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

These words comprehend another sermon of the Prophet Haggai, and do signify thus much in effect unto us, that after the people were moved a little, at the first sermon to reverence and obey the word of the Lord sent unto them: yet notwithstanding they stayed a little, and then the Prophet came again unto them, both to take some fear out of their hearts, which was upon them, and also to make them a promise of Gods gracious presence, and assistance in this great business, fear not I am with you saith the Lord of hosts.

These words comprehend another sermon of the Prophet Haggai, and do signify thus much in effect unto us, that after the people were moved a little, at the first sermon to reverence and obey the word of the Lord sent unto them: yet notwitstanding they stayed a little, and then the Prophet came againe unto them, both to take some feare out of their hearts, which was upon them, and also to make them a promise of Gods gratious presence, and assistance in this great businesse, feare not I am with you saith the Lord of hosts.

By the words of the Prophet it doth evidently appear that in this work of the building of the Temple, they much feared the Persian King, lest he should molest or hinder them in the same, therefore the Lord sendeth them this word that they should not fear, for he would be with them to encourage and strengthen them, and cause the work to prosper in their hands: and least they should think he spake this of himself and not from the Lord, the Prophet addeth thus. Then spake Haggai the Lords messenger, in the Lords message unto the people, saying, I am with you saith the Lord, showing thereby that he came unto them, not only as the messenger of the Lord, but that the thing which he brought was the Lords message also. When David being troubled in his mind that he should dwell in a house of Cedar trees, & the Ark of God, remain under curtains, he purposed in his thoughts to build a house unto the Lord, Nathan the Prophet spake unto him saying, Go, do all that is in thy heart, for the Lord is with thee. Nathan ⟨p. 92⟩that spake this was the messenger of the Lord, because he was a holy Prophet of the Lord, but that which he spake was his own and not any message from the Lord; for the fame night the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, to let David understand that not he, but his son that should proceed out of his loins, should build a house unto the Lord. A good lesson for such as preach, or prophecy unto Gods people, to hold nothing back from them, which the Lord by them hath sent unto them, but to open unto them the whole counsel of God, as Saint Paul did, that they may say with more comfort, even as he said, that which we have received deliver we unto you as the Message of the Lord, and the Lords messenger. Which also justly condemneth such of our Prophets and Preachers, as refusing to stand in the counsel of the Lord, and to deliver his word unto his people, do utter the dreams and deceit of their own hearts, and put upon them the fancies and visions of their own heads, of whom the Lord may justly say now as he said of some such Prophets in Jeremiahs time. I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran, I have not spoken unto them, yet they prophesied: