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. XII.

1. EPhraim feeds himself with the hopes of that, which is mere wind, and vanity, and will deceive him at the last. Nay (which is far worse) he runs gaping after the East∣wind. That is the wind which he followes, a wind, in these parts of the world, of most malignity, i.e. he takes a quite contrary course to appease the wrath of God. For, the in∣crease of dissembling, and hypocrisie is alwaies Ephraims fault in the fairest pretenses: He were as good resolve to increase the meanes of his own ruine and desolaiton. That will be the end of the Ephramites ingaging themselves by a league with the Assyrian, and at the same time, sending precious oil, and other rich pre∣sents into Egypt, to beg aid from thence against their own confederates.

2. And as Israel is guilty of this subtle Art

of dissembling, and false dealing: so Iudah (in that point, though not so much in the matter of Idolatry) hath his faults too, for which God hath a quarrell to him: but He will not spare to punish (e) Israel: according to their wicked waies, and according to their evill doings, will he return a just recompense unto them (who were distinguished from the Tribe of Judah, by the name from Israel, or Jacob; and were the greater offenders, though those names should have put them more in mind of their duty.)

3. The subtilty of the people of Israel, is not like that of Israel, their honoured Patri∣arch: that had it in matter of praise, and ad∣miration. For, he was called Jacob, because while he was yet unborn, he did miraculously supplant his brother, and so give a presage of that felicity, which should be taken off from his Brother, and laid upon him, to be injoy∣ed by his posterity, rather than by himself. In which miraculous supplantation (which was a kind of wrastling with his brother for the blessing) we must not forget how afterwards (f) he wrastled, and prevailed with God himself by the strength of his hearty prayers.

4. For, when he had such power to prevaile

over the Angell (that represented the person of God) and to get the victory: you must needs conceive, that he was strengthned by God (the Lord of all the Angels.) His pray∣ers, and his teares procured him that blessing in Bethel, where he found that Angel, and discour∣sed (g) with him, and herein he did as good as speak to us (as plainly as if we had been with him) and show us how we may prevaile with the Lord of Hostes.

5. You little thought of this, when you set up your calves in this Bethel, where he wor∣shipped, and made supplication to the true God, that delivered him in his greatest dan∣ger. The same piety to God might procure you the same assistance in all your extremities. For, Iehovah, the Lord of Hosts is the name by which he is remembred. And out of that name you may gather the extent of his power, and goodnesse.

6. Therefore do thou, O Israel, as Jacob did. Return unto thy God, by an unfeigned conversion from all sinne, and keep close to Mercy, and Iustice: so mayst thou alwayes (h) expect the like help from thy God, and put thy trust in Him.

7. But, to what purpose is all this good ad∣vice?

For, Israel will continue still to be such a crafty merchant, as he shewed himself in his former subtilty. When he gets deceitfull weights into his hand (any opportunity of deceiving others) he longs to be practising his Art of de∣ceit, to the dammage and oppression of them that suspect him not.

8. In all which Ephraim (or Israel i.e., the ten tribes that will now be called Ephraim) hath the face to say, I am indeed become rich. I have found wayes to purchase me good store of wealth: and have I not done well in all this? In all the paines that I have taken for it (cavill they that will) they will find no fault, wherein I have offended.

9. But, is it no fault, O Ephraim, that I should be so served? I, that am the Lord tby God, that delivered thee out of the Egyptian bondage, and would have made thee still to dwell (i) as securely, and chearfully, in all thy ha∣bitaitons,(k) as ever thou wert in the dayes of the solemn feast (l) of Tabernacles.

10. To which purpose have not I spoken to thee by my Prophets? Have I not sent to thee

by vision after vision: and used Parables, and Similitudes by the ministry of my Prophets? But I have lost my labour, and so have the Isra∣elites too.

11. For, though they have set up an(*) idoll in Gilead, yet they did it to (m) no purpose (they missed of their aime, when they looked for help, and deliverance from such poor Dei∣ties) And they that offered bullocks (or to bullocks in (n) Gilgal; took a wrong course in their worship, and therefore had as ill successe. For even their Altars are come to ruine, and confusion, and lie but as heaps of stones, that the husbandman hath cast up and down, at a venture, in the furrowes of his field.

12. The time was, when Jacob (your Fa∣ther) (o) fled out of Syria into that Region of Gilead. In those dayes he could find in his heart to do service for the purchase of a wife, and for a wife to be a keeper of sheep. This did he for his two wives, but what have you done in the service of God, to win his favour?

13. The time was too, when God sent Mo∣ses, as a great Prophet, to bring Israel out of Egypt, and by the care and direction of that

Prophet they were kept from all danger, and safely conducted in the wildernesse, till Joshu∣ah had a command to lead them into the pro∣mised land; which is your inheritance.

14. But, what requitall have they, or you given to me? Nay, Ephraim hath, instead of that, provoked me (p) bitterly to anger, by his wicked deeds: Therefore his bloud shall be upon him, for his cruelty to many good per∣sons, and the reproaches against me and my Prophets, shall his God return upon him, in due time.

Notes

• (e)

  hebr. Iacob.
• (f)

  Gen. 32, 22.
• (g)

  sic utraque lectio exprimi potest 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (h)

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

  hebr. pro 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as in tents,
• (k)

  other houses were called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the first use of Tabernacles, wherein they dwelt in the desert. In memory whereof the Feast of Tabernacles was instituted, which was also a shadow of the peace, and quiet, and security, that we should have by Christ.
• (l)

  nam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ex praecedentibus reperendum.
• (*)

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

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

  videour significare, & decem, & duas tri∣bus pari idololatriae errore deceptas. Nam quo tempore haec propheta∣bantur, Galaad erat in regno decem tribuum, Gil•••••• duarum, ut monet Hieronymus, vide cap. 4, 15.
• (o)

  sugit agrum Syriae.
• (p)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cap. 4. 1. 2. cap. 11, 1.