A fruitfull commentarie vpon the twelue small prophets briefe, plaine, and easie, going ouer the same verse by verse, and shewing every where the method, points of doctrine, and figures of rhetoricke, to the no small profit of all godly and well disposed readers, with very necessarie fore-notes for the vnderstanding of both of these, and also all other the prophets. The text of these prophets together with that of the quotations omitted by the author, faithfully supplied by the translatour, and purged of faults in the Latine coppie almost innumerable, with a table of all the chiefe matters herein handled, and marginall notes very plentifull and profitable; so that it may in manner be counted a new booke in regard of these additions. VVritten in Latin by Lambertus Danæus, and newly turned into English by Iohn Stockwood minister and preacher at Tunbridge.

Vers. 2.

And he prayed unto the Lorde and saide, J pray thee, O Lorde, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my countrey Therefore I prevented it to flee unto Tarshish. For I knevve that thou art a gracious God, and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repentest thee of the evill.

* 1.1THE first amplification of the sinne of Ionas, the which Ionas himselfe maketh, not onely to shew, whether in the end those our carnall or fleshly cogitations or thoughts carry us and lead us quite out of the way: but also to teach that we can of∣ten times ley false gloses, and alledge faire titles, causes, and rea∣sons for our foolish prayers, vowes, and iudgements. So Christ Luc. 9.55. answereth his Apostles. Ye know not of what spirit ye are. VVhich glosing and faire excusing of matter is done not onely unprofitably in cases betweene God and us, but also disobedi∣ently and blasphemously, and turneth unto our condemnation. Therefore Ionas is not onely foolishly angry: but also will ap∣proove this his foolishnesse unto God himselfe, and confirme or strengthen it as a wise counsell or purpose. * 1.2 Wherfore he saith, that he spake unto God, & pleaded with him (the which in this place he calleth praying) for the avouching and iustifying of this his burning & boiling anger. For he did not blaspheme God, as some

wicked persons vse to do: but with greater reverence layeth open this his cause unto God. And finally in the end he desireth of God that he may die for the selfe same cause.

This prayer of Ionas hath three parts: first, the entrance or be∣ginning, I pray thee, O Lord,* 1.3 whereby he wisheth God to be fa∣vourable, & an upright iudge unto him, & sheweth that the de∣sire of his mind was most vehement or earnest. The second is, the defence and prooving of his cause and righteousnesse, to wit, that he did at the first iustly & upon good ground take this counsell to flee away: because that he did foresee that this whole comman∣dement of God unto the Ninivites would be vaine and of none effect, and hurtfull also unto the glory of God among them. For they would laugh God to scorne hereby as changeable, because he brought not to passe the things which he threatned, or as not able to do it in the iudgement of Ionas: & so consequently, that they would more and more contemne or despise the true God of Israel. This forsooth is the foolishnesse of worldly, that is to say, madde wisdome. As if God knew not what course to take for the maintenance of the glory of his name and maiestie of his power and godhead even among the very heathen themselves, & infi∣dels, after a farre other sort then we can imagine. The third part is the reason of his righteousnes or iust cause: * 1.4 the which reason doth utterly overthrow it selfe, which reason forsooth is this, be∣cause God is mercifull, therefore he shall be contemned or despi∣sed of men: nay rather the selfe same effects of the mercy of God do proove the power and efficacie or force of God in the ministe∣rie of Ionas, as he that converted those Ninivites being desperate persons. And God is praised for his mercy and long sufferance. Ro∣man. 2.4. & Psal. 136. throughout the whole Psalme.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first ampli∣fication of the sinne of Jonas.
• * 1.2

  Jonas would have God to like of his folly.
• * 1.3

  Three parts of Ionas his praier. 1. The entrāce. 2. The defence of Jonas his cause.
• * 1.4

  3. The reason of Ionas his righ∣teousnes or iust cause.