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

The first point to be noted is that the Prophet sayeth nothing unto the people but what the Lord hath given him in charge, for which cause he doth so often put them in mind that this is the word of the Lord, for both the exhortation in the 5. and 7. verses have the same annexed, and the two reasons adjoined to strengthen them in the 8. and 9. verses, wherein he showeth himself a wise and faithful steward in dispensing the mysteries of God: faithful, in that he goeth not beyond his charge, wise, in that he fasteneth the thing which he would teach them the more deeply in their minds, by sundry repetitions. For such is the frowardness of mans perverse nature, that if we be any way crossed we believe not, at the least seem not to believe the message therewithal sent us, but persuade our selves that the Ministers rather speak out of affection. Example whereof we have in Johanan and the rest &c, who when Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans, came to the Prophet Jeremiah beseeching him to pray to God for them to teach them the way in which they should walk, promising very earnestly to do according to all things for which the Lord should send him to them; but when Jeremiah had told them, that it was the commandment of the Lord that they should dwell in the land and not go up into Egypt, &c. them Johanan and all the proud men said unto Jeremiah thou speakest falsely, the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say go not into Egypt to dwell there, but Baruch provoked thee against us, &c. A man would have thought that they who made so solemn promise would not have so disobeyed the commandment of God. but Jeremiah so behaved himself in this message, that they were ashamed to lay the blame (which they pretended) on him, But said that he was thereto persuaded ⟨p. 25⟩by them to cast off the Word of the Lord, as it had been a lye devised against them by the malice of man: and that which increased the mischief, they said it was done to the end that the Chaldeans might destroy them; whereas indeed it was only for their good. We are therefore diligently to beware of these enchanting Sirens, flesh and blood, not to hearken unto them: and howbeit the message delivered us by Gods Ministers serve not our humour of pleasure and ease, yet to receive the same not as the words of man, but as they are indeed, the words of God:

The first point to be noted is that the Prophet saieth nothing unto the people but what the Lord hath given him in charge, for which cause he doth so often put them in minde that this is the word of the Lord, for both the exhortation in the 5. and 7. verses have the same annexed, and the two reasons adjoyned to strengthen them in the 8. and 9. verses, wherein he sheweth himselfe a wise and faithfull steward in dispensing the mysteries of God: faithfull, in that he goeth not beyond his charge, wise, in that he fasteneth the thing which hee would teach them the more deeply in their mindes, by sundry repetitions. For such is the frowardnesse of mans perverse nature, that if we be any way crost wee believe not, at the least seeme not to believe the message therewithall sent us, but perswade our selves that the Ministers rather speake out of affection. Example whereof we have in Johanan and the rest &c, who when Jerusalem was taken by the Caldeans, came to the Prophet Jeremiah beseeching him to pray to God for them to teach them the way in which they should walke, promimising very earnestly to do according to all things for which the Lord should send him to them; but when Jeremiah had told them, that it was the commandement of the Lord that they should dwell in the land and not go up into Egypt, &c. them Johanan and all the proud men said unto Jeremy thou speakest falsely, the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say go not into Egypt to dwell there, but Baruch provoked thee against us, &c. A man would have thought that they who made so solemne promise would not have so disobeied the commandemen of God. but Jeremiah so behaved himselfe in this message, that they were ashamed to lay the blame (which they pretended) on him, But said that he was thereto perswaded