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

this is that old Commandment, &c. this is that new Commandment, &c. How often doth our Saviour by divers similitudes teach one ¹and the very same thing, the seven Epistles in the Apocalypse are ²all shut up with one Court answer, Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit saith, &c, Which point I would they did consider who are grieved that we speak so much of that sin of the negligence of careless pastors: For if skilful Chirurgeons after ³they have lanced imposthumes put in new tents day by day, should not we also whom God hath called to be the Physicians and Chirurgeons of your souls after we have lanced your wounds, daily also put in new tents, that at length they may be healed. The Lord by Ezekiel reproveth such Prophets as rose not up in the gaps, and stood not in the breaches where he useth ⁴a Metaphor drawn from the manner of Warriors, who are wont to join their force together and to make a head against their enemies in such places as they had made a breach: this fault of the negligent pastor, is one of the greatest breaches whereunto if we run not and stand not up in it: what may our General and Captain think of us? When Coesar besieged Avaritium in France, his soldiers raised a Bulwark against it, the Citizens set it on fire, which when Caesars soldiers laboured to quench, one stood in the gate to whom was brought such matter as might be cast into the Fort to continue the flame, he that first was there placed, was shot through with a Scorpions bone and so was slain, in whose place came the second who being so served, there followed the third and the […] ⟨p. 36⟩[…] ⟨p. 37⟩⟨p. 36⟩fourth, neither was that place left without a man while there remained any hope to do good: there hath been a fire kindled to consume this hold of sin, God forbid it should be quenched, nay it cannot indeed, for it is nourished by Gods spirit. The Papists themselves at their council of Trent, after they had long debated the matter, they were enforced by the clearness of the truth to conclude, That the Pastor by the law of God is bound to be resident on his charge, what the law of man permits, it is for the hardness of mens hearts, whereunto that may be replied, that from the beginning it was not so;