Haggai

To them that are defiled is nothing pure. Under the law, if a man who was unclean by a dead body had carried a piece of holy flesh in his skirt, the holy flesh had not cleansed him, but he had polluted that (Haggai 1:12-13). An emblem of a sinner's polluting his holy offering.

I made haste, and delayed not to keep your commandments. Many people are convinced of the necessity of looking after the kingdom of glory, but they say as those (Haggai 1:2), The time is not yet come. They adjourn and put off, till their time is slipped away, and so they lose th…

25. A subtlety of Satan in tempting is to persuade men to delay their repenting and turning to God. He says, as in Haggai 1:2, "The time is not yet come." Now youth is budding, or you are but in the flower of your age, it is too soon to repent, the time is not yet come.

God's blessing is riches, says Solomon (Proverbs 10:22). You may eat and not have enough, be clothed and not warm, earn wages and put it in a broken bag (Haggai 1:6), if God does not bless you. This blessing of God is called the staff of bread (Isaiah 3:1).

But in the latter the dissolute Epicure argues quite otherwise, Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die, a quite different conclusion from the same principle: So here, Grace abounds, let us be much in duty says the spiritual man, let sin abound says the carnal. Again, com…

God's blessing is riches, says Solomon (Proverbs 10:22). You may eat, and not have enough, be clothed and not warm, earn wages, and put it in a broken bag (Haggai 1:6), if God do not bless you. This blessing of God is called the staff of bread (Isaiah 3:1).

Also for the better relieving of the poor, distributors of the Church relief (Acts 6:2; Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:7, etc.). All which we must know, delight in, procure, and every one according to his own calling set forward; as (Psalms 27:4; 42:23; 1 Chronicles 13:1; 29:6, 7, 8,…

Those that by unlawful means get up to honor and wealth, seem to have accepted the devil's offer, they think he is lord of the world, and all the kingdoms and the glory thereof. Do not look upon wealth as the devil's gift, as a thing to be gotten by fraud, flattery, corruption,…

The meaning of the text is, that they dranke liberally, or that they dranke of the best together. For the word (shakar) signifies not onely to be drunke in drinking, but also to drinke liberally, or to drinke of the best drinke, Hag 1:6. Obiect.

And he calls that which is bestowed upon the ministers of the word, seed, which being sown, does recompense the cost, thirty, sixty, a hundred fold: that so they might not think their labor lost, nor their cost bestowed in vain, seeing they were to receive, that which they laid…

In regard of which, Haggai takes up a bitter complaint against those of his time; Is it time for yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house to lie waste? Again, You suffer this house to lie waste, and you run every man to his own house (Haggai 1:4, 1:9). And yet i…

And so by some outward employment, he jostled the power of the word from his heart, and had not convenient time to embrace Jesus Christ. Fourthly, consider this, that this plea of yours (in making your callings an excuse to neglect your effectual calling) it is the only way to p…

Now as their manner is to fasten all their conjectures, be they true or false, on some place, word, or letter of the Scripture, so have they done this assertion also. Observing or supposing the want of sundry things in the second House, they pretend that want to be intimated (Ha…

You Lord [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] wilt not with-hold, or restrain your mercy from me. So also to shut up, or put a stop to; as Jeremiah 52:3, Haggai 1:10, 1 Samuel 25:33, Psalm 88:9. From there is [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] Carcer, a prison wherein men are put under restrain…

This is the Decree or Commandment mentioned in Ezra 6. granted by Darius, upon appeal made to him from his neighbouring Governours; and it was a mere revival of the Decree of Cyrus, the Roll whereof was found in Achmetha in the Province of the Medes, v. 2. And this is that which…

It is not every degree of scarcity of bread that presently makes a famine, but a general failing of it; when no bread is to be had, or that which is, yields no nutriment. For a famine may as well be occasioned by God's taking away panis nutrimentum, the nourishing virtue of brea…

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…

But because he decrees to bring Jacob and such to glory, it follows not that he engaged by promise because of his eternal decree, to bring Jacob to glory, except we should say whatever God decrees to do, that also he promises to do; which were not good divinity. 3. As to his ord…

2. Therefore as the Lord's dominion determines the Sun to rise and move, rather than not to rise, and the Hawk and Eagle to fly toward the North, rather than not to fly toward the North; he destroys not the nature of necessary and natural causes, so we must not bid farewell to t…

These are full of pain, trouble, and disappointment. Haggai 1:6. We earn Wages, and put it into a Bag with holes, and disquiet our selves in vain; all our Relations full of trouble. The Apostle speaking to those that Marry, says, 1 Corinthians 7:28. Such shall have trouble in th…

Affliction is sanctified to this end, to open the eyes, it brings us to ourselves. So (Haggai 1:5-7), Now consider your ways, now [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], lay your hearts upon your ways: when they sowed much, and brought in little, and what they earned was put into a bag wit…

(Psalm 4:4) Commune with your own heart upon your beds. (Haggai 1:5) Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. God's complaint was, They would not consider his ways (Job 34:27; Isaiah 1:3) — my people does not consider.

But men in love with their lusts, make a woeful use of this consideration, hardening themselves in their conceit, that there shall never be a change, and so sin more securely. See the like in other things: (1 Corinthians 7:29), (1 Corinthians 15:32), (Jude 24), (Romans 6:2), (2…

Charge them, that they be not the companions of fools; charge them that they do not associate themselves into an intimacy and a familiarity with any but such as may be sober, discreet, blameless persons. Finally, lay upon them that charge of God in (Haggai 1:5), Thus says the Lo…

It is the judgment of most of the learned writers both Rabbins and others, that the oracular consultation with the Breastplate continued no longer than to the captivity of Babylon, Urim and Thummim being lost at the captivity of Babylon, and wanting at the people's return, as th…

14. And upon this account there is required a deadening of our hearts to shipping and trading with diverse mighty nations, as we see in the case of Tyre (Ezekiel 27), of Babylon (Revelation 18:11-13; Jeremiah 51). So are we to be mortified to fair houses (Isaiah 5:8), stately ci…

So on the other hand, if there be a taking from the Word of God, in matters referring to his worship, days of trouble will come. In case churches shall not come up fully to practice the institutions of Christ, and to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, the Lord wi…

'Tis natural to us to procrastinate and put off Repentance. We say as (Haggai 1:2). The time is not yet come.

I will send you wine and oyl. Sin blasts the fruits of the earth, (Haggai 1:6). Ye have sown much, and bring in little.

And to this purpose David says, that God gives wine, to make glad the heart of man, and oil to make the face to shine, as well as bread to strengthen the body (Psalm 104:15). And the Lord threatens to bring a punishment upon his people (Haggai 1:6), in that he would give them hi…

Lastly, let me return once again to all that are here in God's presence this day to humble themselves before him: learn we hence, for this day, and henceforward, these two lessons. Let us all examine by this providence what sins they have been, that have given Satan so much foot…

2. Unless the kingdom of grace be set up in our hearts, our purest offerings are defiled; they may be good as to the matter but not as to the manner, they want that which should meliorate and sweeten them under the Law. If a man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece o…

Great was the work of creation, but greater was the work of redemption. As it was said (Haggai 2:9), "The glory of the second temple was greater than the glory of the first temple": so the glory of the redemption was greater than the glory of the creation. Great wisdom was seen…

From the giving of the first Promise, and throughout under the dispensation of the Law, Christ and his coming into the world were the hope of all believers, the great thing which they desired, longed and hoped for. Hence was he called, the Desire of all Nations (Haggai 2), that…

Upon the return of the people from their captivity, neither the Temple, nor the worship of it, nor any of the administrations of the Covenant, nor the Priesthood, were ever restored to their pristine beauty and glory. And whereas the people in general were much distressed at the…

(2.) He did it to exercise the faith of the Church called by virtue of the promise, in the expectation of its accomplishment. And by the various ways whereby God cherished their faith and hope was he glorified in all ages (Luke 1:70; Matthew 13:16; Luke 10:24; 1 Peter 1:10, 11;…

When he had but cast out the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, the priests and scribes begin to plot his death (Luke 19:45, 47). No, where Christ and the Gospel come, there is a shaking of heaven and earth (Haggai 2:6). The less wonder, if I call Reformation like a refiner's…

There are many that hate the true Temple, and the true Church, that is, the communion of saints, yet magnify the outward buildings, as if there were no other Church but only that. So the Jews, when God would have them build his own Temple there they were slack enough: in (Haggai…

Hence He was called "the Coming One." Such is the sense of the question of John (Matthew 11:3): "Are you the Coming One?" — and He had been desired from Adam onward: "the Desire of all nations" (Haggai 2:7). At the appointed time, therefore — that is, when the time destined for…

First, the subject ours; that is, such as we in Christ be heirs of, to use, being sanctified by word and prayer (1 Timothy 4; 1 Corinthians 3:22). The second by the adjoint, such as is both apt, and able by his blessing to nourish us; seeing we may have money, and put it in a bo…

No; (verse 2) "Many people shall say, Come, and let us go to the mountain of the Lord's house." (Haggai 2:7) "And the desire of all nations shall come" — did all nations, quantum in se, so far as lay in them, desire Christ? No such thing.

The scepter of Christ whereby he smites the nations, is in his mouth (Isaiah 11:4): that is, in the Ministry of the word (Jeremiah 15:19). And it is the same Ministry, which shakes heaven and earth (Haggai 2:5). By this it appears, that to take a text, and to make a discourse up…

But Haggai to comfort them, and to show that the glory of the second Temple shall far surpass the first, albeit the outward form of it were less beautiful, brings them forthwith to the Redeemer, saying on this manner: Thus says the Lord of hosts; Yet a little while, and I will s…

We must therefore comprehend all these things together, if we will attain to the true meaning of the Prophet's words. And in this sense it is that Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai do encourage the people touching the hope of their estate to come, while they thought they lost so mu…

Both these also were to be continued until the coming of the Messiah, but by no endeavours afterwards. Hence was that promise of the glory of the second House, built after the Captivity, and restored by Herod, because of his coming to it who was signified by it (Haggai 2:9; Mala…

The sense also of the words given by the LXX. and that Vulgar, [in non-Latin alphabet], expectatio Gentium, have good countenance given to it, in other places of Scripture. For as he is called, (Haggai 2:7) [in non-Latin alphabet], the desire of all nations, that which they desi…

First, By certain [in non-Latin alphabet], or evident tokens, taken from the Judaical Church, with the state and condition of the whole people of the Jews. This we have insisted on from Genesis 49:10, Haggai 2:8, Malachi 3:1, 2. Secondly, By a computation of the time its self as…

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…

And this life is called the blood, because it is contained or carried in the blood (Genesis 9:4). Further, it is also observable, that the Hebrews call the body separated from the soul, or a dead corpse, Nephesh (Numbers 5:2; 9:10; 19:11; Haggai 2:14). Though the life be quite g…

So then, from this we may see, that a seal, or signet, signifies, 1. What one has a precious esteem of; and therefore, (Jeremiah 22:24) the Lord says of Coniah, though you were the signet on my right hand, etc. And, (Haggai 2:23) the Lord expresses his love to Jerusalem in this,…

4. The next concomitant was his first coming into the second temple, which was his being brought thither when an infant, on occasion of the purification of the blessed Virgin. We read, Haggai 2:7. "The desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house (or temple) with…

The supreme power over Israel should be no more in the royal line of David, to which it properly belonged, but should be removed away, and given to others, and overturned from one to another: First the supreme power over Israel should be in the hands of the Persians; and then it…

The visible kingdom of Satan shall be overthrown, and the kingdom of Christ set up on the ruins of it, everywhere throughout the whole habitable globe. Now shall the promise made to Abraham be fulfilled, That "in him and in his seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed…

The glory of man is their delight. Hence (Haggai 2:7) he is called the desire of all nations: him whom their soul loves and delights in, desire, and long after. So is the saints' delight in him made a description of him by way of eminence (Malachi 3:1).

What is said of life, is true also of his estate, he is not an owner so much as a steward, that's the notion of our possession; we are stewards, and must render an account to God (Hosea 2:9): I will return and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season ther…

Where that word is used, it denotes not Christ: though 2 Samuel 23:2, where that word is, is urged by some to that purpose. He is also called [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] (Haggai 2:5), so perhaps in other places. Our present Quakers would have that expression of, the word of God, u…

2. On this condition we possess and enjoy the good things of this world, namely to part with them when God calls us to it. We are not absolute owners but tenants at will (Haggai 2:8): The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Hosts. The absolute disposal of the…

It brings a curse upon all our comforts, blasts all our blessings, the best of all our endeavors, the use of all the choicest of all God's ordinances: it's so evil and vile, that it makes the use of all good things, and all the most glorious, both ordinances and improvements evi…

To the unclean all things are unclean (Titus 1:15); their offering is unclean. Under the law, if a man who was unclean by a dead body, did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt, the holy flesh could not cleanse him, but he polluted that (Haggai 2:12-13). He who had the lepros…

It is the judgment of most of the learned writers both Rabbins and others, that the oracular consultation with the Breastplate continued no longer than to the captivity of Babylon, Urim and Thummim being lost at the captivity of Babylon, and wanting at the people's return, as th…

A gracious heart, seeing how far short his renewed state (forthe present) falls of mans primitive holiness by Creation, cannot but weep and mourn, (as the Jewes to behold the second Temple▪) yet (Christian even while the tears are in your eyes for your imperfect graces, (for a s…

When the mountain, upon which it was delivered, the Mediator Moses, into whose hand it was delivered, and the people, for whose use it was delivered, did all shake and tremble, at the voice, power and presence of Christ, who, as it hence appears, is that Jehovah who gave the Law…

Thirdly, all the proficiencies of nature cannot make a man's endeavors good before God; though they may serve to excuse a man to himself, yet not to God. If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt does touch flesh shall it be unclean, says the Lord in…

What is the reason why many ordinary men drudge and toil all the year long, think every hour in the Church so much time lost from their life, are not able to forbear their covetous practices on God's own day, count any time of their life, any work of their hand, any sheaf of the…

Are works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use, both to themselves, and others, are they (I say) sinful, and cannot please God? Yes. (Haggai 2:14; Titus 1:15; Amos 5:21-22; Hosea 1:4; Romans 9:16; Titus…