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. 8.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: surely to doe iustly, and to loue mercie, and to humble thy selfe, to walke with thy God.

* 1.1THe answer of the Prophet, wherewith he shifteth off those vaine remedies of hypocrites, and setteth downe a true remedie, and such a one as is ordeined by God himselfe, whereunto hee calleth them backe, as Dauid doth Psalm. 50. and Psal. 51. ver. 17. Where hee sheweth what are the true sacrifices, wherewith God is well pleased, saying: The sacrifices of God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and a broken heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. And his answer in some is, that they walke before God according to the lawe by him∣selfe prescribed or appointed. The which he sheweth to be the one∣ly remedie to pacifie God, not deuised of his owne head, but decla∣red vnto men by God himselfe. And this containeth true repen∣tance of minde, the which cannot come but from faith.

* 1.2This verse hath three things to be considered, to wit, a com∣mendation of this remedie, a description of the same, and sundry kindes of it. For the first, this remedie hath his cōmendation from the autor thereof, God himselfe. For God hath shewed it vnto thee. [unspec 1] It is described by the forme, for it is wholly contayned in the law of God, [unspec 2] in the which God himselfe hath set downe and de∣liuered vnto mortall men, what things are good: that is, both holy and religious, and also what things are iust, and to be giuen vnto our neighbour. For it is not without an emphasis, vehemencie or

force that the Prophet sayth here in this place, O man, God hath shewed thee. For the maiestie of God is manifestly opposed or set agaynst the condition of man. And it is a meere sacriledge of men, or a robbing of God of his honour, when as men reiect or cast away the things which God speaking plainely from heauen hath taught, and doe follow their owne deuises, or had rather haue and doe preferre other things before them, as being more true then they. Wherefore that forme, after which the lawe of God teacheth that we ought to liue, is a most true remedie of changing of our life, and of appeasing and pacifiyng of God. And the Prophet addeth a reason, whereby men may be brought hereunto, to wit, if they bee humbled before God, and become subiect vnto him, namely, laying aside all pride of minde, and that same carnall wisdome, wherewith they swell, and by meanes whereof all hypocrites doe please themselues in their vices, and wicked life. [unspec 3] Lastly, the kinds also of this remedie are here expressed also, that all excuse may be taken away from them.* 1.3 For when as the law of God hath many heads and branches, and precepts or commaundements, the Pro∣phet bringeth all vnto two poynts, lest they might complaine, that the same were too hard, or darke,* 1.4 or manifolde and doubtful. Now these poynts are Iudgement and Mercy: and God comman∣deth them both, that we should both do them, and loue them,* 1.5 that is, performe both these poynts not vnwillingly, but of sayth, and with a willing minde. Vnder the name of Iudgement he compre∣hendeth whatsoeuer we men doe owe vnto men by bargaine, pro∣mise, couenant, or by the law written. Hee calleth clemencie or Mercie, whatsoeuer men doe owe vnto men by the generall duety of humanitie or manhood, in respect that they are men, and fayth∣full Galat. 6. Rom. 13. vers. 8. as Paul willeth saying: Owe nothing to any man, but to loue one another: for he that loueth another, hath fulfilled the law.

By Mercy, I say, he vnderstandeth whatsoeuer we do owe one to another euen without any especiall or peculiar couenant, bar∣gayne, and contract. And these indeede are workes of the second table, the which notwithstanding are testimonies of our true faith, and of the first table. So doth Paul Rom 13. vers 9. fseaking of the fulfilling of the lawe by loue reckon vp the workes and pre∣cepts of the second table onely, saying: For this, Thou shalt not committe adultery, Thou shalt not Kill, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse, Thou shalt not couet: and if there bee

any other commandement, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, euen in this, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. This place of our Prophet is cited by Christ Mat. 9.13. where he saith to the Scribes & Pharisies, Go ye and learn what this is, I will haue mercy and not sa∣crifice. For it is like vnto the place of Oseas 6. There is a like place Psalm. 50. ver. 12, 13, 14. If I bee hungry, I will not tell thee: for the worlde is mine, and all that therein is. Will I eate the flesh of bulles? or drinke the blood of goates? Offer vnto GOD prayse, and paye thy vowes vnto the most high. And Psal. 51. vers. 17. The sacrifices of God are a contrite heart: a contrite and broken heart, O God, thou will not despise. Agayne Psal. 40. vers. 6. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire: (for mine eares hast thou prepared) burnt offering and sinne offering hast thou not required.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The answere of the prophet vn∣to the former demaundes of the hypocrites.
• * 1.2

  • 1. The cō¦mēdatiō
  • 2. De∣scriptiō
  • 3. Kinds

  of this re∣me∣die.
• * 1.3

  The law of God abridged by the Prophet vn¦to two points.
• * 1.4

  1 Iudgement.
• * 1.5

  2. Mercy.