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

See the like in Gods building his Church in the New; Both in setting up his Church in the world at first, when Heathenism backed with the power of the Roman Empire stood in the way of it; and likewise in raising it up again, when Antichrist had thrown it down. For the first, (the ⟨p. 39⟩Erecting of it) Did he use might, or power, or an Army (as it is varied in the margin) to conquer the world by? No such matter: He chooseth twelve or thirteen men, whereof the most were poor fisher-men; and he sends them not all together in one troop neither, but dispersed apart into several parts of the world, some taking one Country to conquer, some another: The most ridiculous course in appearance, for such a design, that could be imagined. Yet (as Revel. 6. 2.) Christ in these went forth conquering, and to conquer, and took nothing with him but his Bow, (as it is there) and his Arrows, (as it is Psal. 45. 5.) the preaching of the Gospel, even the foolishness of preaching, (as the Apostle calls it) yet hereby the people fell so under him, (as the Psalmists phrase there is) that in three hundred years that whole Empire was turned Christian, and Heathenish worship thrown down; and this you see not by power, nor by might, but by his Spirit.

See the like in Gods building his Church in the New; Both in setting up his Church in the world at first, when Heathenisme backt with the power of the Romane Empire stood in the way of it; and likewise in raising it up againe, when Antichrist had throwne it downe. For the first, (the ⟨p. 39⟩Erecting of it) Did he use might, or power, or an Armie (as it is varied in the margent) to conquer the world by? No such matter: He chooseth twelve or thirteene men, whereof the most were poore fisher-men; and he sends them not all together in one troop neither, but dispersed apart into severall parts of the world, some taking one Country to conquer, some another: The most ridiculous course in appearance, for such a designe, that could be imagined. Yet (as Revel. 6. 2.) Christ in these went forth conquering, and to conquer, and took nothing with him but his Bow, (as it is there) and his Arrowes, (as it is