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. 1.

Againe the word of the Lord of hostes came vnto mee, saying,* 1.1

* 1.2THis whole chapter conteineth two things. Frst, it hath a con∣firmation of the former doctrine touching the true worship and seruice of God to be defined and restored by the true works of godlines and charitie,* 1.3 and not onely by outward ceremonies, as appeareth hereafter ver. 16.17. Secondly, an expresse answer vnto the question propounded in the former chapter vers. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

and so forth. But touching the beginning of this chapter it is a garnishing or a staying in the further laying out of the matter by the way of matching together of the contraries, to wit of the punishment or iudgement of GOD against the forefathers of the Iewes, and of the promise alreadie made vnto their poste∣ritie by the free mercie of GOD, and not vttered, and be∣slowed vpon them for any righteousnes or desertes of theirs, as appeareth hereafter verse 15. And it was requisite that these promises should bee set after these iudgements and punish∣ments of God against the Iewes, least they might suppose God to bestil angry with them, and consequently might lay aside al hope and minde of building of the temple, and repairing of the City, & of their longer stay in the land of Iudea, as is shewed ver. 9. For this rehearsing of the promises of God, especially so notable and ••uident touching the restoring of Sion, yea and of the City it selfe, ••nd of the long continuance of them both, did very greatly both ••omfort them, and also incourage them to go lustily forward with the building. Moreouer this verse, like a the beginning also of the verse folowing hath a confirmation of the doctrine, which ••••lloweth, namely for that the Prophet was cōmaunded by God, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the almighty God, to vtter, and to promise these thinges 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his name vnto the Iewes, that is, vnto his church.* 1.4 And this pre∣••••ce of the Prophet is often repeated, to wit because in so great ••••ly burly and trouble of thinges, in so lamentable destruction of that people, and so great power and boldnes of their enemies, (the which were against that building of the Temple. Esdr. 4. ver. 1) this promise or doctrine, was so much the more diligently to be confirmed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two parts of this chapter.
• * 1.2

  1. A confirmati∣on of the for∣mer doctrine.
• * 1.3

  2. An answer vn∣to the question moued in the former chap∣ter.
• * 1.4

  Why this pre∣face of the Pro∣phet is so often repeated (Thus saith the Lord of hostes.)