A briefe exposition of such chapters of the olde testament as vsually are redde in the church at common praier on the Sondayes set forth for the better helpe and instruction of the vnlearned. By Thomas Cooper Bishop of Lincolne.

The Exposition vpon the sixt Chapter of Micheas.

Hearken you now what the Lorde sayth.* 1.1 Arise thou and contende with, &c.

THe Prophet Micheas blameth the Iewes for their wickednesse, and declareth to them their punishment for y^• same. 1 First he noteth their vn∣thankefulnesse for the great benefites that they haue receyued at his hande. 2 Then he taketh from them al the confidence that they might haue had to please God with their Sacrifices and external Hypocrisie, and sheweth what they should

doe to please God rightly. 3 Thirdly he sharpely rebuketh their obstinacie in contem••ing the worde of God, and refusing to heare him. 4 Lastly, he openeth some of their particular faultes, and de∣nounceth their punishment that God will bring v∣pon them. And all this doth he in maner of a plea∣ding of Gods cause before Iudges,* 1.2 which *maner the Prophetes diuerse times doe vse, thereby to set out the Iustice of God and more euidently to de∣clare that his people, euen by the Iudgement of men or other common creatures are vnexcusable, and by their owne wickednesse to pull vpon them∣selues iust and grieuous punishments. In this place the Prophete by appointment of God taketh Mountaynes and Hilles,* 1.3 and the verie Foundations of the earth to heare the cause and complaint of Al∣mightie God agaynst his people of Israel. And that is it that the Prophete vttereth in y^e person of God, saying, Arise thou and contende with the mountay∣nes; &c. And then he Obeying the appoyntment of God sayth: Heare O you mountaynes the Lordes quarell, &c. As if he had sayde: Forsomuch as the heartes of this people are so farre from God, that not so much as one of them will consider and vn∣be ••stande his cause, I appeale to you hilles and mountaynes, and make the vnsensible Creatures Iudges agaynst them. In this the Prophet both noteth the hard hearts and the obstinate contempt of the Iewes particularly, and also generally tea∣cheth all then which in like maner contemne the worde of god; that they shal by no meanes be hable

to escape iust iudgement and condemnation.* 1.4 For, because the *whole world was made by God for vs, and in all poyntes seruing to our vse perfour∣meth that ende to the which it was made, though all other Iudges and witnesses would fayle: the very partes of the world and the cōmon creatures will pronounce sentence against vs, if we in our calling doe shewe our selues vnthankefull, disobe∣dient, and rebellious agaynst God.

O my people what haue I done vnto thee?* 1.5 or wherein haue I grieued thee? &c.

There is no one thing that in the Prophetes causeth more difficultie, then the often and the so∣daine chaunging of the Person, wherefore that is here also to be obserued. The second verse was vt∣tered in the person of the Prophet, these three ver∣ses God himselfe speaketh. Although God were grieuously displeased with them, yet he calleth them His people,* 1.6 therby *shewing that he would be rea∣die to receiue them to Mercie if they would turne vnto him and repente.

Then he lamentably vpbraideth them with the vnthankefull receiuing of his great benefites that he had done for them. Whereby hee, as it were in iudgement cleareth him selfe, that he neuer hurted them, neuer wrought trouble & griefe vnto them whereby they might pretende cause to reuolt from him, but alway hath shewed him selfe their graci∣cious, mercifull, and bountifull Lord, euer readye to assiste and helpe them, and miraculously with

mightie hande to deliuer them. As for example out of Aegipt from the sterne Tirannie of Pharao and his people.* 1.7 In the wildernesse from manye dangers by the meanes of Moyses, Aaron & Marie, their sister indued with the spirite of prophecie. From the wicked deuises of Balach,* 1.8 at which time he turned the Cursing, that was sought agaynst them into a notable blessing. By this wee also haue to take heede that wee doe not contemne the worde of God and reiect the memorie of his exceeding be∣nefits, that he hath of late yeares done for vs, least it be grieuously laide against vs as the like is here vnto the Iewes.

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord,* 1.9 and bowe my selfe to the hye God, &c.

As the Prophet before made, as it were, God him selfe to accuse the Iewes: euen so here doth he bring in the people of y^e Iewes cōsulting & asking by what meanes, by what sacrifices, by what satisfactions they may please God and appease his wrath and displeasure. Here is to be noted, that as the faith∣full when they perceiue God to be displeased, re∣sort to his holy worde, and out of that learne what to doe to please God: so other that are vnfaithfull, when he hath beaten into their mindes some sense of his wrath, as he had here done to the Iewes, they cannot ascende to any higher consideration then the wisedome of the flesh and of the worlde.* 1.10 And therefore giue themselues to worke reconsi∣liation by externall things, as sacrifices, outward

kneelings, fastings, and tormentings of the bodie, iudging that God also maketh great account of those outwarde thinges, which they themselues greatly esteeme, and wherein they iudge principall holinesse to consist.* 1.11 But God being a spirite, shew∣eth himselfe to delight in that holinesse only that is in spirite and in truth. And therefore in the 8. verse the Prophete aunswering their question sayeth, God hath shewed thee, O man what is good, and what the Lorde requireth of thee. &c. Whereby he taketh from them their pretence of ignoraunce, or rather reproueth their obstinate impudēcie, wher∣by they moue such questions. As though God had not by his seruant Moises,* 1.12 and by his Prophetes declared oftentimes vnto them what true worship he looketh for at their handes, and wherewith his anger will be appeased, that is with repentaunce and the true fruites therof. Such as are the doing of iustice, when not onely the Magistrate dealeth vprightly in iudgement, but also euerye priuate man according to his office and calling: The loue of mercie and pitie, consisting in all the workes of Charitie: The humblenesse of our hartes submit∣ting our selues to the will and pleasure of God de∣clared in his worde. For To walke with God, is to walke before him according to the appointment of his holy will and worde.

The Lordes voyce cryeth vnto the Citie and the man that shalbe saued,* 1.13 &c.

In this part of the chapter the Prophete char∣geth

them with their sinnes wherewith they had displeased God. The Lordes voyce, is the prea∣ching and teaching of his worde. You haue heard sayth the Prophete,* 1.14 what *dueties God requireth of you, neyther can you in this pretende ignorance. For the Lord doth his part diligently when he sen∣deth his Prophets to you that be of this Citie, and to all other likewise that be in your case, and by them crieth to you that you should repent, and doe those fruites of repentaunce. And therefore the faythfull and good man that hath care of his salua∣tion doth consider it, and feare the name of thee, O Lorde. But you, O stiffe necked Ievves, shewe your selues to contemne his voyce, and to neglect his calling. Therefore, seeing you will not heare that voyce calling you to saluation, hearken to this voyce that assureth you of your punishment, rodde, and destruction. Then layeth he before them their grieuous faultes and offences, that is, Riches, vn∣iustly gotten, False measures, False waightes and ba∣lances, Crueltie, Lying, Falsehoode and deceyte, as well in their occupying and bargayning, as in all other dealing, and for these thinges, sayth he, the Lorde will take in hande to punish them.

Therefore I will take in hande to punishe thee,* 1.15 and to make thee desolate, &c.

This is vttered in the person of God, I wyll therefore punish thee, sayth the Lorde, and take all those my good gifts frō thee which hath made thee so prowde and obstinate, & not ouely so, but bicause

thou wilt not repent and turn from thy sinnes, (O thou wicked Citie,) I will vtterly destroy thee and make thee desolate,* 1.16 The first plague is famine, and that in a strange maner, that they should haue to eate, and yet there meate not prosper with them,

The seconde plague,* 1.17 that by inward mischiefe among themselues, that is, by discorde, discention, or other like meanes by giuing credite to the false Prophetes that were among them, they shoulde worke their owne ouerthrowe.* 1.18 The thirde is, that all meanes of help, succour, and refuge should be taken from them, and that those whome they would seeke to saue, the Lorde would deliuer to the sworde.* 1.19 The fourth is, that their goodes, and the fruites of the grounde shoulde be spoyled and taken from them, and that they shoulde enioy no part of their labours therein.* 1.20 The last is, that they should be vtterly wasted, caried away captiue, and be a scorne and reproch to all people.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1. 2.
• * 1.2

  Esa. 41. a. 1.
• * 1.3

  Irre. 6. e. 18. 19 Esay. 1. a. 2.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 1. a. &c. Gen. 2. a. &c.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 3. &c.
• * 1.6

  Deut. 5. d. 29. Esay 65. a. 2. Rom. 10. d. 21. Esay. 30. d. 18.
• * 1.7

  Exo. 10. 11. 14
• * 1.8

  Nu. 22. 23. 24
• * 1.9

  Vers. 6. 7. 8.
• * 1.10

  Esay. 1. a. &c. Esay. 58. a. &c.
• * 1.11

  Iohn. 4. d. 24.
• * 1.12

  Deut. 4. &c. Esay. 1. &c. Esay. 58. &c.
• * 1.13

  Vers. 16.
• * 1.14

  Esay. 5. a. 4.
• * 1.15

  Vers. 13. &c.
• * 1.16

  1
• * 1.17

  2
• * 1.18

  3
• * 1.19

  4
• * 1.20

  5