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. 10.

And I will powre vpon the house of Dauid, and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace, and of compassion, and they shall looke vpon me, whom they haue pearced, and they shall lament for him, as one mourneth for his onely sonne, and bee sorie for him, as one is sorie for his first borne.

* 1.1AN amplification of the former promise and benefit toward those that are his, first the Iewes, and afterward all those that are Christes out of what nation soeuer. And he doth amplifie it, by the reckoning of a threefolde gift, the which shall follow that deliuerance of the people. First, for that God shall power out spi∣rituall giftes, both vpon the princes themselues, and also vpon the common people.* 1.2 For vnder the name of the house of Dauid, I do comprehend the Princes and the Captaines, and vnder the name of the Citizens of Ierusalem, the rest of the Iewes, among whome were the chiefe and more better sort of them of Ierusalem, which did dwell in that same head citie, and holy place. And therefore are they recited by name, but by the figure Synecdoche, they doe signifie the rest of the Iewes also. The second gift of God adioy∣ned vnto the former benefite of his,* 1.3 is the spirit both of grace, or of mercie and compassion:* 1.4 and also of prayer, the which spirite God will power out largely vpon them. By the word (grace) therefore God promiseth his mercies toward the Iewes. For hee fauoureth them, being moued thereunto with these alone. This mercie of God did seem to be broken off, or ceased because of the so long afflictions of the people, but yet the same people shall feele it to be restored againe. And by the word prayer, he vnder∣standeth a godly minde, and acknowledging God, and grounded in faith, and the which in afflictions hath recourse vnto God, not vnto idols, or men, and giueth thankes vnto him for benefites re∣ceiued. Lastly, such a minde as the godlie indeed haue, which pray vnto God through faith Psalm. 77. ver. 3, 4, 5, 6. and so forth. But these giftes doth God call (Spirit) both because they are the effectes of the Spirit of God in vs, and his giftes, 1. Cor. 12. and also because they are inward motions, and altogether spirituall feelings of the minde. Now the inward force and power of God in vs, is called Spirit, according vnto the proprietie of the Hebrew tongue. Hee saith also, I will powre out, that is to say, I will giue

these healthsome and profitable giftes in great aboundance. And these spirituall giftes are more of vs to be accounted of, then is the deliuerance of the body, because this bodily deliuerance, vn∣lesse these spirituall giftes were added, would turne vnto our de∣struction, because we should not acknowledge the same as a bene∣fite of God, nor prayse God for it, except hee himselfe gaue vs this feeling, that hee bestowed this deliuerance vpon vs of his grace and mercie. The third gift,* 1.5 is their repentance and conuer∣sion or turning vnto God. For they shall looke diligently vpon God, whom before they did pearce with their sinnes and idola∣tries, and strike through, prouoke, and wound euen vnto the very bottome and innermost partes of his heart and brest. For so it ap∣peareth that the word (pearce) is taken in this place, and is confir∣med Psal. 22. ver. 16. where it is said: Dogges haue compassed mee, and the assemblie of the wicked haue inclosed me: they pearced mine hands, and my feete. In these wordes therefore of our Prophet (they shall looke vpon me, whom they haue pearced, &c.) earnest re∣pentance of minde is described or set forth.

Now that which is here Metaphoricallie spoken of the diuine nature of Christ (who is that same God,* 1.6 who was prouoked by the Iewes, as Paul teacheth, both in the desert, and also as often as this people did fall vnto the worshipping of idols, 1. Cor. 10. ver. 9. where Paul willeth the Corinthians, that they tempt not Christ, as some of the Iewes in the wildernes did, and were destroyed of serpents) the selfe same according to the letter was fulfilled in his humane or mans nature, as Iohn teacheth cap. 19.37. alleaging this place for proofe of the same. And Reuelat. 1. ver. 7. in these wordes, Behold, hee commeth with cloudes, and euery eye shall see him, yea euen they, which pearced him through, in so much that it cannot be doubted (except we make the Spirit of God the best expounder of himselfe, a lyar) but that hee which here saith hee was pearced through, is Christ, which afterward was incarnate, or tooke flesh: and that he is the same true God, the keeper of Isra∣el, which speaketh in this place.

* 1.7And they shall lament for him.) A continuance of this Prophesie, by the which God sheweth, what shall afterward come to passe vnto the Iewes, after that they haue receiued these giftes, and this deliuerance, namely, that the Church shall not bee without her afflictions, and exercises notwithstanding. And therefore he

rehearseth the sorrow and lamenting, which they shall make for him, whom at that time God shall vse for the captaine, and in∣strument of his grace toward them. And therefore I referre the relatiue voyce (him) in this sentence (and they shall lament or mourne ouer him,* 1.8 or for him) neither vnto God, nor yet vnto Christ, but by the figure Antonomasia, vnto him or them, by whom God at that time wrought this miraculous deliuerance, and sa∣uing of the people, I meane the first Machabees. But their name is not added or set downe, but suppressed, or kept in by concea∣ling the same, as in mourning is wont to be done. For then com∣monly wee doe not name those, whom wee doe bewaile, but con∣ceale them being knowne as it were vnto euery one. So Ieremias cap. 4. Lament. bewailing Iosias, doth not any where name him notwithstanding. Yet if any man will applie these things which follow, vnto the mourning and lamenting of the Church (the which bewailed Christ treacherouslie and cruellie condemned and put to death Luc. 23. ver. 27. where hee reporteth that there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, which wo∣men bewailed and lamented him,) it may very well fitte, and agree thereunto. For all the deliuerers of Israel were a type or figure of Christ the true Captaine and redeemer of his Church. But first of all, these things doe belong according vnto the letter, vnto that mourning the which the Iewes made partlie for Mathathias, and partlie for Iudas the Machabees 1. Mich. 9. ver. 20.21. Iosep. lib. 12. Antiquit. in the last chapter, being most like vnto that mourning, the which they had made before for Iosias 2. Chr. 35. ver. 24.25. This mourning therefore hee describeth or setteth forth, both by the outward pompe, and also by the inward sorrow. For the Prophet hath comprehended them both. By the worde (Saphad) is declared the outward pompe and funerall rites: and by the word (Hamer) the sorrow of the minde, or true heauines. Furthermore hee describeth the saide mourning by a similitude, or comparison of most lamentable sorrowing. For (saith hee) the Iewes shall in such sorte bewaile him as pittifull and tender hearted parents, are wont to lament their onely sonne taken a∣way from them by death.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An amplifica∣tion of the for∣mer promise by a threefold gift which shall follow their deliuerance.
• * 1.2

  1. God shall pow∣er out spiritu∣all giftes both vpon the prin∣ces, and also vpon the peo∣ple.
• * 1.3

  Amos, cap. 5. ver. 21.
• * 1.4

  2. The spirit of mercie, and prayer shall be powred out vpon them.
• * 1.5

  3. Their repen∣tance and tur∣ning vnto God.
• * 1.6

  What the fi∣gure Metapho∣ra is, see Amos cap. 4. ver. 12. That which is here spoken of the diuine na∣ture of Christ, was also vpon earth fulfilled in his humane nature.
• * 1.7

  What shall fal out vnto the Iewes after these promises, and after this deliuerance.
• * 1.8

  The Relatiue (Him.) Antonomasia is a figure, whereby we doe change one name for ano∣ther, as the A∣postle, for Paul, Iob, for a poore man, and full of miseaie: the sauiour, for C••rist. And bere, the rela∣tiue (him) for whosoeuer should be their deliuerer.