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. 10.

For they shall eate, and not haue enough: they shall commite adulterie, and shall not increase, because they haue left off to take beede to the Lord.

AN amplification by way of making the matter more plaine. For now the seuerall punishments are reckoned vp and declared, wherewith God will punish and plague these priests, and that pro∣portionably vnto their sinnes, that looke after what manner they haue sinned, after the same they may be punished.

* 1.1But in this verse two kinds of sinnes are rehearsed, vnto the which is added a reason of the same also. Wherefore like as they abused their sacrifices both vnto the cramming and ouergorging of their bellies, and also vnto their wicked whoredomes, to wit, being full gorged with meate (for lust and wantonnes flowe from wine and good cheare) so they shall eate, but not be satisfied. For our satisfy∣ing commeth not of the store of meate that we eate, but of the bles∣sing of God vpon the same. For as it is in the Psalme 105. vers. 16. God calleth a famin vpon a land, & vtterly breaketh the staffe of bread. That is, as he giueth it strength to nourish for a blessing, so for a plague he taketh at his pleasure that power and vertue from it, whereof insueth famin and hunger. And as they did eate and were not filled, so they shall commit whoredom with many women for to get children, & yet their houses shall not be increased, but rooted out and perish. For these men haue a proud desire to continue their stocke and seede, but they shall be without seede, and shall beget no children. Being like to those of whom the Psal. 49. ver. 11. spea∣keth, that thinke their houses and habitations shall continue for euer. The reason of this punishment is, because that they haue after such manner, and so stubbornly and shamefully forsaken God, that they haue no way kept nor cared for his commaundements. For in old times issue, and fruitfulnes in hauing of children, was a blessing that was promised vnto men fearing God,* 1.2 and not vnto prophane or lewd persons, and despisers of God. And therefore vnto the man that feareth God it is promised in the Psal. 128. ver. 3. after this ma∣ner: Thy wife shall be as the fruitfull vine on the sides of thine house, & thy children like the oliue plants round about thy table. And vnto vs also that loue God, the number of children, especially such as bee godly, is a token of God his mercie towards vs. For by this meanes God doth witnesse, that he will be worshipped of vs in many ages,

and reigne in our families. Wherefore let them praise God which haue begotten and brought vp many children to be dedicated vn∣to God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two sinnes rec∣koned vp in this verse, glut∣t••nie and whoredome.
• * 1.2

  Fruitfules in hauing of chil∣dren was in old time reckoned for an especiall blessing of God