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. 10.

For before these dayes there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast, neither was there any peace to him that went out, or came in, because of the affliction: for I set all men, euery one a∣gainst his neighbour.

THis is a rendring of a reason of the former exhortation from the comparing together of diuerse times,* 1.1 whereby they shall easily gather that they are exhorted by God vnto that work. And here is also contained a secret Hypophora, or answering of an ob∣iection that might be made, that they should not thinke that their labour now also should be vnprofitable, as it was before, or that there should be any disturbance or letting of the worke, or that their state should be vnquiet. For the Prophet doth answer, that

God is now reconciled or made friendes with them. Wherefore the Iewes did now alreadie feele the effectes of this couenant, whereof Zacharias made mention before vers. 8. And in the de∣scribing or setting forth of this comparison, is first of all set down the most lamentable condition of the former time, wherein they ceased from the work, as appeareth Agge. 1. ver. 6. in these words: Ye haue sowne much, & bring in little. ye eate, but ye haue not inough: ye drinke, but ye are not filled: yee cloth you, but you bee not warme: and hee that earneth wages, putteth the wages into a broken bagge. This lamentable condition of the former time is described by the reckoning vp of three things,* 1.2 the which doe declare the great mi∣serie of the men, and the curse of God against them, to wit, The labour of the men,* 1.3 and also of the cattell, was at that time vnpro∣fitable Deut. 28. But the contrarie falleth out, where God fauou∣reth our dooings, as it is Psalm. 128. ver. 2. When thou eatest the labours of thine hands, thou shalt be blessed, and it shall be well with thee. Secondly,* 1.4 Warres and daungers are on euery side. Such was the time that is spoken of 2. Chr. 15. ver. 5. And in that time there was no peace to him, that did goe out, and goe in: but great troubles were to all the inhabitants of the earth. Lastlie, there was no peace and agreement betweene the citizens themselues,* 1.5 and those that were countrie men, but there were betweene them vncourteous dis∣cords and iarres.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A reason of the former exhor∣tation. What the fi∣gure Hypopho∣ra is see Amos cap. 5. ver. 21.
• * 1.2

  The miserie of the former times described three waies.
• * 1.3

  1. The labour of men and beasts was vnprofita∣ble.
• * 1.4

  2. Warres and dangers on eue∣rie side.
• * 1.5

  3. Ciuill discord within them∣selues.