John Trapp on Zechariah 7:3-4

Verſe 3. And to ſpeak unto the P[illegible: 3 letters] ] whoſe office is to [illegible: 1 span] knowledge[illegible: 1 letter] and preſent it too; to teach Jacob God judgement, and to [illegible: 1 span] before him Deut. 33.10. to ſelfoyle Mae. [illegible: 1 span] 9. to bring [illegible: 1 span] 8.22. to ſpeake as the Oracles of God, 1. Pet. [illegible: 1 span] ſand can skill of Iob 33.23.

and to the Prophets] who were extr[illegible: 1 letter]ordinarily raiſed up ſome ames by Gods, [illegible: 2 letters] aſſiſt the Prieſts in teaching the people, and to ſhame them for their back wardneſſe to ſuch buſineſſes. See the Note on ver. 1.

ſhould I weep] that is, faſt, which, was ever with [illegible: 1 span] 17. and affliction of the ſoule; which indeed is [illegible: 1 span] Levit. 16.31. and 23.37. the which, it is but as a braineleſſe he[illegible: 3 letters] or a life [illegible: 1 span] humble day (ſaith One) without an humble, [illegible: 1 span] but an high provocation, like Zimri [illegible: 1 word] when [illegible: 1 word] Congregation were weeping before the door of the Tabernacl[illegible: 1 letter]

in the fifth moneth] wherein the Temple was conſumed to [illegible: 1 span] In a ſad remembrance whereof the Jewes [illegible: 1 span] day of [illegible: 1 span] for a ſolemne faſt every yeer, till now

ſeparating my ſelf] Heb. Nazar[illegible: 4 letters] my ſelf, that is abridging my ſelf of meates, drinks and delights. Hence a faſting day is called a day of reſtraint I[illegible: 1 letter]el 2.15.Tſom. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Hence it hath its name both in Hebrew and Greek. Hence [illegible: 3 letters] it is ſpoken of as a foule fault Eſay 58.3. Beheld in the day of your faſt [illegible: 1 span] The Popiſh faſt is a meer mock faſt[illegible: 2 letters] for they ſeparate themſel[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 span] kind of meates only: it is not a to tall abſtinence. And here in [illegible: 1 span] ofTurk Hiſt. 777. the very Turks, who upon their faſting-dayes will [illegible: 3 letters] ſo much [illegible: 1 span] or waſh their mo[illegible: 1 letter]ths with water all the day long, before [illegible: 1 span] in the sky: and then they-make all the cheer and joy they can [illegible: 1 span] as the At ick Daines in their Theſmophoria (a feaſt of Ceres) prepare [illegible: 1 span] faſting, but after that laid the reines in the neck and ran riot.

as I have done theſe ſo many yeers] Seventy at leaſt. But they ſeem to reckon up upon ſo many as was ſcarce to be told and that therefore God was deep in their debt. Is it not time now to give over, ſith the Temple wa almoſt reedified? This was the great caſe [illegible: 1 word] ded by theſe Queſtioniſts. Hereunto an anſwer is made by the Prophet [illegible: 1 word] two following chapters, and this anſwer is partly Reprehenſory Chap. 7. partly Conſolatory Chap. 8. The Sun of righteouſneſſe loves not to ſet in a cloud: Verſe 4. Then came the word of the Lord of Hoſts] This is oft prefaced for amhority's Take: and to procure andience and reverence. The Lord God hath Spoken, who can but be affected? See that ye deſpiſe not him that ſpeaketh from heaven. The Angel Mat. 28.7. uſeth no other argument to aſſure[illegible: 1 letter] the women of the truth of what he had told them, but this, Lo I have told you.