Commentary on the Minor Prophets

CHAP. I.

Verse 1. T HE burden of Nineveh ] i. e. The burdenous prophesy. See the Note on Malac. 1.1. It is a burden to wicked men to be told of their sins, and foretold of their punishments. To whom we may not unfitly apply that of the Civilian, Perquàm durum est, 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 Prophesy; 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 leprosy, 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 ways, (as all Apostates do) the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, (as cattle are led to the slaughter, or malefactors 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 prophetical Epistle thither, to let them know what should shortly befall them. So Jeremy sent an Epistle to Babylon, chap. 29. and Elijah wrote a threatening letter to Jehoram 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 show 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 Jerome and Dorotheus. Here was our Prophet born, and named N • hum, non sine numine, saith Gualther; for Nahum (as Noah ) signifieth a Comforter: and so 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, who were shortly after besieged by the same Assyrian, in the reign of Hezekiah; under whom Nahum prophesied. 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 days 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 equal. 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 smoke. 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 reign 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 he precipitateth not his anger, but defers the execution of it, giving men space to repent, as he did Jezebel, Rev. 2. so they shall find that his forbearance is no quittance; and that

Verse 3. The Lord is slow to anger ] Slack he is not, as some men count slackness, saith St. Peter, but long-sufferring to us-ward, &c. 2 Epist. 3.9, The devil stirred up the Heathen Poets, to persuade 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: and the Sadducees 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 bow, the deeper will be 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 Lord's, 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, nor wink at the workers of iniquity, saith David, Psal. 50.21. but will render a just recompense 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 tendered whirlwind, begins with a small Samech, ad minuendum timorem piis, 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 immovable.

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 wind Psal. 104.3. See Isa. 60.8. and 19.1. The wicked's happiness 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 shown what wonders God can do in the air. 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, they do for most part imitate the expressions of Moses that most severe law-giver, and allude to his history; to show, 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 gospel may relish sweetly with them Psal. 19.10, 11. The word here rendereth 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, Jordan 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 vainly attempted something, 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, (sometimes 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 obeys 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 all • the inhabitants of the world know, that the power of kings is frivolous and vain; neither is there any mortal man worthy the name of a king, but he to whose beck heaven, earth and sea by his laws, eternally are obedient. Neither did Canutus after this time wear 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 yield 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 mountains quake at him, and the hills melt ] Though valleys and low places are also liable to earthquakes: as Antioch often, Ferrara in Italy An. Dom. 1514. and 1573. yet hill-countries much more; because there are more holes and cavernes, See Psal. 29.6. and 144.4. Zach. 14.4, 5. In the year 1618. Aug. 25. Pleurs a town in Rhetia was overwhelmed by a hill, which, with a most swift motion oppressed 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. families. All this and that which followeth is alleged here, to show how easily God can overturn the Assyrian greatness.

and the earth is burnt at his presence ] Viz. by his fire from heaven, as Sodom, and 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 groan under. God turneth a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness 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, shall one day give an account of what they have done in the body, with the world all on a light fire about their ears: The trial of their works shall be by fire 1 Cor. 3.13. the tribunal of fire Ezek. 1.27. the Judge a consuming fire Heb. 12.29. His attendants Seraphim 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. Sodom's fire and brimstone was but a toy to it. And shall the Ninevites 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 glass bottle may as well stand before a cannon-shot. Theres no standing before a lion, much less before a devouring fire, least of all before an angry God. When our Savior did but put forth a beam of his Deity, and said I am he, the stout soldiers fell to the ground John. 18.6. and there they had lame, if he had not licensed them to rise again. 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 fierceness of his anger? ] Heb: in the inflammation of his nostrils. Thus the Prophet describeth God's terrible executions of justice on the Churches enemies, pulcherrimis metaphoris, hypotypôsi evidentissima, & distributionis artisicio insignissimo by most elegant Metaphors, evident demonstrations, and artificial distributions.

his fury is poured out like fire ] A metaphor either from metals melted, or from show • es of rain, such as God poured down upon Sodom (whereunto probably the Prophet here alludeth, as verse 8. to Noah's 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 hear at first, a little roa • ing noise afar off: but stay awhile, and it is a dreadful 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 taste 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 brass, or town of war: the righteous run thereunto and are safe. Hezekiah (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 Isaiah. 37.3. To God therefore he runs in this doleful day of his, and had present help. And what though the God's of the nations had not delivered them: yet Hezekiah 's God in whom he trusted did not deceive him as Sennacherib 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 God's, and the Papists Patron-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 honor and favor all true English hearts are bound to thank them, and can merrily sing as He did once, Contemno minutulos istos deos, modo 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 the 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 soul 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 Jehoshaphat 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 Job 9.29. 1 Thes. 5.12.) he taketh such complacency and delight in them Psal. 147.11. and 33.18. and such continual care of them, (as hath been proved by an universal 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 kindness 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 God's Israel. But lest the wicked (as they are apt) should meddle with children's meat, which was never meant for them: lest Nineveh should please herself in a fond conceit of God's goodness to her also, and so turn it into wantonness, 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 Nineveh that great but bloody city chap. 3.1. Her state shall be utterly ruinated as the old world, by the general deluge. But because the word here rendered flood is used of rivers that overflow the banks 2 Chron. 32.4. and the adjunct over-running also implies as much (See Isaiah 8.8. Dan. 11.10, 40.) I suppose the Holy Ghost here forethreateneth that ruin 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 rain was that fell in Egypt ) where it used not to rain (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 Ninevites had received by tradition from their progenitors, sc. that their city should then be taken by the enemy, when the river took part against them: and it fell out accordingly.

and darkness shall pursue his enemies ] i. e. terrible and inextricable calamities shall overtake them: their ruin shall be irreparable. And indeed it may now be said of Nineveh, which once was of a great city in Strabo, Magna civitas, magna solitudo See Zeph. 2.13, 14, 15. Drusius rendereth it thus, Hosts suos persequi faciet tenebras, He shall cause darkness to pursue his enemies, Or, He shall make his enemies to pursue darkness, according to that noted saying of the Ancients, Deus quem destruit, dementat, whom God intends to destroy, him He first infatuateth. But the former sense 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 slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. The blind and bloody Ninevites looked no further then the Jews whom they invaded: they considered not that God was engaged in the quarrel of his people. This made the Virgin daughter of Zion, confident of God's help, shake her head in scorn and pity 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 unskillful archer in shooting at a beast hitteth a man sometimes: so the Churches adversaries, in troubling of her, trouble Almighty God, who will not fail to be even with them: for he that toucheth God's 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 Savior, what have I to do with thee? whilst 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 reads the text thus, Quid cogitatis de Domino? what think ye of the Lord? what conceit or opinion have ye of him? Do ye imagine that he cannot perform what he threateneth by his Prophets? or that he cannot, when 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 fail 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. Nineveh 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 staff 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 blows, he resolves to have them down. For instance: compare God's 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 thyself because of evil-doers Psal. 37.1. when the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do slourish: it is that they shall be destroyed forever. Psal. 92.7. Pharaoh bad fair 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 fair Sun-shine-day when Lot went out of Sodom: but ere night there f • ll out a dismal change. It was in the Spring that the flood came, then when everything 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 universal grave of waters.

Ver. 10. For while they be folden together as thorns ] 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 sundered all together into the fire, where they make a sudden blaze and are extinct. So will God deal with the Ninevites, not withstanding their carnal combinations and confederacies.

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

as stubble sully dry ] that hath long lain 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 ruin, 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 Rhetoric 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 loath to believe the truth and certainty of God's threats: but rather bless themselves when God curseth Deut. 29.19.

Ver. 11. There is one come out of thee that imagineth evil 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 God's people, as if they had all but one neck. See verse 9. He is come up over all his channels, 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 Counselor ] Heb. a counselor of Belial, or of the devil, who lendeth him his seven heads to plot, and his ten horns to push God's 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 counsel he gave them by Rabshakeh, who was, say the Rabbin's, a Renegado-Jew. Every Visier and Basha of State among the Turks useth to keep still a Jew of his private counsel: whose malice, wit, and experience of Christendom, with their continual intelligence, is thought to advise most of that mischief, which the Turk at this day puts in execution against us (saith mine Author) the Jews being found the most nimble and Mercuriall wits in the world, but counselors of Belial. In all the shop of hell there is no anvil 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 Cardinal Pool to England, Cardinal Sadeletus to Geneva, and the I • suite • generaily, great Politicians and factors 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 only place which the Elephant cannot reach with his trunk to descend. They take crafty counsel against the Church.

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, Isaiah 40 1.

though they be quiet ] Or, still, well disciplined (as the Turkish Army is, to the wonder of all that pass thorough it:) 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 be gathered from the many thousands of them that were slain by the Angel, Isaiah 37.36. It is all, one with God, whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only, Job 34.29. he stands not upon multitudes, who taketh up the Isles, as a very little thing, Isaiah 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 razor. The Prophet seemeth to allude to that Text in Isaiah (with whom, as his contemporary, he hath many things common) chap. 7.20. and to threaten the Assyrian, that he shall be paid home in his own coin: and that as he had done to Israel, so should it be done again to him. God loveth to retaliate.

when he shall pass thorough ] Heb. and he passeth, or away he goeth, se, to his own country, after the loss of his Army, slain by the Angel, so Jerome. Others, they shall be cut down, sc. by the hand of a mighty One, as Isaiah 10.34. or of an Angel, when he, that is Sennacherib, and everyone of his Army hath passed thorough, sc. the land without restraint, or control, and now maketh account that he 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, unless 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 always 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 Junius. 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 people's 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 door 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 kingdom 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. Verse 14 And the Lord hath given a commandment. ] 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, I am. 4.6. he setteth himself in battellarray against him, as the word signifieth, commanding all his creatures to fall on: 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 be grievous to proud and ambitious persons, who promise themselves a kind of immortality here in their posterity: and that there shall be a perpetual succession of their name in this world. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, they call their lands after their own names, Psal. 49.11. But their lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness, 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 be 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 Isaiah 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 wrapped 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 Sennacherib's statue erected, with his inscription; Let whosoever looketh upon me, learn to fear God. He lifted up himself against his Creator and Father: he is therefore slain by his own children. He thought to overturn the true service of God; he is therefore slain at his idol-worship. He went about to destroy the house of God; he is therefore destroyed in the house of his god, Isaiah 37.38.

Out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image ] This, those superstitious Heathens held a great loss, 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 mass of treasure to recover it. What a noise made Micah after his Ephod and images, Judge. 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.

I will make thy grave ] sc. Of thine idol-temple, polluted by thy slaughter therein, and so converted into a sepulcher for thee. There is a story (but of no great authority) that Sennacherib, after his shameful return out of Judea, demanding of some about him, what might be the reason that the unresistable God of heaven so favored the Jewish nation, as he had found by sad experience? Answer was given him, that Abraham from whom they descended, sacrificed unto him his only son, which purchased this protection to his progeny. If that will win him, saith he, I will spare him two of my sons, to procure him to be on my side. Which Sharezzer and Adrammelech his sons hearing of, prevented their own deaths by slaying him. It is more likely that they laid wicked hands upon their father, either out of ambition, or discontent for the loss 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, cruel war arose among Sennacherib's sons, which were the utter overthrow of that nation, 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 styled, The mighty god. 'It is virtue only that ennobles. Them that honor God, he will honor: 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 savor 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, within less then fifty days after, he was slain by his two sons, Tob. 1.23. and although his third son Asar-haddon reigned in his stead,: yet he soon after lost both his life and his kingdom, which was devolved to the Babylonians, and all the royal 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 be heard afar off. The feet of him that bringeth good tidings, ] Or, Of an Evangelist, that brings news of Sennacherib's ruin: but-especially of Satan subdued by Christ, which is the sum of all the good news in theworld, Luke 2.10.

that publisheth peace ] Pacem omnimodam; external, internal, eternal, peace of country, and of conscience, by Christ who is our peace: It is usual with the Prophets to rise from earthly things to heavenly, from corporalls to spirituals. See Rom. 10.15. Isaiah 52.7.

O Judah keep thy solemn feasts, &c.] which hitherto hindered by the enemy, thou hast intermitted. Perform thy vows, (made in the day of thy distress) bring presents to him that ought to be feared.

for the wicked ] Heb. Belial, that stigmaticall Belialist Sennacherib, that lawless, yokelesse, masterless monster, that merum scelus, that is so portentously, so peerlesly vicious.

He is utterly cut off ] His Army by the Angel, himself by his sons, his Monarchy by the Babylonians. See Isaiah 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 valor, and victories, Isaiah 10.8, 9, 10, 11, &c. So Demetrius was surnamed Poliorcletes, the Destroyer of cities; Attilas called himself Orbis flagellum, the scourge of the World. Julius Caesar was Fulmen belli, The thunderbolt of war: 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 God's wrath; and this they took to be a main piece of their silly glory. How much more honor was it to Augustine, to be styled Haereticorum malleus, the hammer of Heretics? and to Mr. Hildersham, to be Schismaticorum malleus, the maul of Schismatikes? and lastly, to Luther, that he could thus say of himself:

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 God's omniscience: Known to him are all his works from the beginning of the world: and 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 terror, yet now she 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.] Ironice 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 war, you shall now have enough of it; you have troubled the world with your arms, 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 defense; but it will not be: for except the Lord keep the city, the watch-man waketh but in vain, Psal. 127.1.

Verse 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 Sennacherib's invasion) have taken their turns, and have had their part of bitter affliction: and shalt thou O Nineveh altogether escape unpunished? Never think it. Especially since thou hast exceeded thy commission, and exercised an unheard of cruelty upon God's 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 spoiled and pillaged till they have left neither men nor means behind them; such clean work they have made, sweeping all before them, like a sweeping rain 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 young sprouts by the roots, and so mars the vineyard. The Assyrians endeavored utterly to destroy the whole seed of Abraham without any mercy or compassion: and this undid them. The jealous and just God cannot bear 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 color much affected by the Medes, Persians and Chaldees ) to show that they were a sanguinary nation, and not more gold- thirsty, Isaiah. 13. then blood-thirsty.

the valiant men are in scarlet ] A color affected by martial men, that would seem to fear no colors. The Lacedemonians used it much, when they went to fight: that, if they should be wounded, their blood might not appear upon their apparel, 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 Catholic faith: which if they should do (as never any of them yet did) they would be no better then the Devils Martyrs: since it is the cause, and not the punishment, that maketh a true martyr. A Tiburn-tippet, (as plain Mr. Latimer was wont to speak) would well become those scarlet-Fathers: who, like bells will be never well tuned, till well hanged; for their blood-guiltiness, and soul-murder especially. In the kingdom of Naples there were two notable thieves (the one named Pater-noster, the other Ave-Maria ) who at several times had murdered 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 souls daily to that great red dragon; red with the blood of souls which he hath swallowed, as St. Peter hath it, 1 Pet. 5.8. Rev. 12.3.

the chariots shall be with flaming torches ] Those currus falcati chariots armed with sithes and hooks, 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 chariots, and clattering of the armor. 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 express the terror of the day, vainly say, that the Angels in heaven, amazed with that hideous noise, for that time forgot the heavenly hymns &c. The word here rendered terribly shaken is rather Chaldee, then Hebrew: as spoken of the Chaldees, coming against Nineveh.

Verse 4. The chariots 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 heat 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.

they shall run like the lightnings ] Heb. they shall break through as the lightnings; that is, with incredible swistnesse: as lightening in an instant cometh 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 Nineveh seeing himself straighted, shall muster up, and mind of their duties: bidding them now or never play the men, since the empire was at stake.

they shall stumble in their walk ] thorough fearfulness and faint-heartedness: according to that of the Psalmist, The stout-hearted are spoiled, 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 terror into the Ninevites upon the first coming of the Chaldees. See Deut. 11.25. Therefore there is no great credit to be given to Diodorus Siculus, who saith, that the Chaldees were thrice overcome in fight by the Assyrians, when as they came in arms to besiege Nineveh.

they shall make hast to the wall thereof ] The Chaldees shall: taking advantage of the Ninevites fear, that cowardly passion, that disarmeth and disableth a man for his own defense, 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 Emperor of Constantinople, certainly advertised of the Turks purpose for the general assault shortly to be given, after that he had many times with tears requested to have borrowed money of his covetous subjects, to have been employed for defense of their city; he first commended himself and them to the Almighty by general fasting and prayer: and afterwards appointed every captain and commander to some certain place of the wall, for defense thereof &c. but all in vain, as here at Nineveh.

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

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

and the palace shall be dissolved ] Or melted, haply by that inundation: howsoever, by hostile impression: whether we understand it of the Palace Royal, or the Idol-temple or both(the word will bear either) for it was not unusual for Princes to have their houses near 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 Capitol: Constantine the great, built the Lateran Church in his Lateran palace; William Rufus, his Westminster-hall, near 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 God's 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 show of them, triumphing over them in himself, Col. 2.15. This is the saints happiness: they are out of gun-shot, more then Conquerors, 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 Emperor.

and her maids shall lead her ] Her maids of honor; The Gynecium or Seraglio shall fall into the hands of rude soldiers; and by them be hurried away into a far country. Neither is it without desert: for omne malum fere ex Gynaecio; Women are many times means of much mischief: and for their miscarriages, men fall by the sword, and the mighty in the war: the gates also of the city lamene and mourn, Isaiah. 3.11.25, 26. even for the Ladies gallantry, whereof we have here an inventory. What a deal of trouble bred Jezebel in Israel, Athaliah in Judah, those 2. late turbulent Queen-Mothers in Scotland and France? of which later and her Cardinal Lorraine, One made this stinging distich,

as with the voice of doves ] Mourning secretly to themselves, and groaning inwardly; 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

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 greatness of their grief, and heaviness; 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, 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. Isaiah 8.7. the Magazine of the whole East, a rich Cargazon, 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 ebb, drew Caesar's 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 boughs, 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 years. 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 unrighteousness.

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 Chaldeans; encouraging them to fall on, since 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 soldiers to storm Constantinople, caused proclamation to be made thorough his Camp the day before, that he would freely give all the spoil of the city for three days unto them, if they could win it. And for confirmation thereof, he solemnly swore the Turks great oath, &c. Now the love of money is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , 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, to say, He hath been at the sacking of Constantinople. Neither did they more wonder at their wealth, then derided their folly: for that possessing so much, they would part with so little to their Emperor, for the defense of themselves and their Country. And the like is reported of Heidelburg.

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

Verse 10. She is empty, and void, and waste ] An elegant Agnomination in the Original, 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 rendered waste, signifieth burst up, or, void of all verdure; a place where nothing green groweth. Such an horrible devastation followeth upon God's word of command to the Chaldees, verse 9. like as when Christ cursed the barren fig-tree, it withered away immediately, though it be the most succulent of any tree, and beareth the brunt of winter-blasts unwithered. God's 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 bosoms like drops of water: they were cowed out. See Jos. 2.11. & 5.1. & 7.5. Isaiah 13.7. Ezek. 21.12.

and the knees smite together ] Genua labant, as is usual in extreme fear: the blood retreating to the heart, to relieve it. See Dan. 5.6. Job. 4.4. Isaiah 35.3.

and much pain is in all loins ] Such pain as befalleth women in travel, Isaiah 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 Latins call weak men, Loinlesse men.

and the faces of them all gather blackness ] Heb. • pot, i.e. such blackness as is on the sides of a pot. See Joel 2.6. Joy and sorrow will show themselves in the face, as in a glass. Now if for a temporal 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, inquire where it stood, and not be afraid to take this Lion by the beard. God poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty, Job 12.21. when once they turn tyrants, and exercise regiment without righteousness, 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 persecutors, 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 persecutors: As also that man of sin, the whole pack of Popes, successors 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:

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 practice, 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 Tutor Theodorus Gadareus rightly characterized, when he said, he was Dirt kned with blood: Or, then Nero the lion; of whom his father Domitius prophesied, that of himself and his wife Agrippina (both notoriously naught) no good man could be born. Mali corvi, malum ovum. Of an ill breed, ne catulus • idem relinquendus, said the Romans, when they slew one of their tyrants together with his young son. It was Maximinus, if I mistake not.

where the lion, even the old lion walked ] The courageous, or hearty lion (named of Leo an heart) walked and stalked with his whelps, and none made them afraid. but now, his heart melteth, his knees knock together for fear, and faintness, as verse 10. his city Nineveh (that was not only spoliarium latronum, but spelunca leonum ) is now nowhere: it shall live by fame only, time shall triumph over it. God will stain the pride of all glory, and bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth, Isaiah 23.9. So

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 insatiable. So covetous they were and ravenous, that their Posy might have been, Totus non sufficit orbis: their desire of more, was enlarged as hell; greedy lions they were, that could never have enough, Isaiah 56.11. As a ship may be over-laden with gold and silver, even unto sinking, and yet have compass 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 satisfy 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 Heresy, Anno 1554. which caused the burning of many good people. Utinam hodie non essent leanae, saith Calvin here. It were to be wished there were not nowadays lionesses, 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 likelihood, as Beza did her cruel son Charles 9. Author of the Massacre, in that Verse of his, made upon the that new star in Cassiopeia, 1572.

and filled his holes with prey, and his den with ravine ] His palaces with treasure, his coffers with cash, raked together by evil arts, and oppressive practices. 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 kingdoms sake right might be vio •••• ? and who robbed his country of her liberty, for the satisfying of his unlawful desire of ruledome? But for whom all this? surely for those that never thanked them for anything, but fought for their spoil.

Verse 13. Behold I am against thee ] Ecce me contra • te: Behold I, who am of myself a whole Army of men, Van and Rcare both, Isaiah 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. Woe be to rhose that have God against them. The Tigurine rendereth it, En me tibi hostem, &c.

and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, ] That is, saith Danaus, I will burn all their munition, and furniture for war, with a most bitter and soft fire, that they may be the more grieved, and the more tormented thereby. Others, by smoke understand the suddenness of the judgment q. d. No sooner shall my wrath begin to kindle, but I will consume them: prime impetu, so soon as ever the flame beginneth to break forth, or rather, before. By chariots may be also meant, those that were carried in them. The Hebrew gloss here is, By smoke, that is, by a fire whose smoke is seen afar off. See Judge. 20.40. Such shall be the fire of the last day, as A Lapide here noteth out of Jerome: when all the lions, and lions whelps, that is, all tyrants and oppressors shall be burnt, together with all their chariots, pomps, and messengers, ac imprimis corum dux & princeps Antichristus, and especially Antichrist their Captain, and Chieftain. He and his Jesuits shall doubtless 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 murderer: 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 sons, he departed the world, which so often himself had distempered. Nineveh the great huntresse was now under that woe, Esa. 33.1.

and the voice of thy messengers ] thy Heralds, by whom thou hast proclaimed war, or made unreasonable demands, or laid hard laws 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 war, which One well calleth, the slaughter-house of mankind, and Hell of this present world, Isaiah 95. the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , war, signifieth mush blood. Besides that, many murders were committed in her, and connived at, if not countenanced by a pretence of justice. Such a sanguinary city is Rome: not only drunk with the blood of saints, but also of her own children. Brazutus, set on by Hildebrand, was the death of six Popes successively, within the space of thirteen years. Pope John the 22. (who sat Anno Dom. 1316.) flayed a Bishop, who had some way offended him, and afterwards burned him. Pope Paul the third, poisoned two Cardinals, Fulgosus, and Contarenus, a Bishop also, and Johannes Baptista Vergerius, because he suspected them of Lutheranism. The Italians generally, as they blaspheme oftener then swear. so they murder more then revile or slander. Such another city of bloods is Paris in France: witness that barbarous Massacre, wherein they poisoned the Qeen of Navarre, murdered the most part of the peerless 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 rendereth this Text. Woe to the murderous State. Austin interpreteth it of all heinous offenses, wherewith Nineveh was polluted. But surely if other sins 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 witness, 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.

It is all full of lies ] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 so the Seventy render it, she is wholly made up of fraud and falsehood, mendacio • um loquacissima; no truth in her private contracts, no trust in her public 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 thieves: fraudulency is no better then robbery. If I have beguiled any man, saith Zacchaeus, I restore him four-fold, Luke 19.9. as having wronged him no less, then if I had robbed him. Hence they go here coupled. Violence is seldom sundered from conning contrivance; in those especially that hunt after Monarchy, as N • mrod, Julius Caesar, Lysander (whose counsel and practice 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 itself should not be sought after, but only the appearance: because the credit is a help, the use a cumber. That great Elixer, called Reason of State (though falsely so called, unless 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 be made of the Hebrew here) and greedily feed upon those murthering morsels of sin, 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 rattling of the wheels ] A most elegant and lively hypotyposis or description, of the Chaldees coming to take Nineveh, Tam pulchra, saith Jerome, & 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 near it. Virgil is commended for his excellent expressions, suitable 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 Rhetoric here to be read. Let those that refuse to hear God's sweet words, fear lest they be forced to hear the noise of the whip, the rattling of the wheels, &c Psal. 7.12, 13. Luk. 19.42, 44. Prov. 1.24, &c. The enemy is sent to revenge the quarrel of God's 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 Sun, which maketh it seem flaming. Such a sword is man's tongue, thin, broad, long, and of a red fiery color. 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 sepulchers.

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 Rhetorical expressions, and continued meraphers. Bajazer the Great Turk, for his valor 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 terror, a bare fright only, as a fools dagger, that rattleth 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 carcasses, &c. This the Prophet spake, not with any delight, further then made for the glory of God, and the Churches deliverance: but that he may set forth by this example, what they must look for that imitate Ninevites in their practices; for sin ever ends tragically: 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 fearful ends thou art much afraid of. And St. Amhrose, closing up the sad story of Ahab and Jezebel, whom God destroyed for their wickedness, Fuge ergo dives ejusmodi exitum, saith he Tremble at such di • mall ends, and be careful to avoid them: such ends ye shall avoid, if ye carefully fly from such flagitious practices.

and agreat number of carcasses ] Heb. the heaviness of dead carcasses which lie so thick. that the earth seemeth to groan under the burden of them.

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

they stumble upon their corpses ] And afterwards, perhaps, use them instead of stools and tables, as the Suissers did the Thuric • nses their adversaries An • . 1443. banqueting in the place where they won the victory.

Verse 4. Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot ] Specious, and therefore gracious with her paramours: of a fair countenance, but foul condition: like Aurelia Orestilla, that had beauty, but no good property. Chrysippus cailed beauty the flower of virtue; but that is not generally true. Diogenes saw cause to say to some fair women in his time, O quam bona domus, sed malus hospes; Here's a fair hcuse, but an ill inhabitant. Nineveh is the well-favored harlot here spoken of; her very name signifieth a fair habitation. Jerome and others interpret it, she was indeed Vrbs formosa et famos • , fair and famous, but foolish and filthy, Meretrix meretricissima; she multiplied her whoredoms both corporal and spir ituall; for these are seldom fundred: as we see in that once well-favored, but now withered whore of Rome, Rev. 17.1. Roma inverted is Amor, prepostrerous love, unnatural filthiness is there as commonly practiced, as Idolatry. And as a common harlot paints and deckes herself to please her lovers; so did Nineveh, 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 choose a religion for fleshly liberty, and lasciviousness, he would choose Popery: which is indeed an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion, none like it.

the mistress 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 lewdness, 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 tells 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,

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 borrows 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 whoredoms ] 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 souls of men Rev. 18.13. whom she sits upon, even upon people's, nations, multitudes and tongues, Rev. 17.15. tyrannizing over their consciences, and appointing them to very mean 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 terror to me O Lord, saith Jeremiah, and then let what will else befall me: I shall the better bear it. Do not you fall upon me yourselves, said Sampson to his countrymen, 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 Oppressors shall be sure to have him thei enemy: and this he tells them here again and again: to beat down their vain confidence in their greatness: whereby they think to bear down all before them.

And I will discover thy skirts upon thy face ] i.e. I will turn up thy clothes about thy ears: and so show 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 show the nations thy nakedness ] which nature teacheth to cover:therefore when a man hath committed a sin, he blusheth: the blood as it were would cover the sin, that mother of shame Rev. 3.18. that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear. 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 colors to the world: taking the the same boldness and liberty to discover her lewdness, 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, whereby 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 loathsome carrion doth; so the word signifieth. It was long since complained of by one of her own sons, that the stench of the Church of Rome was gone up to heaven. And by another, 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. Accordingly it followeth.

And I willset thee as a gazing-stock ] The Septuagint renders it for an example, others a looking-glass, but Calvin (after R. Solomon and Aber.-Ezra ) ponam t • quasi stercus, I will set thee as dung, which men gladly look beside. Luther rendereth it Ponam te in terriculamentum, I will make thee a bug-bear. All this was done to Nineveh 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 turns, their rise and their ruin, as Politicians dote.

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 terror to all that are round about thee: so that they shall decline thee and stand a loof off. Resilient à te, they shall leap 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 fawn upon in prosperity. David complains of such dealing, and Ovid, and many others.

And say, Nineveh is laid wast ] which most men held impossible, 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 chains of adamant. But God confuted their golden dreams by breaking their Empire, and giving up their city six several times in one hundred thirty nine years, into the hands of the Barbarians: who exercised therein all kind of cruelty. Besides that, it is observed that Rome since it became Papal was never besieged by any enemy, but it was taken. The final ruin of it is daily expected, according to that prophecy of St. John, Babylon is fallen, is fallen: and that other of Sibylla afore recited,

Who will bemoan 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 bemoan her. It was the just hand of God to set off all hearts, and shut up all mouths from her, that had been so unreasonably merciless and hard-hearted. I am. 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 ministered to such as are in an hopeless condition. The care that tasteth words, as the mouth doth meat, is at such a time imbittred, and out of taste.

Ver. 8. Art thou better then populous No? ] Heb. No Amon a great corn-country, and therefore populous: for where victual and good trading is to be had, thither people will repair 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 pains 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 Jupiter Hammon, whose son, 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 unknown 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, Cesarea Philippi, Augusta Vindelicorum. &c. Josephus saith that it abounded in people, and wealth: being little less then Jerusalem in compass. Thinkest thou now O Nineveh, (saith God here) that thou art in a better or safer condition, then this city once was? but

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

That had the waters round about it [The river Nile begirt it, (saith Strabo, ) but could not mott it up from God's 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 people's inhabiting Afric and Libya for her confederates. See Ier. 46.9. where the Prophet speaketh of such People as brought aide to Egypt against the Chaldees, 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, Jerome understandeth Africa (which was over anent Alexandria, the sea between) a wast continent, thrice as big as Europe: and by Lubim Libya a considerable part of that continent, sometimes put for the whole. These would have been helpers to No, but could not: because over-poured by Nebuchadnezzar, sent against them by God. Leagues entered 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 Latin Churches: but shortly after, they were destroyed, and their Empire subdued, and swallowed up in the Turkish greatness. 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 only of Popish Princes, but of foreign States, out of Asia, Africa, and America, to suppress the heretics (as they call us) and to root out Religion; but with evil success: for they shall associate themselves only to be broken in pieces, Isaiah 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, Judge. 5.19. and a voice from the throne shall say, It is done; verse. 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, since it is here alleged by the holy Ghost, as a thing either done before, or shortly after to be 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 vastness 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 behind; 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 favored for their innocence, and ignoscency, met with such hard measure. See the Note on Hos. 13.16. War is an evil; Isaiah 45.7. such as no words (how wide soever) can sufficiently set forth. Bellum à belluis.

and they cast lots for her honorable 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 dogs, seventy kings, gatherings crumbs under his table. Sapores used the Emperor Valerian for a footstool. Croesus carried captive by Syrus, cries out, O Solon, 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.

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 God's wrath, Jer. 25.27. thou shalt drink, and be drunk, and spew, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send amongst you. This is that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , dry drunkenness of them that are drunk, but not with wine, Isaiah. 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 God's 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 be 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 herself, 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 enemy: beg help of them, to whom thou wouldest once have scorned to be beholden: or of them, against whom thou hast professed, and practiced 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) figs, 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 revel in thy ruins. They shall take thy fortresses as easily, as Timothy did towns; which were said to come into his toils, whiles he slept. Or, as Charles 5. who in 28. battles in America, waged by his Generalls Cortez, and Pizarro, wan 28. kingdoms.

Verse 13. Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women ] i. e. Fearfull, and faint-hearted: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . See Isaiah 3.12. Jer. 51.30. and 48.41. And this in the midst 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 duel, how crest-fallen they are and couragelesse, when the enemy is upon them: the noise of a driven leaf, affrights them, Lev. 26. a panic terror seizeth upon them, as it did once upon the Syrians, 2 King. 7. and upon the Imperialists, in the war 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, 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 towns and cinqueports, those keys of the kingdom; aperiendo aperientur shall open to give the enemy entrance; as at the siege of Jerusalem, the iron-gate opened of it own accord.

the fire shall devour thy bars ] 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: 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 yield.

fortify 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 be 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 mortar ] 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, by an Irony, as Theophylact noteth: but she shall but labor 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, Isaiah 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 less preparation, the enemy might have been daunted, and dismayed as much, as that Duke of Saxony was; who having proclaimed war against the Bishop of Magdeburg, and understanding by his intelligencers, that the Bishop levied no army, made no preparation, but only gave out, that he would commit his cause to God, who would not fail to take up arms for him; Insaniat alius, said the Duke, It were a mad prank in me to make war 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 thyself most safe. These shall be to thee pro carcere & pistrino, for a prison, or little-ease; when the fire of God's wrath shall kindle upon thee, the fire of war 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 anywhere 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, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; to show that no guilty person could shun it. Shufle he may for a season from side to side, as Balaam's asse did, to avoid the Angels sword; but at length lay down under it, and so condemned her masters madness, 2 Pet. 2.16. Running in to God, is the only 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 plane comminatio, saith Gualther. This is truly 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 brass 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 God's people to tremble at his word, to stand in awe of his judgments, whilst they yet hang in the threatenings. Wicked men flear, when they should fear; and say in their hearts when God threateneth them, as Frederick the second, Emperor of Germany was wont to say openly, in the greatest threatening 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 thyself 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 thyself 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 be 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 stars 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 sinews of wa • re. Besides, they traded far 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?

The 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 crows that flock to a dead carcass, 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 reign, Ferentinus the wiser sort called him, for bearing away so much money. And of another named Otto (one of the Popes merchants, 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 kingdom, as he either carried with him, or sent to Rome before him. In the year 1235. there were spread thorough England certain Roman canker-worms, called Caursim ( quasi capientes ursi, devouring Bears quoth Paris ) who had entangled the King, Nobles, and all others that had to deal with the Court of Rome, in their cunning snares, and usurious practices, under color of supplying with money such as wanted present pay to the Pope. These were called the Popes merchants, saith Speed.

Verse 17. Thy crowned are as the locusts ] i. e. thy Barons (saith Diodate ) and great Lord's, 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 rendereth 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, as it were crowns like gold.

and thy Captains as the great grasshoppers ] Heb. as the grasshoppers of grasshoppers, by an Hebraism, like that, King of kings, song of songs, &c. The word rendered 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 grasshoppers, and locusts, for their uselessness, and fearfulness.

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,

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 war 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 emphatical. He is given to know, that his Nobles, and Officers, Mich. 5.4, 5, 6. and 7, 14. his Counselors of State, and greatest Politicians, should be benighted, and not know what counsel 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.

thy 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 comfortless: thou art utterly to be destroyed. When God smiteth his own people, it may well be asked as Isaiah 27.7. Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? Or, is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him? Surely no: there is a manifest difference. He hath torn, saith the Church, and he will heal us: he hath smitten, and he will bind us up, Hos. 6.1. Hence that distinction of punishment, or pain, in condemnantem, & corrigentem, in poenam vindictae, & poenam medelae. Afflictions, and temporal evils are in the nature, to the wicked of a curse, to the godly of a cure; to the former, mortal; to the latter, medicinal, When the wicked spring as grass, 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 forever, Psal. 92.7. See the Note on chap. 1.9.

thy wound is grievous ] Not only 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 storm 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 brute of thee shall clap the hands, &c.] As rejoicing at thy ruin, and subscribing to God's just judgment upon thee: they shall take up this taunting speech against thee, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased? the golden city ceased? The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers, &c. Isaiah 14.4, 5, 6, 7.

For upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? ] Thy wickedness, that is, thy wicked counsels, edicts, enterprises, have they not extended far 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 inroads and hostilities. Thy destruction therefore is of thyself, O Nineveh: the insultations, and complosions of others at thy misery, is no more then thou hast merited. Os quod in sort tua ceciderit, illud rodas, as the Arabian proverb hath it. Bear the reward of thy wickedness, which is now come home to thee; Thy wickedness is the root of thy wretchedness: 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.

CHAP. I.

Verse 1. T HE burden ] The Prophetical burden, saith the Chaldee Paraphrast: the burdenous prophesic, saith Tremellius. See the Note upon Mal. 1.1.

which Habakkuk the Prophet did see ] Amplexator ill, That Embracer, (so some interpret his name) yea, Optimus Amplexator (as they gather from the last Radicall emphatically doubled) That best Embracer. Et certe omen habet nomen, He hath not his name for naught: for (as Luther writeth) in this Prophesy he loveth, and huggeth his afflicted country-men: he succoreth and solaceth them, as the mother doth her crying babe, to still it. Jerome and Others, make Habakkuk to signify Luctatorem amplex stringentem, a Wrastler, that by closing strives to prevail; that by might, and slight seeks to get the better. Such a One was Jacob, whose wrestling was by weeping, and his prevailing by praying. Such another was Habakkuk, who argueth earnestly with God about the state of his people, and prayeth ardently for them; not doubting but that the Lord would preserve the faithful, and plentifully reward the proud doer. A Prophet he is here styled, and a Seer, and that's all is said of him: nothing of his pedigree, or time of prophesying; that the Word (and not the man) might be glorified, Act. 13.47. Regis epistolis acceptis, saith Gregory; When a kings letters are brought to his subjects, it is a ridiculous thing for them to inquire with what Pen they were written; 'tis the matter must be minded. So here. A Prophet, Habakkuk was; and is therefore to be received into our hearts, if we look for a Prophets reward. He received heavenly visions, whereunto therefore we must not be disobedient, Act. 26.19. That memorable sentence of his, The just shall live by faith, is more then once made use of by St. Paul, in that weighty business of Justification, Rom. 1.17. Gal. 3.11. which proves the Canonical authority of this prophesy. The precise time when it was uttered, is not known. In the days of Manasseh, most think: but some are of opinion, in Josiah's time rather, or not long before: because he foretelleth the Babylonish captivity, and seemeth to agree with Jeremy in many things. Sure it is, that this Prophet lived not after the captivity (see verse 6.7. of this chapter ) as Epiphanius and Jerome would have it: grounding upon those Apocryphal additions to Daniel, which either are false, or else there were two Habakkuks.

Vers. 2. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? ] Lo, this is the confidence of a good conscience towards God, 1 Pet. 3.21. when it is parling with him by prayers, and bold intercessions, 1 Tim. 2.1. it dare plead, as Jer. 12.1. and interrogate, as Rom. 8.33, 34, 35. Isaiah 63.15. and expostulate, as David often: when God seems to be asleep, he wakes him: when to delay, he quickens him: when to have lost his wonted kindness, he finds it for him; so doth Habakkuk here: for he knew he might do it. See his holy boldness beneath, verse 12. and learn to continue instant in prayer, Rom. 12.12. crying, Quousque Domine? How long Lord? This was Mr. Calvias Motto; ever in his mouth, as D • o gratias was, in Austin's.

even cry out unto thee of violence ] i. e. Of all sorts of heinous sins, which I have long cried out upon, and sought by preaching and prayer to redress, but cannot; so incorrigibly flagitious are they grown, that I have now no other way left, but to turn them over to thee, with a Non convertentur, They will not be converted. Shall they still escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God: and let them feel the power of thy wrath, that will not submit to the scepter of thy kingdom. Thus the holy Prophet ( Elias -like, Rom. 11.2.) maketh intercession to God against Israel (when once incorrigible, uncurable) for whose souls health he would have spent, and been spent.

Verse 3. Why dost thou show me iniquity? &c.] These were Hazai • s to Habakkuks eyes, he could not see them with dry eyes, he could not but vex his righteous soul from day today, as Lot did at Sodom, with their unlawful deeds, 2 Pet. 2.8. privately committed, (as here in their common commerce) and publicly, as in the next words, in Courts and Consistories: for all was out of order.

and cause me to behold grievance ] Molestation and mischief done to those that would live peaceably in the land (Confer Psal. 7.14, 16. and 94.20. and 55.11.) to the poor that are fallen into their nets, debts, bonds, and morgages, Psal. 10.9. It is as if the Prophet should say; Why dost thou not punish these enormous practices, but suffer evil-doers to abuse thy long-sufferance, to thy dishonor? Averroes the Philosopher, drew an argument from God's patience to deny his providence. But what saith Augustine? Some wicked, God punisheth here, lest his providence; and but some, lest his patience, and promise of judgment should be called in question.

for spo • ling and violence are before me ] E regione m • i vastatio & violentia, so that I cannot look besides them, I cannot but complain of them. Elias, and Jeremy were more passionate, 1 King. 19.4, 10, 14. Jer. 15.10. and 20.14.

and there are that raise up strife and contention ] These are Satan's seeds-men, and kindle-coals. He is an unquiet spirit, and strives to make others so; loves to fish in troubled waters, doth all he can to set one man against another, that he may prey upon both: as the Master of the pit suppeth upon the bodies of those cocks whom he hath set to kill one another. Be not make-bates, seeds-men of sedition.

Verse 4. Therefore the law is slacked ] Desluit lex. An elegant Metaphor from the pulse, which in a dying man beateth faintly. The law is the pulse of the Common-wealth. If it stir not at all, the Common-wealth is dead. If it have but slow motion, the Common-wealth is weak. But if it keep an equal course, the Common-wealth is in good constitution. Lex lux, the law is a light, saith Solomon: but the deluge of sin had well-nigh put out this light in Israel; who was now grown in a manner lawless, through long impunity.

and judgment doth never go forth ] Or, it goeth not forth to the utmost, to victory: it is not carried on to a right upshot, as the Septuagint, and Latin render it.

for the wicked doth compass about the righteous ] As a crown compasseth the head: He surroundeth and circumventeth him to his hurt. The children of this world are wiser in their generation &c. The Midianites out witted the Israelites Num. 25.18. The Pharisees hemmed in our Savior to ensnare him: but were disappointed.

therefore wrong judgment proceedeth ] Distorted judgment. So Ezek. 9.9. the city was full of Mutteh that is of ( mishpat din mitteh, as Kimchi expoundeth it) judgment turned from the biasse: the balance of justice was tilted on the one side 1 Tim. 5.21. A judge is to retain the decency and gravity of the law: to do nothing of partiality or popularity; to proceed, not according to opinion or appearance; but as a just law is an heart without affection, an eye without lust, a mind without passion &c. so should he. Else wrong and wrested judgment will soon proceed, to the prejudice of the righteous.

Verse 5. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously ] Heb: Wonder, Wonder. This is God's answer to the former expostulation, which he disliketh not, but encourageth the rest of his people to the like holy boldness. It containeth a promise to the Prophet and the rest that were like affected, that he would shortly vindicate his glory and be avenged of the wicked, though he bore long with them. This that he may the better assure, He proceedeth by an elegant Climax; wherein his speech getteth ground and ariseth higher and higher, that the D • sp • sers might be the more affected. Behold ye despisers So St. Paul after the Septuagint (whose translation, he here followeth as most received, and most making for his purpose) Act. 23.45. the sense being one and the same.

for I will work a work in your days ] This phrase noteth the strong intention of God upon it, as Ier. 18.18. to devise devises noteth strong plotting to mischief the Prophet. So Christ is said to work a work Joh. 5.36. many do rather play their works, then work them. This is not God-like. He is serious and through in his works

which ye will not believe, though it be told you ] But put off all, as those in the Gospel did, with a God-forbid: and so go on in sin, till wrath come upon you to the utmost. To this day, we cannot get men to believe the truth of God's judgments, whilst they hang in the threatenings: but one put-off or another they get, through self-delusion, or obstinacy of heart Lam. 3.65. next unto which followeth, Thy curse upon them.

Verse 6. For loe, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter, and hasty nation ] The Chaldeans were anciently the Philosophers of the Babylonians: Babylon was a Province of the Assyrian Empire; but not the same with Nineveh, (only walled about by Semiramis and by her called Babylon) as Soudas noteth. Nineveh was the Metropolis, Babylon ruled by Prefects. One of whom, viz Merodach Baladan ) rebelling against Esar-haddon King of Nineveh, translated the whole kingdom to the Babylonians, using the help and counsel of the Chaldeans, famous for their wisdom and authority: which yet was not done without the Lord who then stirred them up, and now sent them against the Jews, to averge the quarrel of his covenant. In like manner God hath in these last times raised up the Turks that bitter and hasty nation, bitter and bloody, hasty and headlong, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pursuing their victories and subduing in a short space many nations, and kingdoms to their Empire. Hence the Jews are in the former verse called upon to view among the heathen what havoc the Chaldeans had made; that is, should shortly make by overrunning Syria, the greater part of all Asia, and some part also of Africa. In the greatness of the Turkish Empire is swallowed up at this day both the name and Empire of the Saracenes, the most glorious Empire of the Greeks, the renowned kingdoms of Macedonia, Peloponnesus, Epirus, Bulgaria, Servia, Bosina, Armenia, Cyprus, Syria, Egypt, Judea, Tunes, Argeirs, Media, Chaldea, with a great part of Hungary; as also of the Persian kingdom, and all the Churches and places so much spoken of in scripture (the Roman only excepted, which yet he daily threateneth) and in brief so much in Christendom, as far exceedeth that which is thereof at this day left. In fine, no part of the world is left untouched by the Othoman monarchy, but America only; not more happy in her rich mines, then in that she is so far from so great and dangerous an enemy. The King of Spain, of all other Princes Mahometan or Christian that border upon the Turk, is best able to wage war with him. How far and with what bitterness and hast he hath carried on his Catholic Monarchy, is better known then that it need here to be related. Q. Elizabeth put a stop to him. Captain Drake and his soldiers when they took Sancto Domingo Anno. 1585. (where his arms were to be seen in the town-hall with this inscription, Non sufficit orbis ) derided his avarice and ambitions: but the poor Indies groan heavily under his cruelty: and Grynaeus commenting upon these words that bitter and hasty nation, Tribuuntur illis duo, saith he, Two things are here attributed to the Chaldees bitterness, and swiftness in undertaking and dispatching conquests: quibus dotibus Iberos nostra aetate praeditos, proh dolor, experimur, this by woeful experience we find nowadays too much verified of the Spaniards.

Verse 7. They are terrible and dreadful ] Or, horrible Such as were those giants called Emims Deut. 2.11. Gen. 14.3. and far more formidable then that Disputant at Paris, who would needs be styled Horribilis Sophista, the Horrible Sophister, non minorem eam appellationem ratus (saith Vives) quam Africam aut Asiatici taking it for as great an honor, as to be a Conqueror.

their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves ] i. e. They shall do as they list; their lust shall be their law, Pellitur e medio sapientia, vi geritur res. See Psal. 12.4, 5. Exod. 5.2. These Chaldeans will be their own carvers: ministering law according to their own pleasures. The honor also and dignity of this nation (now base and obscure) shall grow up and appear.

Verse 8. Their horses also are swifter then the leopards ] Or Panthers, famous for their swiftness: whence the proverb Panther â velocior. The horse is so swift in service, that the Persians (as Pausanias hath it) dedicated him to their god the Sun; as the swiftest creature to the swiftest god. See Job. 41.20. Prov. 21.31.

and are more fierce then the evening wolves ] Heb: more sharp set, after that they have been held hunger bit, and empty all the day long. See Virg. Aeneid. lib. 9. ver. 59. &c. Oppian: lib. 1.3. Homo homini lupus, One man (left to himself) is a wolf, nay a devil to another. The Metaphor is here taken from sharpest swords, which quickly cut.

and their horsemen shall spread themselves ] with incredible swiftness, which in war is most necessary and useful, as Julus Caesar experienced, and we in our late commotions.

and their horsemen shall come from far ] The Jews were secure of the Chaldeans, as being far remote: but that shall be no hindrance.

they shall flee as the Eagle that hasteth to eat ] In singulis verbis pondus est, saith Drusius, Here each word hath its weight: for he that hasteth on his way is said to fly, and the Eagle is swifter of flight then any bird, and especially when she hasteth to eat. Of the Eagles swiftness why and whence, See