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. II.

1. ANd now I come to speak to you again, O you Priests. For, somewhat more I have in charge to acquaint you withall. And this it is.

2. If you will not hear (a) and obey what is told you, by my Prophets, against your own profaness, and negligence in my service: and your connivence at the like fault in the peo∣ple: or rather your drawing of them into it, by the scandall of your own ill example. If you will not take it seriously to heart, and show your repentance, by your amendment, giving more honour, and respect to me in the execution of your severall functions, then you have done heretofore, saith the Lord of Hosts. Then will I (instead of a blessing) send a curse up∣on you that sacrifice, and you the people, that bring such contemptible sacrifices unto me. And I will send a curse upon your (b) corn, and whatsoever I have bestowed upon you as a bles∣sing upon your former labours. I will, did I

say? Nay, you may see, that this curse of mine hath begun to work upon you already: because as you neglected me, and my service, so you neglected to take that great fault into your se∣rious consideration, but made light of it, notwithstanding the many admonitions, and exhortations, that have been made unto you.

3. Therefore (if you will at least consider the punishment of your sin) you shall see, and wonder what (c) destruction I will bring upon you, and your seed after you•• And, when you come to appease me by sacrifices, rather then I will be pleased with such poor service, I will throw the dung of them in your faces, even the dung of your solemnest (d) sacrifices (to show my contempt of you, in that sacred place, where you have dared to show your contempt of me) And out of that place, out of the very Temple, (e) one, that I will appoint, shall take you away with him, and dispose of you with as much scorn and contempt, as you have showed to Me, and my holy Altars.

4. Thus you will know (by your own pu∣nishments) why I send these first commands and lawes, of Reverence to be showed in my House, and in my service. I did it, that my Covenant might be kept, which I made with the Tribe of Levi, saith the Lord.

5. For, my Covenant with the Levitical Priest (f) was a Covenant of Life and Peace, i. of long life, and felicity; or of a long prosperous and happy life: upon the carefull discharge of their Priestly office. And these favours I bestowed upon him, because of his fear, and awe of me, which made him show so much heed, and reverence in my service, (g) and make his ap∣proaches before me with all religious devotion, and humility: as one sensible of the service, he was to perform to me, and in a place of my speciall presence.

6. Nothing came out of his mouth, but what was agreeable to Law and Truth, and Equitie. And (when he was to expresse his judgement in any case) no word was found to proceed from between his lips, that had any wicked, or by-respect. And his good conversation was an∣swerable to his good words. He converted many from their sinfull and unrighteous courses.

7. And from whom should all this be ex∣pected, but from the Priest. And so ever let the Priest be exemplary in his life, and lan∣guage. (h) Let the Priests lips preserve know∣ledge, And let him be such a one, that from him (i) men may enquire the true sense, and mean∣ing of the Law. For, He is like an Angel of the Lord (not onely to present before God the prayers of the people: (k) but acquaint them also with the will, and pleasure of Al∣mighty God. Which two, are the great em∣ployments of the blessed Angels.)

8. But, you are Priests of no such Angelical strain: for, as you have gone out of the right way your selves, so you have made others stumble after your scandalous example, and mistake the way, which is made plain for them in the law, and wherein your first and good Levites walked with me, according to the Covenant: whereas (l) you take a course to frustrate and null the Covenant, made with those (m) Leviticall Priests, saith the Lord of Hostes.

9. Therefore will I also null my part of the

Covenant, and bring you to that passe that you shall be scorned and contemned of all the com∣mon people: because you would not contein your selves, within the wayes of my lawes, and ordinances; but stepped aside for private respects wresting and wracking of the law, that it might be brought to what would fit your own turnes, for pleasing the persons of men.

10. But are we not all Brethren in Nature, the Sons of one man, of Jacob our Father? And are we not Brethren in Religion too? Hath not one God, by a kind of (n) new crea∣tion moulded and formed us into a peculiar people for his service? Why then do you injure and oppresse, and defraud one another, and so make a breach of that Covenant, made with your Fathers, and of that love, which you owe to one another, as Brethren?

11. They of the Kingdom of Iudah are guilty of this great transgression, and so are they of the Kingdom of Israel (such of the ten tribes as returned with them into their own Coun∣trey.) And they of Ierusalem too, nearest to my own House, where the best livers should have been expected. They and these have been abominable in their actions. Even Iudah

my more peculiar people, have prophaned my Sanctuary, and the holy City which I honoured with so many testimonies of my love. (o) For, they have made a mixture of Iewes, and Gen∣tiles, and married them that are devoted to the service of a strange God.

12. God will destroy the man, that hath done this vile act, whether he be Priest or Laick: and send him far enough from the tents of Ia∣cob. Yes, though he came to make peace by pre∣sents, and offerings unto me, as to the Lord of Hostes.

13. But, there's another fault too, that you have committed, upon occasion of this mar∣rying of strange women, i. You show so much love to them, and so little to your own wives, that you make them cover the altar of the Lord with teares, and disturb the sacred Temple with bitter lamentations: so that I can have no more delight in your offerings, nor can I take any thing well from your hands, though it be purposely brought thither to appease my wrath, and make you acceptable in my sight, saith the Lord.

14. And why so? will you say. Because the Lord Iehovah is a witnesse between thee and

the wife of thy youth (thy lawfull and first love) whom thou abusest, after such a harsh and inhumane manner. But she should be used as thy Dear Consort, and Fellow-servant to the same God, and the wife of the same Covenant, (not onely made thy wife by a solemn Co∣venant, and stipulation mutually tendred be∣fore me, for the securing of your mutuall love, and affection: but the wife that is interested in the Covenant made with God himself, to serve and obey him. Whereas neither of these so strong obligations to ingage thee to those wives that are superinduced, and of meer stran∣gers, are made the proud Usurpers and Com∣manders of thy House.)

15. Now Echad, (p) i. Abraham, whose ex∣ample you pretend to follow, did not so. But he was of a more excellent Spirit, And when he took a maid for his Concubine, why did Abra∣ham do it? He did it not for lust, nor with in∣jury to Sarah (for, it was at her intreaty) but (q) onely desirous of a (r) pious seed, and a seed promised by God Himself. Therefore take heed of being led by that violent and erring spirit of your own. Think of Abraham's meek

and obedient Spirit, and commit not such a cruell fault, as to suffer a stranger to domineer over the wife of thy youth.

16. For, thus saith the great Iehovah, the God of Israel. He that doth so, hates to put her away. He cannot do that, for shame: but he cloakes the injury that he doth to her, by keep∣ing her still in his own house, saith the Lord of Hostes. But (once again I warn you) take heed of being led by your own unruly spirits, and let me hear no more of this great fault.

17. There is yet another thing in your or∣dinary talk, wherein you have offended and wearied out the patience of Almighty God. And wherein have we so tired and displeased Him? will you say. It is in using those wicked Pro∣verbs of yours. Every one that is evill is accep∣table enough in the sight of the Lord, and, sure, he takes delight in them: (for, so you guesse by the preferment of wicked men.) And in your other said saw. Where is the God of Iudgement? (that doth not rather presently punish those wicked men, if he knew them to be such) As if we were to limit and confine him for his times and his waies: how and when He shall make proof of his Justice.

Notes

• (a)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 utrumque significat.
• (b)

  haec enim vocat 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (c)

  sic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 significat. Psal. 9. 6.
• (d)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pro victimâ, ut Psal. 118. 27.
• (e)

  Elleipsis nominativi (ut Habbac. 1, 3. cum eodem verbo 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aliunde supplendi. Hic autem videtur intelligi, vel Antiochi Miles, vel Miles Rom. in ultimo urbis excidio. Est & idem verbum auferen∣di similiter cum elleipsi,Luc. 22. 20.
• (f)

  Num. 25. 12, 13.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 à facie nominis mei pavebat.
• (h)

  futurum pro prae••. saepe apud Hebr.
• (i)

  Levit. 10. 10. Ezek. 44. 23.
• (k)

  Levit. 16. Deut. 17. 9.
• v. 6.
• (l)

  Zach. 11. 10.
• (m)

  sing. pro plur.
• (n)

  sic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sumitur Isai. 43, 1. & 45, 8. Psal. 102. 19, &c.
• (o)

  Nehem. 13, 23. Ezra 9. 10.
• (p)

  Abraham dicitur 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quasi Vnicus, a quo omnes Israelitae, & unicus in Dei cultu. vide Isai. 51. 2. unde Hebr. 11, 12. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (q)

  Gen. 16.
• (r)

  semen dei, i. divinitus promissum.