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. 12.

Turne ye to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: euen to day doe I declare that I will render the double vnto thee.

* 1.1AN exhortation, that the Iewes might vnderstand, how certaine things are promised vnto them. So then God commandeth that now henceforth withall their mind they wayte for, & hearken after those promises of God made vnto Ierusalem, that is, vnto his Church, and that they haue their eyes turned and fastened there∣vpon, and consequently that they come vnto the same citie. The word hope which is here added in the word (Turne ye) sheweth that in this place is not spoken of the returning and drawing backe of the feet only: but also of the hope and expectation or looking for of the fulfilling of the promises of God, and consequently of our conuersion, hope & heedfulnes of mind vnto them, that we should not faint, or quaile, being ouerwhelmed with the euils, the which fall out vnto vs in the meane season. But here are three things to be considered. First, who are exhorted. Secondly,* 1.2 whereunto they are exhorted. Thirdly, what is here promised by God, or by the prophet vnto those that are exhorted.* 1.3 They that are exhorted are prisoners of hope, that is, the godly, which were afflicted or punished most mi∣serablie and most hardlie, as namely, who are most like vnto those which are bound, and shut vp in a most filthie prison, but yet ho∣ping neuerthelesse in the promises of GOD,* 1.4 and giuing heede or hearkening after them, according vnto that saying of Iob, Albeit that he kill me, yet will I notwithstanding trust in him, cap. 13. ver. 15. They are exhorted vnto the citie Ierusalem it selfe, that they should flee thither as vnto a most strong tower or hold. [unspec 1] And why Ierusa∣lem is called (an hold) the reason is, for that as it is in the Psalm. 49. [unspec 2] God doth keepe, fortifie, and defend it. Psal. 122. and 125. ver. 2. be∣cause that he is fauourable and louing toward it. It is therefore cal∣led a hold, because it is strongly enuironed round about with moū∣taines, as appeareth by the Psalme last quoted, where the Prophet

sayth, As the moutaines are about Ierusalem: so is the Lord about his people from henceforth and for euer. So farre forth therefore both the Church now, and also Ierusalem in times past, is a most sure and safe place vnto vs, as it hath the promises of God, and as we haue re∣gard vnto the same. Therefore they are exhorted, not onely to goe into this tower, but also that they turne their mindes vnto the pro∣mises of God made vnto it. [unspec 3] Thirdly, exceeding great gifts are pro∣mised vnto the Iewes exhorted, and consequently vnto the Church of God, namely, not only those which they had and felt before: but the double of them, that is, all things farre more plentifullie. Which promise was fulfilled in Christ, and through Christ, by reason of the gifts, which Christ the Messias giuen vnto vs, hath giuen, and daily giueth vnto his Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An exhortatiō vnto the Iewes, and in their person, vnto the Church of God.
• * 1.2

  1 Who are ex∣horted.
• * 1.3

  2. Whereunto they are exhor∣ted.
• * 1.4

  3. What is pro∣mised vnto those that are exhorted.