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. 12.

And I said vnto them, if yee thinke it good, giue mee my wages: and if no, leaue of: so they weighed for my wages thir∣tie peeces of siluer.

* 1.1THis is the yeelding of a reason, which sheweth the causes, why God hath left of the care of his people, and cast them away, to wit, the great vnthankefulnes of the people most manifestlie declared by a visible signe, and testimonie or witnes. For they did not esteeme a pinne, or a rush all this labour and paines of God, the which he had taken in teaching, gouerning, and keeping or preseruing of them, both by himselfe, and also by his Prophets. Wherefore this verse containeth two things. First,* 1.2 a request of the Prophet speaking in the name and person of God, touching the valewing, and giuing vnto him due wages for his paines. Se∣condly,* 1.3 the peoples vnequall and lewde valewing of the same. The Prophet therefore requesteth, that they would valew Gods, and his care and paines taken with them and for them,* 1.4 as it was worth, that is, at a reasonable and due valew, or else that they would put him away, as one whose labour and seruice they doe thinke vnprofitable for them. Whereby appeareth that it is law∣full for the true Ministers of GOD in the ende to leaue those flockes, [unspec 1] in the which after sufficient and long time, and daylie pa∣tience, and a great while waiting they see no fruite of the word of God. For albeit the blessing must come of God 1. Pet. 5. yet not∣withstanding, when as the hearers become not the better, but the worse by the preaching of the worde, they are to bee left, as swine, vnto whome God his pearles are not to bee cast any lon∣ger, as Christ himselfe doth counsell Matth. 7. ver. 6. saying, Giue

yee not that which is holy to dogges, neither cast yee your pearles be∣fore swine, least they treade them vnder their feete, and turning a∣gaine, all to rent you.

Now the people valew this so long, and continuall, so diligent, and so profitable paines, and care of God, and of all his Prophets toward them,* 1.5 at nothing, to wit, at thirtie pieces of siluer onely, that is, at thirtie common sicles, euery one of which was two drachmas, or groates, that is seuen Solidos, or shillings, or souces, Turnois. Albeit some had rather haue the common sicle to haue made onely foure French Carolins. But the holy sicle was of a greater valew, namely twise as much as the common sicle. So then thirtie common sicles doe make ten pound French, and ten shillings, or souces Turnois. After the same maner, and of the same sicle I doe thinke that is to bee vnderstood, the which is Matth. 26. ver. 15. and 27. ver. 3. of the thirtie pieces of siluer, for the which Iudas betrayed his master Christ. For these things were a type or figure of those things which afterward fell out in Christ, and doe teach at how vile or base and small a price our Lord Ie∣sus Christ the Sauiour of the world was esteemed, or valewed by the Iewes. Doubtles no cow, nor the verie vilest slaue or bond man that euer was, hath been rated at so small a valew.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A reason why God left of the care of his peo∣ple.
• * 1.2

  Two partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. The Prophets requesting his wages.
• * 1.4

  2. The peoples vnequall va∣lewing of the same.
• * 1.5

  These coynes I confesse my self to be ignorant in, neither is it greatly mate∣riall to stand long about thē. He that will further be herein satis∣fied, let him talke with some learned french man. The Prophet by 30. pieces of siluer, meaneth a very little and smal price, and a matter almost of no∣thing.