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 in that day sayth the Lord of hostes, I will cut off the names of the Idols out of the land: and they shall no more be re∣membred: and I will cause the Prophets and the vncleane spirit to depart out of the land.

* 1.1THe second benefit of God, the which shall then be also, namely, the ouerthrowing of idolatrie vsed before euen in Ierusalem it selfe, and the casting downe of the authoritie of all false teachers. This verse therefore hath two things, that is,* 1.2 two parts of this se∣cond benefite. And first of all, a promise of the vtter destroying of Idols among the Iewes, the like whereof is made also in Isai,* 1.3 cap 1. ver. 18. where he sayth in these words: And the Idols will he vtterlie destroy. Wherein the person of him that promiseth is expressed, (and the same is God almightie) least any man might doubt that this could not bee brought to passe because of the power of Idola∣tors, and the reuerence of the Idols themselues among these Idola∣tors. This ouerthrowing of the Idols also is expressed, to wit, they shall be cast downe in such sort, that not only they shall be cut off, but also the very remembrance of them shall perish from the mouthes of men, Psal. 16 and the worship and reuerence of them, which is in the hearts and mindes of men, shall also be taken out of their hearts and minds. Lastly, these Idols are in contempt called the fearebugs of men,* 1.4 as they likewise are termed by the same name 1. Sam. 31. ver. 9.1. Chron. 10. ver. 9.

* 1.5Now these things had their accomplishment and fulfilling, first after the Temple was purged by the Machabees vntill the destru∣ction of Ierusalem. In all the which time the Iewes were so con∣stant or stedfast in remouing of Idols from themselues, and from the Temple of God, that they often skirmished with the Romanes

about that matter, Ioseph. lib. 1.2. & 3. de Bello Iudaico: neither are they sayd, or read since that time, especially in Iudea to haue been Idolators, as they were before vnder the Antiochi, and before also vnder the Kings of Iudah and Israel. Secondly, this selfe same thing hath much more been fulfilled after the preaching of the Gospell, and is now at this day also fulfilled in the true Church of God, out of the which Idols were afterward cast by the Christian Emperours themselues, and now also are remoued, and alwayes haue been re∣fused by the Christians. This therefore is one part of the second be∣nefit in this place comprehended and contained.

* 1.6The second part is, the false teachers loosing of their authoritie in the Church, nay moreouer their correction and chastising, as is shewed in the verses following. Here therefore God promiseth that he will remoue the false Teachers, whom he calleth Prophets, to wit, in a generall signification taking this word, and not for those which truely doe foretell things to come, but for those which pro∣fesse or take vpon themselues to bee the interpreters and expoun∣ders of the law and word of God, but falsely. Further, God also pro∣miseth that he will remoue their Father, and Spirit, to wit, the vn∣cleane Spirit. And by the name of the vncleane Spirit is the diuell signified, as where it is sayd, Matth. 12. ver. 43. Now when the vn∣cleane spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh throughout drie places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Likewise Mark. 1. ver. 26. And the vn∣cleane spirit tare him, and cried with a lowd voyce, and came out of him. ☞ For the diuell is the author of all error and lying, as Christ, Iohn 8. ver. 44. witnesseth, that he is a lyar, and the father thereof, as he is also the author of that corruption which is brought into the true and heauenly doctrine, the which is signified Reuelat. 16. ver. 13. by the vncleane spirits like frogges comming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false Pro∣phet. Now God sheweth that he will earnestly and diligently o∣uerthrow all that same false interpretation, and doctrine of the false Prophets, when as he promiseth that the author thereof also shall be remoued out of the Church of God. And this was fulfilled e∣speciallie by Christ himselfe, who confuted or ouerthrew the false doctrine of the Scribes and Pharises, Matth. 5. Secondly, by his A∣postles through the preaching of the Gospell: and now by the true Pastors of the Church of God, out of the word of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The second be∣nefit.
• * 1.2

  Two partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. A promise of the vtter de∣stroying of I∣dols.
• * 1.4

  Gnatsabbim.
• * 1.5

  When these things were fulfilled.
• * 1.6

  2. The false tea∣chers loosing their authori∣tie in the Church.