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

How the Lord by the ministry of the Prophet Haggai did often and earnestly exhort and stir forward the Jews after their return from the captivity of Babylon to the building up of the Temple, hath been hitherto declared unto you: now of the promises or causes of encouragement, whereby it pleased God to hearten them least the conceit which they had, that this house should not be so famous and so excellent as the former, should discourage them and hinder them from that business, this is the first which I have read unto you: which containeth in it a most gracious promise of his aid and assistance by his spirit, because ⟨p. 108⟩that flesh and blood is ready to suggest into the mind of a man that which is in the Proverbs, It is better to be idle than to be occupied in vain, and to make folk measure things by the event, so that unless they see present means to effect that which they undertake, they cast off all hope of accomplishing their purpose, and so cease from meddling any further, whereon it was that Moses Exod. 4. 10. when he should be sent to Pharaoh excused himself that he was not eloquent, that he had a stammering tongue, but the Lord raised him up from that thought, telling him that he should trust in the grace of the Almighty, saying, who hath given the mouth to man, or who maketh the dumb to speak &c. do not I the Lord? now therefore go and I will teach thee what to say, to the like effect is the message sent to Haggai, because that Zerubbabel and Jehoshua, and the rest which should have been the chief in the work, having laid the foundation of the Temple, despaired of finishing it, and so despaired before he began it. The Lord therefore stirred them up to go forward by these words which I have now read unto you, a reason very forcible, and motive very pregnant to move them forward, I am with you saith the Lord of Hosts: which words the Prophet often useth there, by putting them in mind both of his power that sets them forward, whose will all creatures as soldiers are ready to perform: and meaning thereby also, that by his favourable assistance he will bless them and that by his spirit he will give them grace to accomplish that which they had undertaken.

HOw the Lord by the ministry of the Prophet Haggai did often and earnestly exhort and stirre forward the Jewes after their returne from the captivity of Babylon to the building up of the Temple, hath beene hitherto declared unto you: now of the promises or causes of encouragement, whereby it pleased God to harten them least the conceit which they had, that this house should not be so famous and so execellent as the former, should discourage them and hinder them from that businesse, this is the first which I have read unto you: which containeth in it a most gracious promise of his aid and assistance by his spirit, because