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. 17.

Let the Priests, the Ministers of the Lord weepe be∣tweene the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy peo∣ple O Lord, and giue not thine heritage vnto reproch, that the heathen should rule ouer them. Wherefore should they say a∣mong the people, where is their God?

AFter that he hath declared these three thinges, to wit, the place, the fast, & the publike assēbly, now the Prophet sheweth what maner of prayers the prayers of this assemblie of men,* 1.1 of that day and publike fast ought to be vnto almighty God, a forme whereof is here set downe.* 1.2 But in this place there are three thinges decla∣red: namely, in what place in the Temple these prayers ought to be made.* 1.3 Secondly, by whom they ought to be made. And third∣ly, what maner of prayers they ought to be.

For the first, they must be made between the porch where the people was,* 1.4 and did stay, and the altar of burnt offeringes. For the people did not enter or com into any of the three distinct or seuered parts of the Tēple, to wit, neither into the porch of the Priests, where was the brasen altar of Sacrifices: [unspec 1] neither into the holy place where was the Candlesticke, and the table of Shew bread: neither into the holy of Holiest, where was the Arke of GOD: in none of these three parts, I say, might the people enter, no not the king himselfe. Now the Altar of Sacrifices, and of burnt offerings was

where the slayne beasts were sacrificed. Here therefore were the publike prayers made, that they might be heard of all the people, to wit, betweene the porch of the people, and that same first porch of the Priests, where the altar was.

[unspec 2] For the second, these publike prayers were to bee made by the Priests, as namely the publike ministers of GOD in the Temple. For this belongeth vnto them by the right of their office peculiarly committed vnto them by God: like as it doth also at this day ap∣pertaine vnto the ministers of the word of GOD, or the pastors of the Church. Furthermore, albeit in this place the priests are ex∣presly named who were to conceiue the praiers, because this whole congregation is described in such sorte as it ought to be at Ierusa∣lem) yet might other Leuites also, which were not Priests, in other cities and Synagogues of Iudah conceiue prayers for the people in the solemne dayes of fast. For the selfe same simple Leuites, that is, such as were Leuites onely, and not Priests, not onely might, but also in regard of their office ought publikely to expound the word of God it selfe, vnto the which the prayers are adioyned, as certain hangbies, or additions and partes of the same. Wherefore it is not the part of euery one to speak publikely in the Church, and to pray, and minister the sacraments, but it belongeth vnto the Church offi∣cers. For 1. Cor. 14. ver. 34. Paul will haue women to keepe silence in the Churches. And 1. Tim. 2. ver. 1. He willeth that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giuing of thanks be made for all men.

* 1.5Thirdly, it is here also shewed, what manner of prayers these both publike and also extraordinarie prayers ought to be, namely, first, that the Priests in an earnest feeling both of their owne sinnes, and also of the sinnes of the people should crie and call vnto God being now manifestly angry with his Church. Secondly, that in summe and effect they pray in such sort, that they aske mercie and pardon of their sinnes at the true God, for his onely meere grace, couenant, and glorie sake. The word Spare, or be fauourable,* 1.6 shew∣eth that pardon must be begged of God, for the people. The foun∣dation whereupon being grounded, the Priests & the people ought to be in hope of this pardon, is twofold. First, the glory of GOD, the which shal vtterly be contemned or despised, and scorned at a∣mong the heathen, and vnbeleeuing people.* 1.7 If they may once see this people of his, (the which is his peculiar people and heritage) to be ouer throwen. For the heathen wil accuse the true God of weak∣nes, and of lying, as if he were such a one as is not able to defend

those that are his. And this is the ground of Moses his prayer vnto God also Exod. 32. vers. 12. to spare his people that had grieuously offended by worshipping the golden calfe, lest the Egyptians should speake and say, He hath brought them out maliciously for to slay them in the mountaines, and to consume them from the earth. The second foundation of these prayers,* 1.8 is the couenant or meere and onely grace of GOD, whereby he chose the Iewes for his owne peculiar people in regard of his couenant made with Abraham. Wherefore he promised that he would also be their defender and patron. Therefore God in our prayers is to bee prayed vnto for this selfe same thing, namely, that hee will defend those that are his.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Three parts of this verse.
• * 1.2

  1. The place of these prayers.
• * 1.3

  2. By whom they are to be made.
• * 1.4

  3. What maner of prayers they ought to be.
• * 1.5

  3. The priests must pray in an earnest fee∣ling of their owne sins, and also of the sins of the people.
• * 1.6

  2. They must pray for pardon & mercie. A double foun∣dation of their prayer.
• * 1.7

  1. The glory of God.
• * 1.8

  2. The couenant or onely meere grace of God.