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. 9.

And Ephraim sayd, notwithstanding I am rich: I haue found me out riches in all my labours: they shall finde none iniquitie i•• me, that were wickednesse.

AN amplification of the former wickednesse of the Israelites ta∣ken from a reasoning, whereby they did diminish or lessen those their most grieuous vices, and did beguile and flatter themselues. To wit, for that vsing deceit and violence against their neighbours, they did not (as they would haue it thought) sinne so greatly, that their offence was to be tearmed wickednesse, or iniquitie, sinne, o•• any hainous transgression. Therefore if there were in these their deedes or life, any blemish, spot, or fault, the same notwithstanding they would haue to be tearmed some light or small sinne, but not so grieuous, and such as God was greatly displeased withall. Thus then did these hypocrites, like as all others are wont to doe, lessen their notorious and outragious offences. They dare not altogether denie that there is any fault in those things (which in the eyes of all men appeare to be wickednesse) or that there is no want or blemish in their charitie or duetie: but they excuse themselues, as if this defect or want were not to be vrged or pressed, and followed so hardly, & in such sort to be cōdemned, that therfore they ought to be iudged worthie of some great punishment euen before God: finally, they deny that it is to be called an hainous offence or mischieuous deed So Psal. 94. ver. 7. when as the vngodly murther and slay the inno∣cent, and otherwise most grieuously transgresse: yet they say, The Lord shall not see: neither will the God of Iaacob regard it. But this their opinion and reasoning they also goe about to confirme and maintain, as other most wicked hypocrites are wont wittingly and aduisedly to dote and bee mad, and to chatter and churmer against God. They reason forsooth from the prosperous and happie suc∣cesse of their trafick & merchandise, by the which dealing after this sort with their neighbours, they grow rich notwithstanding, & ga∣ther together great wealth and substance: which happines and pro∣spering, say they, is a tokē that there is no fault in their bargainings, buyings, and sellings, nor any thing in their life that God hateth: for God would not then blesse them. In this doubtlesse they doe well, that they thinke all blessing and euery good gift to be of God. For Iames 1. ver. 17. teacheth vs, That euery good giuing, and euery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the father of lights. And

the Psalmist saith, Psal. 127. &c. That, except the Lord build the house, they labour in vaine that▪ build it: except the Lord keepe the citie, the keeper watcheth in vaine. But herein they reason very ill, whiles they thinke and will haue these riches and earthly goods to bee alwayes a note and most certaine token of the fauour and good will of God towards men waxing rich by any meanes whatsoeuer. Which thing Christ denieth Matth. 5. ver. 45. when he sayth, That God maketh his sunne rise as well on the euill, as on the good: and sendeth raine on the iust, and vniust. And Salomon Ecclesiast. 9. ver. 1, 2. most euidently teacheth the same in these words: I haue surely giuen mine heart to all this, and to declare al this, that the iust, and the wise, and their works are in the hands of God, and no man knoweth either loue or hatred of al that is before them. All things come alike to all: and the same condi∣tion is to the iust and to the wicked, to the good, and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an¦••th.

Notes

• An amplifica∣tion of their former wicked∣nesse.
• All hypocrites lessen their of∣fences.
• The reason of the wicked, to proue their dealings to be allowed of God.
• Wealth and store of worldly goods are not a wayes tokens of God his fa∣uour.