Metaphor. | Parallel.
The Temple that was built in the Days of Nehemiah, was first destroyed by the literal Babylonians. | Signifying the Church of God should be greatly defaced and spoiled, and the outward Courts trodden down by the mystical Babylonians, 1and afterwards rebuilt, or rather, repaired again.
II. The Temple was built in a troublesome Time; they wrought with one hand, and held a Sword in the other. | II. Signifying, that the Church of God should be rebuilt in a troublesome time, and that great Opposition should be made against them.
III. The Temple was rebuilt by such as had been for many Years in the Babylonian Captivity.2 | III. Signifying, that the rebuilding of God's Church should be by such as had been a long time in spiritual Captivity, under the mystical Babylonians, or Mother of Harlots.
IV. The Builders of this second Temple were looked upon as poor, weak, and contemptible Persons, in comparison of Solomon, 3and those that built with him. | IV. Signifying, that those whom God would raise up to repair the waste Places of Zion, in the latter Days, should be poor, weak, inconsiderable Persons, very unlikely to perfect so great a Work as Reformation is. What was Luther, and others whom God employed, to the holy Apostles, who were the first Builders?
V. The Builders, of this Temple were greatly mocked and jeered. There were Sanballat, Gesham, Tobiah, and others, who in reproachful manner said, What will these feeble Jews do? 4will they make an end in a Day? If a Fox go up, he shall even break down their Stone-Wall. | V. So the Rebuilders in these latter Days have been greatly reproached and contemned by the Enemies of Christ; those that are truly religious, called feeble, weak, and foolish Ones, &c. nay, Heretics, Schismatics, and many other reproachful Names have been, and still are daily given to them, and their Work much slighted and despised also.
VI. The Builders of this Temple had much Rubbish to remove,5 before they could go on with their Work. | VI. So the Builders of God's Church, in these latter Days, have had much Popish Rubbish to remove, much Filth of humane Inventions, and Traditions of that Church being in their way; some Stones being almost quite lost amongst this Rubbish, and others ready to mistake, and instead of a Stone of Zion, they take a Stone of Babylon.
VII.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
THe Temple that was built in the Days of Nehemiah, was first destroyed by the literal Babylonians. | SIgnifying the Church of God should be greatly defaced and spoiled, and the outward Courts trodden down by the mystical Babylonians, 1and afterwards rebuilt, or rather, repaired again.
II. The Temple was built in a troublesom Time; they wrought with one hand, and held a Sword in the other. | II. Signifying, that the Church of God should be rebuilt in a troublesom time, and that great Opposition should be made against them.
III. The Temple was rebuilt by such as had been for many Years in the Babylonian Captivity.2 | III. Signifying, that the rebuilding of God's Church should be by such as had been a long time in spiritual Captivity, under the mystical Babylonians, or Mother of Harlots.
IV. The Builders of this second Temple were look'd upon as poor, weak, and contemptible Persons, in comparison of Solomon, 3and those that built with him. | IV. Signifying, that those whom God would raise up to repair the waste Places of Sion, in the latter Days, should be poor, weak, inconsiderable Persons, very unlikely to perfect so great a Work as Reformation is. What was Luther, and others whom God employed, to the holy Apostles, who were the first Builders?
V. The Builders, of this Temple were greatly mock'd and jeer'd. There were Sanballat, Gesham, Tobiah, and others, who in reproachful manner said, What will these feeble Jews do? 4will they make an end in a Day? If a Fox go up, he shall even break down their Stone-Wall. | V. So the Rebuilders in these latter Days have been greatly reproached and contemned by the Enemies of Christ; those that are truly religious, called feeble, weak, and foolish Ones, &c. nay, Hereticks, Schismaticks, and many other reproachful Names have been, and still are daily given to them, and their Work much slighted and despised also.
VI. The Builders of this Temple had much Rubbish to remove,5 before they could go on with their Work. | VI. So the Builders of God's Church, in these latter Days, have had much Popish Rubbish to remove, much Filth of humane Inventions, and Traditions of that Church being in their way; some Stones being almost quite lost amongst this Rubbish, and others ready to mistake, and instead of a Stone of Sion, they take a Stone of Babylon.
VII.
