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. 11.

I haue also spoken by the Prophets, and I haue multiplied visions, and vsed similitudes by the ministerie of the Prophets.

* 1.1A Staying in the same matter, wherein God proueth the conti∣nuing of his benefites towards the Israelites by the effects, and the same most excellent, and vnto Israel himselfe most healthsome. And these effects are, they raysing vp of Prophets among the Israe∣lites, by the which Prophets he sundrie wayes taught these Israe∣lites, awaked them, and called them backe vnto their duetie, and re∣pentance of minde, and of life. And this questionles is a most sin∣gular benefite of God, and greater then any earthly gift, and any fruitfulnes of the earth whatsoeuer, to wit, whē he sendeth his faith∣full seruants and Prophets vnto vs. And therefore the people grie∣uously complaine of this want vnto God Psal. 74. ver. 9. where they say: We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth how long.

* 1.2But in this place God comprehendeth three kindes or wayes, whereby the Prophets declare and expound the will of God, and all the which he diligently, and often vsed to conuert, & draw back the Israelites: but all in vaine. For he lost his labour: for they con∣tinued in their old stubbornnes of mind, and kept their old wont in seruing of Idols continually. And so many wayes doth God reckon vp, lest he might seeme to haue ouerpassed any thing. The first way,* 1.3 wherby God doth cōmunicat, or impart himself vnto the Prophets, & by the Prophets vnto vs, is plaine & simple speaking or deliuerie of the word, whereunto neither any vision or similitude is added. The 2. kind is, when as God speaketh by some vision, that is to say:* 1.4 whē God addeth vnto his word, & speaking, some external or out∣ward shape, wherein he appeareth, and the which doth represent and resemble his maiestie, and finally some outward signe of his presence. So Numb. 12. ver. 6. God sayth: Heare now my words, if there be a Prophet of the Lord among you, I will be knowne to him by a vision, and I will speake to him by a dreame. So Psalm. 89. ver. 19. the Psalmist sayth: Thou spakest then in a vision to thine holie one. And Matth. 1. ver. 20. The Angel warneth Iosepth in a dreame, to take Ma∣rie for his wife. So Ezech. 1. and 10. God speaketh vnto Ezechiel by sundrie visions. The third kind is,* 1.5 when God besides sheweth some figures and similitudes, the which doe represent the thing it selfe, the which he commaundeth or will haue to be done. So Isai. 20.2.

The Prophet is willed to put off his sackcloth, and shooes, and to goe naked, and barefoote. So Ierem. 27. ver. 2. He putteth bonds vpon his necke, and yokes, and sendeth them vnto sundrie kings of the heathen. The like is to bee seene Zach. 2. and 3. and 6. Of these things I haue spoken in my notes before these Prophets.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Staying in the rehearsall of God his be∣nefites toward them.
• * 1.2

  Three wayes of declaring the will of God by the Prophets.
• * 1.3

  1. Simple and plaine spea∣king.
• * 1.4

  2. When some vi∣sion is added vnto the word.
• * 1.5

  3. When by some outward figure God by his Pro∣phets represen∣teth the thing, which he com∣mandeth.