John Trapp on Zephaniah 2:3

Verſe 3. ſeek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth] Here the prophet turneth himſelfe to the better ſort: for upon thoſe hypocritical halters afore mentioned he had but loſt his ſweet words; he did but waſh a blackmore. We read not in Scripture of any hypocrites converſion, and what wonder? for whereas after ſinne, converſion is left as a means to cure all other ſinners, what means to recover him who hath converted converſion it ſelfe into ſinne? This made our Saviour ſay to his Diſciples concerning the Phariſees thoſe cankered hypocrites, Let them alone, Mat. 15.14 and himſelfe weary of waſting words upon them called to the multitude and ſaid. here ye and underſtand, verſe 10. In like ſort this Prophet here, Seek ye the Lord:, for it is paſt time of day with them to ſeek him: therefore they ſhall goe with their flocks, and their herds to ſeek the Lord, but they ſhall not find him: he hath withdrawn himſelfe from them. Hoſ. 5.6. Concerning ſeeking the Lord ſee the Note on Am. 5.6.8.

All ye meek of the earth] This is the character, the diſtinctive note of a true Chriſtian: who as he is ſure to be afflicted (affliction and meekneſſe grow both upon the ſame root in the holy tongue) ſo by affliction hee is meekened and mortified, his fleſh is crucified with the affections and luſts: and ſo he is fitted to ſeek the Lord, to lie at his feet and ſay, ſpeak Lord, for thy ſervant heareth. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Septuag. The e meek and lowly ones are they whom God will teach Pſal. 25.9. beautifie Pſal. 149.4. ſolace Iſai 29.19. and 61.1. ſave, God will ſave the humble perſon. Job. 22.29. Now meekneſſe and humility are a pair of twin-ſiſters, never aſunder.Sorores collactanea. See how they goe coupled, Mat. 11.29. and the Seventy render this text, all the lowly of the earth, that are as low as th earth, in your own eyes and eſteeme.

Which have wrought his judgement] i.e. have been doing at it, qui feciſtis praecepta etſi non perfeciſtis who aime at perfection though ye cannot attain to it, [non-Latin text not transcribed], quaſi [non-Latin text not transcribed]. ſolo aquatus. Pſal. 103.18. who think upon his Commandements to doe them, having reſpect to them all, and wiſhing well to the worke, Pſal. 118.5, 6. which God graciouſly accepteth as a working his judgement and yet would have you to abound more and more. Wherefore,

Seeke righteouſneſſe, ſeek meekneſſe] i. e. further meaſures of holineſſe, and degrees of grace. Let him that is holy be holy ſtill, let him perſevere, grow, and advance forward toward the high prize propoſed unto him taking for his motto that of Charles 5. Plus ultra further yet, perfecting holineſſe in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. So 1. Tim. 6.11. But thou O man of God, (that is, O godly man, as the life of God is put for a godly life, Eph. 4.18. ſee 2 Kings 4.9.) fly theſe things (what things? heterodoxies. ver. 3, 4, 5. and love of money ver. 9, 10.) And follow after (Gr. perſecute, purſue alacriter & acriter) righteouſneſſe, this is the totum hominis Ecleſ. 12.13. the bonum hominis Mic. 7.8. and by way of diſtribution comprehendeth (as to God) godlineſſe and faith, (as to men) love, patience, meekneſſe.

It may be ye ſhall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath] poſſibly ye may, probably ye ſhall be; pardon of ſinne ye ſhall be ſure of; mitigation alſo of ſorrow, if not prevention: ſaved ye ſhall be, or more gently handled, or ſo inwardly calmed, that ye ſhall be able to call your ſouls to reſt, when others are at their wits ends. You ſhall be ſafe under the covert of Gods wings, and in the hollow of his hand: when others that are without God in the world, ſhall be as a naked man in a ſtorm, an unarmed man in the field, or as a ſhip at Sea without anchor, ſubject to daſh and ſplit againſt rocks, and quick ſands.