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 hee saide, this is wickednes, and hee cast it into the middest of the Ephah, and hee cast the weight of lead vpon the mouth thereof.

THe interpretation of the two visions, and things lastlie shew∣ed vnto the Prophet, to wit, of the Woman, and of the Masse or lump of lead. The woman was a type or figure of the naugh∣tines of men, or of most lewd wickednes. For the prophet or God vseth such a word, as doth not signifie euery common corruption and loosenes of maners: but open wickednes, shameles, and old, the which conteineth both vngodlines towards God, and also in∣iustice towards men. This lewdnes therefore, albeit neuer so ma∣lapart and vnbrideled, doth God notwithstanding restraine, and dooth shut in within certaine boundes and measure, that it may not range at it owne pleasure: or preuaile, and corrupt or marre all things. Yea and God doth after this sort restraine it, being an∣grie with it. And therefore God is said to haue cast this woman into the bushell, or Ephah, and there to haue bound her, and shut her vp with a couer of lead, as it were in a prison that is most strong, that she may not without punishment rome about, flye a∣broad, ouer master, ouer runne, and corrupt all things at her plea∣sure. And so Reuelat. 9. ver. 4. The Locustes that came out of the smoke, and had power like vnto Scorpions, are commanded that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree, but onely those men, which had not the seale of God in their foreheads. And so cap. 20: ver. 2. The Angell is said to haue taken the dragon that old serpent, which is the diuell, and satan, and to haue bound him a thousand yeares, and cast him into the bottom∣les pit, and shut him vp, and sealed the doore vpon him, that he should deceiue the people no more, till the thousand yeares were fulfilled: for after that he must be loosed for a little season.

Wickednes is in this place set forth vnder the type or figure of a woman, because that like as the wit of a woman is suttle and craftie, and yet notwithstanding shee pleaseth and liketh men: so sinne and the wickednes of men is alwaies craftie, and yet it doth please and allure vs with the flatteries thereof.

Notes

• 2. The woman in t••e Ephah. Ri••••hgnah.
• Wickednes set forth vnder the figure of a woman.