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. 3.

To make good for the euill of their hands, the Prince asked, and the Iudge iudgeth for a reward: Therefore the great man he speaketh out the corruption of his soule: so they wrap it vp.

* 1.1THe application of this generall condemnation vnto euerie de∣gree of the Israelites: and first of all vnto the princes of the peo∣ple, the Iudges, and such as were among them accounted to be of greater dignitie and countenance, whome hee here calleth Great men.* 1.2 And first of all the prophet generally pronounceth of these three sortes of men, that they were lewd and wicked as it were to striues, who should in lewdnesse exceede other, and that euerie one of them did exercize his hand lustily and well,* 1.3 thatis, stoutly and strōgly in the doing of euery euil, that is in cruelty, & deceit against their brethren. Secondly he rehearseth & reckoneth vp the peculiar vices of euery order or degree of these mē named before.* 1.4 And first the vices of the princes or heads of the people & Iudges. Secondly of those who seemed to excel the people & common sort in digni∣tie. And concerning these princes & Iudges the prophet saith,* 1.5 that they are manifestly and notoriously couetous and extortioners in their offices. For without all shame they begge money for doing of their office,* 1.6 the which they ought to doe freely, that is, for the giuing of Iudgement, to wit, to pronounce a good cause, a good cause: and a bad cause, abad cause: otherwise they would say and pronounce, that to be a bad cause, which is a good cause: and con∣trariwise, that to be a good cause which is a bad cause. Finally they sel the law, the which is a most cruel sacriledge or detestable sin. So then these both chiefest, & also inferior Iudges are here described to be most manifestly couetous and most shamels beggers. But by the way there is added or set downe an honest pretense or excuse wherewith they did couer this their sacriledge, to wit, for that they called those things the which they tooke for their selling of Iustice, a reward or recompence, as it were the hire and wages for their work and laboure. It is I grant a thing very meete, that Iudges and Ru∣lers, and all others that doe seruice in the common wealth, should

haue honest and reasonable wages allowed them out of the com∣mon Treasurie, or else according vnto the appoyntment of lawes should demaund it of priuate persons: but not for this cause that they should pronounce that which is law: not that they should say that cause to be the better and the iust cause, which otherwise is an vniust cause. The which fault is here condemned in these per∣sons. And these things did both the chiefe and also the inferior Iudges and magistrates of the people of Israel.

* 1.7Now those which were no magistrates, and yet were of some countenance, authoritie, name and power among the people, that is, Great men, they were neuer a deale better then the magistrates, nay after their shameles example they themselues also were sham∣les. For they dare to tell and boast of their deceitfull counsels, and to open and make knowē their practise which they haue vsed in op∣pressing and wronging of their neighboures. To be short, openly to bragge of their lewdnes which they practise, and yet they goe scotfree with it. So Dauid reporteth of the shameles boldnes of the great ones of his time Psal. 73. ver. 8. They are licentious (sayth he) and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously. Whereof it cometh to passe that the counsels of these Great men are wicked, wrapped vp together to doe all kind of iniurie and wrong vnto their neighboures, which are poore. For the similitude of cordes twisted, together sheweth that the counsels and doings of the men of whom he here speaketh, are strong deceites, intang∣led, sundry, manifold deuises and fetches, hard to be vnfolded; and preuailed against. All which things do shew that the bridle was let loose vnto all lewdnes among the Israelites, and that their wic∣kednes was outragious.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The applicati∣on of this gene∣rall condemna∣tion vnto eue∣ry degree of the Israelites.
• * 1.2

  1 Generallie they were euill.
• * 1.3

  2. He reciteth their peculiar vices.
• * 1.4

  1. Of the princes, rulers and Iudges.
• * 1.5

  2. Of others that excelled the common sort.
• * 1.6

  1. The princes and Iudges are couetous and extortioners.
• * 1.7

  2. The great men as bad as they.