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. 14

Who knoweth, if he will returne and repent, and leaue a blessing behinde him, euen a meate offring and a drinke offe∣ring to the Lord your God.

AN instance, for he vrgeth the same his foundation, and the same his exhortation, grounding it vpon the nature of God, who wholie & all together is so bounteous and merciful (not to∣wardes al men, but towards his elect or chosen onlie) and readie to forgiue. This God his kindnesse in doing good to his people though they through their rebellion, and daylie vexing and grieuing him deserued no such thing, the Prophet Isai recoun∣teth cap. 63. ver. 11.12.13. after this manner: Then hee remembred the old time of Moyses, & his people, saying, where is he that brought

them vp out of the sea, with the shepeard of his sheepe? Where is hee that put his holy spirit within him? He led them by the right hand of Moses with his owne glorious arme, diuiding the water before them, to make himselfe an euerlasting name. He led them through the deepe, as an horse in the wildernesse, that they should not stumble.

But there are two things in this verse to be obserued. First,* 1.1 the manner of speaking. Secondly, the thing it selfe which is here pro∣pounded or set foorth.* 1.2 The kind of speaking is in shew of a man doubting: but in deede and truth it is the speech of one earnestly affirming and auouching. For after this manner by way of interro∣gation or asking a question,* 1.3 the Hebrues are wont to vtter those things, which they do affirme. For this phrase or kinde of speaking is not here to be taken in such sort, as that is 2. Sam. 12. ver. 22. And he sayd, while the childe was yet aliue, I fasted, and wept: for I said, who can tell whether God will haue mercy on me, that the childe may liue? The thing it selfe which is here set forth,* 1.4 is in a word, that God is most bounteous and mercifull vnto those which are his. Therefore if they repent and seeke him, it will come to passe, that they shal finde him, that he will turne vnto them, that he will spare them, and minister or giue vnto them such thinges as are necessary for his worshippe and seruice euen in that same threatned barren∣nes & scarsity. The which doubtlesse shall be a signe & token that God is now pacified and appeased with them. For euen after that same spoyle made by the Locustes, he will leaue a most large testi∣mony or witnesse of his blessing towardes them, to wit, thinges ne∣cessary for his seruice & worship at the least wise: & consequently wil shew himselfe to be recōciled or made friendes with them. And all these thinges appertaine vnto the exhortation. The other parts of this Sermon doe partely describe the forme of that repentance which he requireth at their handes, and partely set forth vnto them most assured comfortes and promises of God. Concerning the re∣pentance which is required, it is publike, solemne, and extraordi∣nary the which the verses following do declare.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 The manner of speech.
• * 1.2

  2. The thing it selfe.
• * 1.3

  1. A shew of doub∣ting.
• * 1.4

  2. God is most bounteous vnto those which are his.