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 9.

And I will bring that third part through the fire, and will fine them as the siluer is fined, and will trie them as golde is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will heare them: I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The Lorde is my God.

* 1.1A Making more plaine of that, which went before. For he shew∣eth how the Lord will cause that third part to be left, and will preserue the same, namely, through the middest of afflictions or troubles. In the which selfe same thing is contained a prophesie of the persecutions that should bee in the Church, and a fore strengthening and confirming of the said Church, that shee doe

not faint in them,* 1.2 or be troubled and disquieted with the so sor∣rowfull falling out of things. But this verse hath three things. First,* 1.3 a prophesie, as I said, of the afflictions, which were to come, which are signified by the name of fire. Secondly, the maner, measure, and order of the same: namely, they shall not consume the Church, but shall purge it, like as the fire purgeth gold and siluer from the drosse,* 1.4 and trieth it. Afflictions doe swallow vp the vngodly, and doe deuoure them: but they onely trie the good, and make the elect of God more pure. So Peter 1. Epist cap. 1. ver. 7. Teacheth that many tentations fell out vnto the godly, That the triall of their faith being much more precious then gold, which perisheth (though it be tried with fire) might bee found vnto their prayse, and honor, and glorie, at the comming of Christ. And GOD saith of his Church Isai 48. ver. 10. Behold, I haue fined thee, but not as siluer, I haue chosen thee in the fornace of affliction. Whereby appeareth how profitable affliction is vnto the Church. It is good that thou hast humbled mee, and brought mee downe, saith Dauid, Psalm. 119. ver. 71. The third thing is, what confirmation of faith shall growe by this affliction,* 1.5 namely, that then the Church shall come neere vnto God, and shall call vpon him: and againe God himselfe shall more clearelie shew himselfe vnto her, and shall heare her prayers and requestes. Finallie, he shall then giue more assured testimonies or witnesses vnto the Church her selfe of his couenant with his Church, the which she shall acknowledge, and follow, and therefore shall answer GOD, when he calleth her. Wherefore the calling vpon God, and the acknowledging of him as a father, is greater, and more certaine in the godly in the time of affliction, then in the time of prosperitie, because that in the happie successe of things we are wont to be secure or careles: but in trouble wee shewe our selues more obedient vnto the holy Ghost, drawing this fruite out of afflictions, as it were light out of darkenes. For albeit (as it is Hebrewes 12. verse 11.) no afflicti∣on bee pleasant for the present time, but grieuous, yet afterward it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnes vnto them, which are there∣by exercised.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How the rem∣nant of the Church shall be saued.
• * 1.2

  Three partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. A prophesie of the persecuti∣ons of the church.
• * 1.4

  2. What they shall worke in the same.
• * 1.5

  3. What confir∣mation of faith shall growe by these afflicti∣ons.