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.

For loe, the stone that I haue layd before Iehoshua: vpon one stone shall be seuen eyes: Behold, I will cut out the grauing thereof, sayth the Lord of hostes, and I will take away the iniquitie of this land in one day.

THis is the rendring of a reason, whereby the Angel or the Pro∣phet sheweth, why, and how, when as Christ, or this branch is

promised vnto vs, wee ought to hope for all those gifts from God,* 1.1 namely, because it is he alone, whom the father hath layd the foun∣dation, ornament or beautifying, and appeasing of his Church. Therfore he confirmeth the former consequence or reason by the Epithets or proper attributes or titles of Christ, and of this branch, that we should without doubting looke for all things from God by and for Christ. And, that Christ is the foundation of the Church, the word stone doth declare, whereby Christ is here termed, not by contempt, or in despite, but by his name, as Psalm. 118. ver. 22. The stone which the builders refused, is the head of the corner. And I sai 28. ver. 16. Behold, I will lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation. He that beleeueth shall not make haste. And Peter Epist. 1. cap. 2. ver. 7. hauing cited this former text of Isai in∣ferreth, saying, Vnto you therefore, which beleeue, it is aprecious stone: but vnto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders dis∣allowed, the same is made the head of the corner. So then this stone is sayd to be layd before Iehoshua, and that same whole order of Le∣uites, and finally before the vniuersall Church, that all should lye vpon him, and looke vnto him, as their only foundation.

* 1.2And the vse of this stone is added, when as seuen eyes are attribu∣ted or giuen vnto him, with all which he looketh vnto the calami∣ties or miseries and matters of his Church, least we might suppose him to be a blind and idle stone. The same Christ is the ornament or beautie of his Church:* 1.3 the which is here Metaphorically descri∣bed or set foorth vnder the cutting or grauing of a Ring, or Stone, the which is wont to be done in precious stones, that albeit they be of themselues precious alreadie, yet by this trimming they may be∣come more precious, beautiful, and to be had in the greater request. So whilest Christ is present with his Church, there can be wanting no commendation and setting of vs foorth vnto God. Finallie, the same Christ is the appeasing of the Church vnto God. For his o∣bedience causeth, that all the iniquitie of the Church is done away, yea, and that there is taken away in one day from her, whatsoeuer iniquities she hath gathered together in many yeares. Hereby ap∣peareth how great the benefite of Christ is, who in one moment blotteth out all the spots and staines the which we haue taken with long rusting, obstinacie, and stubbornnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A reason, why and how we are to hope for all the former gifts from God.
• * 1.2

  The vse of this stone.
• * 1.3

  What the fi∣gure Metapho∣ra is, see Amos cap 4. ver. 12.