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. 2.

For they had sent vnto the house of God Sharezer, and Re∣gem-melech and their men, to pray before the Lord.

* 1.1THis is the rendring of a reason why God gaue vnto the Prophet a new instinct or inspiration, and word, by occasion of the histo∣rie, or thing done. For the whole people enquired the will of God touching a new question. And God would not denie the desires of those that were his, and therefore he answereth by the Prophet. For the people delt well, and in very good order, who in their hard case and doubt, doe aske of God in his ministers. This their exam∣ple therefore is of vs to be followed. So 2. King. cap. 1. ver. 6. Ahaziah King of Samaria is greatly reproued of God by the ministerie of the Prophet Elijah, because he sent to Baal-zebub to knowe whe∣ther he should recouer of his hurt which he had taken by a fall through a windowe, and sought not by God his Prophets to vn∣derstand the will of the Lord in this matter. Wherefore Deut. 18. ver. 15. Moses giueth the people of Israel this comfort, that after

his decease God will not leaue them staylesse, and helples, nor vn∣certaine and doubtful whither to goe for to be resolued and taught in the will of the Lord, for (sayth he) the Lord thy God will raise vp vnto thee a Prophet like vnto me, from among you, euen of thy brethrē: vnto him ye shall hearken. And therefore in the Psalm 74. ver. 9. whē as the Church for a time, in the wrath of God is depriued of this be∣nefite, and the ordinary course of the Prophets and ministerie cea∣sed, by whom they might bee instructed, and enquire of the will of the Lord, they complaine of this want, and crye out vnto God, and say, We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth how long.

* 1.2But in this verse of our Prophet there are three things to be no∣ted. First, the good order of the Church for the people, yea & that all of them, asketh and desireth to knowe some thing of the priests, yet doe they not this tumultuously,* 1.3 nor by the confused or disorde∣red multitude: but out of their whole bodie they appoynt certain, and send them in the name of the rest vnto the Priests. Secondly,* 1.4 who are to be asked, and demaunded concerning the will of God, namely, the ministers of the Church, either ordinary, as the priests: or extraordinary, if there be any, as in times past were the Prophets. And therefore it is sayd, Malach. 2. ver. 7. The Priests lips should pre∣serue knowledge, and they should seeke the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes. So then the people asketh not Zorobabel, though he were a godly man, or other politike Magi∣strates, of matters appertaining vnto conscience: but the ministers of the Church. The third thing is, how,* 1.5 or after what maner wee must come vnto God, to wit, by prayer, and supplication. For after this sort ought both the ministers of the Church themselues, and o∣thers also to come vnto God, who seeke after the will of God, and the true interpretation of his word?

Notes

• * 1.1

  The reason, why the Pro∣phet hath a new inspirati∣on and word from God.
• * 1.2

  3 Partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1 The good order of the church.
• * 1.4

  2 Who are to be demaunded touching the will of the lord.
• * 1.5

  3 After what maner we must come vn∣to God.