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. XI.

1. IN the first times, and tender age of the people of Israel, (q) I loved him as my son, and my first born. And as I gave him the honour of that title in Egypt, so with a fatherly affecti∣on I brought him out from thence, (and made

him, (r) in that a type of my own natural Son, that was, in due time, to be brought out of the same place.)

2. In those first, and the following times, did Moses, Aaron, the Prophets, and other my Messengers call them to works of Piety, and to obedience unto me. But, how did they requite it? The more they called, so much the readier were the Israelites to turn their backs upon their Teachers, and walk quite another way from their good instructions: and, leaving my service, to sacrifice to their Baals, and burn incense to their graven images.

3. Yet was it I, that nursed them, in their younger daies, and taught them gentlie, how to go sure, and safe, holding them up by the arms (or, carrying them in my own arms, as tender nurses use to carry and hold their children) so did I preserve them from all danger, when they were least able to help themselves. But they would not consider, that I therefore showed this care, and providence of mine, that I might so cure them of their national disease, their itching after the worship of other gods, that could not preserve them.

4. I drew them to me, as men would draw their dearest friends, with the (s) strongest

bands of love, and affection. And, after I had been so good a friend to them, as to take off their Egyptian yoke, and the bridle which their hard Masters had put into their mouth, (t) then I filled their mouths with plenty of quailes and mannah, as it were of food from heaven, i. dropped out of the air unto them.

5. Though in their latter daies, they return∣ed into Egypt, by seeking help from thence, notwithstanding I will so order it, that they shall return thither no more, upon that errand: but the Assyrian shall rule over them, because they would not be converted unto me, that I might be acknowledged for their King.

6, 7. And do they not deserve this? when the war being (u) begun in their own Cities by civil dissentions, and having consumed the strongest, and chiefest of them, because they fol∣lowed their own devises, and not the good counsels, that I gave unto them by my Pro∣phets: yet, for all this, they that were called my people, made no hast of their conversion unto me, but were like men (x) that knew not. what to resolve of, though all the messengers, that I sent, called them never so earnestly to return to the High God, still, as (y) if all were agreed to∣gether,

not so much as one of them would rouse up himself, and follow that call.

8. How shall I give thee up to thy deserved punishment for these things, O Ephraim! How shall I deliver thee over, O Israel? unlesse I should give thee up, as once I gave up Admah, and make thee like unto Zeboim, in thy fearful, and utter ruine. But my heart is quicklie altered from the execution of so heavy a sentence, and all my bowels of compassion are at once (z) moved to repent of that, and take another way.

9. I will do nothing against thee in the fierce∣nesse of my anger. I will not return to that thought of destroying Ephraim in such a man∣ner. For I am a merciful God, that can easily remember my covenant with thy Fathers, and continue my desire of thy happinesse. Nor do I forget, how I have been often hallowed in the midst of thy Assemblies: and I would en∣courage thee to return to the same acknow∣ledgement, and performance of thy bounden dutie. Therefore I will not fall upon any of thy Cities, with that severitie: and specially upon Ierusalem, the place set apart for my wor∣ship.

20. And if they will walk confidently and obe∣diently

after me: I will defend them against all that persecute them. I will be like (a) a roaring Lion, and at that voice they shall trem∣ble that come from the Sea, or any of the re∣motest parts, to follow after them.

11. They shall quake like (the stork) the bird, that comes out of Egypt: and (b) like the Assyrian-dove shall they fly back into their own nests with all the speed that may be: And there will I settle them quietly, saith the Lord.

12. This will I surely do for them: (c) Yet doth Ephraim fetch me about with nothing but lies, and the house of Israel with deceit (fair promises of amendment, and few or no per∣formances) Only, the best is, Iudah doth yet hold out stoutly, (d) in the daily worship of the true God, and deales faithfully with his holy Prophets (under their good King Hezekiah.)

Notes

• (q)

  Ezek. 16. 3. & 23. 3. Exod. 4. 22.
• (r)

  MaT. 1. 25.
• (s)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 rudentes, vel vincula crassiera.
• (t)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 inclinabam cibum. I held it close to their mouths.
• (u)

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

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pendent animi num ad me redeant.
• (y)

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

  In••alescunt paenitudinermea.
• (a)

  potest hic subest vaticinium de reliquiis Israel, ad Christam conver∣tendis per rugitum Domini, i. e. Evangelii praedicationem, quam, in Iudaeâ primò promulgaram, Iudaei primò, deinde, alii summâ cum admi∣ratio••e, & timore amplectentur, & huno sensum versus etiam sequen•• ad∣mittere potest.
• (b)

  sicut avis, & sicut columba) hoc celeritatem di∣vulgationis Evangelii, & conversionis fidelium significare potest, si di∣ctum, in margine, prioris versus sensum sequamur.
• (c)

  Hic no••••ulli•• nova Prophetia incipera videtur.
• (d)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut c. 918.