John Trapp on Zechariah 13:2

Verſe 2.gnotſabim terriculorum ſcar-crows I will cut off the names of the idols] Heb. of the fray-bugges (as they are likewiſe called 1 Sam. 31.9. 1 Chro. 10.9. Pſal. 115.4. in contempt, as Priapus in Horace — furum qnium que Maxime formido—) Or grievous idols, as Pſal. 16.4. becauſe they tormented the mindes of the ſuperſtitious, and put them to great pains to no purpoſe; as is to be ſeen in Popiſh Pilgrims, who though uſed hardly, and loſe much of their eſtates, and other comforts, yet ſatisfie themſelves in this, I have that I came for, viz. the ſight of a dumb idol, as Calvin noteth on that place Seek ye my face. Now of theſe mawmets and monuments of idolatry, theſe Balaams blocks, the Lord here promiſeth to rid the land, as he did under the Maccabees. And as in the Primitive Church he did by the Chriſtian Emperors, ſtiled therefore by the ſuperſtitious Iconomachi, and Iconaclaſtae: and of late by the renowned Reformers, as at Geneva, Bern, Baſile (where they were burnt all together on an Aſh-wedneſday of Gods own making) and here in England by the command of King Edward the ſixth: who the ſelf ſame day obtained a ſignal victory at Muſcleborough-field.

and they ſhall no more be remembred] Unleſſe it be with ſhame and deteſtation, as Ezech. 16.61. Pſal. 16.4. Hoſ. 14.8. Ephraim ſhall ſay, what have I to do any more with idols? He ſhall pollute the idols which he once perfumed, and ſay unto them, Get you hence, Iſay 30.22. I was an obſtinate Papiſt (ſaith Latimer of himſelf) as any was in England, and a groſſe Idolater &c. But after that he came to a ſight of his errour, he ſo far forth abhorred idols, that being brought forth after he was condemned to die to ſee a proceſſion,Act. and Mon. fol. 1230. he ran as faſt as his old bones would carry him to one Spenſers ſhop neer Karfax in Oxford, and would not once look toward it.

and alſo I will cauſe the Prophets] So they will needs be called and counted: when as they are no better then unclean ſpirits (ſee the Geneva-Note here) or at leaſt are acted and ſet on work by that unclean ſpirit the Devil, (See Mat. 12.43. Mar. 1.26. Iohn 8.44. Rev. 16.13. with the Notes) indeed they are falſe Prophets Mat 7.15. falſe teachers, who privily bring in damnable hereſies 2 Pet. 2.1. vanae orationis, cui nulla veritatis vel virtutis ratio ſubeſt, ſunt artifices ſtultè loquaces & garruli, ſaith Montanus, they are loud & lewd liers, inſpired by that unclean ſpirit the father of lies,Junius in loc. ut impurati impurent alios & ſeducant ſeducti, that being themſelves defiled and ſeduced, they may defile and ſeduce others. For by corrupt teachers Satan catcheth men: as a cunning fiſher by one fiſh catcheth another, that he may feed upon both.

and the unclean ſpirit to paſſe out of the land] This connexion is worthy to be noted, ſaith reverend Calvin here: becauſe it ſhews us the ſource of all errours, viz. the letting looſe the reins to perverſe teachers. I confeſſe, ſaith He, we are apt enough of our ſelves to run after falſities, ſuch is the corruption of our natures. Sed interea ubi graſſatur licentia quidvis docendi, neceſſe eſt corrumpi totam pietatem, & ſic miſceri omnia ut nihil differat lux à tenebris, &c. But where in matters of Religion, every man may think that he liſts, and utter what he thinks, and defend what he utters, and publiſh what he defends, and gather diſciples to what he publiſheth, this libertas prophetandi, this liberty, or licentiouſneſſe rather of prophecying (alaſſe poor England!) muſt needs bane the Church, and bring in confuſion. God therefore here gives us to know, that a Church canot ſtand, unleſſe falſe teachers be forbidden to turn the truth into a lie, and to prate at their pleaſure againſt the word of God: and this, ſaith He, is diligently to be noted. Videmus enim ut hodiè nebulones quidam, &c. For we ſee how at this day, certain vile perſons take it up for a principle, that the Church is not free, unleſſe every man may be ſuffered to preach, or broach what he pleaſeth: and that it is greateſt cruelty to puniſh an heretike, and not to give him leave to blaſpheme the truth. But the Prophet here ſheweth, that the Church of God cannot be kept in pure ſtate, nor ſtand intire and ſafe, unleſſe the raſhneſſe and impudency of ſuch be reſtrained, as dare pervert ſound and ſincere doctrine. Thus He.