Ezekiel 2:6

And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns [be] with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they [be] a rebellious house.

Ver. 6. Be not afraid of them.] Of their lordly looks - such as Steven Gardiner set upon Dr Taylor, and was well told of it a - of their bitter scoffs, dreadful threats, as if they could undo us at their pleasure. Our times are in God's hands; kill us they may, but hurt us they cannot. See Jer 1:17 Matthew 10:25. When Bonner said to Hawkes, A faggot will make you turn; No, no, said Hawkes, a point for your faggot, you shall do no more than God permits you. b A minister of God should live by faith, and not die by fear. He should make his hearers afraid of him rather, as Herod was of the Baptist, Valens of Basil, &c. When Euxodia the Empress threatened Chrysostom, Go tell her, said he, that I fear nothing but sin. I will rather choose to die, said Calvin, than comply with those that refuse to submit to Church discipline.

Though briers (or rebels) and thorns be with thee.] Refractarii et spinei, c such as thou canst not handle without hurt, deal with without danger; 2Sa 23:6 Psalms 55:21 ; Psa 58:10 Mic 7:4 catching, they are and scratching, as sharp pointed thorns. Num 33:55

And thou dost dwell among scorpions.] Which are most venomous and perilous creatures, joined with fiery serpents. Deu 8:15 Pliny saith that there is not one minute wherein it doth not put forth the sting to do mischief. d It is also a crafty creature, et occultis machinationibus ferit and it kills with hidden devices. The Church's enemies are cruel crafties. Neh 4:11

Be not afraid of their words.] Their bubbles of words.

Nor be dismayed at their looks.] Their swellings and browbeatings.

Though they be a rebellious house.] A race of rebels.

a Acts and Mon.

b Ibid., 1443.

c Quasi boves aestro agitati. - Theodoret. Monitoribus asperi. - Hor.

d Semper in ictu est. - Plin., lib. viii. cap. 29. Ferit obliquo ictu et inflexu.