafe. Theſe ſhall be to thee pro carcere & piſtrino, for a priſon, or little-eaſe; when the fire of Gods wrath ſhall kindle upon thee, the fire of warre ſhall conſume thee. See Amos 1.4. Joel 1.19. and 2.3, 30. Amos 7.4 with the Notes. Evil ſhall hunt the violent man to deſtroy him, Pſal. 140.11. neither muſt he think to be ſafe any where from divine vengeance, Amos 9.2, 3. Pſal. 139.7, 8, 9, 10. Obad 4. which will not ſuffer them to live, as thoſe Barbarians could tell, Acts 28.4. The Heathens, called Nemeſis, or Vengeance, [non-Latin text not transcribed]; to ſhew that no guilty perſon could ſhun it. Shufle he may for a ſeaſon from ſide to ſide, as Balaams aſſe did, to avoid the Angels ſword;Num. 22.27. but at length lay down under it, and ſo condemned her maſters madneſſe, 2 Pet. 2.16. Running in to God, is the onely beſt way to eſcape him: as to cloſe and get in with him that would ſtrike you, doth avoid the blow.

the ſword ſhall cut thee off] Eſt haec vehemens planè comminatio, ſaith Gualther. This is truely a very vehement threat. See how thick it falls like hail-ſhot upon them, that they can hardly take breath: and all too little to work upon their hard hearts, which could not repent. Theſe uncounſellable Ninevites were like the Smiths dog. whom neither the hammers above him, nor the ſparks of fire falling round about him can awake. Like Leviathan, they eſteemed iron as ſtraw, and braſſe as ro[illegible: 1 letter]ten wood. Darts were counted by them as ſtubble, they laughed at the ſhaking of the ſpear, Job 41.27, 29. It is proper to Gods people to tremble at his word, to ſtand in awe of his judgements, whileſt they yet hang in the threatnings. Wicked men flear, when they ſhould fear; and ſay in their hearts when God threateneth them, as Frederick the ſecond, Emperour of Germany was wont to ſay openly, in the greateſt threatning of his enemies, Minarum ſtrepitus, Aſinorum crepitus.

It ſhall eat thee up as the canker-worm] Which uſeth to make quick diſpatch, and clean work. See Joel 1. & 2. to ſhear all afore it.

make thy ſelf many] Heb. Weighty with multitude: ſo that the axle-tree of the earth may ſeem to groan under thy grandeur and maſſineſſe. Do this thou, O king of Nineveh (for the Hebrew Verb here is Maſculine.) Do the like thou, O city of Nineveh.

make thy ſelf many as the Locuſt] Which hath its name in Hebrew from multitude: becauſe, as that Legion in the Goſpel, they are many: and here the Hebrew V[illegible: 1 letter]rb is [illegible: 1 letter]emini[illegible: 2 letters]. Miniſters muſt lay about them on all hands; and bee ready to turn themſelves, as it were, into all ſhapes and faſhions, both of ſpeech and of ſpirit, to bring people to the knowledge of God, and his will, of themſelves, and their duties.

Verſe 16. Thou haſt multiplied thy merchants above the ſtarres of heaven] And ſo thinkeſt to have a ſtake in ſtore, howſoever the dice chance to turn. For theſe [illegible: 1 word] were very rich, and could furniſh her with money, which is the ſinewes of wa[illegible: 1 letter]re. Beſides, they traded farre and near; and ſo could give intelligence, and if need were, way-lay and intercept the enemies contributions that it came not to them. But would you know, ſaith the Prophet, how theſe merchants will ſerve [illegible: 1 word] your greateſt need?

The canker-worm ſpoileth and fleeth away] q. d. They will ſerve themſelves upon you, and then leave you in the lurch, to make as good ſhift as you can. They are mere canker-worms, which firſt eat up all, and then haſt away. Theſe falſe friends, well they may be the cauſes, but companions they will not be of your calamity: like crowes that flock to a dead carcaſſe, not to defend it, but to devour it: and no ſooner have they bared the bones but they are gone. Such falſe merchants as theſe hath this land been much peſtered with from Rome, in former ages. Matthew Paris telleth us of one Florentinus, the Popes Legate here, in King Johns reigne, Ferentinus the wiſer ſort called him, for bearing away ſo much money. And of another named Otto (one of the Popes merchants,Muſcipulatores. or rather mice-catchers, as he calleth them) who after three years raking together of money, by moſt deteſtable arts, at laſt departing hence, to avoid a ſtorm, he left not ſo much money in the whole kingdome, as he either carried with him, or ſent to Rome before him. In the year 1235. there were ſpread thorow England certain Roman canker-worms, called Caurſim (quaſi capientes urſi, devouring Bears quoth Paris) who had intangled the King, Nobles, and all others that had to deal with the Court of Rome, in their cunning ſnares, and uſurious practiſes, under colour of ſupplying with money ſuch as wanted preſent pay to the Pope.Fol. 613. Theſe were called the Popes merchants, ſaith Speed.

Verſe 17. Thy crowned are as the locuſts] i. e. thy Barons (ſaith Diodate) and great Lords, wearing diadems and wreaths, in token of dignity: ſuch a Nazarite (that's the Hebrew word here) was Joſeph, Gen. 49.26. becauſe ſeparate and exempt from other men, as a Chieſtain. Calvin likewiſe rendreth it, thy Princes: the Vulgar Latin, thy Keepers. Some others, thy Nazarites, or, thy religious perſons, ſet apart from the common ſort, to pray for the cities ſafety. Such were thoſe Chemarims, or Chimney-chaplains among the Jews, Hoſ. 10.5. Zeph. 1.4. Such are the Mailers among the Turks, who call them, the religious brothers of love; and the ſhaveling-Mendicants among the Papiſts. Theſe locuſts are, Rev. 9.7. ſaid to have on their heads, Turk hiſt. 477. as it were crowns like gold.

and thy Captains as the great graſhoppers] Heb. as the graſhoppers of graſhoppers, by an Hebraiſme, like that, King of kings, ſong of ſongs, &c. The word rendred Captains, is foraigne; R. David and others render it, Imperator, Dux, Princeps. It ſeemeth to be a name of dignity among the Aſſyrians, as Zaphnath-paaneah was among the Egyptians, Gen. 41.45. Theſe are called graſhoppers, and locuſts, for their uſeleſneſſe, and fearfulneſſe.

which camp in the hedges] ſc. Of the gardens or vineyards, And they are ſaid to camp, in regard of their multitudes, as if they were an army of them. See Joel 2. The Prophet taxeth here Nineveh's vain confidence in her confederates, and ſuch other hanger-on, as might truly ſay, Nos numeri ſumus, fruges conſumere nati. We are men of no great moment, ſuch as Ariſtophanes in Plutarch prettily played upon, when he ſaid, [non-Latin text not transcribed], i. e. Quaeſtoraes, bubones.

but when the Sun ariſeth, they flee away] So theſe trencher-flies, when they have ſerved their own turns upon thee, and now ſee the tempeſt of warre growing on amain, they worſhip the riſing Sun, keep themſelves on the warm ſide of the hedge, leave thee to ſhift as thou canſt, and ſeek out for themſelves a better fortune.

Verſe 18. Thy ſhepherds ſlumber, O King of Aſſyria] This Apoſtrophe to the king is emphaticall. He is given to know, that his Nobles, and Officers, Mich. 5.4, 5, 6. and 7, 14. his Councellours of State, and greateſt Politicians, ſhould bee benighted, and not know what counſell to give, or courſe to take. Or, they ſlumber, that is, they are dead, as Pſal. 76.6. And this is more agreeable to that which followeth:

thy Nobles ſhall dwell in the duſt] The Vulgar hath it ſepelientur, ſhall be buried. Others, jacebunt, ſhall lie on the ground, like beaſts, through fear and conſternation of mind, 1 Sam. 28.20. Then Saul fell ſtraight way all along on the earth, and was ſore afraid.

thy people is ſcattered upon the mountains] Diffuſed and diſperſed abundantly: as ſheep without a ſhepherd, whereof none being wiſer then other, no man gathereth them, into the ſheep-coats of better order.

Verſe 19. There is no healing of thy bruiſe] Clades & ſtrages tua irreparabilis eſt. Thy diſeaſe is deſperate, thy condition comfortleſſe: thou art utterly to be deſtroyed. When God ſmiteth his own people, it may well be asked as Eſay 27.7. Hath he ſmitten him, as he ſmot thoſe that ſmot him? Or, is he ſlain according to the ſlaughter of them that are ſlain by him? Surely no: there is a manifeſt difference. Hee hath torn, ſaith the Church, and he will heal us: hee hath ſmitten, and hee will bind us up, Hoſ. 6.1. Hence that diſtinction of puniſhment, or pain, in condemnantem, & corrigentem, in poenam vindictae, & poenam medelae. Afflictions, and temporall evils are in the nature, to the wicked of a curſe, to the godly of a cure; to the former, mortall; to the latter, medicinall, When the wicked ſpring as graſſe, and when all the workers of iniquity do flouriſh, it is not for any good will that God beareth to them: but it is, that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever, Pſal. 92.7. See the Note on chap. 1.9.

thy wound is grievous] Not onely incurable, but full of anguiſh intolerable. Thus, many ſorrows ſhall be to the wicked, Pſal. 32.10. and yet all that they ſuffer here, is but as drops of wrath, fore-running the great ſtorme in hell: or as a crack, preceding the fall of the whole houſe upon them: The leaves only fall on them here; there, the whole tree.

all that hear the bruit of thee ſhall clap the hands, &c.] As rejoycing at thy ruine, and ſubſcribing to Gods juſt judgement upon thee: they ſhall take up this taunting ſpeech againſt thee, and ſay, How hath the oppreſſour ceaſed? the golden city ceaſed? The Lord hath broken the ſtaffe of the wicked, and the ſcepter of the rulers, &c. Eſay 14.4, 5, 6, 7.

For upon whom hath not thy wickedneſſe paſſed continually?] Thy wickedneſſe, that is, thy wicked counſels, edicts, enterprizes, have they not extended farre and near for miſchief to many Nations? and this not for a little while, but jugiter, continually? It hath been thy conſtant trade from thy youth up (neque enim nova eſt aut nupera haec tua crudelitas) to waſt and weary out other nations, with thine inrodes and hoſtilities. Thy deſtruction therefore is of thy ſelf, O Nineveh: the inſultations, and comploſions of others at thy miſery, is no more then thou haſt merited. Os quod in ſorte tua ceciderit, illud rodas, as the Arabian proverb hath it. Bear the reward of thy wickedneſſe, which is now come home to thee; Thy wickedneſſe is the root of thy wretchedneſſe: this the Prophet here repeateth, and inculcateth in the percloſe; that he may leave it as a ſting in the minds of his hearers, as Gualther well obſerveth.