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. 3.

Her princes within her are as roaring lyons: her iudges are as woolues in the euening, which leaue not the bones till the morrow.

* 1.1FRom the whole people the Prophet commeth now in order vn∣to the Princes themselues of the Iewish nation, because that in these there ought to bee greater shamefastnes both by reason of their dignitie: and also greater feare of God, for as much as they are chosen to gouerne others, and to keepe them in the feare of God.

* 1.2There are two sorts of Princes or rulers of the people: for some are Rulers of the common-wealth: and othersome are Rulers of the Church. First of all therefore he setteth vpon the Rulers of the com∣mon-wealth, of the which also he maketh two degrees, one of the higher and chiefer Iudges,* 1.3 whom he calleth Princes: the other, of inferior Iudges, whom hee simply nameth Iudges. And both of these he accuseth both of violence, and also of manifest and most notorious couetousnes Of force or violence, for that they take away all things by might after the manner of lyons, that is, of most cruel wilde beasts: Of vnsatiable or vnfilable couetousnes, for that by and by they deuoure all things, lusting and longing for them with a most greedie desire, and such as can neuer bee satisfied, and for that they are bribe takers, swallowing vp all thinges like vnto euening and hunger-starued woolues, which leaue not the bones so much as vntill the morrow. And these so grieuous and hay∣nous sinnes,* 1.4 and contrary vnto the office of Iudges (who are ordai∣ned by God for the preseruation of Iustice among men, that is, to keepe away both violence and also wrong) doth the Prophet▪ am∣plifie or enlarge, when as he sayth that these things are committed of these Princes and Iudges, to wit, in the midst of the citie: & not in some Shire of the land: all men knowing of it, not in the dark∣nes: in the open light, not in a corner.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The princes & rulers thēselues
• * 1.2

  Rulers, 1. of the church 2 of the com∣monwealth.
• * 1.3

  Rulers of the commōwealth, 1. Princes or chiefe Iudges. 2. Inferiour Iudges.
• * 1.4

  The former vi∣ces amplified by the Prophet.