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

and he being by this breach made, put upon searching into the Word, found that the Levites only ought to carry it, and that because they did it not at the first, the Lord therefore made a breach upon them, ver. 30. Now above all all observe, that when he amended that error, and brought it home, he was blest, and blest indeed: For no sooner did he think of building a house for it, but God promised to establish his house for ever. 2 Sam. 7. 11. And read the 18. Chapter, and you shall see how all his enemies upon this were subdued afore him. And then of his son Solomon, God says in the 13. ver. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever: His own house and the Kingdom were established together by it. Thus likewise when this second Temple was to be finished, God provokes them to it by this, [From this time will I bless you,] Hag. 2. 19. And as he blessed them, so he will bless you, and your families, and the Kingdom. To instance in some particulars, (which have been in your hearts also, as that purpose was in Davids) together with encouragements out of the Scriptures suited thereunto. You have declared your godly resolution to be (to express it in your own words) to use your utmost endeavours to establish ⟨p. 41⟩learned and preaching Ministers, with a good and sufficient maintenance throughout the whole Kingdom, wherein many dark corners are miserably destitute of the means of salvation; which project tendeth to enlarge Christs mystical Church. From this time God will bless you; (look for it) and establish the Kingdom by it. The Scripture for your encouragement holds forth an example of just the like practice of one of the best Kings, and of that same blessing following upon it, which is in all your aims, 2 Chron. 17. 7, 8, 9, 10. Jehoshaphat in the third year of his reign sent to his Princes, to teach (that is, to countenance the teaching of the Word) in the Cities of Judah, and with them the Levites and Priests, and they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them, and went throughout all the Cities of Judah, and taught the people. Here is the same practice that you have resolved upon; & the success is answerable to your hearts desires: For ver. 10. it follows, And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Judah;