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.

The Paraphrastical EXPLICATION Of the Prayer it self, beginning at the second verse.

2. WIth fear, and reverence have I heard that answer, O Lord, wherein thou art pleased to reveale the execution of thy Iustice. First upon the Jewes by Chaldeans, and then, more heavily, upon the Chaldeans themselves, by other Nations: when thy own People, after the expiration of seventy years, shall be gra∣ciously delivered from Captivity. (c) In the interim of those years of their captivity be thou the life, and comfort of thy Church, the speciall work of thy own hands, and let thy People feel the benefit of thy presence. In that sad compasse of time, O make thy self known to them that need thee most, and in the midst of thy Anger, and Justice, remember Mercy.

3. Remember thy tender mercies showed unto us of old, in our miraculous delivery from the Egyptian bondage, when, after our

safe conduct into the wildernesse, out of the reach of our enemies, Thou camest in such Ma∣jesty from Teman, and madest thy holinesse shine forth in such beauty from mount Paran. The first appearance of thy glory diffused in self over the (d) air above, filling it, after an extraordinary manner, with Thunder, and Lightning (the forerunners of thy divine ap∣proach) and the Earth below was abundantly made happy with the just occasions of Praise, and thankfull acclamations.

4. For in great Light, and Splendour, and (e). Glory were all the waies of God's most gracious appearance (a Figure of that greater Light, and Glory, which is altogether invisible and inaccessible to poor Mortals) But, for our weaknesse, they were so (f) shadowed, and qualified, as might best fit the eyes of them, that were then entertained with those won∣ders.

5. And as such Lustres were a pledge, and testimony of comfort to his own people: so, as a terrour to their Enemies, fearfull Death, and Destruction went before Him, and He left

behind Him the foot-steps of (g) Horrour, and speedy consumption.

6. At last, when he rested in his holy Ark, in the land of Promise, he divided that Land by lot, for their inheritance. At his appearance the Nations were so troubled. They that had dwelt so long in those (h) Mountainous Coun∣tries were much distracted with the sad appre∣hension of their likelihood, to be now roused, and expelled out of those ancient Seates, and forced to submit to new Lords, and Masters: brought thither by Him, in whose Power are all the (i) Actions, and alterations of the world.

7. It was not for any good deserts of ours, but for the wickednesse of those Nations, that they were so rooted out by the hand of Justice. That apparently removed (not the Cananites onely out of their dwelling, but) the (k) Midianites for their sinne. When it troubled the tents of Cushan, afflicted their whole land, and made them content to pack away with their portable Houses to other places of mansion, where they might be found.

8. But still, as the way of thy Justice was observable over other Nations, so was thy Mercy, O Lord, over us, to the very alteration of the ordinary course of Nature. We found that in our passage thorough the Red Sea, and thorough the River Jordan. The waters seem∣ed to start aside, at our coming towards them, and, for very fear, to give way to us. Was it thy anger, O Lord, against the proud waves? that forced them thus to shrink back? Was the Sea afraid of thy triumphant approach? Was it the noise of thy Chariots, and the prancing of thy Horses that shrunk up the rivers, with this terrour, and drave them out of their wonted Station? For, in such triumph indeed didst thou seem to draw near the waters of Jordan, when the Ark was thy Chariot, the Chariot of our Salvation, and thy glory seemed to be carried upon the holy Cherubims.

9. After that glorius, and miraculous pas∣sage over (l) Jordan, an Angel showed himself, for a Captain of the Host of the Lord. And thy self, O Lord, as the great Lord of Hostes, preparedst for the battle. Thine arrowes were apparently drawn out of their quiver and thy Bow out of the Case, to be in readinesse against

thine Enemies. The severall Tribes of Israel, as thy Souldiers, were mustered up to their mili∣tary Sacramentall oath. And the very Earth, and the Waters, and all the Elements divided themselves into their severall ranks, at thy command, and for thy service.

10. And, when thou beganst to set forward, the Mountains, O Lord, as if standing higher, they had made the first discovery of thy coming afar off, were sore troubled at it, (m) like a woman that is in labour, and longs to be deli∣vered. Presently, whole Rivers of waters gush∣ed out (as the issue of that birth) The noise and murmur which they made at their breaking forth of the hollow Earth, was like the cry of this new-born Creature. And the diffusion of those waters into severall (n) courses, and ri∣vulets, was like the stretching out of his armes ((o) which thou canst bind, and lap up in his swadling clouts, as it pleaseth thee.)

11. And if the Hills can thus discover, and expresse thy powerfull approach, how can the two fair eyes of the Firmament, (the Sun, and the Moon) but see it, and give some ac∣knowledgement of it? As they did to all the

world, when the Sun stood still over Gibeon, (p) and the Moon over the valley of Ajalon: as if then indeed they had come to their (q) Houses, wherein they should rest. While by that so miraculously continued Light, thy Hailestones, like glittering speares and ••wift arrowes did s••y about, to execute vengeance up∣on thine Enemies.

12. This was the obedience every where tendred to our Lord, when he brought us, and our Armies to take possesion of the Land of Promise. Into which (we must ever thank∣fully acknowledge, O blessed God) as thou didst enter with wrath, and terrour against all the Inhabitants of the Land, so in the end, in the like displeasure, thou didst cause the Heads, and Commanders of those Heathen people to be (r) trampled on by the feet of the Conque∣rours.

13 This was thy doing O Lord, and thus hast thou often gone out with our Armies, to save and defend thy People, and thine Annointed whom thou hast set over them. Thou hast often wounded the heads of those wicked Families, that oppose them, and (s) discovered their

Foundations: so that from the highest to the lowest part of their best hold, and confidence, they were laid open to ruine.

14. Thou hast pierced the Heads of those Peasants, that sought our destruction, with the same weapons, that they used against us (might Israel then say) and taken them in their own Inventions, when they had thought, sud∣denly and violently like a whirl-wind, to have set upon us, scattered us, and blown us away. When their Triumph before vi∣ctorie was like the exultation of those that have (in their hopes) already devoured the poor, and innocent, that hides himself from their fury, and persecution.

15. So did our enemies perish in that passage, where they purchased their own death, in the pursuit of ours. While the Triumph, which they hoped for was thine own, and not their Horses, or Chariots, but Thy Chariots, and Armes prevailed in the Red∣Sea, and went safe, thorough the unusuall paths, and heaps of many waters.

16. Such hath been thy Providence over us, in our former calamitie: so far did thy Power then show it self in our deli∣very. And shall it not be such, in thy good time, from the Babylonian slavery, as it was from the Egyptian? But, alas! what

do I venture to entreat? I have (a) heard, and seen so much in my former vision, of the long sad time of our Captivitie, as makes me startle, and interrupt my prayer. But my bowels do earne with compassion of my poor Country-men, as well as quake for fear. My inward parts are so wholly pos∣sessed, and troubled with sorrow for them, that my fearfull quavering lips will not suffer me to expresse it. And, though I live, yet me thinks, my bones are almost consu∣med with rottennesse, while I labour to con∣ceale my selfe-devouring feares, and per∣plexities, that I have within me. And so much the rather, because I must be still, and silent for the day of their affliction: For it seems the doom is now past, no prayer can avert it, when he shall rise up against thy poor People, that shall bring his troupes of cruell Souldiers, to prey upon them.

17. To this most heavie, but most just Sentence, I humbly submit: with this Pray∣er, that they may endeavour, as I shall, to make sure for some inward solace, when

all outward helps, and comforts shall be taken away.

For (u) though the Figge-tree shall not flourish, and give her wonted sweets: nor the Vine-tree prosper, and yeeld her com∣fortable wine: though the Olive shall de∣ceive our expectation of her fatnesse, and the Corn-fields shall not continue the provision of their food to strengthen us: though the Sheep shall be plundered out of their folds, and the Oxen out of their stalls.

18. Yet will I resolve to place my heart in the Lord, and to rejoyce in the God of my Salvation.

19. And it shall be my Prayer, and my Hope, that the Lord my God will be my strength, and my safeguard; supply me with Patience, and Obedience, and courage: make my feet as nimble as Harts-feet, and so conduct me chearfully, in the way to those high places, and Sanctuaries above, were I shall be set, out of the fear of all danger, in ever∣lasting blisse.

And as a testimony of my Joy, and So∣lace

in that, I will take order with the chief Master of the Musick, to have this Prayer set to my Instruments, which may help to rouse up my spirits, and my repose in God my Saviour.

Notes

• (c)

  aliam horum verborum explicationem exhibet Doctissi. Light footi spirilegium in Exod. p. 7.
• (d)

  The Scriptnre often expresseth the Air, by the name of Hea∣ven, as Mat. 13. 32. the birds of Heaven.
• (e)

  hebr. brightnesse, in his very hands.
• (f)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 absconsio Majestatis ejus.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pestis, vel sebris ardens.
• (h)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (which signifie eternity) are often put for a long time, and Mountains for them that dwelt in them.
• (i)

  Hebr waies, and passages of the world.
• (k)

  Cush and Cushan (the diminitive of that) are the same with Midian. See Bochartus in Phaleg. l. 4. c. 2. And Sir. W•• Raleigh's Discourse of Cush, L. 1. c. 8. of his Hist.
• (l)

  Jos. 5. 14.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (m)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dolore partus.
• (n)

  or currents
• (o)

  Job. 38. 9.
• (p)

  Jos. 10. 12.
• (q)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (r)

  Jos. 10. 24.
• (s)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Proverb. hebr.
• (a)

  non dicit quid audierit. Est enim Rhetorica Aposiopesis, quâ riste Oraculum tacere mallet, quàm exprimere.
• (u)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quamvis ut Jeremiah 12. 6. & alibi, vide, Observat. nostr. hebr.