John Trapp on Zephaniah 3:9

Verſe 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language] Then, when my ſword hath rid circuit, Eccleſ. 14.17. and bin bathed in the blood of all nations, for their many and mighty ſinnes; I will turn to the people, I will turn mine hand upon the little ones; mine elect, that remnant reſerved for royal uſe. Theſe I will bring, not into the fire onely, but through it, and will refine them as ſilver is refined &c. Zach. 13.7, 9. ſo that their tongue ſhall be as choice ſilver, Pro. 10.20. their lip ſhall be a pure lip, at it is here, a lip of excellency, Prov. 17.7. ſo that they ſhall ſcatter pearls, Mat. 7.6. throw abroad treaſure, Mat. 12.35. even apples of Gold in ſhrnes of ſilver, Prov. 25.11.1 Joh. 3.3. they ſhall purifie themſelves, as God is pure. Old things ſhall be paſt with them, all things ſhall become new: new conſtitution, new communication, new converſation. Look how the Conquerour ſought to bring the French tongue into England, commanding it to be taught in ſchooles, ſpoke in courts &c. ſo doth the Lord Chriſt, wo rideth about the world upon his white horſes, the Apoſtles and other Miniſters, conquering, and to conquer, Rev. 6.2. where-ever he prevails, hee turneth to ſuch a pure language, even the language of Canaan: not the Hebrew tongue (as R. Abraham ſenſes this text) which all nations ſhall ſpeak, ſaith he, in the kingdome of Chriſt (what they doe in heaven, I have not to ſay, ſome are confident) but words of grace, Col. 4.6. words of truth and ſoberneſſe, Act. 26.25. right words, Job. 6.2. ſpiritual ſpeeches, Epheſ. 4.29. Scripture language, 1 Pet. 4.11.

That they may call upon the name of the Lord] As all Gods people doe, 'tis their character 1 Cor. 1.2. he hath no dumb children, they no ſooner breath but pray Act. 9.11. for prayers is the breath of the ſpirit, Rom. 8.26. and the fruit of faith: hence it is called the prayer of faith, and under the phraſe of calling upon the name of the Lord here is meant beleeving in his name, and repoſing upon Chriſt for ſafety here, and ſalvation hereafter.

To ſe[illegible: 1 letter]ve him with one conſent] Heb. with one ſhoulder, that is, unanimouſly, and with conjoyned endeavours. [non-Latin text not transcribed] A metaphor from oxen yoked & ſetting their ſhoulders together to the work: [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Sept. or elſe from porters, who ſet their ſeveral ſhoulders to the ſame burden. The Saints may the better doe ſo, becauſe they have the Spirit to lift with them and over anent them, as the Apoſtles word importeth Rom. 8.26. Let them therefore endeavour by all good means, [non-Latin text not transcribed] to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3. that they may ſay as holy Miconius did of himſelfe and his colleagues at Gotha in Thuringia, Cucurrimus, certavimus, laboravimus, pugnavimus, vicimiv, & viximus ſemper conjunctiſſimi. We ever ran together, ſtrove, laboured, fought, vanquiſhed and did altogether, in much peace and concord. This is Chriſtian-like indeed, See Act. 1.14. and 2.1.46. and 4.32. animo animaque inter ſe miſcebansur, ſaith Tertullian, they were all of one heart, and of one minde. The very Heathens acknowledged that no people in the world did hold together and love one another, ſo as Chriſtians did. To ſee their travels, (ſaith Maſter Fox concerning the Saints here in times of perſecution) their earneſt ſeeking, burning zeal, readings, watchings, ſweet aſſemblies, love, concord, godly living, faithfull marrying with the faithfull &c. Act. & Mon. 750. may make us now in theſe our dayes of free profeſſion (but lamentable diviſions) to bluſh for ſhame. They ſerved the lord with one ſhoulder, we ſhoulder one another: they kept unity with purity without ſchiſme, much leſſe hereſy, glorifying the God and Father of ovr Lord Jeſus Chriſt with one mind and with one mouth Rom. 15.6. with a pure lip, as it is here: we are quot homines, tot ſententiae; ſo many men, ſo many mindes. How many religions are there now amongſt us, ſaith one? Old hereſies new vampt? Our Saviour Chriſt ſaith, if the Son of man come, ſhall he find faith &c? Yes ſure he may find many faiths: ſo many men, ſo many faiths. Pudet opprobria nobis &c. It is not peace but party that ſome men mind, ſaith another:1 Cor. 14.23 their chief ſtudies are ſtudium partium, & ſtudium novarum rerum, part-taking, and novelling. But what ſaith the Apoſtle? If ye ſpeak with ſeveral tongues, will not he that comes in think ye are mad? ſo when the world hears of ſo many diſſonant opinions; will they not think wee are runne wild? Is it not a ſhame to us, that the Turks ſhould ſay, we may ſooner look that the fingers on our hands ſhould be all of one length, then that the Chriſtians ſhould be all of one judgement? why ſhould any Julian jeare us for our diviſions? why ſhould any Campian hit us in the teeth with our many ſects and ſchiſmes? Pardon may be got for our other ſinnes by faith in Chriſts blood,Ad fratres in Suevia Lutheran. diſcordiam neque ſi ſanguinem fundamus expiabimus (ſaith Oecolampadius to the Lutherans of his time) our ſcandalous diſcords God will judge.