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.

Then will the Lord be iealous ouer his land, and spare his people.

* 1.1THere followeth a comfort, wherewith not euery one indeede in this people, but only those which shall turne and repent truely among them, are lifted vp, or comforted, and vnto them are sette forth the helpe of God, and most large and excellent promises. But of this comfort there is also a double foundation or assurance, lest they might thinke it to be vaine or false.* 1.2 The first, to wit, the nature of God himself, or a generall reason, the which is taken from the propertie, and as it were the office of God him selfe. The se∣cond, the expresse promise,* 1.3 band, and couenant of God. And both these foundations doth the Prophet shew and set forth in this, and the verse following.* 1.4 And first of all in this place, that which is ta∣ken from the generall reason or consideration of the nature and of∣fice of God. For this is the generall nature of God, to be indeed generally mercifull, one that loueth his owne work, bounteous vn∣to all. For as it is Mat. 5. vers. 45. Hee maketh his sunne to arise on the euill, and the good, and sendeth rayne on the iust, and vniust. And as it is Psal. 145. vers. 9. The Lord is good to all and his mercies are o∣uer all his workes: but especially he is doing good vnto his church, fauourable vnto it, and burning with emulation or ielousie towards it. And therefore Psal. 145. vers. 18. when the Psalmist had sayde, The Lord is neere to all that call vpon him, he addeth, yea to all th•••• call vpon him in trueth. And Zach. 8. ver. 2. the Lord sayth, I was iealous for Zion with great iealousie, and I was iealous for her w••th great wrath. For the church is the peculiar inheritance of GOD,

his purchased people, whom God will defend, cherish, and gently intreate of dutie, and by reason of the mutuall debt, band, and rela∣tion the which is betweene the Lord or owner, and the thing or goods of the Lord and owners. So 2. Tit. ver. 14. Christ is sayd to haue purged vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe. And 1. Pet cap. 2 ver. 9. The faithfull are called a chosen generation, a royall priesthood, an holie nation, a peculiar people. And God will neuer forsake his in∣heritance, as Dauid teacheth Psal. 94. ver. 14. saying, Surely the Lord will not faile his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. Where∣fore this is a great, and an assured foundation of the comforting of the Church (which is the people, the land, and inheritance of God) to wit, the generall affection or loue of God towards all his works, and his especiall and peculiar affection towards those of his whom he hath chosen, for whom he is iealous, & vnto whom he is alwaies fauourable, gentle, and mercifull vnto their sinnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A comfort for the truely pe∣nitent, of the which there is a double groūd.
• * 1.2

  1. The nature of God.
• * 1.3

  2. The promise of God.
• * 1.4

  1. The generall nature of God.