Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Commentary 7

Commentary on the Minor Prophets · Commentary 7

p. 392A COMMENT OR, EXPOSITION Upon the Propheſie of NAHUM.

CHAP. I.

Verſe 1. THE burden of Nineveh] i. e. The burdenous propheſie. See the Note on Malac. 1.1. It is a burden to wicked men to be told of their ſinnes, and foretold of their puniſhments. To whom we may not unfitly apply that of the Civilian, Perquàm durum eſt, Ʋlpian.ſed ita lex ſcripta eſt. If it be ſo tedious to hear of it, what will they do to bear it? Nineveh had fair warning before by Jonah; and for preſent, the unclean ſpirit ſeemed to be caſt out of her: but he returned ſoon after, with ſeven worſe, as appears by this Propheſie; and ſo their laſt ſtate was worſe then the former, Mat. 12.45. Their bile half-healed, breaking out again, proved to be the plague of leproſie, Lev. 13.18, 19, 20. ſuch as ſhut them out of heaven. God will do good to thoſe that are good, and continue ſo. But as for thoſe that turn aſide unto their crooked wayes, (as all Apoſtates do) the Lord ſhall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, (as cattle are led to the ſlaughter, or malefactours to execution) but peace ſhall be upon Iſrael, Pſal. 125.5.

The book of the Viſion] Or the Epiſtle of the Viſion. Hence ſome collect, that Nahum went not to Nineveh as Jonah had done; but ſent this propheticall Epiſtle thither, to let them know what ſhould ſhortly befall them. So Jeremy ſent an Epiſtle to Babylon, chap. 29. and Eliah wrote a threatning letter to Iehoram king of Judah, 2 Chron. 21.12. before his tranſlation to heaven; and leſt it to be ſent to him by Eliſha, or the other Prophets, who durſt not ſhew themſelves in his preſence; ſuch was his inſolent cruelty, as 'tis conceived.

of Nahum the Elkoſhite] Elkoſh was a ſmall town in Gali…ee beyond Bethabara, as ſay Hierom and Dorotheus. Here was our Prophet born, and named N…hum, non ſine numine, ſaith Gualther; for Nahum (as Noah) ſignifieth a Comforter: and p. 393ſo he proved, by this Book of his, both to the ten Tribes now newly carried captive by the Aſſyrian Monarch; and alſo to the other two Tribes,Epiphanius. who were ſhortly after beſieged by the ſame Aſſyrian, in the reign of Hezekiah; under whom Nahum prophecied. See the Note on Exod. 3.1.

Verſ. 2. God is jealous] See the Note on Zech. 1.14.

and the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth] As he is Pater miſerationum, to his people, a father of mercies, and God of conſolation: ſo to his and their enemies he is a moſt ſure and ſevere revenger, Deus ultionum, as David calleth him, Pſal. 94.1. A God of recompenſes, as Jeremy, chap. 51.56. And when He comes againſt a people, he uſually takes them to do, when they are at the ſtrongeſt, and moſt confident: as Nineveh now was, in the dayes of proud Sennacherib.

and is furious] Heb. and is Maſter of hot wrath: he is all on a light fire, as it were, with fierce indignation againſt the enemies of his Church: Yet not ſo, but that he is Maſter of his anger too; and doth nothing in it, but what is juſt and equall. Hence the vials of his wrath are ſaid to be golden vials, Rev. 15.7. his anger is holy, his fire is pure, and without ſmoak. And this is further declared in the following words.

The Lord will take vengeance on his adverſaries] Such as ſeek to thruſt him beſide his throne, that oppoſe his worſhip, contemn his word, perſecute his people, ſend proud meſſages after him, ſaying. We will not have this man to reigne over us: Bring hither thoſe mine enemies, ſaith He, and ſlay them before me, Luk. 19.27. As for ſuch as ſin of infirmity, and return to him by repentance, they ſhall not find him furious, but gracious.

and he reſerveth wrath for his enemies] Their preſervation for a time, is but a reſervation to that wrath to come. As hee precipitateth not his anger, but defers the execution of it, giving men ſpace to repent, as he did Jezabel, Rev. 2. ſo they ſhall find that his forbearance is no quittance; and that Poena venit gravior, quò magè tarda venit.

Verſe 3. The Lord is ſlow to anger] Slack he is not, as ſome men count ſlackneſſe, ſaith St. Peter, but long-ſufferring to us-ward, &c. 2 Epiſt. 3.9, The devil ſtirred up the Heathen Poets, to perſwade people, that God either knew not, or cared not what was done here below: that he was oft from home, feaſting with the Ethiopians, &c. The Epicures alſo taught the like doctrine:Homer. and the Sadduces among the Jews, the Manichees among the primitive Chriſtians, the Libertines amongſt us. But they ſhall one day find that God is ſlow, but ſure; that the higher he lifteth his hand, the harder he will ſtrike; the further he draweth his bowe, the deeper will bee the wound.

and great in power] Heb. Great of power, able to knock down ſinners in the very act of their rebellion, and to ſend them packing to their place in hell. So that it is not for want of power that he is ſo patient. For the Lord our God is God of gods, and Lord of Lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, Deut. 10.17. But what need we go further then the Text, where he is called, the ſtrong God, great in power, And that will not at all acquit the wicked.] This is the laſt letter in his name (that nomen majeſtativum, as Tertullian calleth it,) Exod. 34.7. which he will in no wiſe forget: as neither muſt we. He will not take the wicked by the hand, ſaith Job, Job 8.20.Job 8:20nor wink at the workers of iniquity, ſaith David, Pſal. 50.21. but will render a juſt recompence to every tranſgreſſion and diſobedience, ſaith Paul, Heb. 2.2. A God of truth, and without iniquity, juſt and right is he, Deut. 32.4.

the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the ſtorm] The word Suphab here tendred whirlwind, begins with a ſmall Samech, ad minuendum timorem piis, Buxtorf. Tiberias. 167.ne propterea terreantur, to take off the Saints from their inordinate fears, and to aſſure the wicked, that when the Lord cometh, imminet inde Soph finis & exitium: there ſhall be an end of them, and an utter deſtruction. As the whirlwind paſſeth, ſo is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlaſting foundation, Prov. 10.25. Or, as ſome read it, The righteous is the foundation of the world, as firm as the worlds foundation, ſc. the earth, which is unmoveable.

and the clouds are the duſt of his feet] He walketh upon them as men do upon the duſt of the earth: he maketh the clouds his charet, and rideth upon the wings of the p. 394wind Pſal. 104.3. See Iſa. 60.8. and 19.1. The wickeds happineſſe ſhall take its end ſurely and ſwiftly, as Ezekiel tells them in his ſeventh chapter, An end is come, is come, is come.

Ver. 4. He rebuketh the ſea and maketh it dry] He had ſhewed what wonders God can do in the ayre. Now he telleth, what he doeth in the water, and in the earth. And it is well obſerved by an Interpreter, that when the Prophets ſpeak of God, Tarnon.they do for moſt part imitate the expreſſions of Moſes that moſt ſevere law-giver, and allude to his hiſtory; to ſhew, that by the law is the knowledge of ſin, Rom. 3.20. without which the ſtony hearts of men melt not, that the promiſe of the goſpell may reliſh ſweetly with them Pſal. 19.10, 11. The word here rendreth He rebuketh importeth, that God rateth and rattleth the Sea verborum pedumque ſtrepitu with ſuch a voice and other noiſe, as cauſeth fright and flight. The Sea ſaw it and fled, Iordan was driven back, what ailed thee, O thou Sea that thou fleddeſt &c. Pſal. 114.3, 5. The waters ſaw thee, O God, the waters ſaw thee, they were afraid; the depths alſo were troubled Pſal. 77.16. See Exod. 14.21. Pſal. 78.14. and 66.6. and 136.16. and 106.9. This is not in the power of any man to do; though Xerxes vainely attempted ſomthing, when he wafted two millions of men over the Helleſpont, and, for battering his bridge of boates, cauſed it to be beaten with 300. ſtripes, and caſt a pair of fetters into it, to make it his priſoner. But to how ſmall purpoſe all this, together with his digging through Iſthmus, his drinking up rivers with his army and the like, it well appeared, when he was forced to fly back out of Greece in a poor fiſhers boat, which being overburdened had ſunk all, if the Perſians by the caſting away themſelves, had not ſaved the life of their king, The ſtory of Canutus the Dane, (ſomtimes king of England) is well known. He was told by a Court-Paraſite that all things in his dominions were at his beck and command. Canutus (to confute him) cauſed a chair to be ſet on the ſea-ſhore; wherein being ſet, he ſaid to the ſea flowing faſt toward him. Thou belongeſt to me, and the land upon which I now ſit is mine own, neither is there any whoſoever that obeyes me not ſhall eſcape unpuniſhed. I command thee therefore thou ſea, that thou come up no higher into my land; nor preſumeſt once to wet thy maſters legs or garments. But the Sea, keeping his ordinary courſe, without duty or reverence waſhed both his legs and gown. He then leaping back ſaid, Let al… the inhabitants of the world know,…en: Huntington. that the power of kings is frivolous and vaine; neither is there any mortall man worthy the name of a king, but he to whoſe beck heaven, earth and ſea by his lawes, eternally are obedient. Neither did Canutus after this time weare a crown; but ſet it upon the Crucifix according to the ſuperſtition of thoſe times; thereby acknowledging it to be a royalty proper to Chriſt alone to rebuke the ſurges of the ſea, and to ſay unto them Peace, and be ſtill, Luk. 4.24. Mar. 4.39.

and drieth up all the rivers] As he did Jordan Ioſ. 4 2 King. 2. Chereth 1 King. 17.7. the great river Euphrates Rev. 16.12. See the Note there. See alſo Plin. nat. hiſt. l. 2. cap. 85. and 103.

Baſhan languiſheth and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languiſheth] all the beauty of thoſe fertile and pleaſant places fadeth. When the earth beareth fruit and flowers, ſhe is ſaid to yeeld her ſtrength, to bring forth her increaſe: as when through drought or otherwiſe ſhe doth not, ſhe is ſaid to languiſh and hang the head. See Ioe. 1.10.12. If the Eclipſe of the Sun cauſe a drooping in the whole frame of nature, how much more the wrath and vengeance of God?

Ver. 5. The mountaines quake at him, and the hills melt] Though vallies and low places are alſo liable to earthquakes: as Antioch often, Ferrara in Italy An. Dom. 1514. and 1573. yet hill-countreys much more; becauſe there are more holes and cavernes,Alſ…ed. Chronol. See Pſal. 29.6. and 144.4. Zach. 14.4, 5. In the yeere 1618. Aug. 25. Pleurs a town in Rhetia was overwhelmed by a hill, which, with a moſt ſwift motion oppreſt 1500. men. So that village aforementioned in the country of Bern, that was over-covered by a hill in an earthquake: to the deſtruction of 50.Polan: ſynt. families. All this and that which followeth is alledged here, to ſhew how eaſily God can overturn the Aſſyrian greatneſſe.

and the earth is burnt at his preſence] Viz. by his fire from heaven, as Sodom, p. 395and by other his land-deſolating judgments, ſuch as Judea (that once fertile, now barren country) Greece, Aſia (once ſo flouriſhing) Germany, Ireland &c. do at this day grone under. God turneth a fruitful land into barrenneſſe, for the wickedneſſe of them that dwell therein. Pſal. 107.34.

yea the world and all that dwell therein] Quae quidem ſunt mira, ſed tamen vera divinae potentiae effecta. Wicked men, beſides what they here ſuffer,Tarnou. ſhall one day give an account of what they have done in the body, with the world all on a light fire about their eares: The triall of their workes ſhall be by fire 1 Cor. 3.13. the tribunall of fire Ezek. 1.27. the Judge a conſuming fire Heb. 12.29. His attendants Seraphins flaming creatures Iſai. 6.2. his pleading with ſinners in flames of fire 2 Theſſ. 1.7. the place of puniſhment, a lake of fire fed with tormenting temper Iſai. 30.33. Sodoms fire and brimſtone was but a toy to it. And ſhall the Ninivites think to mott up themſelves againſt this formidable fire: which the moſt ſolid parts of the world cannot avoid or abide?

Ver. 6. What can ſtand before his indignation?] A glaſſe bottle may as well ſtand before a cannon-ſhot. Theres no ſtanding before a lion, much leſſe before a devouring fire, leaſt of all before an angry God. When our Saviour did but put forth a beame of his Deity, and ſaid I am he, the ſtout ſouldiers fell to the ground Ioh. 18.6. and there they had lame, if he had not licenſed them to riſe againe.Auguſtin. Quid autem judicaturus faciet, qui judicandus hoc fecit? The wicked ſhall not ſtand in judgment, ſaith David Pſal. 1.7.

who can abide in the fierceneſſe of his anger?] Heb:Collectumque premeus volvi… ſub naribus ignem. in the inflammation of his noſtrils. Thus the Prophet deſcribeth Gods terrible executions of juſtice on the Churches enemies, pulcherrimis metaphoris, hypotypôſi evidentiſſima, & diſtributionis artiſicio inſigniſſimo by moſt elegant Metaphors, evident demonſtrations, and artificiall diſtributions.Crocius in loc.

his fury is powred out like fire] A metaphor either from metalls melted, or from ſhow…es of raine, ſuch as God powred down upon Sodom (whereunto probably the Prophet here alludeth, as verſe 8. to Noahs flood) flaming ſhowers Jer. 7.20. and 44.6.

and the rocks are thrown down by him] that is, by his fierce wrath, when it is at the full height: as the fire which at firſt burns a little within, upon a few boards and raſters; but when it prevaileth, burſteth out in a moſt terrible flame: as thunder which we heare at firſt, a little roa…ing noiſe afarr off: but ſtay awhile, and it is a dreadfull crack, cleaving the very rocks. See Ier. 4.23, 24. Mat. 27.51.

Verſe 7. The Lord is good] To Iſrael (though terrible to the Aſſyrians as hath been plainly and plentifully ſet forth) to the pure in heart Pſal. 73.1. and he doth good Pſal, 119.68. to thoſe that are good, that are upright in their hearts Pſal. 125.4. Theſe ſhall taſt and ſee that the Lord is good: theſe ſhall feelingly fay,' Oh bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him, Pſal. 34.8. Oh praiſe the Lord for he is good &c.

a ſtrong hold in the day of trouble] Praeſidium, aut fortalitium, A ſtrong fort or fortification, better then a…wer of braſſe, or town of warr: the righteous run thereunto and are ſafe. Prov. 18.10.Prov 18:10Hezekiah (for whoſe ſake this is ſpoken) had the experience of it. He had a day of trouble and of rebuke, and of blaſphemy: the children were come to the birth, and there was not ſtrength to bring forth Eſai. 37.3. To God therefore he runs in this dolefull day of his, and had preſent help. And what though the Gods of the nations had not delivered them: yet Hezekiah's God in whom he truſted did not deceive him as Senacherib ſaid he would ver. 10.12. He is the champion of his church, and will be the ſtrong hold of his people, when the heathens Tutelur Gods, and the Papiſts Patrone-ſaints will leave them in the lurch. England was ſometime ſaid to have a war-like George, but the Papiſts being offended with us (to do us, as they ſuppoſe, a miſchief) have robbed us of out George, and left us God alone to be our Champion: for which honour and favour all true Engliſh hearts are bound to thank them, and can merrily ſing as He did once, Contemno minutulos iſtos deos, modò Jovem propitium habeam, We care not for their He-ſaints, or ſhe-ſaints to ſhelter us: ſo that the great God will be good to us, a ſtreng-hold in the day of trouble.

and he knoweth them that truſt in him] that hover and cover under his wings, as p. 396the chickens do under the hens: for that's the force of the Hebrew word here uſed. Such as theſe God knoweth for his 2 Tim. 2.19. he knoweth their ſoule in adverſity Pſal, 119. he knoweth how to deliver them, as he did the righteous Lot 2 Pet. 2.9. then, when they knew not what to do, as Jehoſaphat 2 Chron. 20.12. yet if their eyes be toward him, their affiance in him, he will extricate and deliver them. So well pleaſed is he with thoſe that truſt in him, (for that's meant here by his knowing of them Pſal. 1.6. confer Iob 9.29. 1 Theſ. 5.12.) he taketh ſuch complacency and delight in them Pſal. 147.11. and 33.18. and ſuch continuall care of them, (as hath been proved by an univerſall experience, nor one inſtance can be given to the contrary) that they ſhall be ſure to have whatſoever heart can wiſh, or need require 2 Sam. 22.2, 3. even miraculous loving kindneſſe from God in a ſtrong city Pſal. 17.7. and 31.21. ſo great as cannot be uttered Pſal. 31.19. This is for the comfort of Gods Iſrael. But leſt the wicked (as they are apt) ſhould meddle with childrens meat, which was never meant for them: leſt Niniveh ſhould pleaſe her ſelf in a fond conceit of Gods goodneſſe to her alſo, and ſo turn it into wantonneſſe, the Prophet brings in a ſtinging But in the next words.

Ver. 8. But with an over-running flood he will make an end of the place thereof] i. e. of Niniveh that great but bloody city chap. 3.1. Her ſtate ſhall be utterly ruinated as the old world, by the generall deluge. But becauſe the word here rendred flood is uſed of rivers that overflow the bankes 2 Chron. 32.4. and the adjunct over-running alſo implies as much (See Eſai 8.8. Dan. 11.10, 40.) I ſuppoſe the Holy Ghoſt here forethreateneth that ruine of this city by the river Tigris, which at an inundation broke out upon the wall, and threw down twenty furlongs thereof. This was a ſad foretoken to them of their enſuing deſolation by the enemy (as that raine was that fell in Egypt) where it uſed not to raine (a little before Cambyſes with his Perſians ſubdued it) for it fell out in the time of the Siege, as Diodorus teſtifieth, according to an oracle that the Ninivites had received by tradition from their progenitours, ſc. that their city ſhould then be taken by the enemy,Diod. Sic. when the river took part againſt them: and it fell out accordingly.

and darkneſſe ſhall purſue his enemies] i. e. terrible and inextricable calamities ſhall overtake them: their ruine ſhall be irreparable. And indeed it may now be ſaid of Niniveh, which once was of a great city in Strabo, Magna civitas, magna ſolitudo See Zeph. 2.13, 14, 15. Druſius rendreth it thus, Hoſtes ſuos perſequi faciet tenebras, He ſhall cauſe darkneſſe to purſue his enemies, Or, He ſhall make his enemies to purſue darkneſſe, according to that noted ſaying of the Ancients, Deus quem deſtruit, dementat, whom God intends to deſtroy, him He firſt infatuateth. But the former ſence is the better.

Ver. 9. What do ye imagine againſt the Lord?] becauſe againſt his people. So Pſal. 62.3. How long will ye imagine miſchief againſt a man? ye ſhall be ſlaine all of you: as a bowing wall ſhall ye be, and as a tottering fence. The blind and bloody Ninivites looked no further then the Jewes whom they invaded: they conſidered not that God was ingaged in the quarrel of his people. This made the Virgin daughter of Zion, confident of Gods help, ſhake her head in ſcorn and pitty at them, ſaying, Whom haſt thou reproached and blaſphemed? and againſt whom haſt thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even againſt the holy One of Iſrael. Iſai. 37.22, 23. She knew well (though her enemies knew not) that as an unskilfull archer in ſhooting at a beaſt hitteth a man ſometimes: ſo the Churches adverſaries, in troubling of her, trouble Almighty God, who will not faile to be even with them: for he that toucheth Gods people, toucheth the apple of his eye Zach. 2.8. Saul, Saul. why perſecuteſt thou me … Act. 9.4. It was a ſimple queſtion of Satan to our Saviour,foreign. what have I to do with thee? whileſt he vexed a ſervant of his. Hath he his name from knowledge, and yet could he ſo miſtake himwhom he confeſſed to be the ſon of the living God? It is an idle miſpriſion to-ſever the ſenſe of an injury done to any of the members, from the head. Druſius reades the text thus, Quid cogitatis de Domino? what think ye of the Lord? what conceit or opinion have ye of him? Doe ye imagine that he cannot performe what he threateneth by his Prophets? or that he cannot, p. 397when he pleaſeth, deliver his people out of your hand?

he will make an utter end] Not a conſumption only, but a conſummation: This he is even doing, as the Hebrew hath it: he is buſy about it, and will not faile to ſiniſh it: for he uſeth not to do his work to the halves. Surely a ſhort work will the Lord make in your land, now that he taketh you to do, certo, cito, penitus.

aſſliction ſhall not riſe up the ſecond time] God will diſpatch you at one blow. See a like expreſſion 1 Sam. 26.8. Niniveh had many bruſhes before, by Phraortes king of Medes and his ſon Ciaxares, and afterwards by the Scythians, whereof See Ier. 49.34. and by Aſtyages &c. Now N…buchadnezzar was appointed by God to make an utter end of it &c. The wicked ſhall totally and finally be conſumed at once. Not ſo the Saints: theſe he corrects with a rod, thoſe with a grounded ſtaffe Eſa. 32.32. Theſe in mercy and in meaſure. in the bunches only, he ſtayeth his rough wind in the day of the Eaſt-wind Eſa. 27.8. he ſtayeth ſuch afflictions as would ſhake his plants too much, or quite blow them down. But to the wicked he hath no ſuch tender reſpect: he ſmites them at the root, and, after many blowes, he reſolves to have them down. For inſtance: compare Gods different dealing with Noah and the old world, with Lot and the Sodomites, Iſrael and the Canaanites, Moſes and Pharaoh, David and Saul &c. Fret not therefore thy ſelf becauſe of evill-doers Pſal. 37.1. when the wicked ſpring as the graſſe, and when all the workers of iniquity do ſlouriſh: it is that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever. Pſal. 92.7. Pharaoh bad faire way made him till he came to the midſt of the ſea: not one wave may riſe up againſt him to wet ſo much as the hoof of his horſe. It was a faire Sun-ſhine-day when Lot went out of Sodome: but ere night there f…ll out a diſmall change. It was in the Spring that the flood came, then when every thing was in its prime and pride: beſides that, the world never more flouriſhed in wealth, peace, arts, and all magnificence: yet ſudden deſtruction came upon them, they were all at once buried in one univerſall grave of waters.

Ver. 10. For while they be folden together as thornes] And ſo can hardly be handled without hurt: God will burn them together in the ſame place 2 Sam. 23.7. as a man puts thorns folden, and that cannot eaſily be ſundred all together into the fire, where they make a ſudden blaze and are extinct. So will God deale with the Ninivites, not withſtanding their carnall combinations and confederacies.Junius Crocius.

and while they are drunken as drunkard… ] who are very quarrelſome, bragging and braving: but may be eaſily dealt with, and puſht down with one finger.

as ſtubble ſully dry] that hath long laine a ſunning, and ſo is very combuſtible. The wicked are oft compared to ſtubble, becauſe good for nothing but the fire: and when fully dry, when ripe for ruine, they ſhall be fully devoured, as ſome read the words. Ecq…em vero mihi dabis Rhetorem &c. as One ſaith of another text. But what gallant Rhetorick is here? well might God ſay Hoſ. 12.10. I have ſpoken alſo by the Prophets and uſed ſimilitudes &c. (See the Note there) here we have three in a breath; and all little enough to work on the hearts of the wicked, who are loth to beleeve the truth and certainty of Gods threats: but rather bleſſe themſelves when God curſeth Deut. 29.19.

Ver. 11. There is one come out of thee that imagineth evill againſt the Lord] Many there are, but one among and above the reſT: ſc. Sennacherib, that bold Briareus, that lifteth up his hundred hands at once againſt heaven; and threateneth to cut off at a blow Gods people, as if they had all but one neck. See verſe 9. He is come up over all his chanels, and gone over all his banks, Iſa. 8.7. but God ſhall ſoon put a ſtop to him: and with an over-running ſlood (that he may be even with him) make an utter …nd of his place, as it is here ver. 8.

a wicked Counſellour] Heb. a counſellour of Belial, or of the devill, who lendeth him his ſeven heades to plot, and his ten horns to puſh Gods people. What pernicious counſel he gave them ſee 2 King. 18. 2 Chron. 32. Eſal. 36. ſc. to caſt off God as not able to deliver them out of his hands: and to make an agreement with him by a preſent &c. the peſtilent counſell he gave them by Rabſhakeh, who was, ſay the Rabbines, a Renegado-Jew. Every Viſier and Baſha of State among the Turks uſeth to keep ſtill a Jew of his private counſell: whoſe malice, wit, and p. 398experience of Chriſtendome, with their continuall intelligence, is thought to adviſe moſt of that miſchief,Voyage into the Levant. p. 114. which the Turk at this day puts in execution againſt us (ſaith mine Authour) the Jews being found the moſt nimble and Mercuriall wits in the world, but counſellours of Belial. In all the ſhop of hell there is no anvile ſo well ſet, whereon to forge, no engine ſo apt, whereby to execute any choice piece of miſchief, as that man, who is ingenuose nequam, & publico ma…o facundus (as it is ſaid of C. Curio the Roman) Wittily wicked, and peſtilently eloquent. Such were Cardinall Pool to England, Cardinall Sadeletus to Geneva, and the I…ſuite… generaily, great Politicians and factours for Rome: They ſay, Satan ſent Luther, and God ſent them to withſtand him. They deſtroy many ſouls, as the Dragon doth the Elephant; by biting his ear, and ſucking his blood; becauſe he knows that to be the onelyonly place which the Elephant cannot reach with his trunk to deſend. They take crafty counſel againſt the Church.Pſal. 8.33.Ps 8:33

Verſe 12. Thus ſaith the Lord] To thee, O Jeruſalem, and for thy comfort. The Lord will ſpeak peace to his people: and Miniſters are charged to ſpeak to their hearts, Eſay 40 1.

though they be quiet] Or, ſtill, well diſciplined (as the Turkiſh Army is, to the wonder of all that paſſe thorow it:)Turcae perpepetuum ſilentium tenent ut muti. Cuſpin. de Caeſar. p. 475. there was no falling out, nor complaining in the Aſſyrian hoſts: therefore, and by this means, did their king march on, p…ſſe throw.

and likewiſe many] How great an Army they were, may bee gathered from the many thouſands of them that were ſlain by the Angel, Eſay 37.36. It is all, one with God, whether it be done againſt a nation, or againſt a man onelyonly, Job 34.29. he ſtands not upon multitudes, who taketh up the Iſles, as a very little thing, Eſay 40.15.

yet thus ſhall. …ey be cut down] Heb. ſhorn; with as little ado as one would ſhear a ſheep, mow down a meddow, or ſhave off hair with a ſharp raſor. The Prophet ſeemeth to allude to that Text in Eſay (with whom, as his contemporary, he hath many things common) chap. 7.20. and to threaten the Aſſyrian, that he ſhall bee payd home in his own coyn: and that as he had done to Iſrael, ſo ſhould it bee done again to him. God loveth to retaliate.

when he ſhall paſſe thorow] Heb. and he paſſeth, or away he goeth, ſe, to his own countrey, after the loſſe of his Army, ſlain by the Angel, ſo Hierom. Others, they ſhall be cut down, ſc. by the hand of a mighty One, as Eſay 10.34. or of an Angel, when he, that is Sennacherib, and every one of his Army hath paſſed thorow, ſc. the land without reſtraint, or controul, and now maketh account that hee is maſter of all.

Though I have afflicted thee, yet I will afflict thee no more] ſc. by theſe Nineviten no, nor by any other enemies, unleſſe there be very great need, 1 Pet. 1.6. The Church hath ever had her Halcyous, her interchanges of proſperity and adverſity. God will not alwayes chide, Pſal. 103.9. he delighteth in the proſperity of his ſervants, Pſal. 35.27. and wiſheth, Oh that this people were wiſe, &c. O that my people had hearkened, &c Pſal. 81.13, 14, 15. There is another reading of the words, as may be ſeen in the margent. This is Iunius. the Chaldee paraphraſ…. thus; Although the Ninevites enjoy great peace, and by peace are ſo m…plied, that they are very numerous, yet ſhall they be ſhorn and cut down.

Verſe 13. For now will I break his yoke from off thee] Leſt the promiſed deliverance ſhould be any whit doubted of; the time when, and the miſery whence they ſhould be delivered is here laid open. God hath ſet the time of his peoples ſufferings, which ſhall be neither ſo little a while as they would; …or ſo long as the enemy would. Hold out faith and patience; deliverance is at next doore by.

and will burſt thy bonds in ſunder] By yoke and bonds here, underſtund thoſe Tributes which the Aſſyrians, called out by Ahaz, impoſed upon the kingdome of Judah, 2 King. 18. God promiſeth them here their ancient liberty; which was, ſoon after this, recovered under Hez…kiah, who truſting in God, and reforming religion, rebelled againſt the king of Aſſyria, and ſerved him no longer. Shortly after alſo, the Perſians deſtroyed Nineveh, dealt more gently with the captive Jews, and gave them good leave to return home again, as many as had a mind to it, Ezr. 1.4. 2 Chron. 36. p. 399Verſe 14 And the Lord hath given a commandement.] ſc. to his upper and lower forces (for he is Lord of Hoſts, Commander in Chief of all creatures.)

againſt thee] O Sennacherib devoted to deſtruction, for thine intolerable pride and cruelty. God reſiſteth the proud, Iam. 4.6. he ſetteth himſelf in battellarray againſt him, as the word ſignifieth, commanding all his creatures to fall on:foreign. and no wonder. For whereas all other vices flee from God, pride alone fleeth in his face: caſteth down the gauntlet of defiance, and maketh head againſt him. Hence his hatred of a proud perſon.

that no more of thy name be ſown] i. e. that no more children be born to thee; ſo Lyra expounds it: that thy poſterity periſh, ſo Gualther. This muſt needs bee grievous to proud and ambitious perſons, who promiſe themſelves a kind of immortality here in their poſterity: and that there ſhall be a perpetuall ſucceſſion of their name in this world. Their inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, they call their lands after their own names, Pſal. 49.11. But their lamp ſhall be put out in obſcure darkneſſe, Prov. 20.20. there ſhall be—Nullus, cui lampada tradant. Others ſenſe the Text thus. Thou ſhalt no more be talked of; but the memory of thy name ſhall bee utterly extinct. The face of the Lord is againſt them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth, Pſal. 34.16. See Eſay 10.12, 13, &c. Ier. 49.34. Sennacherib had done great exploits, till he lifted up his hand againſt heaven, he had been very victorious and famous; but now lies wrapt up in the ſheet of ſhame, and is made an inſtance of divine vengeance, even among the Heathen: For ſo Herodotus telleth us, that in Egypt there was Sennacheribs ſtatue erected, with his inſcription; Let whoſoever looketh upon me, foreign. Hero. l 2.learn to fear God. He lifted up himſelf againſt his Creatour and Father: hee is therefore ſlain by his own children. He thought to overturn the true ſervice of God; he is therefore ſlain at his idoll-worſhip. He went about to deſtroy the houſe of God; he is therefore deſtroyed in the houſe of his god, Eſay 37.38.

Out of the houſe of thy gods will I cut off the graven image] This, thoſe ſuperſtitious Heathens held a great loſſe, a ſore affliction. It is reported of the people of the Eaſt-Indies, in the Iſle Zeylon, that having an Apes tooth got from them, which was a conſecrated thing by them, they offered an incredible maſſe of treaſure to recover it. What a noiſe made Micah after his Ephod and images, Judg. 18.24? and Laban after his Teraphim? Gen. 31. and the men of Ophrah, for their altar and grove? And what a price ſet Papifts on their pictures and trinkets.Judg. 6.30.Judg 6:30

I will make thy grave] ſc. Of thine idoll-temple, polluted by thy ſlaughter therein, and ſo converted into a ſepulchre for thee. There is a ſtory (but of no great authority) that Sennacherib, after his ſhamefull return out of Judea, demanding of ſome about him, what might bee the reaſon that the unreſiſtable God of heaven ſo favoured the Jewiſh nation, as he had found by ſad experience? Anſwer was given him, that Abraham from whom they deſcended, ſacrificed unto him his onelyonly ſonne, which purchaſed this protection to his progeny. If that will win him, ſaith he, I will ſpare him two of my ſonnes, to procure him to be on my ſide. Which Sharezzer and Adrammelech his ſonnes hearing of, prevented their own deaths by ſlaying him. It is more likely that they laid wicked hands upon their father,Caſtal. Annot. either out of ambition, or diſcontent for the loſſe of the Army. Howſoever, God made uſe of their cruelty, for the juſt puniſhment of Sennacherib: and is here therefore ſaid to have commanded it. After this, cruell warre aroſe among Sennacheribs ſonnes, which were the utter overthrow of that nation,In Cyropad. and laid them open as a prey to the kings of Babylou, as Xenophon writeth.

for thou art vile] Worthleſſe, and weightleſſe. All wicked men are ſo, be they never ſo great, Pſal. 15.4. Dan. 11.21. In his eſtate ſhall ſtand up a vile perſon, that is, Antiochus Epiphanes, the great king of Syria, whom the Samaritans in flattery ſtiled, The mighty god. 'Tis vertue onelyonly that enobles. Them that honour God, he will honour: but they that deſpiſe him, ſhall be lightly eſteemed, 1 Sam. 2.30. Contempt ſhall be their portion, and with ignominy, repreach, Prov. 18.3. Here then the Prophet threateneth the ſame that Joel had done, chap. 2.20. His ſtink ſhall come up, and the ill ſavour ſhall come up, becaue be hath done great things, i.e, he hath attempted to do them, but was hindered from heaven. God put a hook in his noſe, and a bridle in his lips, and turned him back to Nineveh: where, p. 400within leſſe then fifty dayes after, he was ſlain by his two ſonnes, Tob. 1.23. and although his third ſonne Aſar-haddon reigned in his ſtead,: yet hee ſoon after loſt both his life and his kingdome, which was devolved to the Babylonians, and all the royall race of Aſſyria was rooted out.

Verſe 15. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him, &c.] This Behold is as the ſound of a trumpet before ſome Proclamation, to beſpeak attention. Jeruſalem is ſurrounded with mountains, Pſal. 125.2. and on the mountains a voice may bee heard afarre off.Pedes Evangelizantis. Vulg. The feet of him that bringeth good tidings,] Or, Of an Evangeliſt, that brings news of Sennacheribs ruine: but-eſpecially of Satan ſubdued by Chriſt, which is the ſumme of all the good news in theworld, Luke 2.10.

that publiſheth peace] Pacem omnimodam; externall, internall, eternall, peace of countrey, and of conſcience, by Chriſt who is our peace: It is uſuall with the Prophets to riſe from earthly things to heavenly, from corporalls to ſpiritualls. See Rom. 10.15. Eſay 52.7.

O Iudah keep thy ſolemn feaſts, &c.] which hitherto hindered by the enemy, thou haſt intermitted. Perform thy vows, (made in the day of thy diſtreſſe) bring preſents to him that ought to be feared.Pſal. 76.11. 2 Chro. 32.23Ps 76:112 Chr 32:23

for the wicked] Heb. Belial, that ſtigmaticall Belialiſt Sennacherib, that lawleſſe, yokeleſſe, maſterleſſe monſter, that merum ſcelus, that is ſo portentouſly, ſo peerleſly vitious.

He is utterly cut off] His Army by the Angel, himſelf by his ſonnes, his Monarchy by the Babylonians. See Eſay 27.1, 2.

CHAP. II.

Verſe 1. HE that daſheth in pieces is come up before thy face] Nebuchadnezzar the elder, that maul of the whole earth, Jer. 50.23. that brake and diſperſed the Nations, as a Maul or great Hammer doth the hardeſt ſtones. See how like a right Pyrgopolynicis he vaunteth of his valour, and victories, Eſay 10.8, 9, 10, 11, &c. So Demetrius was ſirnamed Poliorcletes, the Deſtroyer of cities; Attilas called himſelf Orbis flagellum, the ſcourge of the World. Julius Caeſar was Fulmen belli, The thunderbolt of warre: he had taken in his time a thouſand Towns., conquered three hundred Nations, took priſoner one million of men, and ſlain as many. Theſe were Dtſſipatores indeed, and daſhers in pieces, rods of Gods wrath; and this they took to be a main piece of theit ſilly glory. How much more honour was it to Auguſtine, M. Cottons pref to Hilder. on Joh. 4.John 4to be ſtiled Haereticorum malleus, the hammer of Heretikes? and to Mr. Hilderſam, to bee Schiſmaticorum malleus, the maul of Schiſmatikes? and laſtly, to Luther, that he could thus ſay of himſelf:

Peſtis eram vivus, moriens ero mors tua Papa?

I living, ſtopt Romes breath,

And dead, will be Romes death?

Is come up before thy face] Nineveh lay high; and thoſe that went thither, were ſaid to go up, Hoſ. 8.9. Nebuchadnezzar is ſaid here, to be come up to it, long before he did, (which ſets forth Gods omniſcience: Known to him are all his works from the beginning of the world: Act. 15.18. Pſal. 139.2.Acts 15:18Ps 139:2and preſent to him are all things, both paſt and future) and to come up before Nineveh's face; who thought none durſt have been ſo bold as to look her in the face. But though ſhe had been a terrour, yet now ſhee is a ſcorn: as was likewiſe Ephraim, when he offended in Baal, Hoſ. 13.1. See the Note there.

Keep the munition, watch the way, &c.] Ironicè omnia, q.d. Do all this, if you think it will do any good. But 'tis all to no purpoſe; you are an undone people, your enemies are above fear, and you below hope; you have hitherto delighted in warre, you ſhall now have enough of it; you have troubled the world with your armes, and Armies; now you ſhall meet with your match, a people terrible from the beginning. Up therefore, and do your utmoſt: Neglect nothing that may ſerve for your neceſſary defence; but it will not be: for except the Lord keep the city, the watch-man waketh but in vain, Pſal. 127.1.

p. 401Verſe 2. For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Iſrael] Both the ten tribes (carried captive already) and the other two (vexed by Sennacheribs invaſion) have taken their turnes, and have had their part of bitter affliction: and ſhalt thou O Niniveh altogether eſcape unpuniſhed? Never think it. Eſpecially ſith thou haſt exceeded thy commiſſion, and exerciſed an unheard of cruelty upon Gods people: for he was but a little diſpleaſed, but ye have helped forward the affliction Zach. 1.15. See the Note there.

for the emptiers have emptied them out] The Aſſyrians have ſpoyled and pillaged till they have left neither men nor meanes behind them; ſuch clean work they have made, ſweeping all before them, like a ſweeping raine that leaveth no ſood Prov. 28.3. Omnia corradunt & converrunt.

and marred their vine-branches] that is their ſons and their daughters ſaith Lyra: their cities and villages, ſay others: like a malicious vinedreſſer, that not only cuts off the luxurious or barren branches, but pulls up the yong ſprouts by the rootes, and ſo marrs the vineyard. The Aſſyrians endeavoured utterly to deſtroy the whole ſeed of Abraham without any mercy or compaſſion: and this undid them. The jealous and juſt God cannot beare with ſuch boares out of the wood, that waſt his vines Pſal. 80.13.

Ver. 3. The ſhield of his mighty men is made red] Panoplia terrorens auget. All was red a colour much affected by the Medes, Perſians and Caldees) to ſhew that they were a ſanguinary nation, and not more gold-thirſty, Eſai. 13.Herodot: Diod. Sic. Xenophon Curtius then blood-thirſty.

the valiant men are in ſcarlet] A colour affected by martiall men, that would ſeem to feare no colours. The Lacedemonians uſed it much, when they went to fight: that, if they ſhould be wounded, their blood might not appeare upon their apparrell, for the diſcouragement of themſelves, and encouragement of the enemy by ſuch a ſight. The Romiſh Cardinals are clothed in ſcarlet, and are created by a red hat which the Pope giveth them, in a token that they ſhould be ready to ſhed their blood for the Catholike faith: which if they ſhould do (as never any of them yet did) they would be no better then the Devils Martyrs: ſith it is the cauſe, and not the puniſhment, that maketh a true martyr. A Tiburn-tippet, (as plain Mr. Latimer was wont to ſpeake) would well become thoſe ſcarlet-Fathers: who, like bels will be never well tuned, till well hanged; for their blood-guiltineſſe, and ſoule-murther eſpecially. In the kingdome of Naples there were two notable theeves (the one named Pater-noſter, Reinold. de idol Rom. prafet.the other Ave-Maria) who at ſeverall times had murthered one hundred and ſixteen men, and were therefore deſervedly put to a cruel death. But nothing ſo cruel as the Pope and his Conclave deſerve, for their ſending of ſo many ſoules daily to that great red dragon; red with the blood of ſoules which he hath ſwallowed, as St. Peter hath it, 1 Pet. 5.8. Rev. 12.3.

the charrets ſhall be with flaming torches] Thoſe currus falcati charrets armed with ſithes and hookes, with, and in which, they were wont to fight: theſe ſhall be with flaming torches carried along in them, either to light them fighting by night, or elſe to fire the enemies houſes, and to terrify their hearts.

and the firr trees ſhall be terribly ſhaken] with the rattling of the charrets, and clattering of the armour. In a bloody fight between Amurath the third king of Turks and Lazarus Deſpot of Servia, the noiſe of warlike weapons, the neighing of horſes and outcries of men were ſo terrible, and great, that the wild beaſts in the woods ſtood aſtonied therewith, the trees ſeemed to be ſhaken, and the Turkiſh hiſtories to expreſſe the terrour of the day, vainely ſay,Turk. Hiſt. that the Angels in heaven, amazed with that hideous noiſe, for that time forgat the heavenly hymnes &c. The word here rendred terribly ſhaken is rather Chaldee, then Hebrew: as ſpoken of the Chaldees, comming againſt Niniveh.

Verſe 4. The charrets ſhall rage in the ſtreets] ſhall run ſo faſt, as if they were mad that drove them.

they ſhall juſtle one againſt another] Coxabunt they ſhall ſmite ſide to ſide, through haſt and heate of fighting.

they ſhall ſeem like torches] Heb: their aſpect is as of torches: fire ſparkleth out of their eyes that are in them: they look upon the Aſſyrians, as if they would look through them.

p. 402they ſhall run like the lightenings] Heb. they ſhall break through as the lightenings; that is, with incredible ſwiſtneſſe: as lightening in an inſtant commeth out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even to the Weſt Mat. 24.27. Luc. 10.18.

Verſe 5. He ſhall recount his worthies Or Gallants, Magnificoes. Theſe, Aſarhaddon the king of Niniveh ſeeing himſelf ſtraighted, ſhall muſter up, and mind of their duties: bidding them now or never play the men, ſith the empire was at ſtake.

they ſhall ſtumble in their walk] thorough fearefulneſſe and faint-heartedneſſe: according to that of the Pſalmiſt, The ſtout-hearted are ſpoyled, they have ſlept their ſleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horſe are caſt into a dead ſleep Pſal. 76.5, 6. God ſtruck a terrour into the Ninivites upon the firſt comming of the Chaldees. See Deut. 11.25. Therefore there is no great credit to be given to Diodorus Siculus, who ſaith,Cap. 7. Lib. 3. that the Chaldees were thrice overcome in fight by the Aſſyrians, when as they came in armes to beſiege Niniveh.

they ſhall make haſt to the wall thereof] The Chaldees ſhall: taking advantage of the Ninivites feare, that cowardly paſſion, that diſarmeth and diſableth a man for his own defence, Or, the Aſſyrians ſhall haſten to the wall as faſt as their fainting and failing legs will carry them; to try what they can do, to keep out the enemy. So the Emperour of Conſtantinople, certainly advertiſed of the Turks purpoſe for the generall aſſault ſhortly to be given,Turk. Hiſt. fol. 345. after that he had many times with teares requeſted to have borrowed mony of his covetous ſubjects, to have been employed for defence of their city; he firſt commended himſelf and them to the Almighty by generall faſting and prayer: and afterwards appointed every captaine and commander to ſome certaine place of the wall, for defence thereof &c. but all in vaine, as here at Niniveh.

and the defence ſhall be prepared] Heb. the covering or coverer, Teſtudo militaris. Some military engine, or moveable defence.

Verſe 6. The gates of the rivers ſhall be opened] Notwithſtanding all fore-mentioned indeavours to ſave the city, the water-gates or thoſe that ſtood neare the river Tigris, flew open either by meanes of that inundation above-mentioned, or by the enemies irruption; or the trechery of ſome that were within.

and the pallace ſhall be diſſolved] Or melted, haply by that inundation: howſoever, by hoſtile impreſſion: whether we underſtand it of the Palace Royall, or the Idol-temple or both(the word will beare either) for it was not unuſual for Princes to have their houſes neare to the temples, as the kings of Judah had Ier. 22.14. The Trojans had their Palladium in the Tower: the Romans their Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in the Capitoll: Conſtantine the great, built the Lateran Church in his Laterane palace; William Rufus, his Weſtminſter-hall, neare the Minſter.

Verſe 7: And Huzza ſhall be led away captive] The Queen; ſo called, becauſe the ſtood firm, and was beſt underlaid of any other, as was thought, Some render it, quae firma ſtabat, ducta eſt in exilium. She that was wont to ſtand at the kings right hand (as Pſal. 45.) which is a place both of dignity and of ſafety. As Chriſt is at Gods right hand Pſal. 110.1. ſo the Church is at his, Pſal. 45.10. and he hath led captivity captive Eph. 4.8. ſpoiled Principalities and powers, made an open ſhew of them, triumphing over them in himſelf, Col. 2.15. This is the ſaints happineſſe: they are out of gun-ſhot, more then Conquerours, even Triumphers, 2 Cor. 2.14.

ſhe ſhall be brought up] whither ſhe would not, to take horſe or coach to go into captivity, as Q. Zenobia was brought in triumph to Rome in golden fetters, by Aurelianus the Emperour.

and her maides ſhall lead her] Her maides of honour; The Gynecium or Seraglio ſhall fall into the hands of rude ſouldiers; and by them be hurried away into a far country. Neither is it without deſert: for omne malum ferè ex Gynaecio; Women are many times meanes of much miſchief: and for their miſcarriages, men fall by the ſword, and the mighty in the warr: the gates alſo of the city lamene and mourn, Eſay. 3.11.25, 26. even for the Ladyes gallantry, whereof we have here an inventory. What a deale of trouble bred Jezabel in Iſrael, Athaliah p. 403in Judah, thoſe 2. late turbulent Queen-Mothers in Scotland and France? of which later and her Cardinall Lorraine, One made this ſtinging diſtich,

Non audet Stygius Pluto tentare quod audet

Effraenis Monachus, plenaque fraud… anus.

as with the voice of doves] Mourning ſecretly to themſelves, and groaning inwardly;In more in columbarum muſſitantium. Eſay 38.14. & 59.11.Isa 38:14Isa 59:11 as not ſuffered to bark at thoſe that carry them captive, (as Hecuba Queen of Troy did, and is therefore fabled to be turned into a bitch) or to fill the air with complaints of their hard fortunes, as they call it, or to eaſe their grief by loud lamentations; but forced to ſmother it, and take it all to themſelves, which is no ſmall aggravation of it: For Expletur lachrymis egeriturque dolor.Ovid. Their tongues and their tears are womens beſt weapons. Et hic ferè laſciviae, luxus, & libidinis ſinis eſt, ſaith Gualther here. Lo, ſuch, for moſt part, is the end of laſciviouſneſſe, luxury, and luſt. Let women be warned.

tabring upon their breaſts] Not ſinging and playing on inſtruments after their Ladies, as once: but moaning, and groaning, and knocking their breaſts, for the greatneſſe of their grief, and heavineſſe; whereof this is an excellent, and eloquent deſcription.

Verſe 8. But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water] Like a fiſh-pool of water,foreign and therefore happy: The word here uſed for a pool, or pond, ſignifieth alſo a bleſſing. The Pope was wont to ſay of England, that it was puteus inexhauſtus, his pit that could not be drawn dry. Such a pit, or pool was Nineveh. Populous, wealthy, potent, &c. Eſay 8.7. the Magazine of the whole Eaſt, a rich Cargazon, Turk. hiſt. 843.and not unlike the Iſland Cyprus, anciently called, Macaria, that is, bleſſed, for the plenty, proſperity, and pleaſure there abounding. This invited the Romans to ſubdue it: as the pearls uſually caſt out at the flood, and gathered at the ebbe,Sext. Ruf. Sueton. in vit. Caeſa. cap. 47. drew Caeſars affection for the conqueſt of Britain: and as Nineveh's fiſh-pool did the Chaldean fiſhermen. The greater wealth, the greater ſpoil awaiteth a people, or perſon, Prov. 1.19. As if a tree hath thick and large boughes, every man deſires to be lopping of it. Nineveh's antiquity is here alſo noted. Of old, or, of a long time ſhe hath been Empreſſe of the Eaſt; She was the ſeat of the firſt Monarchy, which ſhe alſo held longeſt of any, even above thirteen hundred yeers. Howbeit this ſhall be now no protection to her, but an article, or an argument againſt her, that ſhe is an old ſinner, and hath been long time heaping up, and hoarding the mammon of unrighteouſneſſe.

yet they ſhall flee away] as waters do when the banks of a pond are broken down: and as fiſh do, when the water is drawn out, or dried up: then they friggle any way. So ſhall the Ninevites flee away, when their city is once broken: pugnae obliti, priſtinaeque virtutis.

Stand, ſtand, ſhall they cry] Their own Commanders, deſirous to rally them: or their enemies, deſirous to ranſack them, and make prize of them: Sed ſurdo fabulam.

but none ſhall look back] Or, cauſe them to turn. Nemo poteſt eos reſupinare: their hearts are fallen into their heels, and they have much more mind to ſave themſelves by flight, then by fight.

Verſ. 9. Take ye the ſpoil of ſilver, take ye the ſpoil of gold] This is the voice of God to the Caldeans; incouraging them to fall on, ſith they are ſure of good booty, plenty of plunder, which he here freely beſtoweth upon them. In like ſort Mahomet the great Turk, the better to encourage his ſouldiers to ſtorm Conſtantinople, cauſed proclamation to be made thorow his Camp the day before, that hee would freely give all the ſpoil of the city for three dayes unto them,Turk hiſt. 345. if they could win it. And for confirmation thereof, he ſolemnly ſwore the Turks great oath, &c. Now the love of money is foreign, ſaith a Father, daring and deſperate.

For there is none end of the ſtore] Fat plunder, as was at Conſtantinople: the wealth whereof, the Turks themſelves wondered at; and were therewith ſo enriched, that 'tis a proverb amongſt them at this day, if any grow ſuddenly rich,Ibid. 347. to ſay, He hath been at the ſacking of Conſtantinople. Neither did they more wonder p. 404at their wealth, then derided their folly: for that poſſeſſing ſo much, they would part with ſo little to their Emperour,Ibid. 345. for the defence of themſelves and their Countrey. And the like is reported of Heidelberg.

and glory out of all the pleaſant furniture] Heb. veſſels, or utenſils of deſire: which are ſaid to yeeld glory, becauſe with men one hath ſo much glory and reſpect, as he hath wealth, and rich houſhold-ſtuff. See Gen. 31.1. with the Note. 1 King. 10.23. 2 Chron. 32.27. See here alſo the juſt judgement of God upon ſuch, as ſet their affections upon that coſtly vanity, rich furniture. (Hezechiah ſmarted for it, Eſay 39.2, 6. 2 Chron. 32.27.) or rich attire, which is ſuperbiae nidus, the neſt of pride, ſaith One. The worſt apparell is natures garment; the beſt, but follies garniſh, ſaith Another.

Verſe 10. She is empty, and void, and waſte] An elegant Agnomination in the Originall,Bukab, umebukah, umbylla. kah. beyond Engliſhing: whereby the utter deſtruction, and conſternation of the City and Monarchy is graphically depainted, and ſet forth to the life. See a like elegancy, Jer. 16.15. The laſt word rendred waſte, ſignifieth burſt up, or, void of all verdure; a place where nothing green groweth. Such an horrible devaſtation followeth upon Gods word of command to the Caldees, verſe 9. like as when Chriſt curſed the barren fig-tree,Matth. 21.20.Matt 21:20 it withered away immediately, though it be the moſt ſucculent of any tree, and beareth the brunt of winter-blaſts unwithered. Gods words, however ſlighted, are not wind, but fire, Jer. 5.13, 14.

and the heart melteth] The heart (in quo fortitudo ſtabulum habet, the ſeat of courage) fell aſunder in their boſomes like drops of water:Crocius. they were cowed out. See Joſ. 2.11. & 5.1. & 7.5. Eſay 13.7. Ezek. 21.12.

and the knees ſmite together] Genua labant, as is uſuall in extreme fear: the blood retreating to the heart,Virg. to releeve it. See Dan. 5.6. Job. 4.4. Eſay 35.3.

and much pain is in all loins] Such pain as befalleth women in travell, Eſay 21.3. and 13.8. Joel 2.6. Mic. 4.9, 10. the doubled form of the Hebrew word implieth the extremity of it. The loins are the ſeat of ſtrength: whence the Latines call weak men,Elumbes. Loinleſſe men.

and the faces of them all gather blackneſſe] Heb. … pot, i.e. ſuch blackneſſe as is on the ſides of a pot.Olla, lebes, cacabus. See Joel 2.6. Ioy and ſorrow will ſhew themſelves in the face, as in a glaſſe. Now if for a temporall miſchief, there is ſo great a conſternation in wicked men, what ſhall we think there is in hell?

Verſe 11. Where is the dwelling of the Lious, &c.] Where is Nineveh, once ſo terrible, now ſo deſpicable? Leoni mortuo vel mus inſultat. Once none durſt look at it, or mute againſt it, now each paſſenger can inſult over it, enquire where it ſtood, and not be afraid to take this Lion by the beard. God powreth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the ſtrength of the mighty, Job 12.21. when once they turn tyrants, and exerciſe regiment without righteouſneſſe, as Mic. 3.2, 3. Such a mighty hunter, or devourer of men and nations was Nimrod (the firſt founder of this Aſſyrian Monarchy) and became a proverb againſt all tyrants, and perſecutours, Gen. 10.9. Such a Lion was Nero, 2 Tim. 4.17. Such a Tiger Tiberius, (of whom One ſaith, that he laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent ſpirits of his time) Domitian, (who not content with the blood of Chriſtians, commanded all Jews that were of the ſtock of David, to be ſought out, and put to death) Diocleſian, and the reſt of the Primitive perſecutours: As alſo that man of ſinne, the whole pack of Popes, ſucceſſours to Boniface the eighth (who came in like a fox, reigned like a lion, died like a dog) and to Benedict the twelfth, who when he died, had this Epitaph made of him:

Hic ſitus eſt Nero, laicis leo, vipera clero:

Devius à vero, turba repleta mero.…ei Medulla hiſt. E…cleſ. 321.

and the feeding place of the young lions] Where the old ones provided prey fro them, till they could skill to do it for themſelves; that which they would ſoon learn and practiſe, when once grown up. The Aſſyrian young-princes were accuſtomed to rapine, and cruelty from the firſt: being no better then young Tiberims, whom his Tutour Theodorus Gadareus rightly characterized,foreign. when he ſaid, he was Dirt kned with blood: Or, then Nero the lion; of whom his father Domitius p. 405prophecied, that of himſelf and his wife Agrippina (both notoriouſly naught) no good man could be born. Mali corvi, malum ovum. Dio in NeroneOf an ill breed, ne catulus …idem relinquendus, ſaid the Romans, when they ſlew one of their tyrants together with his young ſonne. It was Maximinus, if I miſtake not.

where the lion, even the old lion walked] The couragious, or hearty lion (named of Leo an heart) walked and ſtalked with his whelps, and none made them afraid.Labi. but now, his heart melteth, his knees knock together for fear, and faintneſſe, as verſe 10. his city Nineveh (that was not onelyonly ſpoliarium latronum, Calv.but ſpelunca leonum) is now no where: it ſhall live by fame onelyonly, time ſhall triumph over it. God will ſtain the pride of all glory, and bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth, Eſay 23.9. So

Clara fuit-Sparte, magnae viguêre Mycenae,Ovid. Metant. lib. 15.

Vile ſolum Sparte eſt, altae cecidere Mycenae.

Oedipodioniae quid ſunt niſi nomina Thebae? &c.

Verſe 12. The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps] i. e. that which might have been enough and ſpare, but that they were unſatiable. So covetous they were and ravenous, that their Poſie might have been, Totus non ſufficit orbis: their deſire of more, was enlarged as hell; greedy lions they were, that could never have enough, Eſay 56.11. As a ſhip may be over-laden with gold and ſilver, even unto ſinking, and yet have compaſſe and ſides enough to hold ten times more: ſo the cormorants and covetous caitives of this world, though they have enough to ſink them; yet never have they enough to ſatisfie them.

and ſtrangled for his lioneſſes] i. e. for his wives and concubines, by whom they were commanded, being captivarum ſuarum captivi, as Plutarch ſaith of the Perſian kings; ſlaves to their ſhe-ſlaves, whom they enriched and adorned with the ſpoils of the ſubdued nations. Cicero in his fifth Action againſt Verres, ſaith, that the kings of Perſia and Syria, (think the ſame of Aſſyria) as they had many wives, ſo they would beſtow upon them whole cities for their maintenance. Antiochus king of Syria, gave two fair cities to his Concubine, 2 Maccab. 4.30. Antony gave all Egypt to Cleopatra. Henry 2. of France, gave to Diana Valentina all the confiſcation of goods made in the kingdom for cauſe of Hereſie, Anno 1554. which cauſed the burning of many good people. Ʋtinam hodie non eſſent leanae, ſaith Calvin here. It were to be wiſhed there were not now adayes lioneſſes,Hiſt. of Councel of Trent. 387. that can of themſelves ſtrangle and devour: but we ſee that there are ſome women that exceed all men in impudency and cruelty. The Queen-mother he meant, in all likelyhood, as Beza did her cruell ſonne Charles 9. Authour of the Maſſacre, in that Verſe of his, made upon the that new ſtarre in Caſſiopeia, 1572.

Tu verò Herodes ſanguinolente time.Camd. Elizab.

and filled his holes with prey, and his denne with ravine] His palaces with treaſure, his coffers with caſh, raked together by evil arts, and oppreſſive practiſes. What elſe was the whole Aſſyrian Empire, but a great theevery? Alexander the Great was told to his teeth, that he was the greateſt thief in the world. And was not Jul… Caeſar ſuch another? who ſaid, that for a kingdomes ſake right might be vio…? and who robbed his countrey of her liberty, for the ſatisfying of his unlawfull deſire of ruledome? But for whom all this? ſurely for thoſe that never thanked them for any thing, but fought for their ſpoil.

Verſe 13. Behold I am againſt thee] Ecce me contra…te: Behold I, Hoc ecce non excitat modo ſed perterrefacit.who am of my ſelf a whole Army of men, Van and Rcare both, Eſay 52.12. I am againſt thee, ſaith the Lord of Hoſtss, who have all creatures at command if need were, as Auxiliaries: and can arm your own forces againſt you, ſheath your own ſwords in your own bowels. Wo be to rhoſe that have God againſt them. The Tigurine rendreth it, En me tibi hoſtem, &c.Deus ſerierum.

and I will burn her charets in the ſmoke,] That is, ſaith Danaeus, I will burn all their munition, and furniture for warre, with a moſt bitter and ſoft fire, that they may be the more grieved, and the more tormented thereby. Others, by ſmoke underſtand p. 406the ſuddenneſſe of the judgement q. d. No ſooner ſhall my wrath begin to kindle,Calvin. but I will conſume them: prime impetu, ſo ſoon as ever the flame beginneth to break forth, or rather, before. By charets may be alſo meant, thoſe that were carried in them. The Hebrew gloſſe here is, By ſmoke, that is, by a fire whoſe ſmoke is ſeen afarre off. See Judg. 20.40. Such ſhall be the fire of the laſt day, as A Lapide here noteth out of Hierom: when all the lions, and lions whelps, that is, all tyrants and oppreſſours ſhall be burnt, together with all their charrets, pompes, and meſſengers, ac imprimis corum dux & princeps Antichriſtus, and eſpecially Antichriſt their Captain, and Chieftain. He and his Jeſuites ſhall doubtleſſe then be caſt alive into a lake of fire, burning with brimſtone, Revel, 19.20. Let A Lapide note that.

and the ſword ſhall devour thy young lions! Thou ſhalt bring forth children to the murtherer: and thoſe that have taken the ſword (though never ſo young) ſhall periſh by the ſword, Mat. 26.52. As a Nettle ſtings betime, an Urchin is rough whiles young, and a Crab ſoon goes backward: ſo ſanguinary diſpoſitions will ſoon diſcover themſelves.

And I will cut off thy prey from the earth] Thou ſhalt be no further terrible, and troubleſome to the nations, whom thou haſt vexed and ſpoiled. Of Baldwin that Apoſtate, One ſaith, that when he died, deſiit ſimul maledicere & vivere, he ceaſed at once to live and to rail. And of our Henry 2. the Chronicler writeth, that in a great diſtemperature againſt his rebellious ſonnes, he departed the world, which ſo often himſelf had diſtempered. Nineveh the great huntreſſe was now under that wo, Eſa. 33.1.

and the voice of thy meſſengers] thy Heralds, by whom thou haſt proclaimed war, or made unreaſonable demands, or laid hard lawes upon other nations, or exacted grievous tributes, or publiſhed thy new victories, to keep people in awe, or laſtly, blaſphemed my great Name, as Rabſhakeh one of thy meſſengers will do, 2 King. 18.19. Theſe ſhall all be ſilenced, an end ſhall be put to them and thee.

CHAP. III.

Verſe 1. WOe to the bloody city] Nineveh, that delighteth in warre, which One well calleth,foreign. the ſlaughter-houſe of mankinde, and Hell of this preſent world, Eſay 95. the Greek word foreign, warre, ſignifieth muſh blood. Beſides that, many murthers were committed in her, and connived at, if not countenanced by a pretence of juſtice. Such a ſanguinary city is Rome: not onelyonly drunk with the blood of ſaints,Jacob. Rev de vita Pontif. pag. 119. but alſo of her own children. Brazutus, ſet on by Hildebrand, was the death of ſix Popes ſucceſſively, within the ſpace of thirteen yeers. Pope John the 22. (who ſat Anno Dom. 1316.) flead a Biſhop, who had ſome way offended him,Ibid. 270. Spec. Europ. and afterwards burned him. Pope Paul the third, poyſoned two Cardinalls, Fulgoſus, and Contarenus, a Biſhop alſo, and Johannes Baptiſta Vergerius, becauſe he ſuſpected them of Lutheraniſme. The Italians generally, as they blaſpheme oftener then ſwear. ſo they murther more then revile or ſlander. Such another citie of bloods is Paris in France: witneſſe that barbarous Maſſacre, wherein they poyſoned the Qeen of Navarre, murthered the moſt part of the peerleſſe Nobility of France, with their wives and children, with a gre… … of the common people, an hundred thouſand in one year, in divers parts of … Realm. Beſides 6000. Gentlemen, ſlain there in private quarrels, within the ſpace of ten years, as it appears by the kings pardons. Now if the blood of one Abel had ſo many tongues as drops, Gen. 4.8. the voice of they brothers bloods crieth unto me, what ſhall we think will be the woe of ſuch bloody Cities and States? Luther rendreth this Text.Aug. in Pſal. & Libera me de ſanguin. Woe to the murtherous State. Auſtin interpreteth it of all hainous offences, wherewith Nineveh was polluted. But ſurely if other ſinnes have a woe hanging at their heels, according to that of Job, chap. 10.15. If I be wicked, woe unto me; bloody men ſhall have a woe with a witneſſe, as thoſe that walk in the way of Cain, Jude 11. See Ezech. 24.6. Hab. 3.12. and remember that it was the ruin of that great city Nineveh.

p. 407It is all full of lies] foreign ſo the Seventy render it,Ʋniverſa, mendacium. ſhe is wholly made up of fraud and falſhood, mendacio…um loquaciſſima; no truth in her private contracts, no truſt in her publike tranſactions, and capitulations with other nations; be they never ſo ſtrongly concluded, or never ſo ſolemnly confirmed, yet had they no longer force with them, then ſtood with their own profit. This was ſides Ninivetica, as it was afterwards Punica, and is now Turcica: which will at length prove their downfall; as it befell Nineveh, and Carthage.

and robbery] Or, ravage; ſuch as lions exerciſe, Pſal. 7.3. Liars are commonly theeves: fraudulency is no better then robbery. If I have beguiled any man, Laceratio.ſaith Zacheus, I reſtore him foure-fold, Luke 19.9. as having wronged him no leſſe, then if I had robbed him. Hence they go here coupled. Violence is ſeldome ſundred from conning contrivance; in thoſe eſpecially that hunt after Monarchy, as N…mrod, Julius Caeſar, Pellem vulpinam leoninae. aſſuereLyſander (whoſe counſell and practiſe was to eek out the lions hide, with the foxes skin, if need were) Jeroboam, Jehu, Herod, that fox, Julian, Caeſar Borgia, whom Machiavel propounds for a partern to Princes; telling them, that Juſtice it ſelf ſhould not be ſought after, but onelyonly the appearance: becauſe the credit is a help, the uſe a cumber. That great Elixer, called Reaſon of State (though falſely ſo called, unleſſe it be ſeaſoned with Juſtice and Truth) hath ſo tranſmutative a faculty, as to make copper ſeem gold, right wrong, and wrong right: yea, when all pleas fail, it will ſtand for good, whiles there are forces to ſupport it.

The prey departeth not] They fetch in booty continually, they ſpoil and prey upon others without end or meaſure. Once they ſeemed to repent of their luxury and cruelty, at the preaching of Jonas; but now they are … bad again, or worſe then ever. They tear in pieces (our Engliſh ſeems to bee made of the Hebrew here) and greedily feed upon thoſe murthering morſels of ſin,Tureph. which they muſt di…geſt in hell, without better repentance, then they were ever yet acquainted with.

Verſe 2. The noiſe of a whip, and the noiſe of the ratling of the wheels] A moſt elegant and lively hypotypoſis or deſcription, of the Chaldees coming to take Nineveh, Tam pulchra, ſaith Hierom, & picture ſimilis, ut omnis meus Jermo ſit vilior, ſo gallant and picture-like a repreſentation of an advancing Army, that no words of mine can come neer it. Virgil is commended for his excellent expreſſions, ſutable to the matter he treateth of. As when he ſets forth the cutting down of trees, by —Son a icta ſecuribus ilex: the ferrimans trade, by —fremit ictibus aerea puppis: the gliding of his boat, by —Labitur uncta vadis abies, &c. But all this is but dull ſhuffe to the divine Rhetorike here to be read. Let thoſe that refuſe to hear Gods ſweet words, fear leſt they be forced to hear the noiſe of the whip, the ratling of the wheels, &c Pſal. 7.12, 13. Luk. 19.42, 44. Prov. 1.24, &c. The enemy is ſent to revenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant: the red horſe is at the heels of the white, Rev. 6.4.

Verſ. 3. The horſeman liſteth up both the bright ſword] Heb. the flame of the ſword, brandiſhed againſt the Sunne, which maketh it ſeem flaming. Such a ſword is mans tongue, thin, broad, long, and of a red ſiery colour. See Pſal. 42.10. and 64.3. Prov. 12.18. David cries out of this murthering-weapon in his bones, whereby they killed him alive, as with a tuck, or rapier; and buried him in their throats, thoſe gaping graves, open ſepulchres.

and the glittering ſpear] Heb. the lightening of the ſpear, becauſe of its bright and ſwift motion. Thus the Prophet perpetuis metapheris & periphraſibus luxuriat (as One ſaith of Apul…ius) aboundeth with Rhetoricall expreſſions,Turk. hiſt. and continued meraphers. Bajazer the Great Turk, for his valour and skill in handling his arms, was firna…ed Gilderum, or lightening.

and there is a mul…tude of ſlain. So that it is not fulgur ex vitro, an empty terrour, a bare fright onelyonly, as a fools dagger, that ratleth and inappeth, but without an edge. …ide his effectum. See here the ſad effect, loe the tragedy repreſented, behold a multitude of ſlain, and a great number of carkaſſes, &c. This the Prophet ſpake, not with any delight, further then made for the glory of God, and the Churches deliverance: but that hee may ſet forth by this example, what they muſt look for that imitate Ninevites in their practiſes; for ſinne ever p. 408ends tragically:Miror te quorum mores imitaris corum exitus non perhor reſcere. Cic. De Naboth Cap. and God is ſtill the ſame, as He is ſet forth Chap. 1.2. I wonder, ſaith Cicero to Verres, that thou ſhunneſt not their vices whoſe fearfull ends thou art much afraid of. And St. Amhroſe, cloſing up the ſad ſtory of Ahab and Iezabel, whom God deſtroied for their wickedneſſe, Fuge ergò dives ejuſmodi exitum, ſaith he Tremble at ſuch di…mall ends, and be carefull to avoid them: ſuch ends ye ſhall avoyd, if ye carefully flie from ſuch flagitious practiſes.

and agreat number of carkaſſes] Heb. the heavineſſe of dead carkaſſes which lie ſo thick. that the earth ſeemeth to groane under the burthen of them.

there is none end of their corpſes] that lie on heapes like ſo many mountaines: as they did after the fight betweene Amurath king of Turks, and Lazarus Deſpot of Servia.Turk hiſt. 200 which whiles Amurath took a view of, he was ſuddenly ſtabbed to daath by a half-dead ſouldier, ſtarting up from among the carkaſles.

they ſtumble upon their corpſes] And afterwards, perhaps, uſe them inſtead of ſtooles and tables,Lanquet: Chro. as the Suiſſers did the Thuric…nſes their adverſaries An…. 1443. banquetting in the place where they won the victory.

Verſe 4. Becauſe of the multitude of the whoredomes of the well-favored harlot] Specious, and therefore gracious with her paramours: of a faire countenance, but foule condition: like Aurelia Oreſtilla, that had beauty, but no good property. Chryſippus cailed beauty the flower of vertue;Cujus praeter formam nihil unquam bonus laudauit. Saluft. but that is not generally true. Diogenes ſaw cauſe to ſay to ſome faire women in his time, O quam bona domus, ſed malus hoſpes; Here's a faire hcuſe, but an ill inhabitant. Niniveh is the well-favored harlot here ſpoken of; her very name ſignifieth a faire habitation. Hierome and others interpret it, ſhe was indeed Vrbs formoſa et famoſ…, faire and famous, but fooliſh and filthy, Meretrix meretriciſſima; ſhe multiplied her whoredomes both corporall and ſpir ituall; for theſe are ſeldome fundred: as we ſee in that once well-favored, but now withered whore of Rome, Rev. 17.1. Roma inverted is Amor, prepoſtrerous love, unnaturall filthineſſe is there as commonly practiſed, as Idolatry. And as a common harlot paints and deckes herſelf to pleaſe her lovers; ſo did Niniveh, ſo doth Rome in her pompous and men-pleaſing worſhips: I have read of a Lady in Paris, that when ſhe ſaw the bravery of a Proceſlion to a Saint, ſhe cried out, Oh how fine is our religion bepond that of the Huguenots. And Sir Walter Rawleigh was wont ſay, that were he to chuſe a religion for fleſhly liberty, and laſciviouſneſſe, he would chuſe Popery: which is indeed an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, none like it.

the miſtreſſe of witch-crafts] Harlots are many of them enchantreſſes; and have their philtra, their love potions, wherewith to enſnare men, and to draw them on to lewdneſſe, and to take away their hearts. Hoſ. 4.11. Athenaeus brings in Plato bewailing himſelf, that he was taken ſo much with a filthy harlot. And Elian telles of a whore that boaſted to Socrates, that ſhe could eaſily get followers from him; not he from her. Of Sampſon and Hercules (whom ſome think to have been the ſame) thoſe two verſes verified,

Nam potuit lenam, potuit ſuperare leaenam:

Quem fera non potuit vincere; vicit hera.

Think the ſame of idolatry alſo; and if thoſe forceries, whereby the purple whore hath deceived all nations, as St. John (in alluſion to this place) ſaith of her Rev. 18.23. For in that book of the Revelation the holy Ghoſt borrowes all the elegancies and flowers in the ſtory of the old Teſtament: thereby to ſet out the ſtory of the New in ſucceeding ages.

That ſelleth nations through her whordoms] maketh prize of them, as thoſe impoſtours did, 2 Tim. 3.6. and then make ſale of them as her ſlaves 2 Pe…. 2.3. or otherwiſe uſe them at her pleaſure, as homely as the whore of Babylon now doth thoſe her ſlaves, and ſoules of men Rev. 18.13. whom ſhe ſits upon, even upon peoples, nations, multitudes and tongues, Rev. 17.15. tyrannizing over their conſciences, and appointing them to very meane offices: as that poſture of hers, in ſitting upon them, ſeemeth to import.

Verſe 5. Behold I am againſt thee ſaith the Lord] And I need ſay no more; wert thou but ſenſible of thy miſery herein. Be not thou a terrour to me O Lord, p. 409ſaith Jeremiah, and then let what will elſe befall me: I ſhall the better beare it. Doe not you fall upon me your ſelves, ſaid Sampſon to his country men,Judg. 15.12.Judg 15:12 that came to bind him: and then for the Philiſtines I ſhall order them well enough: ſo faith the good ſoul, Let not God ſet againſt me &c. Tyrants and Oppreſſours ſhal be ſure to have him thei enemy: and this he telles them here againe and againe: to beat downe their vaine conſidence in their greatneſſe: whereby they think to beare down all before them.

And I will diſcover thy ſkirts upon thy face] i.e. I will turne up thy clothes about thy eares: and ſo ſhew all to, thine utter diſgrace; a fit puniſhment for ſo filthy a harlot. Eſa. 47.3. Ier. 13, 22. Eze. 16.37.

And I will ſhew the nations thy nakedneſſe] which nature teacheth to cover:therefore when a man hath committed a ſinne, he bluſheth:Acts & Mon. Honos ſit auri-bus. the bloud as it were would cover the ſinne, that mother of ſhame Rev. 3.18. that the ſhame of thy nakedneſſe may not appeare. The whore of Babylon is, and more and more ſhall be ſerved on this ſort: Rev. 17.16. Aſore God, ye are all bare-toul'd ſaid Mr. Philpot Martyr to the Popiſh Synod, before whom he was convented. The kings of the earth ſhall make Rome deſolate and naked. Luther and many other Proteſtant writers have done it already, by laying her open in her colours to the world: taking the the ſame boldneſſe and liberty to diſcover her lewdneſſe, that ſhe did to commit it.

And the kingdoms, thy ſhamo] who ſhall therehence ſlight thee and hate thee, together with all thy policies and ſuperſtitions, wherby thou haſt enſlaved them.

Verſe 6. And I will caſt abominable filth upon thee] As they do chamber-pots and worſe, upon harlots that are carted. I have read of a heathen people that put the adniterers and adultereſſes heads into the paunch of a beaſt, where all the f…th lieth; and ſo ſtifled them to death.

And make thee vile] Conſpurcabo, deturpabo to, I will beſpattle thee and make thee ſtink above ground, as lothſome carrion doth; ſo the word ſignifieth. It was long ſince complained of by one of her own ſonnes, that the ſtench of the Church of Rome was gone up to heaven. And by another,Mat. Paris. that of gold ſhe was become ſilver, of ſilver iron, of iron earth, ſupereſſe ut in ſtercus abiret, and now there remained no more, but that ſhe ſhould be looked upon as dung.Theodoricus Vrias Auguſtinianus. Accordingly it followeth.

And I willſet thee as a gazing-ſtock] The Septuagint renders it for an example, others a looking-glaſſe, but Calvin (after R. Salomon and Aber.-Ezra) ponam t… quaſi ſtercus, I will ſet thee as dung, which men gladly look beſide.foreign. Luther rendereth it Ponam te in terriculamentum, I will make thee a bug-beare. All this was done to Niniveh that great city: and all was done by God, not by Fate, or Fortune, or any neceſſity of Nature, that ſtates and kingdoms muſt have their times and their turnes, their riſe and their ruine, as Politicians dote.Oſorius'de Nobil. l.3.

Ver. 7. And it ſhall come to paſs that all they …hat look upon thee ſhall flee from thee] Thou ſhalt be a very Magor-miſſabib a terrour to all that are round about thee: ſo that they ſhall decline thee and ſtand a loof off. Reſilient à te, they ſhall leape back from thee (faith the Vulgar tranſlation) as if they had trod upon a ſnake. Vbi ſimul hominum mores exprimit ſaith Gualther. This is the manner of moſt people: they meaſure friendſhip by profit, and ſhamefully forſake thoſe in adverſity, whom they were wont to follow and fawne upon in proſperity. David complaines of ſuch dealing, and Ovid, and many others.

And ſay, Niniveh is laid waſt] which moſt men held impoſſible,Tempera fuerint nubila ſolus eris. Cum fortuna per…t nulius amicus erit. and never looked to have ſeen ſuch a day. So Rome was called Aurea, and AEterna and the Romans once thought (as it is ſaid Dionyſius did) that the monarchy of the world had been tied unto them with chaines of adamant. But God confuted their golden dreames by breaking their Empire, and giving up their city ſix ſeverall times in one hundred thirty nine yeares, into the hands of the Barbarians: who exerciſed therein all kind of cruelty. Beſides that, it is obſerved that Rome ſince it became Papall was never beſieged by any enemy, but it was taken. The finall ruine of it is daily expected, according to that prophecy of St. John, Rev. 18.2. Lib. 8.Rev 18:2Babylon is fallen, is fallen: and that other of Sibylla afore recited, p. 410Tota eris in cineres; quaſi nunquam Roma fuiſſes.

Who will bemoane her?] Heb. Who will move (his lips) for her. Some perhaps will ſhake his head, or ſhoot his bolt at her: but none open his mouth to bemone her. It was the juſt hand of God to ſet off all hearts, and ſhut up all mouthes from her, that had been ſo unreaſonably mercileſſe and hard-hearted. Iam. 2.13.

Whence ſhall I ſeek comforters for thee] q.d. So odious thou art, that none will do thee that good office: or if they would, ſo calamitous thou art that no comſort will faſten; For as to ſore eyes the gentleft medicine is troubleſome: ſo is comſort miniſtred to ſuch as are in an hopeleſſe condition. The care that taſteth words, as the mouth doth meat, is at ſuch a time imbittred, and out of taſt.

Ver. 8. Art thou better then populous No?] Heb. No Amon a great corn-countrey, and therefore populous:Amon i.e. Nu. tritia Alma mater for where victuall and good trading is to be had, thither people will repaire apace. No (that is Alexandria) was the nurfing mother of Egypt: and Egypt was called the worlds barn or ſtorehouſe, horreum unde hauriatur Gen. 42.1. It is called Ier. 46.25. Amon de No, and Ezek. 30.11. Hamon No, and Verſe 14.16. No, without any addition. This was the old name of this city, before it was deſtroyed by Nebuchadnezzar: to whom God had given Egypt as his pay for his paines in taking Tyre. It was reedified by Alexander the great, and he called it after his own name Alexandria. Amon it was called, for the reaſons above-given. Though there be that ſech that name of it from Ham the ſon of Noah. Theodoret will have it ſo called from Iupiter Hammon, whoſe ſonne,Lib. 2 p. 51. Pauſan: Lib. 3. Lib. de Iſid. et Oſirid Alexander deſired to be held: and from whom the Egyptian husbandmen were called Ammonii, and their arable Ammonia, as Herodotus writeth. Plutarch alſo telleth us, that the Africans worſhip an unknowne God by the name of Amon, that is (in their language) Heus, tu quis es? This city therefore is called No Amon, probably to diſtinguiſh it from other cities of the ſame name; as Alexandria Egypti, Caeſarea Philippi, Auguſta Vindelicorum. &c. Ioſephus ſaith that it abounded in people,Lib. 2. de bell. Iud. Gap. 16. and wealth: being little leſſe then Hieruſalem in compaſſe. Thinkeſt thou now O Niniveh, (ſaith God here) that thou art in a better or ſafer condition, then this city once was? but I am magnum infoelix nil niſi nomen habet. Let Niniveh go to Ieruſalem, Succurrat illud mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur.to Shiloh Ier. 7.12. and do as Scipio did, when, beholding the downfall of Carthage, he fore-ſaw and bewailed the like future deſtiny of Rome his own countrey.

That was ſituate amnng the rivers] which is held the beſt ſituation for profit, pleaſure,Lib. 17. and ſtrength.

That had the waters round about it [The river Nilus begirt it, (ſaith Strabo,) but could not mott it up from Gods fire. See Pſal. 33.17. Prov. 21.30. with the Note.

Whoſe rampart was the ſea, and her wall was from the ſea] She had the Egyptian ſea on one ſide, and the lake of Mareôtis on the other, which the Hebrews called the Sea.

Verſe 9. Ethiopia and Egypt were her ſtrength] No was the Metropolis of Egypt, and knew no end of her power, as bearing rule over Ethiopia the ſtrong, and Egypt the infinite (ſome read this text) and as having all the reſt of the peoples inhabiting Afrike and Lybia for her confederates.Chus Valida et Egyptij infiniti Druſius See Ier. 46.9. where the Prophet ſpeaketh of ſuch People as brought aide to Egypt againſt the Caldees, but were foiled and worſted: Of the huge armies that Ethiopia was able to raiſe, ſee 2 Chron. 14.9. and 16.8. Egypt for her ſtrength was called Rahab Pſal. 87.4. and 89.11. that is mighty and proud.

Put and Lubim were thy helpers] By Put, Hierome underſtandeth Africa (which was over anent Alexandria, the ſea between) a waſt continent, thrice as big as Europe: and by Lubim Lybia a conſiderable part of that continent, ſomtimes put for the whole. Theſe would have been helpers to No, but could not: becauſe p. 411over-powred by Nebuchadnezzar, ſent againſt them by God. Leagues entred into with wicked men, profit not thoſe whom God will puniſh. The Grecian Churches Anno 1438. being afraid of the Turks, ſent and ſubjected themſelves to the Biſhop of Rome; that they might have the help of the Latine Churches: but ſhortly after, they were deſtroyed, and their Empire ſubdued, and ſwallowed up in the Turkiſh greatneſſe. It is gathered by ſome out of Revel. 16.14, 15, 16. that the Pope and his adherents ſhall, towards the end of the world, for the reſtoring of his decayed authority, call in the help, not onelyonly of Popiſh Princes, but of forraign States, out of Aſia, Africa, and America, to ſuppreſſe the heretikes (as they call us) and to root out Religion; but with evil ſucceſſe: for they ſhall aſſociate themſelves onelyonly to be broken in pieces, Eſay 8.9. theſe Auxiliaries ſhall ſpeed no better then thoſe ſubſidiarie Syrians did, 2 Sam. 10.18, 19. they ſhall receive a famous foil at Armageddon; ſuch as Siſera did, at the waters of Megiddo, Judg. 5.19. and a voice from the throne ſhall ſay, It is done; verſ. 16,17.

Verſe 10. Yet was ſhe carried away, ſhe went into captivity] Whereof though there be no other record, yet we ought not to doubt of the truth, ſith it is here alledged by the holy Ghoſt, as a thing either done before, or ſhortly after to bee done, as may be probably gathered from Jerem. 46.25. Ezsk. 30.19, 21. compared with Jer. 20.28. and 44.49. To God (by reaſon of the vaſtneſſe of his being) all things are preſent. As he that ſtands on an high mountain, and looks down, though to the paſſenger that goes by, ſome are before, ſome behinde; yet to him they are all preſent: So here.

her young children alſo were daſhed in pieces, at the top of all the ſtreets] A terrible ſpectacle to thoſe that paſſed by: who were to look for little mercy, when children, in whom there is ſo little guile, or gall, and who are uſually favoured for their innocency, and ignoſcency, met with ſuch hard meaſure. See the Note on Hoſ. 13.16. Warre is an evil; Eſay 45.7. ſuch as no words (how wide ſoever) can ſufficiently ſet forth. Bellum à belluis.

and they caſt lots for her honourable men] whether ſo, for age or authority; the dice were caſt on them for ſlaves, as Obad. 11. A great alteration on the ſuden. Tamberlanes coach-horſes were conquered kings. Adonibezeks doggs, ſeventy kings, gatherings crumbs under his table. Sapores uſed the Emperour Valerian for a footſtool. Craeſus carried captive by Syrus, cries out, O Solon, Procop. lib. 2. de bello Vandal.O Solon. Gilimer led intriumph by Belliſarius, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity: and calls to him for a cruſt to relieve him, a cittern to ſolace him, and a ſpunge to dry his eyes with.

Omnia ſunt hominum tenui pendentia ſilo:

Et ſubito caſu, quae valuére, ruunt.

Henry the fourth Emperour of Germanie, after ten years reigne, was depoſed; and by his enemies driven to that exigent, that he deſired onelyonly a clerkſhip in an houſe at Spire, of his own founding; which was barbarouſly, by the Biſhop of that place, denied him. Our Henry the ſixth, that had been the moſt potent Monarch for dominions that ever England had, was, when depoſed, not the maſter of a Molehill,Dan. hiſt. 189 nor of his own liberty, but beaten, and wounded, &c. to ſhew that mortality is but the ſtage of mutability; when they that were brought up in ſcarlet embrace the dung-hils, Lam. 4.5.

bound in chains] not of gold, as Zenobia was; but of iron, as the word ſignifieth,

Verſe 11. Thou alſo ſhalt be drunken] ſc. with the cup of the wine of Gods wrath, Jer. 25.27. thou ſhalt drink, and be drunk, and ſpue, and fall, and riſe no more, becauſe of the ſword which I will ſend amongst you. This is that foreign, dry drunkenneſſe of them that are drunk, but not with wine, Eſay. 51.21. of them that remember their affliction and their miſery, the wormwood and the gall, Lam. 3.19. If the ſaints ſip ſometimes of the top of Gods cup, the wicked ſhall drink deep of it, yea though it be eternity to the bottom.

thou ſhalt be hid] Or, thou ſhalt lurk, either for fear of the enemy (who waſt once above fear, and thine enemies below hope) or, for ſhame of thine undone condition. See Rev, 6.16. Luke 23.30. Hoſ. 10.8. Or, thou ſhalt vaniſh, and p. 412be brought to nothing; as if there never had been any ſuch. Confer Obad 16. Nineveh is nothing elſe now, ſaith One who had been there, but a ſepulture of her ſelf, a little town of ſmall trade, where the Patriarch of the Neſtorians keeps his ſeat at the devotion of the Turk.

thou ſhalt alſo ſeek ſtrength becauſe of the enemy] Or, from the enemie: beg help of them, to whom thou wouldeſt once have ſcorned to be beholden: or of them, againſt whom thou haſt profeſſed, and practiſed open hoſtility.

Verſe 12. All thy ſtrong-holds ſhall be like fig-trees] i. e. tam infirma ac ſificulnea eſſent. Look how the fig-tree caſteth her untimely (or green) figges, when ſhe is ſhaken of a mighty wine, Rev. 6.13. yea, though it be but of a gentle wind, if the figs be ripe, as here, they fall with little ado: ſo ſhall thy munitions, wherein thou truſteſt.

they ſhall even fall into the mouth of the eater] that is, of the Chaldear, who gape for thy deſtruction, and deſires nothing more then to revell in thy ruines. They ſhall take thy fortreſſes as eaſily, as Timotheus did townes; which were ſaid to come into his toyls,Aemuli ipſius dormientem pinxerant, &c. Plut. in Sylla. Introd. to hiſt. by Mat. Paris. O vere Phr…giae neque enim Phryges Virg. whiles he ſlept. Or, as Charles 5. who in 28. battels in America, waged by his Generalls Cortez, and Pizarro, wan 28. kingdoms.

Verſe 13. Behold thy people in the middeſt of thee are women] i. e. Fearfull, and faint-hearted: foreign. See Eſay 3.12. Jer. 51.30. and 48.41. And this in the middeſt of thee, where they ſhould be moſt valiant, like cocks on their own dung-hill, as they ſay. Lo, thoſe that formerly faced the heavens, and, by a Cy…lopical-kind of impiety, ſlighted God, and dared the devil to a duell, how creſt-faln they are and courageleſſe, when the enemy is upon them: the noiſe of a driven leaf, affrights them, Lev. 26. a panick terrour ſeizeth upon them, as it did once upon the Syrians, 2 King. 7. and upon the Imperialiſts, in the warre againſt the Huſſites, ſo that they could not ſtrike a ſtroke: and upon the Burgundians, who expecting a battle, thought long thiſtles were launces, and turned their backs, with thoſe Ephraimites, Pſal. 78.9. It is God that puts mettle into men, that ſtrengthens or weakens the arm of either party, Ezek. 30.24. Theſe lions, as they are called chap. 2.12. that formerly ruſhing out of Nineveh their den, filled it with ravine, tearing and ſpoiling all they met with, are now become Harts and Stagges; that have great horns, but do nothing with them, quia de…ſt animus, becauſe they want courage: or as thoſe Eretrians, of whom Themiſtocles ſaid, that they were like the ſword-fiſh,Plutarch. that had a ſword indeed, but not an heart to make uſe of it.

the gates of thy land ſhall be ſet wide open] Thy frontier townes and cinqueports, thoſe keyes of the kingdom; aperiendo aperientur ſhall open to give the enemie entrance; as at the ſiege of Jeruſalem, the iron-gate opened of it own accord.

the fire ſhall devoure thy barres] Becauſe God, who is a conſuming fire, ſhall remove out of the enemies way, all obſtacles and impediments: ſo that all ſhall be pervious, and patent to them. Fire God had threatened once before, chap. 2.13. and it may very well be, that the gates were fired without a metaphor. See verſe 15.

Verſe 14. Draw the waters, for the ſiege, &c. A moſt bitter and biting taunt, or mock:Sarcaſmus. whereby the Prophet laugheth to ſcorn the fortifications of the Ninevites, and their diligence and providence in defending themſelves, which ſhall nothing avail them, becauſe God will curſe their enterpriſes, Pſal. 127.1, 2. See the like Sarcaſme chap. 2.1. In thoſe Eaſtern countries there was great ſcarcity of water. Draw thee good ſtore for the better holding out the ſiege: for if water fail thee, thou muſt needs yeeld.

fortifie thy ſtrong-holds] But they ſhall ſoon fail thee, verſe 12. as the tower of Shechem did thoſe that fled to it, and as the ſtrong-hold of Zion did the braving Jebuſites, 2 Sam. 5.7. If God bee againſt us, no other help can relieve us. Braſſe and iron can fence a man againſt a ſword, but not againſt fire.

go into clay and tread the morter] viz. to make brick of. For in maritine, and mooriſh places, where ſtones are not to be had, they uſed to wall their cities, and make their munitions with brick. This, proud Nineveh is commanded here to do, p. 413by an Irony, as Theophylact noteth: but ſhe ſhall but labour in the very fire, take pains to no purpoſe: for God will deſtroy the works of her hands, Eccleſ. 5.6.

make ſtrong the brick-kilne] Or, repair it, that all may be ready. And theſe things they did no doubt very diligently: neither were they for that to be blamed. But this was their fault; as it was alſo the fault of the Jews in like caſe, Eſay 22. that they looked not to the Maker of all, neither had reſpect unto him that faſhioned it long ago. See. verſe 8, 9, 10, 11. This, if they had done ſeriouſly, though they had made leſſe preparation, the enemy might have been daunted, and diſmayed as much, as that Duke of Saxony was; who having proclaimed warre againſt the Biſhop of Magdeburg, and underſtanding by his intelligencers, that the Biſhop levied no army, made no preparation, but onelyonly gave out, that he would commit his cauſe to God, who would not fail to take up arms for him; Inſaniat alius, Bucholcer. Chronol.ſaid the Duke, It were a mad prank in me to make warre upon ſuch an one as truſteth in God to right and revenge him. Let who will meddle with ſuch a man: I will not.

Verſe 15. There ſhall the ſire devour thee] There, that is, in thy ſtrong-holds, where thou thinkeſt thy ſelf moſt ſafe. Theſe ſhall be to thee pro carcere & piſtrino, for a priſon, or little-eaſe; when the fire of Gods wrath ſhall kindle upon thee, the fire of warre ſhall conſume thee. See Amos 1.4. Joel 1.19. and 2.3, 30. Amos 7.4 with the Notes. Evil ſhall hunt the violent man to deſtroy him, Pſal. 140.11. neither muſt he think to be ſafe any where from divine vengeance, Amos 9.2, 3. Pſal. 139.7, 8, 9, 10. Obad 4. which will not ſuffer them to live, as thoſe Barbarians could tell, Acts 28.4. The Heathens, called Nemeſis, or Vengeance, foreign; to ſhew that no guilty perſon could ſhun it. Shufle he may for a ſeaſon from ſide to ſide, as Balaams aſſe did, to avoid the Angels ſword;Num. 22.27.Num 22:27 but at length lay down under it, and ſo condemned her maſters madneſſe, 2 Pet. 2.16. Running in to God, is the onelyonly beſt way to eſcape him: as to cloſe and get in with him that would ſtrike you, doth avoid the blow.

the ſword ſhall cut thee off] Eſt haec vehemens planè comminatio, ſaith Gualther. This is truely a very vehement threat. See how thick it falls like hail-ſhot upon them, that they can hardly take breath: and all too little to work upon their hard hearts, which could not repent. Theſe uncounſellable Ninevites were like the Smiths dog. whom neither the hammers above him, nor the ſparks of fire falling round about him can awake. Like Leviathan, they eſteemed iron as ſtraw, and braſſe as ro…ten wood. Darts were counted by them as ſtubble, they laughed at the ſhaking of the ſpear, Job 41.27, 29. It is proper to Gods people to tremble at his word, to ſtand in awe of his judgements, whileſt they yet hang in the threatnings. Wicked men flear, when they ſhould fear; and ſay in their hearts when God threateneth them, as Frederick the ſecond, Emperour of Germany was wont to ſay openly, in the greateſt threatning of his enemies, Minarum ſtrepitus, Aſinorum crepitus.

It ſhall eat thee up as the canker-worm] Which uſeth to make quick diſpatch, and clean work. See Joel 1. & 2. to ſhear all afore it.

make thy ſelf many] Heb. Weighty with multitude: ſo that the axle-tree of the earth may ſeem to groan under thy grandeur and maſſineſſe. Do this thou, O king of Nineveh (for the Hebrew Verb here is Maſculine.) Do the like thou, O city of Nineveh.

make thy ſelf many as the Locuſt] Which hath its name in Hebrew from multitude: becauſe, as that Legion in the Goſpel, they are many: and here the Hebrew V…rb is …emini…. Miniſters muſt lay about them on all hands; and bee ready to turn themſelves, as it were, into all ſhapes and faſhions, both of ſpeech and of ſpirit, to bring people to the knowledge of God, and his will, of themſelves, and their duties.

Verſe 16. Thou haſt multiplied thy merchants above the ſtarres of heaven] And ſo thinkeſt to have a ſtake in ſtore, howſoever the dice chance to turn. For theſe … were very rich, and could furniſh her with money, which is the ſinewes of wa…re. Beſides, they traded farre and near; and ſo could give intelligence, and if need were, way-lay and intercept the enemies contributions that it came not to them. But would you know, ſaith the Prophet, how theſe merchants will ſerve … your greateſt need?

p. 414The canker-worm ſpoileth and fleeth away] q. d. They will ſerve themſelves upon you, and then leave you in the lurch, to make as good ſhift as you can. They are mere canker-worms, which firſt eat up all, and then haſt away. Theſe falſe friends, well they may be the cauſes, but companions they will not be of your calamity: like crowes that flock to a dead carcaſſe, not to defend it, but to devour it: and no ſooner have they bared the bones but they are gone. Such falſe merchants as theſe hath this land been much peſtered with from Rome, in former ages. Matthew Paris telleth us of one Florentinus, the Popes Legate here, in King Johns reigne, Ferentinus the wiſer ſort called him, for bearing away ſo much money. And of another named Otto (one of the Popes merchants,Muſcipulatores. or rather mice-catchers, as he calleth them) who after three years raking together of money, by moſt deteſtable arts, at laſt departing hence, to avoid a ſtorm, he left not ſo much money in the whole kingdome, as he either carried with him, or ſent to Rome before him. In the year 1235. there were ſpread thorow England certain Roman canker-worms, called Caurſim (quaſi capientes urſi, devouring Bears quoth Paris) who had intangled the King, Nobles, and all others that had to deal with the Court of Rome, in their cunning ſnares, and uſurious practiſes, under colour of ſupplying with money ſuch as wanted preſent pay to the Pope.Fol. 613. Theſe were called the Popes merchants, ſaith Speed.

Verſe 17. Thy crowned are as the locuſts] i. e. thy Barons (ſaith Diodate) and great Lords, wearing diadems and wreaths, in token of dignity: ſuch a Nazarite (that's the Hebrew word here) was Joſeph, Gen. 49.26. becauſe ſeparate and exempt from other men, as a Chieſtain. Calvin likewiſe rendreth it, thy Princes: the Vulgar Latin, thy Keepers. Some others, thy Nazarites, or, thy religious perſons, ſet apart from the common ſort, to pray for the cities ſafety. Such were thoſe Chemarims, or Chimney-chaplains among the Jews, Hoſ. 10.5. Zeph. 1.4. Such are the Mailers among the Turks, who call them, the religious brothers of love; and the ſhaveling-Mendicants among the Papiſts. Theſe locuſts are, Rev. 9.7. ſaid to have on their heads, Turk hiſt. 477.as it were crowns like gold.

and thy Captains as the great graſhoppers] Heb. as the graſhoppers of graſhoppers, by an Hebraiſme, like that, King of kings, ſong of ſongs, &c. The word rendred Captains, is foraigne; R. David and others render it, Imperator, Dux, Princeps. It ſeemeth to be a name of dignity among the Aſſyrians, as Zaphnath-paaneah was among the Egyptians, Gen. 41.45. Theſe are called graſhoppers, and locuſts, for their uſeleſneſſe, and fearfulneſſe.

which camp in the hedges] ſc. Of the gardens or vineyards, And they are ſaid to camp, in regard of their multitudes, as if they were an army of them. See Joel 2. The Prophet taxeth here Nineveh's vain confidence in her confederates, and ſuch other hanger-on, as might truly ſay, Nos numeri ſumus, fruges conſumere nati. We are men of no great moment, ſuch as Ariſtophanes in Plutarch prettily played upon, when he ſaid, foreign, i. e. Quaeſtoraes, bubones.

but when the Sun ariſeth, they flee away] So theſe trencher-flies, when they have ſerved their own turns upon thee, and now ſee the tempeſt of warre growing on amain, they worſhip the riſing Sun, keep themſelves on the warm ſide of the hedge, leave thee to ſhift as thou canſt, and ſeek out for themſelves a better fortune.

Verſe 18. Thy ſhepherds ſlumber, O King of Aſſyria] This Apoſtrophe to the king is emphaticall. He is given to know, that his Nobles, and Officers, Mich. 5.4, 5, 6. and 7, 14. his Councellours of State, and greateſt Politicians, ſhould bee benighted, and not know what counſell to give, or courſe to take. Or, they ſlumber, that is, they are dead, as Pſal. 76.6. And this is more agreeable to that which followeth:

thy Nobles ſhall dwell in the duſt] The Vulgar hath it ſepelientur, ſhall be buried. Others, jacebunt, ſhall lie on the ground, like beaſts, through fear and conſternation of mind, 1 Sam. 28.20. Then Saul fell ſtraight way all along on the earth, and was ſore afraid.

p. 415thy people is ſcattered upon the mountains] Diffuſed and diſperſed abundantly: as ſheep without a ſhepherd, whereof none being wiſer then other, no man gathereth them, into the ſheep-coats of better order.

Verſe 19. There is no healing of thy bruiſe] Clades & ſtrages tua irreparabilis eſt. Thy diſeaſe is deſperate, thy condition comfortleſſe: thou art utterly to be deſtroyed. When God ſmiteth his own people, it may well be asked as Eſay 27.7. Hath he ſmitten him, as he ſmot thoſe that ſmot him? Or, is he ſlain according to the ſlaughter of them that are ſlain by him? Surely no: there is a manifeſt difference. Hee hath torn, ſaith the Church, and he will heal us: hee hath ſmitten, and hee will bind us up, Hoſ. 6.1. Hence that diſtinction of puniſhment, or pain, in condemnantem, & corrigentem, in poenam vindictae, & poenam medelae. Afflictions, and temporall evils are in the nature, to the wicked of a curſe, to the godly of a cure; to the former, mortall; to the latter, medicinall, When the wicked ſpring as graſſe, and when all the workers of iniquity do flouriſh, it is not for any good will that God beareth to them: but it is, that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever, Pſal. 92.7. See the Note on chap. 1.9.

thy wound is grievous] Not onelyonly incurable, but full of anguiſh intolerable. Thus, many ſorrows ſhall be to the wicked, Pſal. 32.10. and yet all that they ſuffer here, is but as drops of wrath, fore-running the great ſtorme in hell: or as a crack, preceding the fall of the whole houſe upon them: The leaves only fall on them here; there, the whole tree.

all that hear the bruit of thee ſhall clap the hands, &c.] As rejoycing at thy ruine, and ſubſcribing to Gods juſt judgement upon thee: they ſhall take up this taunting ſpeech againſt thee, and ſay, How hath the oppreſſour ceaſed? the golden city ceaſed? The Lord hath broken the ſtaffe of the wicked, and the ſcepter of the rulers, &c. Eſay 14.4, 5, 6, 7.

For upon whom hath not thy wickedneſſe paſſed continually?] Thy wickedneſſe, that is, thy wicked counſels, edicts, enterprizes, have they not extended farre and near for miſchief to many Nations? and this not for a little while, but jugiter, continually? It hath been thy conſtant trade from thy youth up (neque enim nova eſt aut nupera haec tua crudelitas) to waſt and weary out other nations, with thine inrodes and hoſtilities. Thy deſtruction therefore is of thy ſelf, O Nineveh: the inſultations, and comploſions of others at thy miſery, is no more then thou haſt merited. Os quod in ſorte tua ceciderit, illud rodas, as the Arabian proverb hath it. Bear the reward of thy wickedneſſe, which is now come home to thee; Thy wickedneſſe is the root of thy wretchedneſſe: this the Prophet here repeateth, and inculcateth in the percloſe; that he may leave it as a ſting in the minds of his hearers, as Gualther well obſerveth.