The prophecy of Haggai, interpreted and applied in sundry sermonsThe prophesie of Haggai, interpreted and applyed in sundry sermons

The Prophet Haggai having exhorted the Jews to go forward with the Temple and sanctuary, and having moved them thereunto by laying before them the gracious promises of God, that he would be favourable and take delight therein, doth further stir them up with these words by calling to their remembrance that great want and scarcity wherewith God did not chastise them, who therefore did not prosper the labours of their hands nor give success to their endeavours, for that every one ran to the building of his own house, and the trimming up thereof, they laboured not to advance the house of the Lord, for as the Lord had threatened in his law, that if they would not hearken to his voice to do his will they should be cursed in the town, and in the field, and in the fruit of their body, and the fruit of the earth, that the heavens over them should be brass, and the earth under them iron. So did they feel by experience that those threats were performed to them from heaven and earth in themselves, and in theirs and in the field and in the town, because ⟨p. 71⟩that they were commanded by the Lord to build this house they took all opportunity to do it, and to persuade them hereunto to leave their slackness and bestir themselves hereabout, he showeth how God had withdrawn his blessings from those creatures that should have done them good, and had stretched out his hand against them. Haggai therefore doth advertise them showing that they were chastised in the town and in the field, forasmuch as they took great pains and got little, and that which they got and brought home, he did as with a whirlwind disperse and scatter, and why? because they left the house of the Lord waste and every man ran to his own house, therefore against you the heavens, &c.

THe Prophet Haggai having exhorted the Jewes to go forward with the Temple and sanctuary, and having moved them thereunto by laying before them the gracious promises of God, that he would be favourable and take delight therein, doth further stirre them up with these words by calling to their remembrance that great want and scarcety wherewith God did not chastise them, who therefore did not prosper the labours of their hands nor give successe to their endeavours, for that every one ran to the building of his own house, and the trimmingup thereof, they laboured not to advance the house of the Lord, for as the Lord had threatned in his law, that if they would not hearken to his voice to do his will they should be cursed in the towne, and in the field, and in the fruit of their body, and the fruit of the earth, that the heavens over them should be brasse, and the earth under them iron. So did they feele by experience that those threats were performed to them from heaven and earth in themselves, and in theirs and in the field and in the towne, because