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.

CAP. 6. Of Prophesie, which is the expounding of holy Scripture, and how it differeth from the gift of tongues.

WHereas we haue set downe a double signifi∣cation of godly prophesie, we must first speake briefly of the former, and then afterwards of the latter. The first signification then of this word prophesie, betokeneth, as I haue said be∣fore, the declaring and expounding of the holy Scripture made in the mother tongue, and therefore comprehendeth what soeuer appertaineth vnto the publike office of teaching in the Church. For so doth Paul gene∣rally deuide all the callings in the Church into prophesie, and offi••e, that is to say, into the office of teaching and of instructing, Rom. 12. ver. 6, 7. saying: Whether we haue prophesie, let vs prophesie ac∣cording vnto the proportion of faith: or an office,* 1.1 let vs watte on the of∣fice: vnder the name of prophesie comprehending all offices in the Church, which deliuer sound doctrine; and vnder the name of office, all other lawfull and ecclesiasticall or Church callings. Whereby without all doubt appeareth, that prophesie taken in is signification is one certen chiefe part of the whole ministerie of the Church, the which Paul 1. Cor. chap. 14. ver. 5. doth briefly thus define: He that prophesieth, speaketh vnto men to edifying, and to exhortation, and to comfort. This Prophesie therefore, is a sound speaking vnto men of the worde of God written, by one that is lawfully called vnto the office of teaching in the Church; or it is expounding of sound doctrine appertaining vnto the comfort, exhortation, and edifying of the Church. Whereby appeareth, that this prophesie in his force and signification doth comprehend what so euer the said Paul teacheth of the fruit of sound doctrine, and holy scripture expounded 2. Tim. 3. ver. 16. Which is giuen by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to improoue, to correct, and to instruct in righteousnes, &c. And Rom. 15. ver. 4. where he affirmeth, that whatsoeuer things are written afore time, are written for our learning that we, through patience, and comfort of the scrip∣tures, might haue hope: the which fruit consisteth in this, that the Church of God may be instructed, corrected, and finally receiue comfort.

* 1.2 Now this prophesie differeth farre and wide from the gift of tongues, as Paul at large declareth 1. Cor. 14. and as out of him af∣terwardes both Ambrose and Chrysostome, and also Anselme haue taught. But of these two points may the difference of them both within themselues be easily perceiued.* 1.3 The one, for that this prophesie onely vseth the mother tongue. For when as it doth all thinges vnto the edifying of the whole congregation of the Church in euery citie, and Church, it onley vseth that language and tongue, the which is knowne vnto that whole Church, and common sort of those men. Therefore vnto the Frenchmen it speaketh onely French, vnto the Spaniards, spanish, & not French or Dutch or Latine, because that the same tongue, namely the French, Dutch, or Latine, is not the Spanish tongue. But he, which hath the gift of tongues, speaketh with diuers tongues euen in e∣uery Church. For albeit that the godly, and nun fearing God, who had receiued this gift from God, did turne it vnto the edi∣fying of the Church, and nor vnto their owne of oftentation or vaine glorie: yet if they had vsed but one tongue onely, such a gift of God should not haue beene knowne to be in them, and the selfe same persons should not haue beene, iudged to haue the gift of tongues. Whereof it came to passe, that for the shewing forth of the glorie of God vnto all men, and his goodnes vnto his Church, these kinde of men did vse diuerse tongues euen in the assembly of the Church, either in expounding the publike worde of God; or also in supplication and praier. Therefore they are said of Paul not so much to speake vnto men (of euery particular person wher∣of they could not be vnderstood) as to speake vnto God him selfe 1. Cor. 14 ver. 2. where he saith: For he that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man health him: howbeit, the spirit he speaketh secret thinges. Out of which there appeareth a great difference betweene prophesie and the gift of tongues.

* 1.4 Another difference also ariseth of the former, namely, that pro∣phesie is of more vse and edifying in the Church, and rather to be sought after, and desired of God, then the gift of tongues, as the same Paul sheweth in the same first epistle vnto the Cor. chap. 14. ver. 5. saying: I would that ye all spake strange languages, but ra∣ther that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth, then he that speaketh diuers tongues, except he expounde it, that the Church may receiue edification. Furthermore prophesie needeth no other helpe

vnto the people and assembly of the Church, then it selfe, to teach and instruct the Church withall: but the gift of tongues needeth an interpreter besides, to performe the same, (who of Paul is cal∣led Diermeneotes) and interpretation, that the common people may vnderstand the things which he speaketh 1. Cor. 14 ver. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keepe silence in the Church, which speaketh languages, and let him speake to himself and to god. whereof it cometh to passe that this gift of Prophesi is more pro∣fitable for the Church, then the gift of tongues.* 1.5

Moreover, prophesie doth also comprehend the gift of wisdome, and the gift of vtterance. 1. Cor. 12. ver. 8. and 10. albeit in the for∣mer places Paul doth make a difference betweene them both, and prophesie, which foretelleth things to come. For a man can not rightly and fitly expound the holy Scripture, except he be such a one as is singularly furnished with the science and knowledge of the same, the which is called wisedome: and doth excell in the grace and gift of speaking & expounding of himselfe, the which of Paul is called the gift of speech, or vtterance. Albeit among the Prophets themselues some oftentimes receiue and haue from God these gifts more excellently then other some And thus farre of Prophesie, as it is taken for the expounding of the worde of God written.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paul his defini∣tion of prophe∣sie, taken for expounding of the word••.
• * 1.2

  Prophesie dif∣fereth farre frō the gi••t of tongues.
• * 1.3

  1 Prophesie onely ••seth the mo∣ther tongue.
• * 1.4

  2 Prophesie is of greater vse in the Church, thē the gifte of tongues.
• * 1.5

  Prophesie com∣prehendeth the gift of wisdome and the gift of vtterance.