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. 3.

Now Iehoshua was clothed with filthie garments, and stood before the Angell.

* 1.1THe laying open of that base condition and estate, wherein the priestes, that is, the ministerie of the church at that time were,

because of the contemptible or despised condition of that whole people as yet, so farre as in the iudgement of man the affaires of the Iewes might then be esteemed of. Wherefore the same by an Hypotypôsis or liuely description is now represented or laide open to the view,* 1.2 yea and that by God himselfe, to the ende the Iewes and the priestes themselues might vnderstand that this their so base estate was knowne vnto him, when as notwithstanding hee promiseth that the dignitie of the priesthood shall be so great: for it is an allegoricall or figuratiue Hypotyposis. For vnder the name and representation or shew of filthie clothes, the contempt, and base condition of the priesthood is signified, as contrariwise by the sight and beholding of changed and glorious clothing in the fourth verse is noted the happie and glorious estate of that order. For as it is Galat. 4. Thus did the Lord teach that people touching spiritual things, being yet vnder figures and shadowes and weake, that he might signifie and describe spirituall and heauenly things vnder these earthlie figures and signes Hebr. 9. The old apparrel of the priesthood, so glorious and golden, was a signe both of all those spirituall riches and treasures, which should bee in the man Christ, in whom all treasures of wisdome and knowledge are hid, Coloss. 2. ver. 3. and also of that holines, which ought to be in the priestes themselues, who in like maner were figures of Christ. And whereas Iehoshua the high Priest is saide to haue stoode so baselie apparrelled before the Angell himselfe, who also before was called Iehouah, this hath an Emphasis or vehemencie and force, and mouing of affection, both for the confirmation of the certaintie of this whole prophesie, and also for the proofe and shewing of the care of God, and knowledge of the state of his Church, and of those that serue him. It is also a preparation vn∣to the narration insuing in the verse following.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The laying o∣pen of the base estate of the priesthood at that time.
• * 1.2

  What the fi∣gure Hypotypo∣sis is, see Amos cap. 8. ver. 12.