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

The fault hereof I cannot lay on them that before took pains herein, or on the chief Magistrate, for that of them many are otherwise employed. And the Magistrate I think was ignorant, that it hath been the use for them in that place to solicit others, for this thing was at the beginning of the entrance into his office. But I beseech you that are the Lords remembrancers, that you would use all means to procure that these free-will offerings may be continued again. When there had been long want of rain in Israel, Elijah promised Ahab, at length, that there should be rain, and going to the top of a mountain sent his servant to look, who at the first saw nothing, and he still sent him down till at the 7 time, when at length he saw a little cloud arising like a hand at the first, whereof afterwards ensued great rain: It may be you shall not have your desire at the first, nor at the second time, yet I beseech you not to omit this thing for at length, doubt not after seven times you shall see, though it be not a cloud, whereof may ensue great store of rain. A cause of the intermitting hereof may be the dislike which by some division amongst us by preaching might be bred, because that all of us are not of one mind. For though all agree that the foundations and walls of the building of the Lords Temple be laid, and raised amongst us, yea some think the covering of the same is not so good as it ought to be: others are of opinion that it is good and sufficient, some think that there wanteth a fence about it for the keeping out of beasts, as we read Nehemiah required him ⟨p. 79⟩timber of King Artaxerxes, for building of the gates of enclosure that appertained to the house of the Lord, though we know that in the days of Darius the temple was perfected, howbeit whatsoever dissension there be among us about circumstances, yet we are brethren, and God forbid we should come any more to such distempered speeches, as some one both sides have done: if they had had to have dealt with the Samaritan, that had been enough, yea happily to much, some of it, seeing it falleth within that which the Apostle hath forbidden, as not fit to be amongst Saints.

The fault hereof I cannot lay on them that before took pains herein, or on the cheife Magistrate, for that of them many are otherwise imployed. And the Magestrate I thinke was ignorant, that it hath been the use for them in that place to solicite others, for this thing was at the beginning of the entrance into his office. But I beseech you that are the Lords remembrancers, that you would use all meanes to procure that these free-will offerings may be continued again. When there had been long want of raine in Israel, Elias promised Ahab, at length, that there should be raine, and going to the top of a mountaine sent his servant to looke, who at the first saw nothing, and he still sent him down till at the 7 time, when at length he saw a little cloud arising like a hand at the first, whereof afterwards ensued great raine: It may be you shall not have your desire at the first, nor at the second time, yet I beseech you not to omit this thing for at length, doubt not after seven times you shall see, though it be not a cloud, whereof may ensue great store of raine. A cause of the intermitting hereof may be the dislike which by some division amongst us by preaching might be bred, because that all of us are not of one minde. For though all agree that the foundations and walls of the building of the Lords Temple be laid, and raised amongst us, yesome thinke the covering of the same is not so good as it ought to be: others are of opinion that it is good and sufficient, some thinke that there wanteth a fence about it for the keeping out of beasts, as we reade Nehemiah required him