made with them when they came out of Egypt stood yet in force to assure them of his presence and as they had seen in the deliverance from Egypt what God would and could do for his confederate people so the same God was by his Spirit and power present with them or standing as the word is ready for employment whereof some evidences were given in the sending out a Spirit of prophecie and consequently they needed not feare Doct. 1. Faithlesse and slavish feare is a principal cause of much miscarriage and will muster up many discouragements and lions in the way of our duty to hinder us from it and therefore is to be set against Feare ye not 2. It may guard the heart of the Lords people against sinful feare to consider that their mercies are not left in uncertainty but are made sure to them by a Covenant which stands firme notwithstanding sad dayes and will be forth-coming for them in due effects so doth the Lord here speak of their mercie and the Covenant According to the Word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt so my Spirit remaineth among you 3. The former experiences of Gods appearing for his confederate people do stand firme as a ground of comfort to them in following exigents however their case and temper may alter considering his covenanted immutability and that these things were done not for their worth but because of his free love therefore doth the Lord hold forth what was done when they came out of Egypt as a ground for their present expectations 4. As it is a sweet signe of Gods presence with a people where there is a Spirit of prophecie or that failing messages put in the mouths of his servants to them or where his Spirit is putting forth his sanctifying vertue and is a Spirit of grace and supplications so where the Lord is present according to his Covenant there his own immediate power and vertue is forth-coming and ready to effectuate what they cannot carry through even that power which needs not yea will not have and therefore layes by our help in the confidence whereof his people may boast much all this is imported in that promise My Spirit remains among you Vers 6. For thus saith the LORD of hostes Yet once it is a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land 7. And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the LORD of hostes As the first ground of encouragement speaks chiefly to the exhortation and that they should go on so this second directly meets with their tentation arising from the meannesse of the work which he undertakes to make up with the glory of Christs coming in the flesh and the spiritual things of his Kingdome which should begin in and under the time of that second Temple and promiseth that as of old when he gave the Law he shook the earth Exod. 19.18 so now again within a-short time he would shake both heaven and earth and all Nations to make way for the coming of Christ who is the light and life and desire of all the Elect among the Nations and for their bringing unto him who promiseth here to fill the second Temple with glory by his being presented there unto the Lord at his birth by his publick teaching there and by the promulgation of the Gospel in his Church prefigured by that Temple and in part during the standing thereof This promised shaking hath relation not only to the great commotions and alterations usually represented in the Old Testament as a day of dissolution of heaven and earth Isa 13.13 and 34.4 every state having somewhat eminent resembling an heaven and somewhat inferiour resembling an earth in it that befell that people and other states about to make way for Christs coming according to the foregoing prophecies or to the shaking of heaven by his descension and ascension and by the joy and admiration of Angels and the commotion of the Jewes on earth at the report of his birth or to the fignes in heaven and earth such as darknesse earth-quakes c. at his death and resurrection but also to the great change wrought by the preaching of the Gospel shaking loose and annulling the alterable estate and ceremonies of the Jewish Church represented here by heaven that room may be made for a new state of the Church or Kingdome of Heaven wherein all Nations might have interest and which should not be altered and shaking the world in all the parts of it successively both Islands and Continents by the preaching of the Gospel crying down idols and as men interpreted turning the world up-side down and shaking the Elects hearts throughout the world making them to flee in to Christ as the Hebrew reading of v. 7. will bear I will shake all Nations and they shall come to the desire of all Nations who is to be manifested in that Temple and bring themselves and their desirable things with them according to the prophecies Isa 60. and elsewhere which will be still in doing from age to age and Nation to Nation till once for all God shake and remove these visible heavens and earth as some expound that of the Apostle Heb. 12.26 27. which is indeed the full accomplishment of the prediction but the place doth also include these other shakings to bring in a Gospel-state and worship into the world as previous to that Doct. 1. As Christ manifested in the flesh is in himself the only desirable and lovely one so it is he in whom all Nations as well as Jewes have a right who if he were knowen would be seen desirable and the only choice of all and whom his own in all Nations shall be made to desire and flee unto till the fulnesse of the Gentiles be all brought in so is he here described the desire of all Nations as well as the Lord whom the Jewes sought Mal. 3.1 not with relation to any desire of him any Nation beside the Jewes actually had before he came but with relation to his excellencie to his purposes concerning them and to what the event of his manifestation should be according to that prophecie Gen. 49.10 2. The promised Messiah and Saviour of the world his coming in our flesh to perfect the work of our Redemption was to be performed during the standing of the second Temple and within a short while after their captivity being compared with the time that had past since he was promised to their fathers till that time for it is a little while and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill the house c. The time being now confined to Daniels seventy weeks so that the Jewes who understand this place of the Messiah and yet deny that he is yet come after so many hundreds of yeares do bewray the blindnesse and hardnesse of their hearts 3.
what Gods power and providence can make her and do for her for so the promise runnes I will take thee and make thee as a signet be what thou will in thy selfe The fountaine of all the Churches happinesse lies in her having a room in the Lords intimate affection making her precious in his sight and being forth-coming for what is good to hen of which the Church is to take fast hold and read every dispensation by for all the favours intended to Zerubbabel and in him to the people is summed up in this I will make thee as a signet which imports great respect and affection as to a ring and jewel which being on the finger is still in the possessors sight and kept diligently see Jer. 22.24 Cant. 8.6 8. As obedience is the way of obtaining favour so the ground of all respects and favours flowing from it to the Church is Gods free choosing of her according to the good pleasure of his will to be the object of his tender love and of the mercies which love allowes on her which the Church is to look unto and not to any thing in her selfe therefore is the promise made to Zerubbabel my servant and the reason given For I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hostes The promise may also more fitly be understood of Christ the substance who was in Zerubbabels loines and whose type Zerubbabel was in his Government and so the promise holds out the same in substance with what we heard v. 6 7. to wit that God was about to work great alterations in the heaven or religious external forme of the Jewish Church and in the earth and kingdomes of men setting them one against another breaking their power and bringing them down and all for Christs behoofe that he as the chosen servant of the Father and his Church may be seen to be precious and become glorious by stability and enlargement Hence learn 1. Christ the promised Messiah is the true Sonne and successor of David according to the flesh the sweet Governour and King of his Church and he who is the conductor of his people out of their spiritual bondage and captivity for these causes is he spoken to under the name of Zerubbabel Governour of Judah 2. The promises concerning the Churches happinesse are made unto Christ as the Fathers party who having purchased them by his obedience unto death is also able to secure them to his people therefore this promise is made to Zerubbabel in the type 3. Albeit the Lord was author and enjoyner of the external forme of the Jewish worship and the Covenant made with them is the same in substance with the Covenant of the New Testament yet it was not the will of God that the externall way of administration of the Convenant among them should endure under the Kingdome of the Messiah who was by his death to put an end to these shadowes for I will shake the heavens saith the Lord. 4. Although there be many tossings in the world where Christ comes with his Gospel yet his Kingdome will be no loser by them but will be the Lords delight which he will adorne with these ruines by making it to stand while others fall by bringing down opposition and enemies and dantoning and breaking men that they may more easily embrace the Gospel and he may make conquests upon them therefore when he makes all these overturnings v. 22. In that day I will make thee as a signet v. 23. glorious precious and safely kept 5. The foundation of the Churches happiness stands on Christs having been obedient to his Father as her surety on his interest in the Fathers affection and that he is the only chosen way of her safety which the Father hath found out and wherein he acquiesceth and in all these that Hee to be hid in him therefore is all the happiness of the Gospel-Church summed up in this I will take thee O Zerubbabel and make thee as a signet for I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hostes Zechariah THE ARGUMENT THe Prophet Haggai having spent some time in preaching to these who had returned from the captivity of Babylon the Lord sends forth this Prophet Zechariah to assist him in the work and to declare further of his minde to the Church partly in visions partly in doctrinal Sermons and partly in prophetical predictions who having exhorted the people unto repentance propounds divers visions for the encouragement of that people in their low condition and to go on in the work they had begun withal declaring that he was ill pleased with their sins and would punish the guilty however the Church and his work prospered chap. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Then he resolves their case of conscience concerning their former fastings shewing unto them what had been their failings hitherto and what their duty is if they would enjoy the great things be intended for them chap. 7 8. Lastly be comes to prophefie of the ruine of all their enemies round about of the coming of Christ his death and passion the pouring out of his Spirit and spreading of the Gospel with the rejection of the Nation of the Jewes till the time appointed for their Conversion chap. 9.10 11 12 13 14. CHAP. I. IN this Chapter after the Inscription v. 1. the Lord exhorts them to repentance from the consideration of Gods displeasure against their fathers v. 2. and from the hope of his favour v. 3. and that they should not imitate their fathers in contemning of the Word v. 4. considering that though their fathers and the Prophets also who had admonished them were dead yet the Word is permanent in all ages and the truth of it appeared in the effects upon their fathers which were yet to be seen v. 5 6. Next he propounds two comfortable visions for their encouragement in the first whereof is held forth Christ in his Kingly office attended on by Angels v. 7 8. perfectly knowing and observing the quiet estate of enemies while the Church was afflicted v. 9 10 11. interceding thereupon for the Church v. 12. and getting a good answer v. 13. which by the Prophet he communicates to the Church v. 14 15 16 17. In the second vision the enemies who had molested the Church are represented to the Prophet v. 18 19. together with instruments prepared of God to crush their power v. 20 21. Vers 1. JN the eighth moneth in the second yeare of Darius came the Word of the LORD unto Zechariah the sonne of Barachiah the sonne of Iddo the Prophet saying This Inscription is the same in substance with that of Haggai only he comes out two moneths later and hath been a man whose ancestors have been of note among that people and of the Priests lineage as appeares Nehem. 12.12 with 16. Concerning whom I shall not determine whether this be he of whom mention is made Mat. 23.35 or if it be the son of Jehoiadah who it may be had two names of whom 2
difficulty and to which men need serious stirring up especially to take up the right cause of them therefore after all the pointing out of their former condition in the former Sermons they are again invited to consider it I pray you consider c. 2. Famine and scarcity is one of the publick scourges whereby the Lord chastiseth the sinfull contempt and negligence of his people in his work and service and he will be conspicuous in inflicting of it for Before a stone was laid on a stone in the Temple of the Lord when one cams to an heap of twenty measures there were but ten c. I smote you with blasting c. 3. As it is the usual plague accompanying common judgements that they do not work upon the hearts of men to draw them nearer God but rather harden them so such an impenitent disposition when God strikes is a ground of further controversie therfore he marks by the way their stupidity Yet ye turned not to me saith the Lord 4. However temporal things are not to be looked on as the chief reward of serving God nor as absolutely promised nor yet are they to be so much looked to under the Gospel as the Church of the Jewes might under their pedagogy yet in this the promise even concerning these things holds good that following of God hath the promise of this life in so fâ—rre as it is for the followers good that Gods changing adversity into prosperity when a people set about his work should be a confirmation to their faith and strengthen their hands that whatever adversity come on the Church it is not to be fathered on Gods work as if it had been the cause of her wo that as neglecters of Gods work are reall losers in their own affaires and will prove so in the end so followers of his work have a reall advantage in it and in a word that Gods work is never followed without a blessing evidenced some way or other to the godlies satisfaction This much we may learn from this particular promise made to the Church of the Jewes whereas they had been formerly much afflicted now from this day will I blesse you 5. It is a profitable study to remark the advantages of following God and to study encouragement in that duty so much are we taught by the Lords exciting them to consider the change of his dealing as trysting with the very day of their amending their fault 6. God is so sovereigne and absolute a Lord of all things and hath times and seasons blessings and cursings so in his hand as he may undertake to do things whereof there is no visible probability or certainty in the second causes and can certainly perform them therefore doth he undertake to blesse them when second causes and the season could speak no such thing 7. It is the prerogative of God only to know future contingent events which depend on times and seasons and uncertaine second causes and are known by men by no study of second causes and their influences but only by immediate revelation this is held forth as Gods prerogative by his extraordinary Prophet to foretell in the midst of winter what the succeeding harvest should produce Ver. 20 And again the Word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the foure and twentieth day of the moneth saying 21. Speak to Zerubbabel governour of Iudah saying I will shake the heavens and the earth 22. And I will overthrow the throne of kingdomes and I will destroy the strength of the Kingdomes of the heathen and I will overthrow the charets and those that ride in them and the horses and their riders shall come down every one by the sword of his brother 23. In that day saith the LORD of hostes will I take thee O Zerubbabel my servant the sonne of Shealtiel saith the LORD and will make thee as a signet for I have chosen thee saith the LORD of hostes The last Sermon delivered on the same day with the former may be understood of Zerubbabel the type unto whom is promised for the behoofe of his successors and that people that whereas God was about to send great commotions and was about to overthrow Kingdomes of the world and their power setting them by the eares among themselves yet he would preserve him and that people governed by him as his precious jewels and as his chosen people especially because Christ the substance of this type was to come of them And so we learn 1. It is the duty of the Lords watchmen to approve themselves before him in their diligent and active going about their calling and preaching the Word of the Lord instantly for Haggai is here sent out again upon the same day he had the former Sermon 2. As the office of Magistracy especially over the Lords people is no easie work so honest Magistrates shall have their own peculiar encouragements from God Therefore is Haggai commanded to speak to Zerubbabel governour of Judah 3. Honest Magistrates will be selfe-denied and will look on their publick charge as if it were their own particular so that favours promised and conferred on the people they govern are matter of encouragement to them for this promise made to Zerubbabel was not accomplished to himselfe nor in his time but to the people under his successors when the Persian and Grecian Monarchies were overturned and all the Kingdomes on every hand were reeling and threatening ruine to the Church amongst the rest and yet this is his encouragement as if all had tended to his own particular behoofe 4. As the Kingdomes of the children of men even of very Pagans are at Gods disposal to lettle or remove them as he pleases so these most eminent dignities are but uncertaine things obnoxious to many alterations wherein neither authority nor power will hinder Gods purpose nor will meanes be wanting so long as there is one Nation to dash upon another so much is held out in this promise I will shake heaven and earth and I will overthrow the threne of Kingdomes c. 5. Albeit the Church may seem to have reason to fear her enemies when they are in power and to fear the great commotions that are in the world about her lest she being a weak party come down with the rest yet in her weakest condition she may expect preservation in the midst of combustions especially where God hath any further work to do in her for as the Church of the Jewes lying in the midst of tottering Kingdomes especially of Syria and Egypt which seemed most to threaten her ruine gets a promise that in that day of common combustion she shall be as a signet because Christ was to be born in her so may every particular visible Church expect who hath Christ mystical in his members to bring forth to God 6. The Church is to confirm her own faith in the truth of promises by considering not what she is in her selfe or what her condition can promise but by looking to
used may be stirred up more earnestly to seek God and that Christ may have much occasion to let forth his bowels of affection and his fathers through him for here after the seventy years are over the Lord yet had not mercy on Jerusalem to wit in that measure of outward effects they had enjoyed before their captivity and was promised to them after it 14. Christ is such an Intercessor as even when he takes most desperate-like causes in hand he will be heard and must be satisfied in his desires for the Lord answered the Angel that talked with me 15. The answer which Christ the Intercessor receives will be satisfactory and comfortable it will be such as he accounts good and so should we and being good should be comfortable and will prove so in the end for he is answered with good and comfortable words 16. A Church may receive rich fruits of Christs intercession although at first they be not delivered nor get the rest which they expect to wit when they are led to spiritual things instead of temporal which they want and get promises renewed of what is in due time to be performed for Christs answer here is good and comfortable words or promises concerning spiritual things and their own enlargement after published Vers 14. So the Angel that communed with me said unto me Cry thou saying Thus saith the LORD of hosts I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Sion with a great jealousie This good answer is not kept up by Christ the Intercessor but the summe of it is presently given to the Prophet to publish unto the Church for her comfort it containeth severall particulars whereof the first is a commission to publish the Lords affection to his Church to do her good and his indignation and griefe speaking after the manner of men for the injuries sustained by her no lesse then any man hath for his married and beloved wife Doct. 1. Christs fidelity and affection to his people for whom he intercedes is such that he will not long keep up from them the fruits of his purchase and intercession in their need this is represented to us in this that a good answer and good newes being given before so to say he read the packet he posts it away to the Church by the Prophet So the Angel that communed with me said Crie thou c. 2. Good newes concerning the Church are to be expected from heaven as the fruit of Christs intercession and are to be read in the Word and messages put in the mouth of his commission-servants from day to day So here these good newes are the answer which Christ received to his prayer and are sent from Heaven to be published by the Prophet 3. It is incumbent to these who are imployed as Ambassadours betwixt Christ and his people to publish his minde with such zeal and alacrity such affection and confidence as may in some measure represent his great love who sent the message his delight to do them good and his real purpose to performe what he saith for this cause is the Prophet here commanded to cry this message 4. The Lords relation to his people is a marriage tie which is not broken by every fault nor cast off in sad dispensations for his being jealous for her importeth that she was the wife still for all she had done or had come upon her 5. Albeit the Lord will neither hold stroaks off his people when they need or deserve them nor deliver them till his time come yet his marriage-affection doth resent all their trouble and injuries done to them so that they grieve not nor are wronged but his heart bleeds as in due time will appear in effects I am saith he jealous for Jerusalem and Sion with a great jealousie Vers 15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction A second branch of the answer given in commission to the Prophet holds forth Gods great displeasure against the enemies of the Church for all their quiet condition because that when God intended to correct his people by their meanes they had proven severe executioners Doct. 1. As it is an heathenish mark to live at ease in an uncertain world especially when the Church is in trouble so Gods displeasure against heathens or men of heathenish disposition and practises in afflicting the Church of God may be very great and ready to break forth in due time notwithstanding their easie life and quiet estate I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease 2. The Lords hottest displeasure against his own people will be found very easie when it is compared with his severity against his enemies therefore however the Jewes be called to consider it in it selfe as sore displeasure v. 2. yet being thus compared with the lot of others it is said I was but a little displeased 3. Albeit none of the Churches enemies and instruments of Gods chastisements can transgresse the bounds of his purpose and permission to adde any thing to the Churches trouble yet as they go beyond his revealed will and approbation so they use to execute Gods purpose with such cruell mindes and so destructive intentions as renders them highly guilty before God thus They helped forward the affliction when God was but a little displeased they had more cruelty in their way then God determined to be executed and they intended and aimed at the utter destruction of the Church when God intended only to correct and purge them 4. As the cruell designes of the Churches enemies will faile them so their severity in executing the Lords controversie is a token of Gods sore anger against them and of their approaching ruine for the Church is now delivered in part beyond their expectations and desires and this their way speaks God very sore displeased which will not long conceale Vers 16. Therefore thus saith the LORD I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies my house shall be built in it saith the LORD of hostes and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem A third branch of this answer and message holds forth some promised effects of his declared love to his people to wit that the Lord being now reconciled with them the Temple should be built and their City and wall also in Nehemiahs time signified by the stretching out of a workmans line to square his building by when he works and so in effect promiseth to erect their publick worship and Politick State Doct. 1. The Lord who speaks comfortably of his love to the Church in her trouble will in due time let forth reall and convincing proofes and fruits thereof This promise comes in on the back of the former concerning his love to his people and hatred against her afflicters with a therefore as minding to give a reall proof of what he said 2. As the Lords presence with his people as a reconciled God is a
them improbable for in this he appeals to themselves If it be marvellous in your eyes should it also be marvellous in mine eyes saith the Lord of hostes Vers 7. Thus saith the LORD of hostes Behold I will save my people from the East-countrey and from the West-countrey 8. And I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and they shall be my people and I will be their God in Truth and in Righteousnesse The fourth ground of encouragement which also cleareth the promise of their increase is that he will gather them from all parts of the world where they were scattered comprehended under East and West as Psal 113.3 Mal. 1.11 Psal 50.1 and bring them to Jerusalem and Judea and renew the Covenant with them which was verified at several times after this Prophecie till Christ came beside what further accomplishment of it may be reserved till Israels Conversion Doct. 1. Such as are following their duty though with much hesitation and discouragement because of the aversenesse of others leaving them alone in it may expect confirmation from God and that in due time if it be for their good such as have weakened their hands shall joyne and strengthen them for this promise of the gathering of Gods people is given to encourage them who by reason of their paucity and the difficulties they met with were ready to think they were come too soon home 2. Interest in God will bring a people out of a low condition and gather them after a sad scattering for Behold I will save my people from the East-countrey and from the West-countrey and will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem 3. Particular favours and deliverances are then comfortable to a people when the Lord either makes or renewes a Covenant with them giving himself unto them with these favours assuring them that old kindnesse stands yet firme and undertaking for their part to make them such as he will accept of and may continue these blessings with therefore is the renewing of the Covenant subjoyned wherein God undertakes for both parties And they shall be my people and I will be their God 4. Where God enters into a Covenant with his people he intends really to perform all that he engages to do without all dissimulation so that it may be trusted to as a portion for this Covenant is in truth 5. The sure foundation of the Churches comfort by a Covenant is the righteousnesse of Christ whereby she is made able to stand before God and the right way to confirme her of her interest therein is a study of righteous and upright walking before him both these are implled in that second property that the Covenant shall be in righteousnesse Vers 9. Thus saith the LORD of hastes Lut your bands be strong ye that heare in these dayes these words by the mouth of the Prophers which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hostes was laid that the Temple might be built These encouragements being published the Lord exhorts them to make use of them in chearful going about the work of building the Temple to which also are subjoyned further motives and encouragements And first that they are exhorted to it by these Prophets who these two yeares since they began again to work had encouraged them unto it and not only assured them that it would be perfected but had foretold other blessings which had come to passe as is after-cleared Doct. 1. As encouragements from God are to be made use of to make us faithful to him and in his work and as the work of God would be followed with much faith and alacrity so men have ordinarily many tentations to be discouraged from within and without which they are to wrastle against and employ God under so much is implied in this exhortation subjoyned to the former doctâ—ine Thus saith the Lord of hostes Let your hands be strong 2. It ought to be a notable encouragement to go on in Gods work when he sends out his messengers constantly to stir up his people to it and assure them of the successe thereof and that Gods hand is about it to see it perfected for this is an argument Ye hear in these dayes these words by the mouth of the Prophets which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hostes was laid that the Temple might or should be built which last words are a part of that doctrine they had delivered in the by-gone yeares intimating that the Temple should be built as a promise on Gods part and therefore ought to be built as their duty having such a promise Vers 10. For before these dayes there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction for I set all men every one against his neighbour 11. But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former dayes saith the LORD of hostes 12. For the seed shall be prosperous the vine shall give her fruit and the ground shall give her increase and the heavens shall give their dew and I will cause the remnant of this people to possesse all these things This motive is yet further cleared from the blessings that had come upon them since they began to build according to the predictions of these Prophets when they exhorted them to it for whereas before they began the work all went to ruine there being no successe of endeavours of man or beast no peace by reason of hostile incursions and civil discords v. 10. now their condition was changed according to what the Prophets had foretold and was to be yet changed to greater felicity for v. 11. which is in the Hebrew But now I not unto the refidue c. doth include both I am not for the present not will be for the future as in the former dayes And particularly he promiseth to blesse the increase of the earth and give unto them though a remnant the peaceable enjoyment thereof And therefore they were to give credit to the same men promising by the same authority the successe of the work Doct. 1. Particular proofes of the truth of Gods Word in the mouth of his servants ought to be a special motive to faith and obedience in other things which they enjoyne and promise in the Lords Name and by his warrant for by this seen accomplishment of the Word they are invited to build and believe the successe 2. Such as neglect the Lords work may expect to have all their endeavours for their own things blasted for before these dayes there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast that is no fruit of labours as Hag. 1.6 nor any shift whereby a man might earne his bread 3. When a people do not study to advance the work and honour of God when they enjoy peace and prosperity it