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. 2.

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them downe into the valley of Iehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for mine heritage Israel, whom they haue scattered a∣mong the nations, and parted my land.

* 1.1THis verse comprehendeth three things, the which without all doubt do declare the destruction to come to the enemies of the Church. The first containeth the place. The second, whom God will punish. The third, for what cause.* 1.2 The place is sayd that it shal be the valley of Iehoshaphat, to wit, by the figure Metalepsis (which what it is see Oseas cap. 4. ver. 18.) that looke what, and what maner of benefite of God the people of the Iewes did once feele in that valley when God gaue that mightie ouerthrow vnto his enemies the Moabites and Ammonites 2. Chro. 20. the like shall the church alwayes feele, when as it is deliuered by God, namely, that he will in a moment destroy all the enemies thereof, although they haue neuer so much conspired together, bee neuer so diuers or many in number. See Psal. 83. Now they which shall be gathered together,* 1.3 iudged and punished by God, are the Gentiles, that is, men & peo∣ple which remaine infidels and vnbeleeuers. For as for those which shall turne vnto the true God, and shal receiue Christ by faith, they shall not be destroyed by God, nor be inwrapped in this iudgemēt. Therefore the vnfaithfull onely shall bee gathered, and that all of them, that is, out of euery nation, and people, which haue afflicted the Church of God. Lastly, the cause is added, namely,* 1.4 for that they haue both scattered the people of God among the Gentiles: & also moreouer haue diuided their land among themselues, & haue rob∣bed and spoyled it: yet both this people, and also this their land was the people and inheritance of God himselfe only. Wherefore those infidels shall iustly bee punished by God, in regard of a double sa∣••••ledge or theeuerie to Godward, namely, because they robbed

and spoyled both the people of GOD, and also the lande of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. The place. 2. The persons. 3. The cause.
• * 1.2

  1. The valley of Iehoshaphat.
• * 1.3

  2. The vnbelee∣uing people & nations what∣soeuer.
• * 1.4

  3. Because they haue scattered the people of God among the heathen, and haue diuided their land.