John Trapp on Zechariah 1:15

Verſe 15. And I am very ſore diſpleaſed with the Heathen that are at eaſe] Heb. I am in ſuch a heate as cauſeth fuming and foaming. I am boyling-hot, and even ready to burſt out upon them, to deſtroy them: for the word here uſed hath great affinity with another word that ſignifieth to cut down, and to deſtroy 2 King. 6.6. and importeth an higher degree of diſpleaſure, a greater height of heate, then either Anger or wrath, as may be ſeen in that ſignall gradation Deut. 29.28. The Lord rooted them out of their land in Anger and in Wrath, and in great Indignation. The laſt of theſe three is this word in the Text, Fervore maximo ferveo, I am as hot as may be againſt thoſe Heathens that are at eaſe, at heartseaſe, that come not in trouble like other men, neither are they plagued as better men, Pſal. 73.5. and are therefore ſecure and inſolent above meaſure Iob 21.23. haughty and haunty, ſo that the Church cannot reſt for them: they thruſt with the ſhoulder, and puſh with the horn (as afterwards verſe 18.19. with Dan. 8.4.) yea they puſh the diſeaſed Ezek. 34.21. (which is a ſingular cruelty.)

they help forward the aſſliction] they fall like dogs upon the wounded Deere. This David complaines of as an unſufferable grievance Pſal. 69, 26.Eſay 27. For they perſecute him whom thou haſt ſmitten: and they talk to the grief of thoſe whom thou haſt wounded. God ſmiteth his in mercy and in meaſure, in the branches only, Aug. and not at the root, neque ad exitium ſed ad exercitium. Diſpleaſed he may be with his own, and make bloody wails upon their backs, if need be: but then he lookes that others ſhould pitty them, and not lay on more load and ſeek to bring them to utmoſt extremity. God puts his people ſometimes into the hands of his enemies, for correction ſake. Now they commonly being inraged with haughty, revengfull, and malicious deſires, exceed their commiſſion, and ſo derive the miſchief upon themſelves (See Prov. 24.17, 18,) they cannot doe but they muſt overdoe (as Nebuchadnezzar the rod in Gods hand Iſai 10.) and thereby utterly undoe themſelves for ever. For their cruelty comes up to heaven 2 Chron. 28.9. and God ſoon heareth the cry of his oppreſſed (for he is gracious) and avengeth himſelf on their pittileſſe enemies: ſtanding over them and ſaying as Iſa. 47.6. I was wroth with my people. I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didſt ſhew them no mercy: upon the ancient haſt thou heavily laid the yoke. And againe: Becauſe theſe Philiſtines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a deceitfull heart, to deſtroy it for the old hatred: Ezek. 25.15, 17. and 26.2. Therefore I will execute great vengeances upon them with furious rebukes, and they ſhall know that I am the Lord when I ſhall laymy vengeance upon them. 2 Sam. 13.39. Joab never pleaſed David better, then when he made interceſſion for baniſhed Abſolom: for the ſoule of king David longed to go forth unto Abſolom, whom yet he had very juſt cauſe to be greatly diſpleaſed with. God in a heat, as it were, againſt Iſrael, offereth Moſes a great fortune Exod. 32.10. but would have taken it very ill, that Moſ[illegible: 1 letter]s ſhould have taken him at his word.

He is but a little angry with his people] and ſoon repenteth him of the evill: But woe be to thoſe that help forward the indignation, that deale by Gods afflicted as the Herd of Deer do; which, when any of the herd is ſhot, the heſt puſh him out of their company.Camden. It is ſaid of Q. Eliſabeth, that ſhe hated ho leſſe then did Mithridates, ſuch as maliciouſly perſecuted vertue forſaken of fortune. Think the ſame of God. He weareth his rod to the ſtumps, and then throwes it into the fire. He ſets his horſe-leeches to his people (when he findes them ſick of a plethory of pride, when fulneſſe hath bred forgetfulneſſe, ſaturity ſecurity) and ſuffereth them to ſuck rill they burſt: and then treads them under his feet, and puts them away as droſſe Pſal 119.118, 119.