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

First Use,¹ is, that which is made of it in the 10. verse, namely that in matters which concern the building of the Church, we should learn to despise the day of small things: The Prophet speaks it by way of reproof, Who hath despised the day of small things? Because the beginnings of this work then were but small, and there was little appearance in humane fore-sight to effect it: Therefore, who almost was there that did not despise it, and despair of it? Remember that there is a Spirit in the Text, and no man knows ⟨p. 50⟩how far he may carry on the smallest beginnings, which he lays as the foundation of his greatest works, that his own immediate hand may the more appear. The Kingdom of heaven was at first but as a grain of mustard-seed, (says Christ) the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, it is the greatest of herbs, and becomes a tree, Mat. 13. 32. In the 2. of Dan. ver. 34, & 45. there is mention made of a stone that was cut out of the Mountain without hands; which expression is used not only to show the Divine power that accompanied it, but to intimate, that it was at first but some little stone, which without hands dropped out, or was blown down from the Mountain; for if it had been a great one, it must then have had hands to cut and hew it out, and to throw it down. And yet lo this little stone became a mountain, and filled the whole earth, as it there follows.

First Use,¹ is, that which is made of it in the 10. verse, namely that in matters which concern the building of the Church, we should learne to despise the day of small things: The Prophet speakes it by way of reproofe, Who hath despised the day of small things? Because the beginnings of this worke then were but small, and there was little appearance in humane fore-sight to effect it: Therefore, who almost was there that did not despise it, and despaire of it? Remember that there is a Spirit in the Text, and no man knowes ⟨p. 50⟩how far he may carry on the smallest beginnings, which he layes as the foundation of his greatest works, that his owne immediate hand may the more appeare. The Kingdome of heaven was at first but as a graine of mustard-seed, (sayes Christ) the least of all seeds; but when it is growne, it is the greatest of hearbs, and becomes a tree,