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. 7.

O thou that art named the house of Iaacob, is the spirit of the Lord shortned? are these his workes? Are not my words good to him that walketh vprightlie?

* 1.1THis is the rendring of a reason of the former reprehension, ta∣ken from the nature of God, and the force and power of his spi∣rit, the which by no meanes can be let, changed, restrained, short∣ned, shifted off, or pent vp, but that it will effect or bring to passe those things which God willeth, and hath decreed, howsoeuer men seeke shifts and starting holes,* 1.2 and goe about to mocke and dallie with God. And this verse hath three certaine pointes to be noted.* 1.3 The first is the maner of speaking. The second, the epithet or title the which is giuen vnto the Israelites, vnto whome the Prophet speaketh in this place. The third, the manifold reason,* 1.4 for the which they are shewed to be reproued worthely, and this their co∣gitation or surmise and mocking of God declared to be altogether absurd or foolish, and blasphemous. For the first,* 1.5 the maner of spea∣king is an earnest interrogation or asking of a question, and the same repeared, [unspec 1] wherewith the dull consciences of these men are not onely pricked, and stirred vp: but also is prooued (albeit, they would denie that which is here set downe) that the same notwith∣standing is true, and acknowledged of all other people. Hereunto therefore appertaine the so often interrogations of this verse. [unspec 2] Now the title which is here giuen vnto the Israelites, doth the more con∣demne them, and make them vnexcusable, who thinke such things of God, and by this cunning goe about to limit the wordes of God, or to disanull them, to wit, looke by how much the more they doe glorie and boast of the true feare, and true knowledge of the true God, vnder this selfe same name of Iacob, with the which they doe ambitiouslie and proudely vaunt themselues aboue other men, and people of the world. For they call themselues the house of Iaacob,

and such also they will haue themselues accounted for to bee: yea they are so termed of other people. And by this name they doe shew that they are come of Iacob the seruant of God, and Patri∣arch, that they are his seede and familie blessed and chosen of God before or aboue others, & who therefore ought the more to knowe and reuerence God. But in this place there is a certaine secret An∣tithesis or contrarietie betweene To be called the house or familie of Iacob, and to be so in deede. They are called so both of themselues and also of others:* 1.6 but they are not so trueth. Further the rea∣sons of this reprehension, and of their foolish surmise of God, nay of their blasphemous suttletie (whilest to mocke the threatnings of God,* 1.7 they doe forbid his Prophets to prophesie and to preach a∣mong them) are three. The first, that the spirit of God cannot ther∣fore be let or bound, albeit that men his ministers and preachers be letted and bound. And thus much doth Paul witnes 2. Tim. 2. ver. 9. where he saith: Wherein (to wit, in the gospell). I suffer trou∣ble, as an euill doer, euen vnto bonds: but the word of God is not bound. For the efficacie or force thereof doth not depend or hang vpon the power, or mouth of men the ministers, but God alwaies wholly hath the same in his owne power, and vncorrupted and vndimini∣shed. There it shall alwaies be effectuall or of force, as Isai. 55. ver. 11. God himselfe doth witnes, saying: So shall my word bee that go∣eth out of my mouth: it shall not returne vnto me voyde, but it shall ac∣complish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.* 1.8 The second reason, because the workes, for the which God threatneth these things vnto them, are not the workes of Iehouah, that is, such workes, the which God can at any time allow or beare with all, but workes cleane contrarie vnto the iustice or righteous∣nes of God, and therefore such, as which (albeit all his Prophets should for euer hold their tongues) God will punish, and be auen∣ged on. There in this place the workes of Iehouah are by the fi∣gure Metalepsis called such workes, the which are acceptable vnto God:* 1.9 and the which doe agree with his commandements. The third reason, is taken from the wonted and vsual maner of the wor∣king of God, the which is manifest vnto all men, and cannot be de∣nied, to wit,* 1.10 that God is neuer wont to be sharp and bitter vnto the godly: for as much therefore as hee now sheweth himselfe to bee such a one vnto the Israelites, it is a token that they are vtterly vn∣godly, and consequently worthie to bee punished: albeit that a∣mong them his Prophets be silent and say nothing. Wherefore by

the workes of God, and the feeling of them towards such as are in deede godly, and fearing him, the Prophet sheweth that these men shall not therefore be cleared, nor found iust, albeit the Prophets holde their peace. For if they were godly, the workes of God al∣so towards them should be ioyfull, and full of peace, not of iudge∣ment. And euen hereby he answereth a secret complaint of theirs, as if they were punished of God beyond their deseruing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A rendring of a reason of the former repre∣heasion.
• * 1.2

  Three partes of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. The maner of speaking.
• * 1.4

  2. The title giuen to the Israelites
• * 1.5

  3. Many reasons, why they are reprehended.
• * 1.6

  3. Three reasons of this repre∣hension.
• * 1.7

  1. The spirite of God is not bound though the ministers thereof be so serued.
• * 1.8

  2 Their workes are such, as god can neuer allow nor beare
• * 1.9

  What the fi∣gure Meta∣lepsis is, see O∣seas cap. 4. v. 18
• * 1.10

  3. God is neuer sharpe vnto the godlie.