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. 15.

* 1.1 Though he grew vp amōg his brethren,* 1.2 an East wind shall come, euen the winde of the Lord shall come vp from the wilder∣nesse, and drie vp his veine, and his fountaine shall be dried vp: he shall spoyle the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

* 1.3ANother promise of God toward the selfe same godly, and men that from Idols turne themselues vnto the true God, and do re∣pent. And this is a most excellent increase vnto the former bene∣fite. The godly shall not only be saued by God euen in the midst of the punishments of the vnfaithfull: but also they the selfe same shall in health and saftie fructifie or bring forth fruite, and that a∣mong their brethren, that is to say, among the other godly & elect of God, whom they shall greatly edifie and profite with their ho∣lines and doctrine. And this also may be referred vnto the multi∣plying of the nation, and increasings of that people: and not only vnto the fruite, the which they shall bring forth by their example, in stirring vp and confirming or strengthening others vnto godli∣nes. For this latter is the most true end both of our adoption made by God, and also of our conseruation, to wit, the edifying or profi∣ting of others. And so Christ Ioh. 15. ver. 16. teacheth his Disciples That he hath chosen them, and ordained them that they go and bring forth fruite, and that their fruit remaine. So Dauid testifieth of him∣selfe Psal. 32. ver. 8. that he will instruct and teach others in the way of godlines, wherein they ought to walke, when he sayth: I will in∣struct thee with mine eye. And this is a great thing which is added, (among their brethren). For so much the more acceptable is this fruite, be∣cause it redoundeth vnto the Church also, and vnto the edifying of the godly. So by the selfe same reason doth Paul praise the Colos∣sians 1. Colos. 10. when he prayeth for them, That they might walke worthie of the Lord, and please him in all things, being fruitfull in all good workes, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Furthermore, the time also is added after which these things shall

come to passe.* 1.4 And this setting downe of the time is indefinite or not certaine, the which comprehendeth a long space of time: and not the very moment, instant, and poynt of time, as Luk. 21. ver. 25. when he sayth, Then there shalbe signes in the sunne, and in the moone, and in the starres, &c. So Matth. 24. ver. 29. Immediatly after the tri∣bulation of those dayes shall the sunne be darkened, and the moone shall not giue her light, &c. Now this time was added in this place, that the promise before going might appeare to bee more true and cer∣taine, the time of the fulfilling whereof also is certaine, set, and de∣termined with God. For these things shall not be done, before that the same East winde, to wit, the Assyrian shall in such sort haue affli∣cted or punished the Israelites, that the fountaines and veines, from whence the Israelites doe flowe and spred abroade, may seeme by him to haue been stopped, and their springs dried vp, that is, before that he may seeme by destruction vtterly to haue blotted out that nation. For in such maner did the Assyrians waste the Ephraimites especially (whereas the seate of the kingdome, and the kings stock was for the most part) that they might seeme to haue taken from them all abilitie and power afterwards to growe vp, increase, and beare fruite any more. Whereby this benefite of God appeareth to haue been the greater, in that the Ephraimites shall bring foorth fruite, and shoote vp out of that dried vp fountaine, as it seemed vn∣to the Assyrians. Last of all, the former things shall not come to passe, before that the Assyrians haue spoyled them of al their goods. And this selfe same wind and enemie is sayd to be of God, because he was sent vpon the Israelites in the iust anger and wrath of God: & he is sayd to be an East wind, that is, most troublesome and boy∣sterous: yet but a wind, the which in the end shall cease and vanish away.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For he shall grow.
• * 1.2

  After that.
• * 1.3

  Another pro∣mise of God to∣ward the faith full.
• * 1.4

  The time of the comming to passe of these things.