Exposition of Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk and Zephaniah, Title page – Licensor to the reader
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE PROPHECIES OF Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah.
BY GEORGE HUTCHESON Miniſter at EDENBURGH.
Luke 24.25. Then he ſaid unto them, O fools, and ſlow of heart, to believe all that the Prophets have ſpoken.
Ver. 27. And beginning at Moſes, and all the Prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himſelf.
Act. 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witneſs, that through his name, whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of ſins.
Rom. 3.21. But now the righteouſneſs of God without the Law is manifeſted, being witneſſed by the Law and the Prophets.
Imprimatur, EDM. CALAMY.
The Second Edition with Amendments by the Author.
London, Printed for Ralph Smith, at the Bible in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange, 1654.
The EPISTLE of the LICENCER to the READER.
CHRISTIAN READER,
THis Book which Gods providence putteth into thy hand, contains a brief Expoſition upon Six of thoſe Divine Prophecies which are called, * Ruffinus in Praefatione in Oſcam. Duodecim Prophetas minores dici reſpectu quatuor majorum, puta Iſaiae, Jeremiae, Ezekielis et Danielis, non ed quod iis ſententiaerum gravitate & rerum verborumque majeſtate cedant; ſed ob ſermones, et librorum brevitatem.Prophetae minores, The ſmall or leſſer Prophets; not becauſe their authority or excellency is leſſer then thoſe who are ſtiled Prophetae majores, The greater Prophets: but becauſe of the brevity and littleneſſe of their Books, which are ſo little, that all the leſſer Prophets put together, do but contain 67 Chapters, whereas one of the greater, (viz. Iſaiah) conſiſteth of 66. Hence it was, that theſe Books were anciently put into one Volume, and called but One Book, leſt by their littleneſſe and ſmalneſſe any of them (ſaith Calvin) ſhould be loſt. Theſe Prophets are in number twelve, according to the twelve Tribes, to which they were ſent. Now though it cannot be denyed, but that there are very many excellent Commentaries already extant upon theſe leſſer Prophets, (which may haply deterre ſome men from buying, of this;) yet I deſire ſuch to take notice,
Firſt, That ſuch is the Profundity and unconceivable Abyſſe of the Divine Scriptures, that they cannot be exhauſted by any Writers or Commentators whatſoever; but when men have digged all the ſpiritual gold and ſilver they can, out of this precious Mine, there will be enough left behind for others to gather.
Secondly, That this Reverend Author hath gone in a way unuſual, and (almoſt) untrodden, and hath a peculiar excellency in him, which others have not. For his chief ſcope is, after a ſhort and yet full Analyſis and Expoſition, to collect choice and pithy Obſervations out of every Chapter. And in this undertaking he is very happy, and I may truly ſay, another Mr. David Dickſon.
Now though the work it ſelf is ſufficient to commend the Author, yet becauſe there are many in our dayes that prize Books for their Authors ſake, not Authors for their Books ſake; I was deſired to write ſomething to make this Reverend Miniſter known to this Nation, unto which he is altogether a ſtranger: And for this purpoſe I have received teſtimony concerning him, from thoſe whom I dare truſt, that he is a man of ſingular parts, and deſervedly in high eſteem in his own Country, for his Learning, Godlineſſe Modeſty, Peaceableneſſe and Humility. That he was earneſtly intreated by ſome of his learned Brethren, (eſpecially thoſe in Edenburgh where he is Miniſter) to make this work publick, for the good of the Churches in both Nations. The truth is, the Book it ſelf repreſents him to the world in a very fair and beautiful Character: For it comprehends much in a little, breathes out much of God and godlineſſe. His Obſervations are ſo excellent and ſuitable, and ſometimes ſo unexpected, and yet ſo natural, that I verily beleeve they will be very acceptable, not only to private Chriſtians, but alſo and eſpecially unto Miniſters, affording them many rare and unthought on Doctrines, for the ſpiritual edification of their Congregations. That which was ſaid of Socrates, That whoſoever know him loved him, and honoured him; and they that did not ſo, it was becauſe they did not know him; may truly be ſaid of this Book: They that know it, wil prize it, and the Author of it; and they that do not ſo, it is becauſe they do not know it. My prayer to God ſhall be, that the learned and religious Author of this ſhort and brief Commentary upon theſe ſix Prophets, may finde ſuch good ſucceſſe of his endeavours herein, that he may be much encouraged to make a further progreſſe in this way, and other able men may be ſtirred up by his example to do the like upon other Scriptures, which no doubt will tend much to the glory of God; and the profit and edification of his people.
I am Thy Servant, in the Work of the LORD, EDM. CALAMY. Jan. the 27. 1653