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. THe heavy doom against Nivive (and with her, against the whole Assyrian Empire) foretold in this book of the Prophesie of Nahum, who was of* 1.1 Kessi, or Elkesai, (a little village in Galilie.)

2. God is a jealous God (and so cannot suffer his Servants to be too long and too much op∣pressed) and he is the God to whom vengeance belongeth (and so cannot suffer his enemies too long to prosper, and triumph in their wicked waies) When he comes to take vengeance, his heavy anger against sin goes along with it, as the executioner of his Justice. And, when that comes, he will not fail to be revenged of his ad∣versaries, against whom, (a) 1.2 he laid up his wrath as in a treasure, to be drawn out, and spent upon them in due time.

3. Indeed he comes slowly to those times of the ‖ 1.3 execution of his wrath, in great patience, and long-suffering, expecting their repentance: but, when he comes, he shows himself to be great in power, and one that will not acquit

the impenitent, and suffer them to passe unpu∣nished for what they have done, but rather, by heavinesse of the punishment, make a recom∣pense for the slowness of his anger. Which he shows all the way he comes to it, making it like a way in a whirlwind and mighty storm, and walking upon the clouds, as we do upon the dust of the earth, (which he commands, as he doth the boisterous winds, and all other crea∣tures, to be mustered up against us, at his pleasure)

4. In these times, if he check and rebuke the great Sea, that cheek of his dries it up, and makes it instantly vanish and fly away for fear (as the children of Israel found it in the red sea) needs must all the lesser rivers then be dried up with the least angry breath of his (as they found it also in the river Iordan.) And, when his just anger will show it self by land, as well as by water, a little passe granted by that authority will make the rich corn fields of Carmel, and the fat meadows of Basan, and all the green flaurishing woods in Lebanon sodainly to fade, and wither away (as once a word of his did it, from the mouth of Elijah.

5. And (to show himself the God of the hills as well as of the valleys) he can make the strongest mountains to quake (b) 1.4 for fear of him,

and the highest hills to stoop and melt away, (like the rock, * 1.5 that, at his striking hand wept it self into rivers) And what should I speak of Hills, or Vales, that yeeld to his anger? Any part of the earth, (c) 1.6 for fear of him, and at the breath of his nostrils would be soon put into as great a heat, and flame as that of Sodom and Gomorrha: and the whole world with all that dwel therein may easily be consu∣med in the fire of his wrath (as the greatest part will in the last conflagration, before the day of doom.)

6. For who can stand firm, that is shaked by his indignation, or (if he be once cast down) (d) 1.7 who can raise himself again to oppose the fiercenesse of his anger: which, when it breaks out like fire, is able to rend and cast down the hardest rocks, e 1.8 at the fear of him.

7. (This infinite power may be a terrour to his enemies, but as great a comfort and support it is to his servants: for) the gratious Lord is a sure refuge and fortresse unto all his, in the time of trouble, and will ever (f) acknow∣ledge and take notice of those, * 1.9 that put their trust in him.

8. But like an universal deluge, he will so∣dainly

overtake, and utterly overwhelm him (whosoever he is) (g) 1.10 that rises up against him: and all his enemies shall be pur∣sued with the horror, and darknesse of af∣fliction.

9. Wherwith can you devise to stay this effect of the anger of the Lord, while he is working of that, which will prove no lesse then an utter destruction, to be given at one blow, one heavy afflicting blow, that shall never need to be repeat∣ed * 1.11 in a second affliction, to make all sure for a final ruine.

10. Which may well be compared to the so∣dain consuming of thorns, that are tied up to∣gether before they are cast into the fire: or the sodain conquest that drunkards make over their own understanding, when they sit tipling over the sweet liquor: For, so sodainly shall they perish, as stubble doth in the flame, when it is fully drie, before it be cast into it.

11. (And the lesse should be the wonder at the severity of these judgements: because) out of thee (O Assyria) there hath ever come some back-friend, or other: some (l) 1.12 most wick∣ed counsellor and plotter against the people of God (some Phul, or Tiglath-pelezer, or Senna∣cherib,

or Rabsace) that studying to oppose the peculiar people of God, proved himself therein no better, then a (k) 1.13 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an opposer, and contriver of mischief against God himself.

12. But, thus saith the Lord (against those insulting enemies) though they had (l) 1.14 attain∣ed to the perfection, (of power, and policy) and so to be (m) 1.15 a numerous and great people (likely enough to execute their malitious designes) yet would it be like easie for me ((n) 1.16 when they are ripe for justice) (n) 1.17 to cut them down. And this will prove true by the event, when one (that I shall chuse out, i. the Chaldaean, as wise and populous a nation as they) shall begin to make his way thorough them, without any resistance. When that day comes, it will not be long ere I smite thee, O Ninive, with a blow, that shall come so close and home, (o) 1.18 that it shall not need to be reiterated by any second at∣tempt.

13. With that blow shall I break his yoke (the troublesom and insolent oppression of that King of Ninive, whosoever he be, that

shall yet dare to rise up against me and my people.) That yoke shall be no longer put upon thee (O Israel.) And, with that, all the cords by which those Assyrian Tyrants held thee in subjection, will I break in pieces. That shall be thy day of ransome, and li∣berty.

14. And this shall be thy doom, O Tyrant of Ninive, which shall come out, as an un∣alterable edict from me. None of thy seed, or of thy name shall be any longer continu∣ance. (The world shall hear no more of such a thing, as a King of thy family, or a King of Nineve.) And, (as I will thus cut off thee, and thine, and remove thy throne.) So will I also down with thy idol-deities. Thy Temple shall be no longer a place for them. Thy carved and thy mol∣ten images shall be (p) 1.19 of as little esteem, as thy own stinking sepulchre. For (what∣soever thy proud heart imagines) all (q) 1.20 these things will be most facile and easie for me to do (with whom nothing is im∣possible.)

15. (When thy head shall be laid thus low, and thy glorie buried in the dust)

methinks I that prophesie of thy ruine, see the nimble feet of the joyful messengers, that shall trip it upon the mountains (of Judaea) and deliver the good tidings of (r) 1.21 peace and prosperity unto them. Me∣thinks, I hear them call to us in a well∣come voice, Now, Iudaea, feast it with mirth, and security: and forget not to pay thy vows as readily. For that wicked, and malitious enemie shall come no more to vaunt it against thee and thy God (as he did in the daies of King Hezekiah.) He is now utterly cut off (we shall hear no more of his vain pomp, and insulting tyrannical behaviour.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chald. Hieron.
• (a) 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jac. 5. 3.
• ‖ 1.3

  Exod. 34. 6.
• (b) 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  Exod. 17.6.
• (c) 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (d) 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 resurget.
• e 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  2 ••im. 2. 19.
• (g) 1.10

  leg. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut S••pt.
• * 1.11

  ut v. 22.
• (l) 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (k) 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (l) 1.14

  à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (m) 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (n) 1.16

  at••en∣debuvtur.
• (n) 1.17

  at••en∣debuvtur.
• (o) 1.18

  v. g.
• (p) 1.19

  pro 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (q) 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 facilia à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (r) 1.21

  utrumque in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉