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

Moreover where it is said, that the Lord did stir up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, we are taught that neither the chastisements of the Lord, nor yet the preaching of the word can bring us out of the sleep of sin, unless it please God to add thereunto the inward operation of the spirit to awake ¹us, for though affliction do cause us to cry and call unto the Lord, as Isai saith, Lord in trouble they have visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastisements was upon them, yet oftentimes afflictions ²do work no such effect in the hearts of men, else would not the Lord have said, why do I correct you in vain? Nay many times, the very grief of affliction doth estrange men from God, cause them to blaspheme the name of the Lord, and breed hardness of heart in many of the wicked, as is manifest ³Revel. 16, when the angel did plague the wicked, they boiled in great heat, and then they blasphemed the name of God, which had power over plagues and they repented not to give him glory; and if they break not out to these extremities—yet they will continue still in their wickedness, and not turn unto the Lord that he may have mercy upon them: so that neither afflictions, nor yet ⟨p. 91⟩the preaching of the word can stir us up, unless God do add the secret operation of his holy spirit thereunto. A resemblance hereof the Romans do afford us by the fact of Camillus, who when he had besieged the City of Phalisci with ten years war and attempted by the sword and famine to cause them to yield unto him, yet all was in vain, till at length by his clemency and lenity he prevailed with them; for when the Schoolmaster of the City, who had the charge of the noblemen's sons, did bring them and betray them to Camillus, that thereby they might be enforced to yield up themselves, and the City for the ransoming and redeeming of their children, Camillus considering ⁴that the falsehood and treachery of the School-Master could bring him neither comfort nor credit, commanded his officers to strip him naked, and bind his hands behind his back; and to cause the children his Scholars each of them having rod in his hand to whip him back into the City again. At which Noble action, the Citizens were so moved, that they presently