Zerubbabels encouragement to finish the temple. A sermon preached before the honourable House of…

These Jews when first they were come out of Babylon, and gathered to Mount Zion, (which was holy ground, where they might sacrifice) they erected an Altar only, Ezra 3. and that in haste, (the fear of the people of the Country being upon them, verse 3.) and so a poor and mean one, and (as it is thought) but of earth, as in the law of Moses direction was given, before the Tabernacle was reared; and accordingly of this here it is said, [As it is written in the law of Moses,] ver. 2. They now began the world, anew, and offered burnt Sacrifices upon Mount Zion, kept a few Feasts; But (says the 6. ver.) the foundation of the Temple was not yet laid: Then in the 8. ver. it is said, that the foundation of the Temple was laid, but left imperfect: But many years after, and after the succession of two or three Kings, the Temple is said to be finished, Chap. 6. 15.

These Jews when first they were come out of Babylon, and gathered to Mount Sion, (which was holy ground, where they might sacrifice) they erected an Altar onely, Ezra 3. and that in haste, (the feare of the people of the Countrey being upon them, verse 3.) and so a poore and meane one, and (as it is thought) but of earth, as in the law of Moses direction was given, before the Tabernacle was reared; and accordingly of this here it is said, [As it is written in the law of Moses,] ver. 2. They now began the world, anew, and offered burnt Sacrifices upon Mount Sion, kept a few Feasts; But (sayes the 6. ver.) the foundation of the Temple was not yet laid: Then in the 8. ver. it is said, that the foundation of the Temple was laid, but left imperfect: But many yeares after, and after the succession of two or three Kings, the Temple is said to be finished, Chap. 6. 15.

Come we now to the Antitype, the times of Reformation from under Popery: In the story of which like gradual proceedings might easily be observed out of Ecclesiastical story, if it would not be too long to make such narrations: I will rather take it as it is briefly & at once presented by the holy Ghost himself in that great Prophecy of the New Testament, and the succeeding times thereof, the Book of the Revelation. In the 13. Chapter throughout, you have the Beast of Rome in one entire view presented in his height, and as possessing all the European world as worshippers of him: And then in the 14. and following Chapters you oppositely have Christ and those that followed him, & the story of their separation from, and the several degrees of winning ground upon that Beast, in the like entire view laid forth before you. In the 1. v. the Lamb appears with his company nakedly standing upon Mount Zion, without the mention of any Temple as yet built ore their heads, even such as these Jews condition was when they came first to Zion. Some Ordinances they had; they harping with their harps, ver. 2. and sung as it were a new song, uttering something differing from the doctrine of those times, but so confusedly, as no man could learn that song, v. 3. & they in a great part kept themselves virgins, and from being defiled with the fornications of the whore: And these are said to be the first-fruits to God, ver. 4. that is, the first beginnings of a dislike of Popery. But then by degrees the Lamb sends out three Angels,