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. 18.

Who is a God like vnto thee, that taketh away iniquitie, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his wrath for euer, because mercie pleaseth him.

THe figure Epiphonema,* 1.1 or an acclamation, wherein the Prophet either in his owne person, or in the person of all the godly, through the admiration or wondering at the former promises of God towards his Church, doth generally describe the bounteous∣nes and goodnes of God toward the same, such as it at al times ap∣peareth for to bee.* 1.2 And also he confirmeth the same promises last rehearsed, by the nature of God. But both the phrase or kinde of speaking,* 1.3 and also the matter it self which is contained in this verse,

is diligently to be noted.* 1.4 For the kind of speaking is both an Apo∣strophe, or turning of speech vnto God, and also an interrogation, or asking of a question, with both which maner of speaking men are more stirred vp, and also the matter it selfe the which is set forth, is shewed to be the more certaine, yea and moreouer to be the more confessed and acknowledged of all men. The matter it selfe, [unspec 2] the which with so great admiration of the godly, and praise of God is here concerning God brought for the confirmation of the former graces of God, is a description of the infinit or endles and perpetu∣all mercie and bountie of God toward his Church. So Psalm. 113.106.147. And so Psalm. 30. ver. 5. the Prophet commendeth the goodnes and bountie of God, when he sayth: He indureth but a while in his anger: but in his fauour is life: weeping may abide at euening, but ioy commeth in the morning.* 1.5 Further this mercie of God is defined, or it is here declared what this mercie of God is, that is, the free pardoning of the sinnes and offences of the Church, for of what sort soeuer those be, whether they bee greater or smaller sins, God taketh them al away, and ouerpasseth them, that is, freely par∣doneth them, albeit notwithstanding he knoweth them to be in vs: but he looketh vpon vs and beholdeth vs both by Christ, and in Christ his onely begotten sonne, in whom and through whom hee seeth not our sinnes, though otherwise they be still in vs, but coue∣red, and for his sake not layd to our charge.

* 1.6Now whereas it is added, Not retaining his wrath for euer, he sheweth hereby that the sinnes of the Church are in such sort par∣doned, that God notwithstanding would not therfore haue vs bold to sinne. For he also chastiseth those which are his, when they sinne, but lightly, and not long.* 1.7 The cause also of this pardoning and mercie is expressed, to wit, the most louing and bountifull nature of God. For God is delighted with gentlenes and mercie towards all his creatures, and especially towards his elect and chosen. So then, this promise of the mercie of God, of which the Prophet here speaketh doth not appertaine, and is directed vnto all men, but vn∣to the remnant of the heritage of God, that is, vnto the Church only, least that the hypocrites might deceiue themselues, and account themselues in that number.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The figure E∣piphonema, see what it is Io∣nas ca. 2. ver. 9.
• * 1.2

  1. The kinde of speaking.
• * 1.3

  2. The matter it selfe.
• * 1.4

  1. What the fi∣gure Apostro∣phe is, see Amos cap. 8. vers. 4.
• * 1.5

  A definition of the mercie of God.
• * 1.6

  The maner of God his pardo∣doning the sins of his church.
• * 1.7

  The cause of the same.