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.

Also Amasiah sayd vnto Amos: O thou the seer, goe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou away into the land of Iudah, and there eate thy bre•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prophesie there.

* 1.1THe admonition or counsell of the sayd Amasias vnto A•••••• wherein lieth hid the great subtiltie of this idolatrous Priest ••gainst the true Prophet of God. For these words of Amasias 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as it were a shewe of his good will towards Amos, and of his ……¦fulnes for him: but indeed and truth they thrust at the very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Amos, and by all the wayes that may be, pull him from 〈◊〉〈◊〉

fice. For they feare the Prophet, that he should not obey the com∣mandement and will of God. These arts and sleights of the wicked for the most part are described Psal. 55. ver. 21. where the Prophet sheweth how that in their most sugred words they hide most bit∣ter gall, and vnder faire speeches shrowd foule dealings, when he sayth: The words of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were sword••. See also a patterne of these fetches Matth. 4. ver. 3. and 6. in the ten∣tations of the diuell against our Sauiour Christ.

* 1.2But concerning this admonition or counsell of Amasias, the same is twofold. The first, that (he goe away) that is, that the Pro∣phet Amos whilest he may, and honestly, and without let or with∣out daunger he may doe it, he make shift for himselfe, he depart of his owne accord, and get him into his owne countrey,* 1.3 and there (if it seeme so good vnto him) exercise and vse his office, that is to say, prophesie. Secondly, (that he flee) that is, that Amos betimes with∣draw himselfe from the imminent and present daunger,* 1.4 the which was very shortly for to come: because that he might run into great daunger of his life, because of such threatnings and prophesies de∣liuered touching the destruction both of the King, and also of the people. Wherein we see how this Amasias, a most vtter enemie vn∣to the true prophesie of God, doth notwithstanding couer that his hatred against Amos his prophet vnder an honest and cleanly pre∣tence, as if he had care and regard of the honour and safetie of the true Prophet of God, the which was there present. So doth this di∣uell turne himselfe into an angell of light, as did the false Apostles in Paul his time turne themselues into the Apostles of Christ, the which he sayth is no wonder 2. Cor. 11. ver▪ 14. For Satan himselfe is transformed into an angell of light.* 1.5 And this doe the most sworne enemies of the trueth of the Gospell at this day, the which would seeme ••ore reasonable then others of that crue, & to carrie a more fauourable mind towards such as are godly indeed, or also towards the faithfull Pastors of the Church of God. For vnder a colour of honest counsell, and such as tendeth to their safetie, so farre as in them lieth, they doe moue and exhort them to leaue their standing, and to giue ouer for a time, or els vtterly to forsake and lay aside their ministerie and worke of God. The which no doubt is a most great and most daungerous fetch and reach of the diuell, against the which the spirit of wisedome is to be begged with most earnest prayers at the hands of our good and mercifull God. For say they:

You may be safe and in honour, or credit and reputation at home among your owne, if you hold your selfe quiet, and giue ouer the office or religion. Doe not therefore so openly professe this ••elig••∣on, but leaue of this ministerie of the gospell which you exercise. At leastwise tarrie a leasure and put it off for a season, &c.

* 1.6Furthermore, that the subtiltie and cunning of this Amas••∣as was great (as a chiefe instrument of Sathan) like as also o∣ther varlets in such cases is wont to bee, it may appeare by these three points. First, in that hee calleth him by that honorable na•••• of a Seer,* 1.7 as if he made some great account of him, & did acknow∣ledge and confesse him to be the true Prophet of God. For this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first and in old time was wont to be the name of a Prophe••, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we reade 1. Sam. 9. cap. ver. 9. Before time in Israel, when a m•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to seeke an answer of God, thus he spake, Come and let vs go to the S••n for he that is called now a Prophet, was in the olde time called a S••••▪ So the craftier and closer enemies of the gospell are very liberal and franke in giuing of such titles vnto the true professors▪ T•••• second poynt is hereby to be seene,* 1.8 for that he draweth back 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto his owne countrie, whereas he may be safe and withou•• d••••∣ger, and liue commodiouslie and very well. For our owne co•••••••••• doth by a certaine naturall sense and feeling allure and deligh•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 He then doth not send him into the deserts, and vnto far people 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the vttermost partes of the world, as to the Garamantes and ••••••∣ans, but among his owne people and countrey folkes. Whe•••••••• the speech and perswasion of Amasias might seeme the mo•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sonable, and more full of goodwill and loue towards Amo••▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 third poynt is this,* 1.9 that Amasias desireth not, that Amos hence•••••••• should not prophesie any more at all: but that he should not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here in this place, that is, in the kingdome of Israel, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Bethel, but in Iudah, where there are many other▪ Prophets 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his place, and like vnto himselfe, and are heard: there let him P••••∣phesie as much as him list, and spare not. What may seem•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 reasonable then these requests.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The counsell of Amasias to A∣mos.
• * 1.2

  The counsell of Amasias two¦fold.
• * 1.3

  1 That Amos go away.
• * 1.4

  2. That he flee.
• * 1.5

  A most craftie counsell of the Papists vnto some gospellers.
• * 1.6

  Three notes of the great sub∣tiltie of Ama∣si••s.
• * 1.7

  1. In that he cal∣leth Amos by the honorable name of a Seer.
• * 1.8

  2. In that he see∣keth to drawe him home into his owne coun∣trey.
• * 1.9

  3. In that he will not haue him vtterly leaue prophesying, but that he prophesie not in Israel.