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. 8.

And in that day shall there waters of life goe out from Ieru∣salem, halfe of them toward the East sea, and halfe of them to∣ward the vttermost sea, and shall be, both in sommer and winter.

* 1.1A Promise of the gathering together of the Church euen after the vtter ouerthrowing of Ierusalem, yea and out of the remnants thereof, the which no doubt was brought to passe by the miracu∣lous worke of God. But that this whole place with that which fol∣loweth may be vnderstood, there are two certaine things to be no∣ted from the continuall vse of the holie Scripture.* 1.2 First, that the things, which follow touching the building of the Church of God, are spoken not in respect of all the Iewes, whom Zacharias spea∣keth vnto, but in regard of the godly onely, whom alone God his purpose was to comfort with this promise. The second, That by the name of Ierusalem is vnderstood not onely that same earthly citie,* 1.3 but also the true Church of God, in what place of the world soeuer it shall bee, of the which that same earthly Ierusalem was a figure, Heb. 11. Whereupon the things that followe are properly to bee vnderstood of the Church of God, the which Ierusalem be∣ing destroyed, was gathered together among the Gentiles by faith in Christ, and by the preaching of the Gospell. Although perad∣uenture the things which are here spoken, shall haue place in the citie it selfe which is to be restored (and not in the temple, or sacri∣fices, or ceremonies) when as God shall call the Iewes vnto the Gospell, like as in the former verse they are foretold that they shall be called.

* 1.4But this verse containeth foure things. First, the time, in the which this prophesie shal haue his accomplishment, and fulfilling. In that day (sayth he) that is, after the destroying of the citie by the Romanes.* 1.5 For this word (day) betokeneth a long time. The se∣cond addeth a promise, Liuing waters or waters of life shall go forth. By the name of waters are signified the spirituall graces of God, as hath been expounded before,* 1.6 Ioel. 3.18. So is it also taken, Ezech. 36. ver. 25. where God sayth, Then will I powre cleane water vpon you, and ye shall be cleane: yea, from all your filthines, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. So also is it taken, Ioh. 7. ver. 38. He that be∣leeueth in me, as sayth the Scripture, out of his bellie shall flow riuers of the water of life. And of these waters without all doubt our Bap∣tisme

ordained of God is a figure and a Sacrament. Thirdly,* 1.7 this verse containeth the place, both from whence those waters shall come forth, and also into what place they shall flowe. The place from whence they shall come, is Ierusalem and Sion, as it is agree∣ablie hereunto, Isai. 2. ver. 3. The law shall goe forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem. For from thence the Gospell came into the whole world. The place wither they shall come is the East, and the whole West, the which in this place is described vn∣der the name of two Seas well knowne vnto the Iewes. For the preaching of the Gospell was carried through the whole world both by the Apostles, and also by their true successors.* 1.8 Fourthly, this place sheweth, how continual, enduring and lasting these gra∣ces of God shall bee in the Church. For they shall bee perpetuall, both day and night, and winter, and sommer (at which times of the yeare brookes and other waters that are not liuing or springing are wont for to faile, and be dried vp) that in this selfe same poynt may bee contained an amplification of so great graces of GOD, through the which godly men shall liue, yea and that for euer, but spiritually, Ioh. 6. and day and night, and alwayes, or continually.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A promise of the gathering together of the Church.
• * 1.2

  The things here following concerne not all, but only the godly Iewes.
• * 1.3

  By Ierusalem is ment not on∣ly that same earthly citie, but also the true Church of God.
• * 1.4

  Foure things to be noted in this verse.
• * 1.5

  1. The time of the fulfilling of this prophesie.
• * 1.6

  2. A promise of the waters of life.
• * 1.7

  3. From whence, and whither they shall flow.
• * 1.8

  4. The continu∣ance of these waters.