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. 4.

Then came the word of the Lord of hostes vnto me, say∣ing,

* 1.1THe answer of the Prophet vnto the former question, & the same two-fold by the mouth and commandement of God himselfe. The first generally, the which sheweth in generall what is to bee iudged and deemed of this whole kind of things and actions.* 1.2 The second, specially or particularly,* 1.3 the which sheweth what they ought to thinke of that same fast of the fifth moneth, yea and of the seuenth and tenth moneth also, the which fasts the Iewes had ap∣poynted extraordinarily, but yet yearely, to afflict or humble them∣selues, as is to bee seene hereafter, cap. 8. ver. 19.* 1.4 Now it was be∣houefull and requisite that the people of the Iewes should bee an∣swered generally, what was to bee iudged of this whole kinde of things, not onely because all men generally doe alwayes attribute too much vnto these outward things, as if the most true worship of God stood in these things (such is both the hypocrisie, and also the grosse ignorance of men) but especially the Iewes were too much giuen alwayes vnto such things, ceremonies, and actions, because that they had receiued them from God, and therefore they placed in them the weight and sway of true religion, and of the worship & seruice of God Isai. 1.12. &c. where in regard of the confidence and trust which the Iewes did put in these ceremonies, God sayth vnto them by his Prophet, When ye come to appeare before me, who requi∣reth this of your hands, to tread in my courts? And cap. 66. ver. 3. God telleth them: He that killeth a bullocke, is as if he slew a man: he that sacrificeth a sheepe, as if he cut off a dogs necke: he that offreth an ob∣lation, as if he offred swines bloud: he that remembreth incense, as if he blessed an idoll: yea they haue chosen their owne wayes, and their soule delighteth in their abominations. So Amos cap. 5. ver. 22. the Lord sayth, Though ye offer me burnt offrings and meate offrings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offrings of your fat beasts. The Lord therefore by this answere would haue this er∣ror pulled out of their minds, the which did stick so fast, and cleaue so hard in them, the which moued this question of fasting. Where∣fore God teacheth that he is neither delighted, nor appeased with these things in themselues: but with true godlines and charitie or

loue, such as he himselfe by his Prophets hath prescribed or ap∣poynted vnto them in his word. Further, this verse and all other such like, in the which it is sayd, that the word of God came, or was giuen, and that from the God of hostes, that is, almightie, doe con∣firme the doctrine which is to be expounded, and doe winne and get authoritie vnto the same, and audience, and reuerence from the author of it, namely, God himselfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A twofold an∣swere vnto the former questiō.
• * 1.2

  1. Generally.
• * 1.3

  2. Specially, and particularly.
• * 1.4

  Why it was re∣quisite that the Iewes should general∣ly be taught what was to be iudged of these outward mat∣ters.