Commentary Upon Micah, Title page – Preface
A COMMENtarye vponupon the Praphet Mycha. Wrytten by Antony Gilby.
Anno domi. M.D. Li.
☞ A preface wyth the ſum of the Chapters and the tyme and lyfe of the Prophet.
¶The word of God to Micha of Mareſha in ye dayes of Iotham, Achas, Iehiſkiah kings of Iuda, whyche he dyd ſee ouer Samaria and Ieruſalē.
WE do nede no newe Prophets. We do nede no mo Prophecyes. We do nead no mo Miracles, ſygnes, or tokens, whyche nowe do lyue in theſe latter dayes: if we will call olde thynges to memorye: neither of wee wyll beleue the olde hyſtoryes reported by Moyſes, and the terryble threatnynges of the Prophets. Could wee beleue if the greateſte miracles of rayſinge the deade, to ſpeake amongs vsus were wroughte in oure dayes (as Chriſte oure ſauyoure ſaythe too the ryche glotten.) Wherfore ſuffer me, I beſeeche the, too renewe olde thynges wrytten by thys Prophete Micha, the mooſte earneſte rebuker of vyce in hys tyme, and the mooſte dylygente watch man to warne bothe of good and euyl, for to come vpō his people, and if ſo be that the wordes of this olde truthe, do chayfe your olde ſores in thys perilous tyme, wherein all olde euyls ſeme too hauehave dyſgyſed them ſelues wyth new vyſers: rather ſuffer them to be ripped to the hearde coore then to ſpurne impudentlye againſt the prycke, to ſtriue agaynſt the ſtreame. For the time is at hande by the vnchaungeable appoyntmente of the euerliuinge Lord & moſte myghtye Iudge, when eueryevery man ſhal be tryed and Iudged, approued of refuſed by the thoughtes of hys hearte, by the woordes of hys mouthe, and by the fruyts of his owne imaginacions.
Therfore this diligent watchman, warneth eſpeciallye of this iudgment in the entrye into his prophecye, in the fyrſte Chapter ſayinge: that the Lord hym ſelfe wyll come downe moſte terrybly to the wycked, & the mountains ſhall melte, the valeis ſhall vade and vaniſh like waxe before the firy flame.
And in the ſeconde chapter he crieth forthe woo, dampnacion, and the ſore vengaunce of God agaynſte the vaine thoughtes and Imaginacions of thee mighty men of the world, againſt their wicked workes and threatenynges of the true Prophetes.
In the thyrde Chapter he rypeth more neare the coare of theyr crueltye and extorſion. He vttereth the flattery of their chaplaines (as we do cal them) the falſe prophetes, flearynge vppon them for aduauntage and bolſterynge them vp in wyckedneſſe, the lynkynge together of the Iudges and high Offycers theyr brybery and auarice, and for theyr wyckednes he threatneth vtter deſolacion to their cities.
In the .iiii. he promiſeth a kingdom farre contrarye to thys kyngedome to come vppon earthe, full of knowledge quietnes, and peace, which is the kingdome of Meſſiah, wherin all the choſē Iacob ſhal be reſtored to theyr honour promyſed, and theyr ennemyes vtterlye deſtroyed.
In the .v. he threatneth the deſolacion of Ieruſalem, the robbers doughters (as Iherome dothe tranſlate) and immediatlye adioyneth a large & plain promiſe of Meſſiah oure ſauiour to be borne in Bethlē, a deſpiſed vyllage, he declareth hym to be both God & man, and ſheweth howe he ſhall fede Iacob and be his peace. But he ſhall fede the land of Nimroth with their ennemies wyth theyr owne ſwearde poyntes.
In the ſixte he contendeth wyth the people in the perſon of God for their ingratitude, teachynge the true worſhyppe of God to ſtande in iudgmente, mercye, and the reuerēce of the ſacrate mageſty of the almyghtie. He deteſteth in the parſon of God al dyſceytful dealyng and promiſeth worthy recompens and iuſt rewardes for al euyll doers.
In the .vii. and laſt Chapter, the prophet bewaileth the ſkarſitye of ye good, the ſmal truſte of worldely frendeſhyp, he teacheth paciēce, he geueth comfort, he promyſeth delyueraunce to faythfull Iacob, to the ſhame and confuſyon of God hys ennemyes, and the land and prayſe of God hys greate mercye & truthe. Amen,
This hauehave we heare in this Prophet holeſome doctryne for al ages. For the ſpyryte of God ſeeth from time to time contynuallye oure iniquytyes, and ſtryueth euermore there agaynſte, No hyll is ſo hyghe, no valleye ſo low, that he ſeeth not. He ſhaketh the foundacyōs of the earthe, when he rebuketh the world in the rygoure of his wrath.
Let vsus therfore remember the olde world before vsus plaged for ſynne, drowned for theyr wyckednes, and feare the fyre of goddes wrath, threatned by the Prophetes, to be kyndled in theſe laſte tymes, to the euerlaſtynge deſtruccion of all euyll doers, who wyth the deuyll and his aungels ſhal hauehave aworme, the whyche ſhal hereafter gnaw and grate theyr conſcience for euer, and a fyry tormente whyche ſhall neuer be quenched whereof our Prophet warneth the wycked worlde, threatnyng woo and damnacyon wyth feruente ſpryt and ſorow of hearte, braſtynge forth into teares, yellynge and ſyghinge for the euils he dyd ſaye towardes them. Micha. i.
For thys Prophet Micha ſemeth to be another Eliah feruent in ſpyryt and zeloous for the glory of God, he was of the pryncelye trybe of Iuda, and therefore acquaynted wyth the pryuy practiſes of the potentates & prynces, he did wel inoughe know theyr ydle deuyſes, theyr vayne imagynacyons: and cold eſpye the lynkynge together of the highe officers and Iudges. He liued in ye time of Eſaiah, Hoſeah, and Amos, vnderunder theſe .iii. kinges. Iothana Achas & Hezechiah. A man of ſuche an hygh reuelacyon that Eſaiah dare alledg the greateſte myſteryes of his hole prophecy of the ſpiritual kyngedome of Chriſte and of the greate tranquyllytye vnderunder him by the ſame woordes that thys manne of God Micha hadde ſpoken theym. It ſhalbe in the laſte daies, and ſo forth Eſa .ii. Hieremiah alſo alledgeth hym by name ſayinge, Micha of Mareſcha was a Prophet in the dayes of Ezekiah and ſaythe to al the people of Iuda. Thus ſaythe the Lorde of hoſtes, Sion ſhalbe plowed lyke the feilde, and Iheruſalem ſhallbe an heape of ſtones, and the hyll of the houſe of the Lord ſhalbe an hyghe woode. Hierem .xxvi. and the came is red the thyrde Chapter of oure Prophet worde for word.
We do reade of ii. Prophetes of this name. The fyrſt is named Micha the ſō of Iemla an Iſraelite, whom Achab did ſaye that he had onlye lefte one a lyue amonges all the Prophets of the lord, but I do hate hym (ſaythe he) for he neuer Prophecyed good towardes me .iii. kynges .xxii. The other is of Iuda (our prophet) which liued almoſt .ii. C. yeres after ye firſt Micha. He was borne in a city called Mareſha, which is in the trybe of Iuda. Ioſua .xv. Hys propheci is general to al cities & cuntries, but vntounto Ieruſalē & to Samaria, he chiefly vttereth hys threatninges becauſe there he dyd knowe and ſee theyr wyckednes to bee great, amongs whom he dyd ſee cruelti, extorſiō, tyranni, couetouſnes, auarice, ambicion, the cōtempt of God his true religion, Idolatry, and lyke abhominaciōs to raygne (not onelyonly vnpunyſhed) but by the chiefe Lordes, greateſt Peares, and Prynces, practyſed, vſed, and frequented. In hys tyme both theſe .ii. kingdōs wer greuouſli vexed wt wars wt out, & treaſōs within themſelues. They wer polluted & defyled wyth Idolatry. So far geuē ouer to mindes reprobate, that forgetting al true worſhip of God and al natural inclinacion, they did ſacrifice theyr owne children by fyre vntounto Baal. Theſe wycked tymes wherein he liued vnderunder Iotham, Achas, and Ichiſkiah, ar ſet forth in the .iiii. booke of the Kynges .xv.xvi. and .xvii. Chapters.
As for Samaria, it was geuen ouer to al wyckednes. zacharia the wycked & Idolatrous kyng raigning but .vi. monethes, was traytorouſly ſlaine by Sellum, whych Sellum vſurping ye crowne but one monethmonth, was ſlayne by Manahen, which alſo ſlew al the enhabitants of Thapſa and moſt cruelly murthered al the women wyth chyld, & rypte theyr bellyes, and tyrannouſlye wyth taxes & trybutes dyd vexe all hys ſubiectes, to mayntaine hys wyckednes, which cauſeth our Prophet to ſaye, that they dyd flay theyr ſkyns of theyr backs and the fleſh of theyr boanes. Then Phacea his ſonne raygned after hym one yeare, as wycked as hys father, and they al walked in the wycked wayes of Ieroboam the ſonne of Nabat, whyche ſet vp the golden calfe. Thefore were they geuen ouer to myndes reprobate wyth gredynes to fulfyl al theyr wycked luſtes.
In the ſecond yeare of the raygne of Phacea the ſon of Manahea, Phacea the ſonne Romalia wrought treaſon agaynſt hym, ſlewe hym, and vſurped the crowne and departed not from the wicked wayes of hys predeceſſors kynges of Samaria. VnderUnder him Theglathphallaſſar the king of Aſſiria, inuadeth Galile, and carieth away captiue the trybe of Nephthalim. Agayn Oſee the ſon of Hela wrought treaſō againſt this Phacea, ſlew hym, & vſurped his crowne, Agaīſt whō Salmanaſſer moueth war, doeth beſeige his chiefe city Samaria, taketh & deſtroieth it, & ſo leadeth ye .x. tribes captiue into Aſſyria. Thus wt wars & wickednes was Samaria deſtroied, & as oure Prophete warned in hys tyme, broughte to an heape of ſtones whyche myght hauehave cauſed Ieruſalem to hauehave taken heede to his threatnings. But no warninge can ſerue the wicked and ſtifnecked. For Iotham the king of Iuda and Ieruſalem in manye thyngs, a mā praiſe worthye (thoughe he did ſe many of theſe great plages fal vpō Samaria for theyr Idolatry) yet did he ſuffer his people to ſacrifice in the hill altars, contrary to God his holy commaundemēt. As for Achas kynge of Ieruſalem. He was worſſe thē wycked Achab kyng of Samaria, for beſide al other abhominacions he dyd offer hys ſonne in fire vntounto Baal, after the maner of the heathen Cananees, & ſpoyled ye treaſures of the houſe of the Lord to geue them to Theglathphelaſſer. And thoughe Ezechiah ye good king folowing him deſtroied ye idols, did breake doun the hil alters, and ye braſē ſerpent, thoughe I ſay ye kinge himſelf, fauored true religion, yet was their olde wickednes ſo roted in ye herts of his nobles & cōmons, that beſides cō ſpiracies & pertakings within his own realm, & alſo much war of forē nacions without wherwith God worthely plaged his ſubiectes for their ſtobernes. Al theire walled Cytyes were taken by Senacheryb from the vttermoſte borders vntounto Lakis, wherof our Prophet ſpeaketh in the fyrſte chapter: yea, Ieruſalē was obſeſſed and beſeged as he alſo prophecieth that thys plage ſhoulde come to the gates of Ieruſalem.
Nowe we that reade and heare theſe olde thynges of Samaria and Ieruſaſalem, their kings and Prynces. In the ende of the worlde, muſte knowe that they are wrytten for our learnyng, that we beynge warned by theyre ſcourge, Plage, and fall: ſhulde feare to doo the lyke wyckednes. And heare in this prophet cheiflye we are warned of Idolatry, ambition, and extorſion. As for Idolatry (thoughe our gouernours here in Englande through the mighty hand of God hauehave forthe comforte of hys electe banyſhed the outwarde ſhewe therof) Yet one ſorte makynge thys mooſte godlye and glorious fact to ſerue their luker & gayne: to the ſclaunder of ſuch a notable enterpryſe: hauehave ſeemed too chaunge the kinde of Idolatri, making ye muck which they found heaped about thoſe idols, to be their god. So that they maye worthely be called Idolaters, ſo lōg as thei hauehave it, kepe it, & ſet ſo much ſtore by it, nether is it anye newe learenyng to cal this their auarice Idolatry, for ſo Paul calleth it to Epheſians the v. Chapter. Another ſort there is which in their heartes hauehave Idolles ſtyll, and vtter it when occaſion ſerueth, ſaying: that it was a good worlde when theeſe Idols of Waſyngeham, Canterburye, and theyr bleſſed Maſſe were worſhipped and regarded. There be moo ſortes whyche wyll be called Goſpellers, that hauehave ſome their bellye for theyre God, ſome theyr ſubtile wittes and worldlye policies, ſome one thing, ſome another ſo that in effecte Idolatrye is not banyſhed, but raigneth more clokedly amōgs vsus, too the ignominye and ſhame of the truthe of one God, whyche wee woulde ſeame to ſet forthe and maineteyne. As for ambicion & extorcion the deuil practiſeth at this daye too ſtoppe the gloryous kingdome of Chriſte by thyem, and rayſeth ambytyous ſtomackes, haulte, and proude mindes amongs thoſe, whiche would ſeeme the ſtouteſt captaines of godlye cheualrye, whyche thorowe theyr vnſacyable ambicion and gready deſire of gathering althings into their hāds, robbeth, & reaueth, pilleth, polleth and oppreſſeth theyr felow ſougiours. So that vnderunder theyr holy profeſſiō and pretenſed religion, they do betray theyr graūd captaine and maſter of religion, and worketh more wyckedly of the deuyls part, for the contempt of God his word: then doth any one whych openly beareth hys badge and cogniſaunce. Agaynſt ſuch therfore bryngeth our prophete ſore threatenynges, yea terryble thoundrynges. Wherunto it behoueth hye and low, the earthe and all earthlye creatures to geue eare, and to harken. For it is the woord of the Lorde, not of man whych Micha bringeth. The Lord hym ſelfe doth ſpeake it from the holye temple of hys maieſty, from whence he ſhal come downe ryghte ſhortelye to be bothe a wytnes and Iudge agaynſt vsus.
Wherefore lette vsus iudge oure ſelues, nowe warned by God hys woorde, that we be not iudged of the Lorde, and ſo for our wyckednes wyth the worlde cōdempned. For our God, whoſe worde is now ſent amongs vsus, is a conſuming fyre, before whome no ſyn can be cloked. Hys worde is the hāmer breakynge the hard ſtone.