And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set [battering] rams against it round about.
Ver. 2. And lay siege against it.] This to carnal reason seemeth childish and ridiculous; not unlike the practice of boys that make forts of snow; or of the Papists' St Francis, who made him a wife and children of snow; fair, but soon fading comforts; or of his disciple Massaeus, who is much magnified, because at his master's command he did - not Diogenes-like, tumble his tub, but - himself tumble up and down as a little one, in reference to that of our Saviour, a "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Mat 18:3 But it must be considered, that what the prophet did here, he did by the word and command of the most wise God. This made the sacrifices of old, and doth make the sacraments still, to be reverend and tremendous; because holy and reverend is his name who instituted them. It cannot be said so of Popish ceremonies, men's inventions; they have not God's image or inscription, and are therefore frivolous and fruitless, worthily cast out of our churches.
a Sedulius., lib. iii. cap. 2.