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. BLow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy moun∣tain: let all the inhabi∣tants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is high at hand;

2 A day of darknesse and of gloominesse, a day of clouds & of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong, there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devoureth be∣fore them, and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness, yea, and nothing shall es∣cape them.

4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run.

5 Like the noise of cha∣rets on the tops of moun∣tains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people, set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shal gather black∣nesse.

7 They shall run like mighty men, they shall climb the wall like men of war, and they shall march every one on his wayes, and they shall not break their ranks.

8 Neither shall one thrust another, they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city: they shall run upon the wall: they

shall climb up upon the hou∣ses: they shall enter in at the windowes, like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble, the Sun and the Moon shall be dark, and the Stars shall with∣draw their shining.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army, for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now saith the Lord, Turn ye e∣ven to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.

13 And rent your heart and not your garments: and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and mercifull, slow to an∣ger, and of great kindnesse and repenteth him of the evill.

14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat offering, and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctifie a fast, call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people: sanctifie the congregation: assemble the Elders: ga∣ther the children; and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the Priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the Altar, and let them say; Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thing heritage to reproach, that the hea∣then should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people: where is their God?

18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people; Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil,

ye shall be satisfied there∣with: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.

20 But I will remove far off from you the Northern army, & will drive him into a land barren and desolate with his face toward the east Sea, & his hinder part to∣wards the utmost sea & his stink shall come up, & his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

21 Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoyce: for the Lord will do great things.

22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wildernesse do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yeild their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and re∣joyce in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first moneth.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the can∣ker-worm, and the cater∣pillar, and the palmer∣worm, my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to passe afterward, that I will powre out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 And also upon the servants, and upon the hand∣maids

maids in those dayes will I powre out my Spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, bloud, and fire, and pillars of smoak.

31 The Sun shall be tur∣ned into darknesse, and the Moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to passe that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord, shall be delivered: for in mount Zion, and in Ierusalem shall be delive∣rance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant, whom the Lord shall call.