that of His Kingdom and that of His Priest-hood 14. There shall be crowns also as for the High-Priest so for the honorable memorie of others that have found favour with God for their good endeavours about the outward Temple now in hand by name for Helem for Tobijah for Iedajah and for Hen the Son of Zephaniah And these crowns shall be hung up in the Temple of the Lord as a memorial of them with their names to that purpose expressed upon the crowns 15. And to help on the work and the ornaments and honour of the Temple many foreiners and people of remote countries shall come and contribute towards this building as the praeludium to the whole crowds of Gentiles that shall help to build up the spiritual Temple And by this you shall know that I Zacharie that relate the prophesie of these things am a true Prophet of the Lord and have my Commission from the Lord of Hosts for what I promise to you judge of me by the event Provided alwaies that you be diligent in obeying the commands of the Lord your God For this promise runs under that condition CHAP. VII ANd it came to passe in the fourth year of king Darius that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the nineth moneth even in Chisleu 2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech and their men to pray before the Lord. 3 And to speak unto the Priests which were in the house of the Lord of hostes and to the prophets saying Should I weep in the fifth moneth separating my self as I have done these so many years 4 Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me saying 5 Speak unto all the people of the land and to the priests saying When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh moneth even those seventy years did ye at all fast unto me even unto me 6 And when ye did eat and when ye did drink did not ye eat for your selves and drink for your selves 7 Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets when Ierusalem was inhabited and in prosperity and the cities thereof round about her when men inhabited the South of the plain 8 And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah saying 9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts saying Execute true judgement and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother 10 And oppresse not the widow nor the fatherlesse the stranger nor the poor and let none of you imagine evill against his brother in your heart 11 But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear 12 Yea they made their hearts as an adamant stone least they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts 13 Therefore it is come to passe that as he cried and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear saith the Lord of hosts 14 But I scattered them with a whirl-wind among all the nations whom they knew not thus the land was desolate after them that no man passed through nor returned for they laid the pleasant land desolate CHAP. VII 1. NOw in the fourth year of King Darius the second year after they had begun the structure of the Temple the word of the Lord was again revealed unto Zacharie in the fourth day of the ninth moneth which is called the Moneth Chisleu and containes part of November and of December And it did so upon this occasion 2. There was sent to the Temple and to the Priests there about that time Serezer and Regem-melech and some Attendants upon them to tender their humble devotions before the Lord in the behalf of those that lived out of the City and had sent them thither upon that service 3. And withall a message they had to the Priests that ministred in the Temple of the Lord of Hostes and to the Prophets who were to advise and direct them in matters of scruple or controversie This Message came in the name of the People who being desirous to be satisfied in some doubts about fasting in which it seems all had been well if their care to make it a true and acceptable fast unto God had been as much as their desire and power to enact it and enjoyn it as a holy Fast and being all considered as one body they ordered their message to be delivered in these or the like termes Shall I continue the times of fasting and mourning which I imposed upon my self under the captivity and have since most strictly observed whereof that is one in the fifth Moneth upon the tenth of July in the sad remembrance of the destroying and firing of the Temple by Nebuzaradan Captain of the guard to Nebuchadnezar Shall I still afflict my self and observe my wonted abstinence from pleasant meats and other matters of delight like a Nazarite for that day as I have now kept it upon the return of that day for many yeares 4. Then as I was saying came the word of the Lord of Hostes unto me furnishing me with an answer to that question of the People after some things to be premised upon occasion of their Fast and saying unto me 5. Speak to all the people of the land and among them to the Priests too to those of Jerusalem as well as to those out of the Citie that have sent these men hither and say When you fasted and mourned in the fifth Moneth in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple and in the seventh Moneth in memoriall of the death of Godoliah and so in the other Moneths in like pretended humble service for these seventy years of your captivity Did I require those Fasts or when they were voluntarily undertaken did they tend as they should do to my honour and glory by your true humbling and bettering of your selves upon those dayes For your Fasts without that are in themselves nothing so pleasing and acceptable to me as you may vainly conceive 6. For as at other times when you eat and drink at your liberty no advantage accrews to my honour out of that feasting of yours barely in it self considered without any other consequence of your due returnes of thankfulnesse and obedience for the blessing of that plenty so at these times when you fast that fasting in its self adds nothing to me nor is it any way considerable in my esteem 7. Should you not rather have observed the divine commands so plainly and openly delivered unto you by the Prophets that have gone before us when Ierusalem was at ease and abounded in peace and plenty And when the Cities and Townes all about her when the more mountainous and Southern parts that were then entirely possessed and when with them the lowest and fruitfullest countries in the
preach what will please them and to sooth them up in expectation of better times then they are worthy to enjoy or have any reason to hope for 9. And now to put my office accordingly in execution Give ear to me once again you Princes of Iacob and other Governors in the house of Israel that sit in the place of Justice and yet abhor doing of judgement and should be the onely examples of dealing rightly and exactly according to the rule and yet are commonly seen to pervert the rule of equity and make the law serve your own turns 10. That makes them build such houses in Sion and other parts of Jerusalem with what they gain by shedding of the blood of the innocent and by deciding causes that come before them with much injustice and iniquity 11. For the Princes of this City judge for the bribe and the Priests teach for the hire and the Prophets divine for the reward in ready cash And yet they can talk devoutly and confidently of Gods protection for Sion and Jerusalems sake and seem to rely upon the Lord and say Doth not God dwell in the midst of us How then can evil betide us that are lodged so near to his own holy Temple 12. But talk what you will For you and your sins Sion shall be plowed like a field Jerusalem shall become like heaps of rubbish and Mount Moriah the top of your glory as the place where the House of God stands shall be like those Mountains in the forrest that are fitter for the entertainment of beasts then men CHAP. IV. 1 BVt in the last daies it shall come to passe that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains and it shall be exalted above the hills and people shall flow unto it 2 And many nations shall come and say Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach us of his waies and we will walk in his pathes for the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem 3 And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into prunning hooks nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever 6 In that day saith the Lord will I assemble her that halteth and I will gather her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant and her that was cast far off a strong nation and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever 8 And thou O tower of the flock the strong hold of the daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first dominion the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Ierusalem 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud is there no king in thee is thy councellour perished for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail 10 Be in pain and labour to bring forth O daughter of Zion like a woman in travail for now shalt thou go forth out of the city and thou shalt dwell in the field and thou shalt go even to Babylon there shalt thou be delivered there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies 11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee that say Let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Zion 12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his counsel for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor 13 Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion for I will make thine horn iron and I will make thy hoofs brasse and thou shalt beat in pieces many people and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth CHAP. IV. 1. YEt for your comfort after all this desolation there will a time come at their return from the captivity of Babylon when that mountain where the house of the Lord is seated shall overtop all other mountains and no hills or high places which the Pagans have made choice of for the worship of their idol-gods shall any way be compared to the high glory of Mount Moriah or so frequented with multitudes of men as this shall be 2. Hither shall flock the true worshipers from several parts of the World and say Come and let us go up to the holy Mountain the Mountain of the Lord Iehovah and to the house of the God of Iacob and by his holy Priests and Prophets he will teach us what is fittest for us to be instructed in out of his waies that we may walk in them For thence onely must we look for the knowledge of the true God whose divine laws specially in the daies of the Messias shall go forth of Sion and his holy word out of Ierusalem and thence be divulged and imparted unto other nations 3. This great God of Israel that so instructs and directs them that make their humble addresses unto him will for their sakes show his judgements among many people that seek him not and correct many remote nations that are too strong and puissant for us to deal with for no strength no distance can secure them from his power and good pleasure upon them And while we serve him he will make them to be so willingly and so absolutely resolved of peace that they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks And rather then their own quarrels shall be any disturbance to us one nation shall not lift up a weapon against another nor shall they learn how to practise themselves in the feats of war any more 4. And so shall it be after our return from Babylon we shall then enjoy many daies of great peace and tranquillity Every man shall sit quietly under his own vine and under his own fig-tree without any to molest him or make him afraid And to make us secure of all this it is decreed by God himself and the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it who hath all hosts and armies and alterations of peace and war at his disposal 5. And our serving of him will be one motive of this mercy and favour for while other people addict themselves to the worship of their false gods and in their name tender all their respects we shall go on to present our humble service and devotions in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever 6.
a net that I have ready to spread over them and draw them like silly birds whither I have already determined And there I will punish them according to that which they have often heard from the mouth of my Prophets and others in their several congregations 13. Nothing but woe can be due to them for that often wandring away from me nothing but desolation from those they prefer before my help can be the doom of their grievous rebellions and aversions from me that have so often delivered them from the hands of their greatest enemies though they still continue to speak falsly and vainly of me in expressing my glory by their idols of wood and stone 14. To those titular Gods and not to me do they heartily make their moan when their afflicting thoughts make them howle upon their beds And no otherwise in their merry dayes when with plenty of bread and wine they had ingurgitated themselves like beasts did they turne away from me the Author of that plenty So that they could never find the way to my service either full or fasting 15. Whether I weakned them by afsliction or strengthned them by prosperity still they held on their mischievous and idolatrous devices against me and against the pure worship of my name 16. Ever ready to turn away from being under the yoke of my law notwithstanding all their pretenses to it like a deceitful bow that seems to aim one way and strikes another Therefore shall God strike them with a secret arrow that cannot be discovered or prevented For their Princes shall fall by the sword in those conspiracies which shall take rise from the virulent speeches and libels secretly cast out against them the usual art to feel the pulse of the people And this shall expose them to scorn and contempt among their neighbours of Egypt who are more loyall and faithfull to their Princes then you that should set them a copy of that obedience CHAP. VIII 1. SEt the trumpet to thy mouth he shall come as an Eagle against the house of the Lord because they have transgressed my Covenant and trespassed against my Law 2 Israel shall cry unto me my God we know thee 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good the enemy shall pursue him 4 They have set up kings but not by me they have made Princes and I knew it not of their silver and their gold have they made them idols that they may be cut off 5 Thy calf O Samaria hath cast thee off mine anger is kindled against them how long will it be ere they attain to innocency 6 For from Israel was it also the workman made it therefore it is not God but the calf of Samaria be broken in pieces 7 For they have sown the wind and they shall reap the whirlewinde it hath no stalk the bud shall yeild no meal if so be it yeild the strangers shall swallow it up 8 Israel is swallowed up now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure 9 For they are gone up to Assyria a wild asse alone by himself Ephraim hath hired louers 10 Yea though they have hired among the nations now will I gather them and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the King of Princos 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin altars shall be unto him to sinne 12 I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings and eat it but the Lord accepteth them not now will he remember their iniquity and visit their sinnes they shall return to Egypt 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker and buildeth Temples and Iudah hath multiplied fenced cities but I will send a fire upon his cities and it shall devour the palaces thereof CHAP. VIII 1. AFter this God gave a command to Hoseah to this purpose Lift up thy voice against Israel so loud that it may be as easily heard as the sound of a trumpet out of thy mouth or the noise which an Eagle makes above the height of the Temple So loud do thou proclaim against them for their transgressing of my covenant and violating my law in a high way of presumption And if that trumpet and noise of an Eagle prevaile not with them I will fright them with the trumpets of their enemies and with Nebuchadnezar's terrible approach which shall come as suddenly upon them as the flight of an Eagle 2. But they will not hear Therefore when the time comes that they shall cry aloud to me in their affliction and say O my God! We of Israel acknowledge thee onely to be the true God 3. Then will I answer For all your fair language now you of Israel that took your name of Israel for prevailing with me have notwithstanding forsaken me your supreme good and your best friend And in forsaking me you have bereaved your selves of all that is good for you For therefore will I leave you to an enemy that shall never forsake the pursuit of Israel till he hath brought him to utter ruine 4. Many Kings and Iudges before and after Jehu and his posterity have they setâ—over themselves without any such direct order from me or so much as inquiring after my pleasure as if my permission were enough to excuse them without my command This was one way and for a second way of forsaking their chief good of their silver and gold have they made them Idols as if it were to give me occasion not onely to take away that wealth which they so abused but to cut off such a people from the place where they have so highly offended As I have often threatned that I would do 5. For do not think these Idols can prevent it No as thou didst cast me off so thy calf will cast thee off O Samaria That Diety of thy first Kings invention and which thou makest so much of as the chief seat of thy idolatrous Kings shall leave thee in the lurch when thou hast most need of a better help And instead of succour from thence her admirers shall find the effects of my fierce anger For how long shall I expect ' ere they wash off the guilt of those sinnes by repentance and follow after innocence and purity in the service of the true God 6. For this device of the calf is a trick of Israels own choice and election They learned it not of any of their idolatrous neighbours The first founders of it were their own Fathers in the wildernesse When their posterity long after had taken it up again it was made by those Artificers that their own Princes set on work And when all is done how far it is from being a God you shall see by my breaking of it all to pieces while that is able to make no resistance And the hands that I
the former plenty of their fruitful land their just punishments shall encrease to as great abundance as the worst weeds that come up so thick in the furrowes of the field 5. Near these times great fear shall fall upon the inhabitants of Samaria about sending the calves of Bethel and Dan as a present to Salmanaser For the people taking them for the very golden calves shall be much grieved and troubled at it But the idol-priests shall be merrie and applaud their subtle arts of sending brazen and guilded calves instead of those that were all of gold This shall be the several deportment of the Priests and people when the riches and glorie of their idol shall be thus carried into an other land as a fore-runner of their captivitie 6. And thus shall their present be carried into Assyria and offered to Salmanaser as the great King their Protector and Avenger of their enemies But for this instead of succour from Assyria shame will light upon Ephraim and confusion upon Israel for that his subtle device 7. And sodainly shall Samaria and her King vanish and be cut off from being a kingdom like the foam that now appears upon the superficies of the water and instantly is gone out of sight and become as if it had never been 8. The like doom shall fall upon the high places where the Israelites were wont to worship their idols They shall be utterlie destroyed thorns and thistles growing where their Altars had formerlie been placed And then where will not those sinners desire to hide themselves from the wrath and furie poured out upon them They will call to the hills to cover them and to the Mountains to fall upon them 9. Nor are these heavy punishments to be much wondred at in thee O Israel For it is no new thing in thee to be much overtaken with sins of a high strain specially from the times of Gibeah Yet then they of Israel that went against Gibeah though they were great sinners and therefore sadly punished in their first assaults yet they remained and stood to it like men reserved for a better day And upon the battle in Gibeah against those grievous sinners though they twice miscarried yet at last they had the victory No man had power to take them and wholly overcome them because they did so severelie prosecute the revenge of a vile and wicked offence 10. But now I am more then content to have them taken and led out of their own land in bonds and captivite And for punishment of those sins which they themselves would take no order to correct I will muster up whole armies of strange people when the time is come that I will have them to cast those sinners into bonds and tie them fast enough for the libertie which they took to themselves in those two great offences the worship of the two calves that in Bethel and that in Dan. 11. In which sins they that made those calves to be their Gods may well be likened unto calves themselves For Ephraim is like a young heifer that is easily taught either to plow or tread out the corn and to do it with some delight being not muzled but suffered to take part of it Therefore I put my yoke upon his fair neck the yoke of my law and guided him as one might do that should ride upon the back of such a beast and I said Let Iudah plow and Iacob break his clods which is as much as if I had said to them in other words A good life is the best husbandrie That is 12. Let your good and righteous actions be like your sowing of good seed and you shall reap a good reward according to that mercy with which I shall crown that labour Break up your fallow grounds to fit and prepare your selves for a blessing And finding you are in a good time of seeking God by your best endeavours so continue till he come and shoure down his benefits which is a piece of justice that he never fails of for his part Let your care be for the seed-time and he will provide a good harvest 13. As much hath been said to you as this comes to But your actions have been nothing answerable to such good advise Your minds run upon plowing in a worser sense it seems For you have laboured as hard to compasse your wicked designs as one that follows the plow Therefore you have reaped the punishment of your sins And the fruit of your labour hath proved but a specious show and mere delusion This is the end of thy trusting and flattering thy self in thy own waies and in the youthful strength of thy many stout companions that have taken part with thee in those labours that are now come to nothing 14. Hence arise those jars and tumults among thy people and the spoiling of their strong holds by strangers in as fierce a manner as Salmana was destroyed by the house of Jerubbabel in the day of battle And with so much cruelty that there will be no commiseration of Sex or Age the Mother being dashed in pieces with her children 15. So shall Bethel do unto you It will bring you into this danger for your great very great offences p Your King Hosheah shall be utterly destroyed and turned out of his Kingdom as it were in the verie morning and beginning of his reign or of a sodain before he looked for such a disaster CHAP. XI WHen Israel was a child then I loved him and called my son out of Egypt 2 As they called them so they went from them they sacrificed unto Baalim and burnt incense to graven images 3 I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by their arms but they knew not that I healed them 4 I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws and I laid meat unto them 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt but the Assyrian shall be his King because they refused to return 6. And the sword shall abide on his cities and shall consume his branches and devour them because of their own counsels 7 And my people are bent to back-sliding from me though they called them to the most High none at all would exalt him 8 How shall I give thee up Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel how shal I make thee as Adamah how shall I set thee as Zebâ—im mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together 9 I will not exceute the fiercenesse of mine anger I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man the holy One in the midst of thee and I will not enter into the city 10 They shall walk after the Lord he shall roar like a lion when he shall roar then the children shall
over all A Paraphrastical EXPLICATION Of the PROPHESIE OF HABAKKUK CHAP. I. 1 THe burden which Habakkuk the Prophet did see 2 O Lord how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity and cause me to behold grievance for spoiling and violence are before me and there are that raise up strife and contention 4 Therefore the law is slacked and judgement doth never go forth for the wicked doth compasse about the righteous therefore wrong judgment proceedeth 5 Behold ye among the heathen and regard and wonder marvellously for I will work a work in your daies which ye will not believe though it be told you 6 For lo I raise up the Chaldaeans that bitter and hasty nation which shall march through the breadth of the land to possesse the dwelling places that are not theirs 7 They are terrible and dreadful their judgement and their dignity shall proceed of themselves 8 Their horses also are swifter then the leopards and are more fierce then the evening wolves and their horse-men shall spread themselves and their horsemen shall come from far they shall flie as the eagle that hasteth to eat 9 They shall come all for violence their faces shall sup up as the east wind and they shall gather the captivity as the sand 10 And they shall scoff at the kings and the princes shall be a scorn unto them they shall deride every strong hold for they shall heap dust and take it 11 Then shall his mind change and he shall passe over and offend imputing this his power unto his god 12 Art thou not from everlasting O Lord my God mine holy one we shall not die O Lord thou hast ordained them for judgement and O mighty God thou hast established them for correction 13 Thou art of purer eies then to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then he 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea as the creeping things that have no ruler over them 15 They take up all of them with the angle they catch them in their net and gather them in their drag therefore they rejoyce and are glad 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net and bnrn incense unto their drag because by them their portion is fat and their meat plentuous 17 Shall they therefore empty their net and not spare continually to slay the nations The Sum of the first CHAPTER of this PROPHESIE THe first Chapter sets out the sins of the time wherein the Prophet Habakkuk did exercise his holy Function and the heavy punishment which they pulled both upon the Iews and upon the Chaldaeans Their sins made up their full measure by neglect and contempt of the very Laws of Kings and Governors and of God himself These strange enormities were answered with a punishment that had matter of as much wonder if it were well observed For that of the Chaldaeans though it came slowly on yet it fell the more heavily upon them to their utter ruine and destruction when they were in the height of all their glory and of their confidence and presumption in their own strength That of the Iews came with more speed and more favour For though it were very sharp for the time yet it spent it self in the compasse of 70 years and left then in a fair and easie pursuit of their former Peace and Liberty when their enemies supposed them to be so low that there was no hope of recoverie And the greatest wonder and terror in their punishment was in respect of those to whom the execution was committed For being inflicted upon them by the Chaldees a fierce and cruel Nation and far worse livers then the Iews it starâ—led the Prophet a little at that way of divine dispensation that suffered Gods peculiar people to be so handled by such lewd and notorious sinners And besides which might trouble them as well as the other did the Prophet the Chaldees that were intended for their scourge and executioners in this calamity were now in Manasses his time when this Prophesie came out in the number of their good Friends and Confederates whom of all other they little suspected for the Authors and Contrivers of their ruine The Paraphrastical EXPLICATION of the first CHAPTER 1. THe sad Prophesie and vision of that burden which Habakkuk foresaw as a heavy punishment that would shortly fall upon the Iews and Chaldaeans and which the heavier weight of their own grievous sins had brought upon them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The sum of that which the the Prophet received by divine Revelation and which gave occasion to what he delivered amongst his own Countrymen to that effect as followeth 2. O Lord How long shall I make my humble addresses unto thee without any answer How long shall I continue my heavy Cry and Complaint against Injustice and oppression the crying sins of these sad times while thou refusest to relive us 3. Why hast thou reserved me for such wicked daies wherein my eyes cannot but with tears behold the injurious and violent dealing of men in those sins which now walk openly and impudently without any disguise without any shame or care of being concealed Above all the unjust oppression of their neighbours even to desolation presents it self unto me whither so ever I cast mine eyes And yet where there is so much cause of complaint and calling for justice somewhat still there is that obstructs and hinders or rather takes away the course of justice 4. Hence is it that the pulse of the law beats so slowly as if the life of the law which is the execution of her eâ—icts began to draw to an end And therefore either justice cannot appear at all but with too many demurs and tedious siâ—â—ts or if she do all is not right For while the wicked with his malitious plots encloseth and besets the righteous man on every side and so domineers over him that he hath not liberty to follow the dictate of his own understanding All this while Iustice seems to tread inward and comes out lame and distorted by bribes and other by-respects that turn her quite awry and so is she made altogether unlike her self 5. But if justice can hear no better amongst men let them hear the voice of divine justice from Heaven And she will tell them a wonder if that can get her audience For thus saith she Behold and wonder you that make so slight of it in your high pride and scorn and security Wonder and admire at what I shall tell you of the Gentiles by whom I shall bring such a strange work to passe in your daies that if it were plainly told you now before hand you would by no meane be induced to believe it 6. For whatsoever
Lord of hosts 13 And this have ye done again covering the Altar of the Lord with tears weeping with crying out insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more or receiveth it with good will at your hand 14 Yet ye say Wherefore Because the Lord hath been witnesse between thee and the wife of thy youth against whom thou hast dealt treacherously yet is she thy companion and the wife of thy covenant 15 And did not be make one yet had he the residue of the spirit and wherefore one That he might seek a godly seed therefore take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth 16 For the Lord the God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away for one covereth violence with his garment saith the Lord of hosts therefore take heed to your spirit that ye deal not treacherously 17 To have wearied the Lord with your words yet ye say Wherein have we wearied him when ye say Every one that doth evill is good in the sight of the Lord and he delighteth in them or where is the God of judgement CHAP. II. 1. ANd now I come to speak to you again O you Priests For somewhat more I have in charge to acquaint you withall And this it is 2. If you will not hear and obey what is told you by my Prophets against your own profaness and negligence in my service and your connivence at the like fault in the people or rather your drawing of them into it by the scandall of your own ill example If you will not take it seriously to heart and show your repentance by your amendment giving more honour and respect to me in the execution of your severall functions then you have done heretofore saith the Lord of Hosts Then will I instead of a blessing send a curse upon you that sacrifice and you the people that bring such contemptible sacrifices unto me And I will send a curse upon your corn and whatsoever I have bestowed upon you as a blessing upon your former labours I will did I say Nay you may see that this curse of mine hath begun to work upon you already because as you neglected me and my service so you neglected to take that great fault into your serious consideration but made light of it notwithstanding the many admonitions and exhortations that have been made unto you 3. Therefore if you will at least consider the punishment of your sin you shall see and wonder what destruction I will bring upon you and your seed after youâ— And when you come to appease me by sacrifices rather then I will be pleased with such poor service I will throw the dung of them in your faces even the dung of your solemnest sacrifices to show my contempt of you in that sacred place where you have dared to show your contempt of me And out of that place out of the very Temple one that I will appoint shall take you away with him and dispose of you with as much scorn and contempt as you have showed to Me and my holy Altars 4. Thus you will know by your own punishments why I send these first commands and lawes of Reverence to be showed in my House and in my service I did it that my Covenant might be kept which I made with the Tribe of Levi saith the Lord. 5. For my Covenant with the Levitical Priest was a Covenant of Life and Peace i. of long life and felicity or of a long prosperous and happy life upon the carefull discharge of their Priestly office And these favours I bestowed upon him because of his fear and awe of me which made him show so much heed and reverence in my service and make his approaches before me with all religious devotion and humility as one sensible of the service he was to perform to me and in a place of my speciall presence 6. Nothing came out of his mouth but what was agreeable to Law and Truth and Equitie And when he was to expresse his judgement in any case no word was found to proceed from between his lips that had any wicked or by-respect And his good conversation was answerable to his good words He converted many from their sinfull and unrighteous courses 7. And from whom should all this be expected but from the Priest And so ever let the Priest be exemplary in his life and language Let the Priests lips preserve knowledge And let him be such a one that from him men may enquire the true sense and meaning of the Law For He is like an Angel of the Lord not onely to present before God the prayers of the people but acquaint them also with the will and pleasure of Almighty God Which two are the great employments of the blessed Angels 8. But you are Priests of no such Angelical strain for as you have gone out of the right way your selves so you have made others stumble after your scandalous example and mistake the way which is made plain for them in the law and wherein your first and good Levites walked with me according to the Covenant whereas you take a course to frustrate and null the Covenant made with those Leviticall Priests saith the Lord of Hostes. 9. Therefore will I also null my part of the Covenant and bring you to that passe that you shall be scorned and contemned of all the common people because you would not contein your selves within the wayes of my lawes and ordinances but stepped aside for private respects wresting and wracking of the law that it might be brought to what would fit your own turnes for pleasing the persons of men 10. But are we not all Brethren in Nature the Sons of one man of Jacob our Father And are we not Brethren in Religion too Hath not one God by a kind of new creation moulded and formed us into a peculiar people for his service Why then do you injure and oppresse and defraud one another and so make a breach of that Covenant made with your Fathers and of that love which you owe to one another as Brethren 11. They of the Kingdom of Iudah are guilty of this great transgression and so are they of the Kingdom of Israel such of the ten tribes as returned with them into their own Countrey And they of Ierusalem too nearest to my own House where the best livers should have been expected They and these have been abominable in their actions Even Iudah my more peculiar people have prophaned my Sanctuary and the holy City which I honoured with so many testimonies of my love For they have made a mixture of Iewes and Gentiles and married them that are devoted to the service of a strange God 12. God will destroy the man that hath done this vile act whether he be Priest or Laick and send him far enough from the tents of Iacob Yes though he