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. 8.

And I will campe about mine house against the armie, a∣gainst him that passeth by, and against him that returneth, and no oppressor shall come vpon them any more: for now haue I seene with mine eyes.

* 1.1THe former comfort of the church was taken from the increase of the same, because of the comming of strangers vnto it, yea and that of those, who before were most deadly enemies vnto it. But this comfort now, is from the inward saftie, and quiet of the

church,* 1.2 the which she should hereafter inioye. But this verse hath two things, to wit, first, a description of this securitie or safetie of the church,* 1.3 and secondly, the cause of the same. And first of all, the description sheweth the defence, the which the church shall haue at home, to wit, God himselfe pitching his tentes for his church, as appeareth Psalm. 34. For God promiseth that hee will watch for his temple against all sortes of enemies Psalm. 121. and 124. that we should not thinke our saftie to come from our owne strength. Secondly, he sheweth the driuing away of forraine ene∣mies, so that there shall bee no hoast of enemies that shall set vpon the church. Finallie, that there shall be no violence or oppression in the people themselues one against another: or wringing and vexing by those that shall rule ouer them. But these things are especially to be vnderstood of the spirituall kingdome of Christ. The cause of this so great a benefite,* 1.4 is the onely mercie of GOD toward his church, who both seeth the afflictions thereof with his eyes, Exod. 3. and also of his goodnes and bountie taketh pittie and compassion on her Psalm. 68. ver. 16. where the Psalmist faith that God deliteth to dwell in mount Zion, (that is, in his church) yea and that the Lord will dwell in it for euer. And ver. 21.22. he sheweth how that God will both destroy her enemies, and also saue and deliuer her from all daungers in these words: Surely God will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairie pate of him that walketh in his sinnes. The Lord hath said, J will bring my people a∣gaine from Bashan. I will bring them againe from the depthes of the Sea. And therefore in consideration of this anger of God to∣wards his enemies, and loue and mercie toward his church, hee cryeth out by way of admiration in the end of the Psalme, O God, thou art terrible out of thine holy places: the God of Israel is he that giueth strength and power vnto the people: praised be God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Another com∣fort of the Church from the inward saftie & peace of the same.
• * 1.2

  Two partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. A description of the saftie of the Church.
• * 1.4

  2. The cause of the same.