John Trapp on Zechariah 11:5

Verſe 5. Whoſe Poſſeſſours ſtay them] flaying their skin from off them, eating their fleſh, breaking their bones &c. Mic. 3.3. feeding themſelves, and not the flock of God Ezek. 34.2, as if they had been Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3. Owners and Poſſeſſours as here, vel precio vel praemio: and as the Pope and his Curia Romana quae non vult ovem ſine lana, as the old Proverb was.

and hold themſelve not guilty] Non peccant. They fault not themſelves: they are not found guilty by others. Such an illimited power over Gods people they have uſurped, as if they might uſe them at their pleaſure, and never be once queſtioned, or puniſhed for the ſame; but ſcape ſcotfree. This was the extremity of tyranny; ſuch as the cruell Spaniards exerciſe over the poor Indians: they ſuppoſe they ſhew the wretches great favour, when they do not, for their pleaſures, whip them with cords; and day by day drop their naked bodies with burning bacon; which is one of the leaſt cruelties they inflict upon them.World encompaſſed by S. F. Drake 53.

and they that ſell them] Sell them for ſlaves (whom they ought to redeem rather with their own blood) and grow rich by them: being greedy of filthy lucre, not without foule blaſphemy againſt God, whom they entitle to their riches ſacrilegiouſly and moſt theeviſhly gotten; whileſt they ſay,

bleſſed be the Lord, for I am rich] Deo gratias, Bleſſed be God is a very good ſaying, and was much in Auſtins mouth. But as the fountain of goodneſſe will not be laden at with unwaſhen hands: ſo fair words from a foul mouth, are infinitely diſpleaſing to him that inhabiteth the praiſes of Iſrael. Pſal. 22.3. Hypocrites are not unfitly compared to Monkies, that have the graveſt countenances of all creatures; but are unceſſantly doing miſchief: or to the Harpies, that are ſaid to have Virgins faces, Vultures tallons. Mel in ore, verba lactis: Fel in corde, fraus in factis. Phariſees, under pretence of long prayers, devoured widdows houſes Mat. 23.14. whiles their lips ſeemed to pray or praiſe God, they were but chewing and champing ſome ſweet morſel ſnatcht from the flock, but ſawced with the wrath of God Job 20.15. See how our Saviour ſets them out in their colours Mat. 23.15, 16, 23. &c. Such fair profeſſours, but foul ſinners were their predeceſſours, Eſay 66.5. who when they had done evil as they could, thought to ſalve all by ſaying, Let the Lord be glorified. And ſuch alſo are their Succeſſours, The Pope and his followers. Verba tua Dei planè ſunt, facta verò diaboli (ſaid one once to Pope Innocent the third preaching peace but ſowing diſcord) you ſpeak like a God, but do like a divel: wherefore you ſhall receive the greater damnation. When one of our perſecuting Biſhops read the ſentence of excommunication againſt a certain Martyr: and began as the uſual form was,Act. and Mon. In the name of God, Amen, the Martyr cryed out, you begin in a wrong name. And it grew to a common proverb, In nomine Dei incipit omne malum. All miſchief begins on that maner. Gentilis that impious Anti-Trinitarian gave out, that he ſuffered for the glory of the moſt High God. Becket the Archtraitour pretended to ſubmit to his Soveraign, but with this falſe reſerve, Salv[illegible: 1 letter] honore Dei. The Swenckfeldians entituled themſelves the confeſſours of the glory of Chriſt. And Conradus Vorſtius his late monſter hath De Deo in the front: and Atheiſme and blaſphemy in the text.

and their own ſhepheards pitty them not] Which yet they ought to have done, had they had never ſo much right and reaſon to deſtroy them. A ſhepheard hath his name from friendly feeding: in Greek from earneſt deſire and love to the ſheep. David when he was hunted from Samuel the Prophet, he fleeth to Abimelech the Prieſt: as one that knew Juſtice and Compaſſion ſhould dwell in thoſe breaſts, that are conſecrated to God and his people. But theſe ſhepheards through want of Gods holy fear Iob. 6.14. had brawny breaſts, horny heart-ſtrings, their hearts firſt turned into earth and mud, did afterwards freeze into ſteel and adamant: curſed children they were,2 Pet. 2.24. having their hearts exerciſed with covetouſneſſe and cruelty.