A paraphrasticall explication of the twelve minor prophets. Viz. Hoseah. Joel. Amos. Obadiah. Jonah. Micah. Nahum. Habakkuk. Zephaniah. Haggai. Zechariah. Malachi. / By Da. Stokes. D.D.

CHAP. I.

1. WHen Ionah, the Son of Amittai, could no way reclaim the sinfull Is∣raelites, neither by good admonitions, nor by a clear (k) Prophesie of the victorious at∣cheivements of their puissant King that should restore all the coast of Israel, from the entring of (l) Hamath, unto the Sea (m) of the wil∣dernesse (or, the great Lake near the plaines of Idumaea:) Then, (that the Israelites might see the greatnesse of their own (n) obstinacy in the speedy Repentance of the very Gen∣tiles, and acknowledge the Justice of that pu∣nishment, that followed upon that obstinacy of theirs) the word, or command of the Lord, was in this manner made known unto him, and to this purpose.

2. Arise, and fit thy self for a long journey, go to that great City Niniveh, and, with a loud voice, boldly preach unto her (o) what I have bid thee. For, their riot, oppression, and other wickednesse is grown to that height, that it calls to heaven for vengeance, and represents it self before me, in such manner, that it must be no longer suffered to go on.

3. Ionah (loath to be a Messenger of such ill newes to another Countrey, in that which boded no good to his own, instead of perfor∣ming ready obedience to Gods command) thought of quitting that place, and kingdom as soon as might be, where God had so appeared unto him, and was more specially present. Some reason of this kind of slight from God might be, that he conceived this threat might (p) produce mercy in God, upon the Repentance of the Ninivites, and their repentance might conduce to the greater shame, and punishment of his own Country-men, that having greater inducements, gave lesse signe of remorse, and amendment of life, then was found among the Heathen, This running in his head, put him upon a sudden resolution to flee to Tar∣shish; the rather, because after he had come as

far as the famous port of Ioppe (the likeliest to accommodate him for this flight) he there accordingly found a ship ready to put saile for that place. To break off all further delay, he presently paid the fare, and took his place in the ship: hoping that the further he removed from the place of Gods peculiar presence, where he received his command, the further he should be from his employment to Niniveh, which he desired, by all meanes, to avoid (q) (as Moses once did his journey into Egypt.)

4. But (to show how hard it was to resist the will, and pleasure of him, that laid the command upon him) while Jonah thought himself secure, and at liberty, the Lord sent a violent wind into the sea, which raised such a sudden impetuous tempest in that place, that they seemed all in danger of perishing by ship∣wrack.

5. This drave the fearfull Mariners into such a sit of devotion, as seldome takes them but in a sad storm. First, they humbly apply themselves to their severall supposed Deities: then they are as busie in using all outward means of safety by casting their wares into the sea, or whatsoever might thereby lighten the ship.

In the mean time Ionah had got down into the lower parts of the ship, where he slept as securely, as if he had been no way concerned in this trou∣blesome, and perilous storm.

6. In this posture was he, when the Master of the ship lighting upon him, ratled him up for sleeping so soundly in a time of common fear, and danger, and advised him, by their example, to fall to his prayers, and call upon his God, for his own and their safety, if per∣haps God would be entreated, (r) to be propiti∣ous, and gracious unto them, and preserve them from perishing in the Sea.

7. But the Mariners (seeing the violence of the storm no whit abated, after their ad∣dresse to their Gods, seconded with the prayer of Jonah, and the ordinary outward meanes of easing the ship of their portage) began to suspect, that there was some wicked miscreant among them, whom divine vengeance would not snffer to live, and for whose sake they suffered all this misery. Therefore according to their usuall course, in such extremities, they resolved upon casting of lots, and said among themselves, Come, let us cast lots, that thereby we may know, the true cause, and au∣thour

of all this evill. And when they had done so, after their blunt way, without prayer, or other enquiry after God, the lot, by divine Providence, fell upon Ionah.

8. Upon this, they did not presently cast him out, whom the lot had (as they thought) so plainly discovered to be the man, that was persecuted with that storm. But, to inform themselves more particularly, they said unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause (as thou thinkest) this evill is brought upon us? Art thou guilty of any horrid sinne, that might deserve it? Examine thy self. what hath been thy course of life? (there may be some fault of thy own, in that) whence comest thou? Of what countrey, and of what people art thou? (thou mayest per∣haps come from a wicked, and accursed place.)

9. Ionah answered punctually, to that which most reflected upon the case in hand; that he was an Ebrew, and worshipped the Lord God of Heaven, (whither they did, or should have directed their prayers) who made the vast Sea (which terrified them now) and the dry land (where they longed to arrive in safety.)

10. The Men heard not this without much fear, and terrour; as not being wholly igno∣rant

of the great wonders, which the power and Justice of almighty God had done among the Hebrews, to the admiration of all other nations. They could hardly come from Joppe, and hear none of those things. They conside∣red (s) also what he had told them of his strange disobedience, and boldnesse, in flying from the presence of so great a God, to prevent his going unto Niniveh, as an unwelcome Messenger of their sudden destruction. Therefore they said unto him, Why hast thou done this? why wouldst thou make thy self guilty of so great a sinne? who would think, a Prophet should be afraid, or loath to speak what God had put into his mouth?

11. Yet not venturing rashly to make away an Ebrew, and so near a Servant to the great Creator, and Governour of all things, they ad∣vised with himself, what was fittest to be done to him, that they might appease the wrath of God, and so quiet the raging Sea, which seemed still more, and more to swell, and beget more trouble to them.

12. Then spake the Prophet as from the ora∣cle of God, and told them, that their safety could not be otherwise procured than by casting him over board, and so committing him to the

mercy of God. And, that this their execution of divine Iustice upon him, would calm, and still the roaring Sea, which called aloud for venge∣ance against him, and would not be silent, but upon his patient offering himself to the mercy of Almighty God, and so becoming some means of their deliverance from what himself had been a main instrument to bring upon them, (wherein he was a type of Christ, that offered himself to a crueller death for the salvation of the world.)

13. Neverthelesse Jonas his readinesse to die for them melted the hearts of the rude Mari∣ners (I wish our Saviours offering himself for us, could work the like effect in us all) They resolved now to venture themselves a little fur∣ther for his sake, rather than secure themselves by his death. And (t) casting about in their minds all the waies by which they might preserve him, they pitched upon this as the likeliest, to try whether by rowing the ship to dry land, they might not save themselves and him too. But, after much labour, they see that they could not do it. For, the more they strived to gain the land, the more fiercely did the wind, and wea∣ther beat them into new danger upon the Sea.

14. At last, though forced unto it, yet they would not be executioners of the death of a Prophet, till they had prayed to Almighty God (whose power the Prophet had made known to them) that they might not be called to ac∣count for the losse of his life, nor his innocent blood any way laid to their charge: because all these things (the extraordinary tempest, the event of the lottery, and Jonah's own confes∣sion) appeared plainly to fall out, and be wholly ordered, and directed, according to his own di∣vine dispensation, and holy will, and pleasure. (In all which prayer of the Mariners, they were no types of the cruelty of the Jewes to our Saviour, when he died for us.)

15. After this (but much against their wills) they took up Jonah, that willingly yeild∣ed himself, and cast him into the Sea: which being done, there followed a sudden, and great calm. (The boisterous waves and whist∣ling winds were laid. As the fury of Death, and Sathan was quelled, upon our Saviours exposing himself to Death for our Salva∣tion.)

16. These things wrought in the Seamen a wonderfull Fear, and Reverence of the true God, the Creator, and Lord of all things. Of whom they might have heard something in Joppe, and other places of the holy land:

but these passages concerning Jonah, and the words, that he spake to them, wrought so powerfully in their hearts, that, upon their safe landing again, they offered sacrifice to the Lord after the way of Isra∣el, according to the vowes, which they had made unto him, when they were in dan∣ger, adding other vowes, which they intended afterwards to perform, at their first oppor∣tunity.

17. But God (that is able to rescue us in all places, and useth to be a present help in the greatest times of difficulty) by his good providence, and mercy had prepared a whale to swallow up Ionah alive and be as his (u) prison, or his keeper for a time. And Ionah continued in the belly of the Fish, three dayes, and three nights (and so again be∣came a type of our Saviour, that was three dayes, and three nights in the heart of the earth.)

Notes

• (k)

  2. Reg. 14, 25.
• (l)

  Num, 34, 8.
• (m)

  Deut. 2, 8.
• (n)

  Matt. 22, 41.
• (o)

  colligilur ex c. 3.2.
• (p)

  vide c: 4. 2.
• (q)

  Exod. 3. 11, & 4. 13.
• (r)

  hebr. cogitationem de•• nobis instituere.
• (s)

  colligitur ex fine versiculi.
• (t)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉fodere, & metaph. cogitare, omnem animo rationem inire, & émigare, quasi aquae fundum investiga••e. Pessumus itaque hic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sic expone••e, omnes animi, corporisque vires adhibuerunt.
• (u)

  Matt. 12, 40.