John Trapp on Zechariah 1:16

Verſe 16.Pſal 42.7. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord] Thus, one deep calleth another: the lower deep of our miſery, the higher deep of Gods mercy. As Craeſus his dumb ſon burſt out into Kill not king Craeſus: ſo, when enemies are ready to devoure the Church, Gods bowels work: he can hold no longer but cryes, Save my child, Handle the yong man gently for my ſake, See Ier. 31.20. Iſa. 57.16. I will not contend for ever; neither will I be alwayes wroth: for the ſpirit ſhould faile before me &c. when the child ſwoons in the whipping, God let falls the rod, and falls a kiſſing it, to fetch life into it againe. A Phyſitian, in ſome caſes purgeth his patient till nothing be leſt almoſt, but skin and bone or blooddeth him ad deliquium animae, till he faint and ſink, but yet his care is ſtill to maintain nature: ſo this heavenly Father and Phyſitian is carefull to keep up the ſpirits of his ſuffering Saints, by comforts and cordials, as here:

I am returned to Ieruſalem with mercies: Miſerationibus viſceralibus with multitudes of tender mercies that flow from the inwards, from the bowels, from the boſom and bottom of the heart: had that of a Parent, nay of a mother toward her child in an extremity as 1 King. 3.26. And here obſerves how fully and ſweetly the Angels prayer (verſe 12.) is anſwered even ad cardinem deſiderij. Aug. Confeſ. lib. 5. c. 8. God not only grants him according to his own heart, but fulfills all his counſell, as it is Pſal. 20.4. Lets it be to him even as he will, nay gives him an enlarged anſwer, preſſeth upon him (as Naaman did upon Gehezi's two talents when he deſired but one.) How long wilt thou not be mercifull to Jeruſalem ſaith He?

behold I am returned to Jeruſalem with many mercies ſaith God.] I went away and hid me from it in my anger Hoſ. 5.15. but am come again with many comforts, to relieve it. As all light is from the Sun, and all waters from the ſea: ſo is all comfort from God. In thy light ſhall we ſee light: but Thou diddeſt hide thy face and I was troubled Pſal. 30.7. as when the Sun is eclipſed, all creatures here flag and hang the head, there is a drooping in the whole frame or nature: and as when the extracting force of the Sun leaves the vapours that are drawn up, they fall down again to the earth; So ſares it with the Church: If God withdraw, ſhe lyes all amort, yea, ſhe lieth open to all ſorts of evils and enemies: for her ſhadow is departed from her. But he cannot be long abſent, ſuch is his love: he will repent for his people when he ſeeth their power is gone Dent. 32.36. when there is a dignus vindice nodus, an extremity fit for divine power to interpoſe: when miſery weighs down, & nothing but mercy turns the ſcale, then (at furtheſt) in the very turning and criticall point. He will return to Jeruſalem with mercies. He will return to her, not as the winter ſun, that caſts a goodly countenance when it ſhines, but gives little comfort and heat: but with a Cornu-copia of all manner of bleſſings will he come.

my houſe ſhall be built in it ſaith the Lord of Hoſts: and a line ſhall be ſtretched forth upon Jeruſalem] that is both Church and State ſhall flouriſh. God will both do good in his good pleaſure unto Sion: be will alſo build the walls of Jeruſalem Pſal. 51.18. but mark that he ſaith in his good pleaſure, as here in tender mercies; to teachus, that all the good we enjoy is merely of mercy, it is all of free grace: for otherwiſe, there ſhould not be ſo much as any face of Church or commonwealth, as we ſee in the Jewes at this day; a miſerable diſſected people, becauſe Lo-ruhamah, Hoſ. 1. ſuch as have not obtained mercy. Then Anceſtours acknowledged with all thankfulneſſe for ſo undeſerved a favour, that Except the Lord of Hoſts had left unto them a very ſmall remnant, Iſay 1.9. they ſhould have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah. Had not the Angels laid hold upon Lots hand, and the good Lord been mercifull unto him Gen. 19.16. he alſo had periſhed amongſt thoſe ſinners againſt their own ſoules. Jehoſhua was a brand pluckt out of the fire Zech. 3.2. And when One ſaid to Mr. Bradford the Martyr God hath done much for you ſince I firſt knew you, and hath wrought wonderouſly in you to his glory; he thus anſwered, Truth it is, for He hath dealt favourably with me, Act. & Mon. 1473. Ezra 9.13. in that he hath not puniſhed me according to my ſins, but hath ſuffered me to live that I might ſeek repentance. Thou haſt puniſhed us leſſe then our iniquities deſerve, ſaith Ezra. And it is of the Lords mercies that we are not conſumed, ſaith the Church, becauſe his compaſſions faile not Lam. 3.22.