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. III.

1. NOw the Lord, in another vision, let me see Iosuah the High-Priest, standing be∣fore that great Angel, or Messenger of the Lord: and Satan standing at Joshuah his (a) 1.1 right hand: that he might there show himself to be (a) 1.2 a Satan. i. an adversarie and malitious ac∣cusar of him, and so, like his name.

2. And the Lord Iehovah (or some Arch∣angel representing his person) said unto Satan. (*) 1.3 The Lord rebuke, or restrain thee, O Satan, from prevailing in thy malitious accusation, to any prejudice of the High-Priest. Even that gratious Lord so restrain thee, in the behalf of Jerusalems High Priest, that hath in so great love made choice of Ierusalem, as a place to be made a special object of his favour, and mercy. (b) 1.4 For,

is not this Joshua, whom thou opposest, one that hath more need of divine compassion, and indulgence; as being like a brand plucked out of many sad dangers, and fierie trials, that befel him in the time of his long captivity: And by him plucked out, and rescued thence, that gave that token of his care, and protecti∣on over him, for the time to come.

3. Now Joshuah appeared to me, in this vision, as one clad in filthy apparrel, while he thus stood before the great Angel of the Lord (which might be an embleme, not so much of his poor estate, as of some (c) 1.5 sin, that he had contract∣ed in the time of his captivity. For, sin repre∣sents us no otherwise in the sight of Gods pure eyes, then as men covered with rags, and pol∣lution.

4. Then said that great Angel to the other, that stood ready to (d) 1.6 obey his commands. Take away Joshuahs filthy garments from him (as a sign of the removal of his sins, that had made him appear so unpleasing in the sight of God) And then, turning himself to the High-Priest See, saith he, and forget not this mercy, where∣in I have caused the removal of thy sin, which might now have been laid to thy charge, and I

will cause thee to be arrayed in such new and de¦cent garments (the robes of righteousnesse) as wherein thou shalt be accepted.

5. I have also (e) 1.7 taken order with my at∣tendants, (said he) that they set a fair mytre upon the head of Iosuah, * 1.8 as the High-Priest of the Lord. And this they did accordingly (in sign of a confirmation of him in his great, and sacred office, notwithstanding all that his greatest (f) 1.9 enemy could have objected against him) And they clothed him all over with new and comely apparel, and set a fair mitre upon his head, while that great Angel of the Lord was pleased to (g) 1.10 stay there, and see all this done, as he had commanded.

6. After which, that great Angel of the Lord protested also unto Ioshuah, thus consecrated for the High-Priest of the Jews, and said,

7. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts unto thee. If thou wilt walk in those good waies which I have commanded (h) 1.11 and diligently observe that charge of divine service, that I have entrusted thee withal: then thou shalt judge and determine, and give commands concerning all that belongs to the sacrifices, and ceremonies of my house, and to the custodie of the several Courts of my Temple.

And in due time, thou shalt have more honour and liberty then to make use of the walks, and galleries about the Temple; when, for thy walking here in my waies I shall admit thee to those places, where thou shalt walk, and con∣verse with these Angels, that stand all about to (i) 1.12 attend me (this is the reward of them, that here walk with God.)

8. And now give ear, O Ioshuah the High-Priest, to the ground of that promise. Thou maist hear it, and so may thy friends (the Pro∣phets, and other my good servants) that use to sit with thee (to advise of setting forward that which belongs to my service. They are fit Au∣ditors of such mysteries as these, because being (k) 1.13 miracles of piety, in respect of other men, they may be accounted the more worthy to have, miracles, and signs of things to come, imparted unto them. And such are these which I shall now relate. For, Behold, I will at last bring forth (l) 1.14 my servant the BRANCH. I will "make the root of Iesse bud out of the earth, and appear: the Messias, of whom Zorobabel is now the type and figure, and that comes out of the same stock.

9. And there is another mysterie, worth an

Ecce. For you may observe (m) 1.15 the plummet which Zorobabel made use of, when he laid the foundation of the Temple, and (n) 1.16 which I caused to be given him, in the pre∣sence of thee, Ioshuah the High-Priest. Vpon this one plummet, there appeared the figure and representation of seven eyes (to show my (o) 1.17 watchful providence over this, and all other places devoted to my service: and with∣all, (p) 1.18 the wisdom and other graces, which should be eminent in the Messias, the chief cor∣ner stone of all the mystical Churches of God) The engraving of those seven eyes in the plum∣met, was not cut out by any Art of man, but I my self by my extraordinarie power made the engraving of it appear, as there it did, saith the Lord of Hosts. And, for that Messias his sake, I will take away the sins of this wicked (q) 1.19 world, in one day (by virtue of his death and passion upon that day) or, (r) 1.20 at one time (in that (s) 1.21 once offering of himself for sinne.)

10. In those daies of your deliverie from

the bondage of sin, there shall be a time of peace, and mutual amity, when men shall be easily disposed to invite their neighbours to come, and sit with them, every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree, saith the Lord of Hosts, (which is a figure of that inward peace, they shall have, and that true love they shall bear to others; who shall feel the benefit of that daies passion, and the love, and mercy of Him, that died for them.)

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  The place of an acouser.
• (a) 1.2

  The place of an acouser.
• (*) 1.3

  Jud. v. 9.
• (b) 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (c) 1.5

  As suffering his sons to marrie strange wives.
• (d) 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 stare, saepe pro inservire, vide c. 4. 14.
• (e) 1.7

  Dixi. s. ministris.
• * 1.8

  Exod. 29. 4. Levit. 8. 9.
• (f) 1.9

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut suprà.
• (g) 1.10

  Nam & hoc est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut stare Ital.
• (h) 1.11

  Num. 3. 7.
• (i) 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 eo sensu quo v. 4.
• (k) 1.13

  Hebr. Men of, or for miracles.
• (l) 1.14

  Isai. 11. 1.
• (m) 1.15

  Sic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hic signif. ut cap. 4. 10.
• (n) 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (o) 1.17

  Oculus provi∣dentiam signif. septenari••s numerus perfectionem.
• (p) 1.18

  7 dona Spiritus: Isa. 11. 2.
• (q) 1.19

  Vnde illud Iohannis Baptista — qui tollit peccata mundi. Idem n. hic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 terra, the earth; quod ibi mundus, & vide ad hanc interpretat. confirmandam. Dan. 9. 24. vel sic verte.—amongst others, of this wicked land,— &c.
• (r) 1.20

  Sic diem pro tempore sumi saepe diocimus, & appares ex v. seq.
• (s) 1.21

  Hebr. 9. 12, 25, &c. &. c. 10. 12.