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. 14.

Seeke good and not euill, that ye may liue: and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God of hosts shall be with you, as you haue spoken.

* 1.1A Continuing or amplifying of the same admonition that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before. For now the Prophet doth not speake vnto the go•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alone, but vnto all the Israelites, that they may auoyd the iudge•••••••• of God, threatned against them, and proue the same hope to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 true, the which they boasted that they had in God. The Prop•••••••• therefore warneth & teacheth them, what is the way to turne f•••••••••• them the wrath of God. * 1.2 And this he sheweth to be but onely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is, true repentance of minde. And the same he sayth to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yet vnto them notwithstanding, how greatly soeuer God haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 readie shewed his iudgements: for God will not haue men to ••••••∣rish, but to conuert or turne, and be saued. As he sayth by his P••••∣phet Ezechiel cap. 30. ver. 31.32. Cast away from you all your tr••••••∣gressions,

whereby ye haue transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit: for why will ye dye, O house of Israel? For I desire not the death of him that dyeth, sayth the Lord: cause therefore one another to returne, and liue ye.

* 1.3But in this verse repentance is also set forth by a full description of the same, that is to say, by the hatred of euill, & the loue of good. The which this verse with that which followeth, doth conteine. So then this first verse hath an exhortation vnto repentance taken from the effects: and the latter verse, or that verse which followeth, hath the definition of repentance. He therefore doth here exhort vnto repentance by a most notable effect of the same, the which is twofold, namely, by their life, and by the healthfull presence of God with them; both which will follow those that truely repent. By the which selfe same thing we do vnderstand why the Prophet so ear∣nestly doth monish or warne the Israelites to repent. * 1.4 The exhorta∣tion therefore, or the admonition, the which is conteined in this verse, is, Seeke ye good, and not euill. The reason, * 1.5 Because that so ye shall both liue, and God shall be with you. When as the Prophet sayth, Seeke ye good, and not euill, he sheweth that then at the last, good is truely sought, when as we cast away the things that are euill, and doe vtterly forsake them, and not when as we mingle good with e∣uill: as for example, idolatrie with reformation or amendment of manners: or contrariwise, amendment of manners with idolatrie. When as he sayth (ye shall liue) first he vnderstandeth that there shall be a deliuerance from the wrath of God, afterwards he doth therein also comprehend life, and good successe of things among them. For this doth the Prophet comprise vnder the word (liue). And where he saith (God shall be with you) he meaneth, as an helper, a keeper, and as your safetie and saluation. * 1.6 There is added (The Lord of hosts) to the end the maiestie and power of that God vnto whose helpe they shall flee, may bee the more cleerely represented and shewed forth vnto them. Finally that which followeth (as you haue spoken, that is, haue hoped and boasted) sheweth that these men vnder the pretence or colour of their circumcision, the which they yet still retained, did promise themselues, that God would alwayes be fauourable vnto them, and that they did set the same (as a visour, being namely but a bare signe, and void of his effect among them) against the threatnings of the Prophets.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A continuing, & an amplify∣ing of the ad∣monition be∣fore.
• * 1.2

  True repen∣tance the only way to turne away the wrath of God.
• * 1.3

  An exhortatiō vnto repen∣rance, taken from the effects of the same.
• * 1.4

  The exhorta∣tion.
• * 1.5

  The reason.
• * 1.6

  The Lord of hosts.