John Trapp on Zechariah 3:1

CHAP. III.

Verſe 1. ANd he ſhewed me Jehoſhuah the High-Prieſt] In a viſion doubtleſſe; and that for this end, that both the Prophet, and by him the people alſo, might be advertiſed, that they wreſtled not againſt fleſh and blood, men like themſelves, but againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſes, or wicked ſpirits, who did act them and agitate them againſt the Church; ride them and ſpur them to do miſchief: as he did that bloody Farneſius one of the Popes Champions,Scito perſecutorem tuum ab aſcenſore daemone perurgeri. Bern. who coming with an army into Germany, ſwore that he would ride his horſe up to the ſpurrs in the blood of Proteſtants. It was the devill that ſtirred up the ſpirit of Tatnai, Shether-Boznai, Sanballat &c. to hinder the good work now in hand: like as he did Eckius, Cajetan, Cochlaus, Catharinus and many other great ſchollars (beſides the two kings of England and Hungary) to write againſt the Reformation begun by Luther, and Charles the fifth with all the ſtrength of the Empire to withſtand and hinder it. But all in vaine. Here he bends his acculation chiefly againſt the chief Prieſt: but thorough his ſides, he ſtrikes at the welfare of the whole Church. Miniſters are the maine object of his malice; a ſpeciall ſpite he beares to ſuch: ſingling them out and ſifting them to the bran, as he deſired to do Peter: ſtirring up unreaſonable and wicked men againſt them, as he dealt by Paul when he fought with beaſts at Epheſus, with breathing divels where ever he came, being in deaths often. When the viper hung upon his hand Act. 28. the devill doubtleſſe thought to have diſpatcht him: but he was deceived. So he is ever, when he attempts as an Accuſer of the Brethren: he is ſure to be non-ſuted, and his plea to be caſt out of the court by our Advocate with the Father Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, who appears for us (as he did here for Jehoſhua) to put away ſin. Heb. 9.24, 26. and to take away the iniquities of their moſt holy things.

ſtanding before the Angel of the Lord] i. e. before Chriſt, his beſt friend, and doing his office as an High-Prieſt. Such is Satans malice and impudency (ſaith an Interpreter here) to hurt and hinder us moſt in our beſt imployments: and to accuſe the Saints even to their beſt Friend Chriſt Jeſus. He knowes well, that as Sampſons ſtrength lay in his hair, ſo doth a Chriſtians ſtrength lie in his holy performonces, perfumed and preſented by Chriſt. Hence his reſtleſneſſe in ſeeking to ſet a difference, and to breed bate. Hence alſo, as the foules ſeiſed upon Abrahams ſacrifice, and as the Pythoniſſe interrupted Paul and his company when they were praying and well-doing Act. 16.16, 17. ſo deales he ſtill by Gods beſt ſervants: and that ſometimes ſo, that if after duty, they ſhould put that queſtion to their own heart, as God did to Satan, Ʋnde venis? whence comeſt thou? it would return Satans anſwer, [illegible: 2 letters]om compaſſing the earth.

and Satan] That Adverſary the devill, as St. Peter. calleth him: the Accuſer of the brethren Rev. 12.9. that trots betwixt heaven and earth as a teaſer, and makes a trade of it. Once this name Satan is applyed to an holy Angel going forth as an adverſary to wicked Balaam, Satans ſpelman as One calleth him.

ſtanding at his right hand] why there? Becauſe, ſay ſome, the Accuſation was as true as vehement: and ſo Satan had the upper hand. For Ioſhua was cloathed with filthy garments verſe 3. and there was cauſe enough why his own cloaths ſhould abhorr him, as Iob hath it chap. 9.31. what his particular ſin objected to him by Satan, was, is hard to ſay. Some will have it to be one thing, ſome another. It is plain by Ezra 10.18. the ſome of his ſons and allies had taken ſtrange wives which he might have hindered; but that himſelf had taken a harlot to wite,Dialog. com. Tryphon. as Juſtin Martyr affirmeth, is no way likely. I ſhould ſooner beleeve with Thedoret and Sanchez, that the ſins here alledged by Satan againſt Ioſhuah and laid to his charge were, not ſo much his own perſonall ſins, as the ſins of the whole people: quodammodo enim totus populus eſt in ſacerdote, & in ſacerdote peccat: for the whole people is, after a ſort, in the Prieſt &c.

to reſiſt him] Heb. To Satan yet againſt him, to do his kind, by fruſtrating his prayers and interceſſions for the people, by laying his and their ſins in his diſh, and by laying claime to them for his. Carried on ſtill by like helliſh hatred of God and his people, he ſins that ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, every moment: As Pliny ſpeaks of the ſcorpion, that there is not one minute wherein it doth not put forth the ſting. Our comfort is, that 1. We have an Advocate with the Father &c. and he is the propitiation for our ſins, the Patron as well as Judge of his Saints. 2. that as Satan ſtands at our right hand to moleſt us in holy duties, ſo do the holy Angels ſtand there to withſtand him Luke 1.11. whence it was that the Curtains of the Tabernacle were wrought full of Cherubins within and without. 3. That if we reſiſt the devill, ſteadfaſt in the faith, and ſtrong in the Lord, he will fly from us, Iam. 4.7. For this old ſerpent, having his head already bruiſed and cruſhed by Chriſt, cannot ſo eaſily thruſt in his mortall ſting, unleſſe we dally with him: and ſo lay open our ſelves unto him. He ſhall in vaine ſtrike fire, if we deny tinder. He may knock at the dore, but if we anſwer him not at the window he cannot get in.