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. 3.

So he went and tooke Gomer, the daughter of Diblai••, which conceiued, and bare him a sonne.

* 1.1THe continuing of the former processe. For Oseas goeth on to shew, what followed the same commanding of God vnto him. And first of all he teacheth that this marriage by the commande∣ment of God was in such sort of him propounded and tolde vnto the people,* 1.2 as if he had indeede and in truth marryed such a wife, that is to say an harlot. Secondly, he declareth what fruit and chil∣dren were begotten by that maryage:* 1.3 and what the signification of them is, that is, what is the minde and meaning of God herein. Now the purpose and meaning of God was, vnder the name and fi∣gure of this kinde of marriage to haue shewed and declared the no∣torious treacherie and faithlesnesse of the Israelites towardes him, wherein when as that wife no doubt was greatly honoured by her husband,* 1.4 she notwithstanding on the contrary parte by a singular kinde of vnthankfulnesse did wonderfully dishonour her husband and therefore did grieue him,* 1.5 and prouoke him agaynst her, as i•• is Ezech. 16. Moreouer God by this similitude teacheth, that his anger towards this people is most iust, as who namely hath recei∣ued so great an iniury at their hand:* 1.6 for the husband hath most worthy cause to be angry with his wife that still continueth playing the harlot.

Further, the name of the Prophets wife is here set downe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wit, Gomer, that is to say, Perfection, such a one as God had made this people after his marriage with them,* 1.7 to wit, most plentifuly enriched and garnished with all giftes and graces. And this Go∣mer was the danghter of Diblaim, that is, of a most desolate an•• waste wildernes. For at the first, the condition and estate of th••••

family or house, that is, the familie or house of Abraham and Ia∣cob, of the which this people was borne, was most lamentable and base, in Assyria, & in Egypt, euen like vnto the estate of a nation as vnknowen, & dwelling in a place that is vtterly desolate or a meere wildernes, and destitute or voyde of all things. Thus much of this marriage, and of that wife. And as for the fruit of this mar∣riage, they are three children begotten of Gomer, of the which the first, who he was, and what is the signification thereof according vnto the meaning, and minde of GOD, the verse following doth declare.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A cōtinuing of the former pro∣cesse, shewing,
• * 1.2

  1. The propoun∣ding of this ma¦riage.
• * 1.3

  2. The children comming of the same.
• * 1.4

  3. What God signifieth here∣by.
• * 1.5

  1. The faithlesnes of the Israelites the wife to∣ward••s God their husband.
• * 1.6

  2. That therfore his anger is most iust to∣wards them.
• * 1.7

  The name of the Prophets wise.