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.

For thus saith the Lord of hostes, after this glorie hath he sent me vnto the nations, which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye.

* 1.1THis is a staying in the further laying open of the happines of Ierusalem, continued vnto the end of the chapter, which con∣sisteth or standeth partly vpon promises, and partly vpon exhor∣tations. The promises concerne both the happie state of Ierusa∣lem, that is, of the church of God, and also the most assured de∣struction of the enemies thereof. The exhortations giue encou∣ragement vnto the godly to imbrace by faith so notable promi∣ses of God. Therefore the things which follow doe appertaine vnto the same end,* 1.2 vnto the which the former part of this chap∣ter did. But for this cause it was needefull for the godly, that these things should bee often repeated, for that the present state of things, and the condition of the Iewes seemed to be vtterly against such promises, and to be a let vnto them. And first of all the Pro∣phet here repeateth, that which ver. 5. of this chapter he had said of the keeping and saftie of the church, but hee doth it in other words, and with an other kinde of benefite or ayde. For there the Lord promiseth that he will be a firie wall vnto those that are his: here, that those which are his, shall be as deare vnto him, as are his owne eyes, which speech the Psalmist vseth in his prayer vnto God Psalm. 17. ver. 8. signifying thereby that he craueth God his most sure and safe defence, when he saith, keepe me, as the apple of thine eye: hide me vnder the shadow of thy wings.

* 1.3And here are foure things to bee noted. First, who speaketh here. And here, and in the verses following the selfe same An∣gell speaketh, [unspec 1] which in the fourth verse was willed to runne vnto the Prophet to tell vnto him the things which should come to passe vnto Ierusalem.* 1.4 But because the place following conteineth exceeding great promises of God, and such as at that time were almost incredible or not to bee beleeued, towards those that are his, therefore here also is againe repeated the commandement of

God, yea and the same the true and most mightie God (which two things are signified vnder these words (Iehouah, and the Lord of hostes) least any being astonished at the present state of things, should despayre, or be without all hope of these benefites of the church, the which should be performed afterwards: and in the verse following the godlie are called back vnto the euent or issue it selfe and experience of things, as vnto the most true witnes of this prophesie, howsoeuer there were no hope of the same. For the state of this people in Babylon was as the lying of a dead man in a graue; or as the condition of the same people in Egypt, to wit, past hope of recouerie, and most miserable in the iudgement of man. The second thing to be noted is,* 1.5 when these things shall come to passe. The answer is, After this glorie. For here the time is described, wherein the godly ought to marke the fulfilling of this promise, not whollie I confesse, but onelie to be begunne, and afterward by little and little to be finished. And after this glorie it shall begin to be done and come to passe, that is to say, after that God shall begin to exercise that power and glorie, when as hee promised before ver. 5. that hee would bee in the middest of his church. And because that the power and glorie of God doth ap∣peare especiallie in the true and sincere or sound preaching of his word, and chiefelie in the preaching of the gospell (which is the power of God, for Paul saith Rom. 1. ver. 16. It is the power of God ••••••o saluation) these things also ought chiefely to be referred vnto that time, in the which the gospell of Christ was preached, albeit notwithstanding this blessing of God began to haue some effect, and accomplishment before, as for example, when God destroy∣ed the kingdome of the Babylonians, Persians, the kings Antio∣chi, and Ptolomaei, the enemies of his church.* 1.6 The third thing is, vnto whom these threatnings doe appertaine. Answer, vnto those selfe same persons who were the enemies of the church, and which spoiled and robbed the same Psal. 79. and 83. The fourth,* 1.7 what maner of promise, the promise here made vnto the church is. Answer, a most large promise, nay such a one, that a greater af∣fection or loue, and care of God cannot be shewed. For God hol∣deth his church so deare, as his owne eyes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A staying in the further laying open of the happines of Ierusalem.
• * 1.2

  Why those things are so often repeated.
• * 1.3

  Foure things here to be no∣ted.
• * 1.4

  Who speaketh.
• * 1.5

  2. When these things shall come to passe.
• * 1.6

  3. To whom these threatnings appertaine.
• * 1.7

  4. What maner of promise this is.