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. 1.

The word of the Lord which came vnto Zephaniah the sonne of Cushi, the sonne of Gedaliah, the sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Hizkiah, in the dayes of Iosiah the sonne of Amon King of Iudah.

* 1.1THe first Sermon of the destruction of the citie Ierusalem, & the wonderfull spoyling and laying waste of the same, which was to insue, whereof there are here reckoned vp three causes. First, the outragious and horrible idolatrie of the Iewes. Secondly, the con∣tempt or despising of the true God, and of his threatnings, yea, [unspec 1] and the same very manifest. Thirdly, [unspec 2] all kind of iniustice towards their neighbours, the which might bee done either by deceit, [unspec 3] or els by violence or force.

* 1.2This verse containeth three things. First, a commendation of the doctrine following, and a declaration of the calling of Sophonias. Secondly, the stocke, kinred, and noble and renowmed house and familie of this Prophet, both for godlines,* 1.3 and also for seruice in the Common wealth,* 1.4 the which was now knowne vnto all men by singular duties towards the Common wealth. For as God had A∣mo•• Shepheard to his Prophet: so also had he this and other Pro∣phets,

which came of great and noble houses. The third thing is the time wherein he prophesied,* 1.5 namely, vnder Iosias King of Iu∣dah, whē as the state of the Iewes was not only tolerable, as I haue sayd, but also as yet flourishing, and when as godlines it selfe & the worship of God seemed to be restored, least that wee our selues be∣ing lulled a sleepe with the happines of things present, should ei∣ther forget our sinnes past, or els imagin God to be contented with a sleight and outward godlines, performed as it were for fashion sake only, such as was then vsed among this people, as is to be seene 2. King. cap. 23. ver. 25.26. where albeit Iosias haue his singular cō∣mendation for his rare godlines and forwardnes in religion, yet it is sayd, That the Lord notwithstanding turned not from the fiercenes of his great wrath, wherewith he was angrie with Iudah, because of all the prouocations, wherewith Manasseh had prouoked him. And Iere∣mie cap. 17. ver. 1. complayning of the disorderednes of the people, sayth, That the sinne of Iudah is written with a pen of yron, and with the poynt of a diamond, and grauen vpon the table of their heart, and vpon the hornes of their altars. So the Prophet Hosea reporteth of the people of his time, saying, cap. 5. ver. 4. They will not giue their minde to turne vnto their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they haue not knowne the Lord. And 2. Chron. cap. 34. ver. 24.25. Huldah the Prophetisse returneth answere vnto the messengers of Iosiah in the name of the Lord in these words: Thus sayth the Lord, Behold, I will bring euill vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitants thereof, euen all the curses that are written in the booke which they haue read before the king of Iudah: because they haue for∣saken me, and burnt incense vnto other gods, to anger me with all the workes of their hands, therefore shall my wrath fall vpon this place, and shall not be quenched.* 1.6 To conclude, Sophonias prophesied before the death of Iosias, namely, after the purging of the Temple, & the holding of that famous Passeouer, the which fell out after the 18. yeare of the reigne of Iosias, 2. Chron. 34. ver. 8.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first Ser∣mon. Three causes of the destruction of Ierusalem.
• * 1.2

  Three parts of this verse.
• * 1.3

  1. Commendatiō of doctrine.
• * 1.4

  2. The stocke of the Prophet.
• * 1.5

  3. The time of his prophesie.
• * 1.6

  Sophonias pro∣phesied before the death of Iosias.