And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Ver. 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves.] To their vocis intentio, they added cutis incisio - and this they had learned of their heathen neighbours Deu 14:1 - but all would not do.
Till the blood gushed out upon them.] This they did by the instigation of that old manslayer, who delighteth in sucking man's blood, the blood of souls especially. He it is that set awork the priests of Cybele to do the like, and still the Flagellatores among the Papists, who, the week before Easter, whip themselves till the blood followeth, as also the Turkish priests, whose custom is to wound and lance themselves, qua satisfactione existimant se praestare Deo culturm ex opere operato, saith mine author, wherein they think they do God singular good service.