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

But we are rather to propose unto ourselves the example of Moses, when he was not yet called to be delivered of his brethren but prepared thereunto, he laboured to reconcile his brethren that were at discord, yet this exhortation concerneth principally Zerubbabel ¹and Joshua, because they be the chiefest of the Lords servants, and the graces of God are most eminent in them whose heart God hath so touched, that they pity the dust & the stones, the ruins of Jerusalem, who as trees of righteousness moistened by Gods spirit, sanctified by Gods grace, that was poured upon Christ Jesus, are appointed to build the old waste places, to raise up the former desolations, and to repair the Cities that were desolate and waste through many desolations, which words of the Prophet must teach us, who are called especially to the charge of building, to take delight in the stones thereof, to be careful for the raising up of them, to repair the desolate Cities of ⟨p. 75⟩Judah and Jerusalem, whereby I am moved to beseech you (fathers) who are enabled with gifts to perform this duty to the whole household, that you would not only raise up others to do this holy work, but that you with more care diligence would perform the same your selves: for though you are content to hear the young sort, and sometimes Eliba may speak more wisely than his elders: the youth of Timothy is not to be despised, yet many have more regard of the grey head, & aged Paul is able to speak with great gravity, and therefore is wont to be heard with great reverence and profit. Gideon when he had taken the K. of Midian Zeba and Zalmanna, he spake to Jether his first-born to rise up and slay them; but the boy drew not his sword, because he feared, because he was yet young: then the Kings said unto Gideon, rise thou and fall upon us, for as the man is so is his strength: our carnal lusts and carnal concupiscence, whereby we are led to wickedness, fight against the spirit of God, and they are the enemies of the Lord, and therefore we are willed of the Apostle to mortify our members that are on earth, fornication, uncleanness, the inordinate affection, covetousness which is Idolatry:

But we are rather to propose unto ourselves the example of Moses, when he was not yet called to be delivered of his brethrenbut prepared thereunto, he laboured to reconcile his brethren that were at discord, yet this exhortation concerneth principally Zerubbabel