Habakkuk 2

Quest. Why faith is the instrument of adoption, more than any other grace? Resp. 1. Faith is a quickening grace, it is the vital artery of the soul (Habakkuk 2:4). The just shall live by faith.

Ahithophel made himself guilty of the fact, by giving counsel to Absalom to go in and defile his father's concubines (2 Samuel 16:21). He who shall tempt and solicit another to be drunk, though he himself be sober, yet being the occasion of another's sin, he is accessory to it (…

One of the Popish councils affirmed that we might learn more by an image, than by long study of the Scriptures. Response. (Habakkuk 2:18) What profits the graven image, the molten image, and a teacher of lies? Is an image a layman's book?

Second, inanimate creatures: the wind and the sea obey him (Mark 4:41). The very stones, if God give them a commission, will cry out against the sins of men (Habakkuk 2:11). The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

In former times, and more lately in the Marian days, England was over-spread with idolatry; we worshipped God after a false manner: that is idolatry, not only to worship a false God, but the true God in a false manner. This was our case formerly, we had Purgatory, Indulgences, t…

He is a drunkard (says Solomon) that tarries long at the wine (Proverbs 23:30). He who sits at it from morning to night, that drinks away his precious time, though he does not drink away his reason, he is a drunkard that drinks more than does him good, and that though he be not…

Idolatry is to worship a false God, or the true God in a false manner; this they are guilty of. 1. They dishonor God by their idolatry in making graven images, and giving the same honor to them as is due to God, [illegible]: Images are teachers of lies (Habakkuk 2:18), they repr…

Faith is the vital artery of the soul, it animates it. The just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Unbelievers, though they breathe, yet want life.

Many have lost heaven for want of watchfulness. Our hearts are ready to decoy us into sin, and the Devil lies in ambush by his temptations; we must every day set a spy, and keep sentinel in our souls (Habakkuk 2:1). I will stand upon my watch.

Many pray Agur's first prayer, Give me not poverty, but few pray his last prayer, Give me not riches (Proverbs 30:8); they are not content with daily bread, but have the dry dropsy of covetousness — they are still craving for more. Habakkuk 2:5: Who enlarges his desire as hell,…

Third, as fire is a consuming thing (Hebrews 12, last verse) and leaves nothing but ashes, so are people's lusts (James 4:4). They ask in order to consume everything on their lusts. All the pleasures they have leave nothing behind; nothing of the strength they gain by them remai…

If therefore God doth not to ourselves, nor in our times accomplish his promises, or prophecies, we must not be impatient, but wait in patience. For, as the holy Prophet saith, The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the last it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry,…

When we think of God, or pray unto him, we must conceive of him in our minds, as he has revealed himself in scripture; that is, by his works, and by his properties: we must think in our minds of an eternal essence, most holy, wise, et cetera, who made all things, and governs the…

There is a time limited and fixed for the accomplishment of all the promises of God, and all the purposes of his grace towards the Church. See (Habakkuk 2:3, 4). And the consideration hereof is very necessary to believers in all ages.

The Translation in the Polyglott renders it, neque torpescatis, as following the Translation in the Jayan Bibles without choice or alteration. Indeed [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] is used sometimes in the same sense with [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] to be weary, to loath; to be affecte…

(1.) That it was in procinctu, in readiness, not yet come but ready to come; so is the word used to express that which is future, but ready to make its entrance. (2.) That it is certain, it shall and will be, whatever appearances there are of its turning aside, and men's avoidin…

To encourage them against the influence of this temptation, the Apostle accommodates a testimony out of the Prophet Habakkuk, which leads him directly to the consideration of the power and efficacy of faith, which he had designed. Habakkuk 2:3, 4. For the vision is yet for an ap…

He beareth with them years and years, after a thousand and a thousand affronts, from their cradles to their graves: when they were green wood, they were fuel fit enough for divine wrath. Oh consider, there can be no cause of this but his mercy to his worst creatures: 'tis not ou…

Christian, methinks you should know so much about yourself that it is impossible anyone could lay you lower, or have baser thoughts of you, than you have of yourself. Some render the original of Habakkuk 2:5 thus: the proud man is as one who transgresses by wine — and drunkards,…

But on the contrary, when men worship God according to their own inventions, see that dreadful threatening (Isaiah 29:13, 14): because their fear, that is, their worship towards me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among…

But whatever our hopes may be in this respect, we must be content to be ignorant of the times and seasons, which the Father has put in his own power; and must be willing that God should answer prayer, and fulfil his own glorious promises, in his own time; remembering such instru…

In the cited passage it is rendered manufacta [things made by hand]: "Gods fashioned by the hands of men," Isaiah 2:8; as bdelygmata [abominations], or things to be abominated. And likewise Ezekiel 30:13; Leviticus 19:4, eidola [idols]; and Habakkuk 2:18, eidola kopa [idols] and…

For this heavenly doctrine yields to no human science in the clarity of its propositions; indeed, in this respect it stands far above all other sciences. The doctrine has been written "plainly," so that "he who reads it may run" (Habakkuk 2:2). God has given His word — "precept…

Three days (Hosea 6:1). A short time, and the vision will speak, and will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3; Hebrews 10:37). It is but tribulation ten days (Revelation 2:10).

1. Because God dwells in this humbled soul, then he must be justified and converted (Ephesians 3:17): that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith. 2. This is a liver by faith, and so justified; the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:…

Christ's fame spread abroad through all the country, and now he is shamed and a reproached man; now the whole people cry out away with him, away with him, crucify him; the ground of man's glory is his goodliness or graciousness, his [in non-Latin alphabet], all his endowments an…

He that believes makes no haste (Isaiah 28:16). Habakkuk must wait because the vision is for a time appointed (Habakkuk 2:1). David's eyes and strength failed in waiting on God (Psalm 69:3).

As for the painted and carved images of the Papists, we utterly detest them, as idols. They allege, that they are laymen's books: but Habakkuk says, they are doctors of lies (Habakkuk 2:18). And where the lively preaching of the word is, there is no need of them.

Seventhly, he expected the Canaanites, and Amorites, for the space of four hundred years, yea he suffered all Gentiles to wander in their own ways, and in the vanity of their mind almost for three thousand years together (Acts 14:16). Now if God be so patient in expecting our am…

Some refer this to the person of Isaiah, as if he satisfied himself, by depending upon that which God had revealed to him: that is to say, as if he had now quieted and settled his mind; which indeed we ought to do after we have heard the voice of God, waiting assuredly for the a…

But because the wicked take no warning by any threatenings, it was needful that this prophecy should be repeated, and confirmed by some sign: First, that he might awaken the people, God commands this prophecy to be published and written, to the end all might take knowledge of it…

They that are destitute of this, have no true Religion, whatever Profession they may make, and how high soever their religious Affections may be. Habakkuk 2:4. Behold, his Soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him; but the Just shall live by his Faith: that is, He shall liv…

He that so accounts, doubtless understands that prayer engages providence (Isaiah 45:11), and providence so engaged is the surest protection (Job 1:10). Many great men enclose their dwellings with a high wall, but the foundation (as the wisest of men observes) is laid in their o…

Why, this you may often see, if you will duly observe the works of Providence towards you. We hope and pray for such and such mercies to the Church, or to our selves; but God delayes the accomplishment of our hopes, suspends the answer of our prayers, and seems to speak to us, a…

But his thoughts are not our thoughts, Isaiah 55:8 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as men count slackness, 2 Peter 3:9 It is slackness if you reckon by our own rule and measure, but it is not so, if you reckon and count it by God's. The Lord does not compute and rec…

As there is a decree bringing forth the wicked's destruction (Zephaniah 2:2), so there is a decree goes forth in its appointed season for the Churches' deliverance, which cannot be gainsaid (Daniel 9:23). Every vision is for its appointed season and time (Habakkuk 2:3), then it…

Hence the Scripture makes mention, that pride of your gifts is not only an enemy to the comfort, but an enemy to grace; not only an enemy to the comforts from grace, but to the very having of grace. Habakkuk 2:4: If a man's heart be exalted, his spirit is not upright within him.…

The Apostle with the LXX. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], and I regarded them not, or despised them. The third is that from (Habakkuk 2:4) [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], behold, it is listed up, his soul is not right in him; which words the Apostle with the LXX, render, [〈 in non-Lat…

First, by preferring the promised relief and remedy above all the present glory and worship of the Church; directing it to look above all its enjoyments to that which in all things was to have the pre-eminence. See Isaiah 2:2; chapter 4:2-5; chapter 7:13-15; chapter 9:6-7; chapt…

Such a conceit (I say) the Apostle seems to meet with, for in (1 Timothy 6:7), having said, We brought nothing with us into this world, he adds in the next words, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; he does not say, we brought nothing into the world, and we can carry not…

Now this silence and quietness which accompanis waiting, yea which is an essential part of it, is opposed first to Haste; and Haste is the souls undue lifting up its self, proceeding from a weariness of its condition, to press after an end of its troubles, not according to the c…

Lastly, it is added, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of leopards, not designing any new place, but showing that lions and leopards often used to dwell upon hills, and it is likely upon these, notwithstanding all their beauty: therefore mountains are called mountains of…

4. Gold and all external riches, are empty things to a spiritual discerner of Christ's worth; as it were, a new sort of gold must be invented, or imagined, to shadow forth the excellencies of Christ, gold itself is but an insufficient and dark shadow to represent him; whoever lo…

Many times God raises up such against them, who shall deal with them as they have dealt with others; and when these sponges are full of what they have unjustly sucked up, shall squeeze them, and make them refund their ill-gotten treasure. Thus God threatens the Chaldeans (Habakk…

He that believes will not make haste (Isaiah 28:16). This the Lord pleads for (Habakkuk 2:3, 4). Men will have their desires precisely accomplished this year, this month, this week, or they will wait no longer; these, says God are proud men, their hearts are lifted up in them, t…

When the Pharisees spoke to our Saviour to rebuke his disciples for their loud praises of the Lord with Hosannas, he tells them, if they should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Luke 19:39-40). And we read in Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:11) of the stone crying out…

is that enquiry which gives men their first initiation into religion: see Acts 2:37; chapter 16:30; Micah 6:6, 7, 8. This question being once raised in the conscience, an answer must be returned to it: I will consider, says the Prophet, what I shall answer, when I am reproved (H…

If you would be violent, be vigilant. The Prophet stood upon his watch-tower (Habakkuk 2:1). Why are Christians so listless in their work, but because they are so careless in their watch.

All saving grace is humble grace (1 Corinthians 15:10). But the soul which is lifted up, is not upright (Habakkuk 2:4). Lastly, Can you (my soul) rejoice and bless God for the grace imparted to others?

Or suppose a pair of chariot-wheels were let loose in the top of a huge mountain, and should move down some hundred thousands of millions of miles for hundreds of years after the man who set them first a-work, were dead; so we fools believe that God gave a mighty strong shake or…