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. 13.

Therefore the prudent shall keepe silence in that time: for it is an euill time.

* 1.1AN admonition, the which is here put in to comfort and teach the godly, that they may vnderstand what they in the meane time and season are to doe, in so great corruption of all things both publike, and also priuate. And this is the counsel, nay the comman∣dement which the Spirit of God giueth, that the faithfull doe in the meane season serue God, and remaine quiet, looking and wayting, what, that is, how sorowfull shall be the end of this desperat and o∣uerflowing wickednesse. The silence therefore that in this place is prescribed or appoynted vnto him that is indeed a wise and godlie man, is not a blameable tonguetiednes, the which can heare and not reproue the blasphemies of God, and the heynous sinnes of the wicked reigning and being committed openly before their eyes (for this is a damnable timiditie, or cowardly fearfulnes, the which shall be punished in the lake that burneth with fire & brim∣stone Apoc. 21. ver. 8) neither is it any giuing assent vnto the wic∣ked or their wickednesse for feare, the which is bewrayed by our si∣lence: nor yet finally is it the neglecting and passing ouer of gene∣rall corruption, the which hath now taken hold on all degrees of men, as an euill that cannot be remedied (the which therefore must be borne withal, because it cannot be reformed) (for such wisedom is humane, or wordly, carnall, and politike only, and not christian) but the silence in this place commanded and commended, * 1.2 is a god∣lie patience wrastling against the sinnes and vices of men, so farre forth as it can, and at no hands either bearing with, or assenting to them, the which notwithstanding doth neither complaine of God, nor yet yeeldeth vnto the common corruption: but abideth firme and sure in the feare of God, euen in the midst of the corruption of

the world, or of the Church, reigning and raunging ouer all. A•••• in this sense Luk. 21. ver. 19. Christ sayth vnto his godly flocke: ••••∣sesse your soules by patience. And Isai cap. 30. ver. 15. sayth like•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the Church: Thus sayth the Lord God, the holie one of Israe•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rest and quietnes shall ye be saued: in quietnes and confidence shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your strength. And ver. 7. I cried vnto her, their strength is to sit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 So in the midst of al their troubles Ieremy in his Lamentations 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. ver. 26. willeth the faithfull, saying: It is good both to trust, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 waite for the saluation of the Lord. Therefore because that time, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 course of the life of the whole people was then wicked, and su•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 might easily draw away the godly from the right way, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 duetie, they had neede of this silence, and patience. And he w•••••••• now and in these dayes behaueth himselfe after this manner, * 1.3 〈…〉〈…〉 that time did so likewise, is sayd to bee indeed a wise man, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth looke for the worke of the Lord, and diligently attend or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereupon with patience, doing nothing vpon a head or rash•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Isai. 28. ver. 16. the Lord sayth: He that beleeueth shall not ma•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And so doth Dauid exhort the godly with diligence to atten•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord his wonderfull working for the deliuerie of the poore an•• ••••∣flicted, and his punishing of the wicked, and then shutteth v•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Psalme 107. with this verse 43. Who is wise, that he may obser•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 marke these things? For they shall vnderstand the louing kind•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lord.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An admonitiō for the godly.
• * 1.2

  What manner of silence is here comman∣ded and com∣mended.
• * 1.3

  The note of a wise mā in the midst of cor∣ruption and troubles.