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.

Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in iudgement, because h•••• willingly walked after the commandement.

THis is a rendring of a reason, why the Israelites, and especiallies their Princes, as also those of Iudah, shall be punished with so sore a punishment, as hath been described before, and shall also be shewed hereafter, to wit, that they shall be layd open for a pray, and shal be bruised and oppressed with that weight of God his iudge∣ment against them:* 1.1 The cause (I say) hereof is this, for that they both of them, altogether wittingly and willingly and desirouslye, embrace, followe and keepe the Commandements, the which are contrarie vnto the word of GOD. But the commaundements the which in this place are cōdemned,* 1.2 are not politike lawes, the which should prescribe true godlinesse and modestie among men 1. Tim. 2. (for those we are to obey) but they are such ordinances of Kings, as being allowed of the Nobles and Peeres of the Realme, the peo∣ple was thereby at the first brought vnto idolatrie by Ieroboa•• the sonne of Nabat the first founder of this kingdome of Israel, and afs∣terwards by his Successors 2. King. 17. So then these commaunde∣ments are that same will-worshippes, which Paul condemneth Colos. 2. ver. 23. of which he sayth, That they haue indeede a shewe of wisedome, in voluntarie religion and humblenes of minde, and mens sparing the bodie, &c. They are the precepts of men, wherewith God euery where with so loude voyce doth witnesse that he is worship∣ped in vaine, Isai. 29. Amos 4. ver. 4. where the Lord accounteth the for transgressions, in what regard soeuer the people haue them For thus in that place he speaketh of them: Come to Beth-el, and trans∣gresse: to Gilgal, and multiplie transgression: and bring your sacrifices in the morning, and your tithes after three yeares. And Christ out of Isai. Matth. 15. ver. 9. telleth the Scribes and Pharises that they wor∣ship him in vaine, teaching for doctrines mens precepts. Idolatrie ther∣fore without all doubt, is in this verse condemned in both those kingdomes, and out of this verse it is taught that it reigned among the people of them both. And the same was alwaies set vp among the Israelites and Iewes, by the edict or proclamation of their Princes, as it is now a daies done in the Popedome by the writs and commandement of Princes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The cause of this punish∣ments.
• * 1.2

  Against what commandements the Prophet here speaketh.