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. 14.

Then sayd he, These are the two oliue branches, that stand with the ruler of the whole earth.

* 1.1THE exposition or interpretation, the which containeth two things. First, the signification of the thing or vision shewed of the oliue trees. The second, the reason or cause of the same thing or deede.* 1.2 The signification of those two oliue trees was this, name∣ly, that they both were a fountaine set by God on both sides of the Candlesticke, that oyle and light might neuer bee fayling vnto it. And therefore these oliue trees are called the sonnes of fatnes, that is, oylie oliues, plentifull, most fat, hauing a streame or fountaine of oyle, and supplying and ministring oyle without ceasing vnto the Candlestick, which was a type or figure of the Church of God. For the Church of God is the true light of the world, which shineth before all men, Matth. 5. Psalm. 72. God therefore of his surpassing goodnes, and of his infinite wisedome, and wonderfull prouidence towards his Church, doth so dispose and order all things, that she neuer wanteth those things which are necessarie for her, albeit men suppose her to lacke these things, because that they looke only vn∣to

to the ordinarie meanes. This is a singular comfort for the Church. The Lord vpholdeth, maintaineth, ruleth, defendeth and increaseth herby wonderfull, and extraordinarie meanes, the which doe de∣pend vpon his meere or only goodnes, and are vnknowne, and vn∣seene of men.* 1.3 The reason of this extraordinarie and continuall sup∣plie is, because that God the ruler of the whole earth, or the almigh∣tie Lord will so haue it: and therefore hath so disposed all things, doth so see vnto his Church, finally, because God hath so ordained those things, wherewith he wil helpe her euen extraordinarily, that he alwayes hath readie, and at hand the things, which immediatly, and without any labour he can vse for the defence of his Church. Now, whereas the Prophet maketh mention onely of two oliue trees, the reason is, because they were enough to minister oyle vnto that candle, when as they did minister it on both sides, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left hand. God therefore by a small number of things bringeth most great workes to passe in his Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The exposition containing
• * 1.2

  1. The significa∣tion of the two oliue trees.
• * 1.3

  2. The reason or cause of the same.