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. 19.

* 1.1 This shall be the* 1.2 punishment of Egypt, and the* 1.3 punish∣ment of all the nations that come not vp to keepe the feast of Ta∣bernacles.

* 1.4THe conclusion of the whole former threatning and shewing of punishment, the which hath three things to bee noted. First of all, that he calleth this ceasing or staying from the exercise of the outward worship of Cod, and from the keeping of the ceremonies ordained by God, Sinne. And doubtlesse it is sinne,* 1.5 not to do those thinges, which God for his worshipping requireth to bee done: whereof it commeth to passe, that punishment appeareth worthely to bee threatned vnto those, which shall neglect or forslowe those ceremonies of God in the Church of God. So then out of this place the Libertines of this our age are soundly refuted or ouerthrowne, who doe bring in, and allow the contempt or despising of the Sa∣craments ordained by Christ. The second thing is,* 1.6 that he com∣mandeth all, whether Egyptians, or other nations to worship God with the same and all one ceremonies and all one outward wor∣ship. For in as much as euen the lawfull outward worship of God

is also ordeined by God, it is not to be changed, and omitted or ouerpassed by any man. Furthermore, when as God cannot bee worshipped either outwardly or inwardly, but according vnto his word, surelie it is not lawfull for any man to ordeine an out∣ward worship of his owne head, and consequently according vn∣to the pleasure of his owne minde. But this is spoken of the out∣ward worship it selfe, and not of the comelines, and ceremonies, and ordinances necessarie for the mainteining and keeping of this outward comelines, the which among diuers nations may be diuers in the Church of God.* 1.7 The third is, for that here is espe∣cially mention made of the feast of Tabernacles, because this feast both was more solemnlie kept among the Iewes, then the feast of first fruites, of Whitsontide, and certaine others, Nehem. 8. and also was a most euident testimonie or witnes of the first gathering together of the people of Israel, that is, of a free ordeined church. Therefore it was better liked of the people, and a more eui∣dent signe of their vniting or knitting together within them∣selues, as is vnto vs the holy Supper of our Lord Iesus Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or
• * 1.2

  Sinne. Or
• * 1.3

  Sinne.
• * 1.4

  The conclusion of the former place contai∣ning 3. things.
• * 1.5

  1. The abstaining from the exer∣cise of true re∣ligion, called Sinne.
• * 1.6

  2. All are com∣māded to wor∣ship God with one outward worship.
• * 1.7

  3. The feast of Tabernacles onely mentio∣ned.