Zechariah 12

Quest. How is faith wrought? Resp. By the blessed Spirit it is called the Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10), because it is the spring and efficient of all grace. Faith is the chief work which the Spirit of God works in a man's heart.

Question: What shall we do to obtain a penitential frame of heart? Response: Seek to God for it: it is his promise to give a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36) and to pour on us a spirit of mourning (Zechariah 12:10). Beg God's Holy Spirit.

There is a promise of a fountain opened for the washing away the guilt of sin (Zechariah 13:1). But see what goes before (Zechariah 12:10). They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for him (Isaiah 1:16).

The grace which we must desire, is the spirit of grace and [reconstructed: supplications] (Zechariah 12:10), which is that gift of the Holy Ghost, whereby we are enabled to call to God for the pardon of our sins. A man having offended the laws of a prince, and being in danger of…

And so is the case with us by reason of our sins; we are God's debtors, indeed bankrupts before him, yet have we gotten a good surety, even the son of God himself, who to recover us to our former liberty was crucified for the discharge of our debt. And therefore good cause have…

1. This soul was by its first creation a spirit, and that in the substance or native kind thereof; and in that respect (considered apart from its union with the body) is in a more special manner allied to God, than all other creatures (but angels) are. You have the pedigree of m…

Make mourning as for an only Son, most bitter lamentation. Indeed, so deep and penetrating is this grief that the Holy Spirit borrows it to express the deepest spiritual troubles by it (Zechariah 12:10), They shall mourn for him, namely Christ whom they pierced, as one mourns fo…

Use 2. Take with this sin, acknowledge and seek pardon for it; it were a good token of some tenderness, to be mourning for enmity against Christ, and for undervaluing of him, as well as for drunkenness, fornication, theft, or any other gross sin. And where that gracious and righ…

Make a supposition, that a man in his madness should smite and wound his head, or wrong his Wife, his Father, or his Brother; when that fit of madness is over, he is more affected with that wrong than if it had been done to any other member of his body, or to other persons not a…

O what expression of tenderness! and to all these, is added a new robe, and a ring for ornament, and a feast, the fat calf is killed, and the Lord sings, and dances, Verse 23, 24, 25. Peter's denial of Christ brought him to weeping, flowing from the Spirit of grace poured on Dav…

And (Jeremiah 50:4), In those days, and at that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah, going and weeping, they shall seek the Lord. (Zechariah 12:11) And in that day, there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning o…

Object 10. But it is impossible I can be fitted with sorrow for sin or repentance, before I believe in Christ. Answer. We teach not that you must first repent, then believe; or first believe, then repent; but that some legal acts of sorrow, and bruisings of spirit, and self-desp…

When the soul has the Lord Jesus, the highest and chiefest cause of rejoicing it has, is, only its having of Christ (Galatians 6:14). If he has his part in Christ, that is his crown and his portion, he counts it a goodly portion, his lot is fallen into a pleasant place; if we ha…

Secondly, it serves to teach us all to bemoan our own estates, or the estates of any of ours, that we yet see in the gall of bitterness, lying in an estate of nature; is it yourself, or your father, or mother, or your children or servants? Whatever he be, be he never so good a n…

If the Psalmist speaks of it, he says, they were out of, and beyond themselves for joy, as in a comfortable dream; the news seemed to be too good to be true, and they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and if the Prophet Jeremiah speaks of the very same people, and the same time…

Surely such a house were a more blessed beautiful edifice than any prince's palace under heaven. It is the disposition of gospel-penitents to mourn every family apart, husbands and wives apart (Zechariah 12:11-12). And of gracious souls, to be like doves of the valleys, every on…

First, by beholding Christ crucified, we see our misery and wickedness. For our sins are the swords, and spears which have crucified him (Zechariah 12:10). Secondly, this sight brings us true and lively comfort: for beholding Christ crucified, we see Paradise as it were in the m…

The first is, to cast down everything in us, that exalts itself against God (2 Corinthians 10), as namely, to beat down erroneous reason, and rebellious affection, and to put a man out of heart with his chief delights, and with his own self. The second action is, to kindle in ou…

So then the true meaning of the present passage, in my opinion, is this: ‐Hitherto I have lived among you in humility and kindness, and have discharged the office of a teacher; and now having finished the course of my calling, I shall depart, and it will not be possible for you…

That the joy by which they are intoxicated may not excite the envy of believers, Christ declares that it will at length be turned into mourning and gnashing of teeth. He alludes, I think, to Zechariah 12:11-14, where God, informing them that a striking display of his judgment wi…

So it is with their Sorrow for their own Sins. Thus the Future gracious Mourning of true Penitents, at the Beginning of the latter Day Glory, is represented as being so secret, as to be hidden from the Companions of their Bosom; Zechariah 12:12-14. 'And the Land shall mourn, eve…

For (1) we are often called to behold Christ, and to look upon him; or it is promised that we shall do so, Isa. 45. 22. Zech. 12. 10. Now this beholding of Christ or looking on him, is the Consideration of him by Faith to the Ends for which he is exhibited, proposed and set fort…

First, it appears without controversy to be the greatest of all, because it was upon his children: a man's children are more than all that he has in the world: a man's children are himself, every child is the father multiplied; a son is the father's bowels: and therefore when Pa…

And then the bitterness also of the sufferings of Christ, are brought to mind. They look on him whom they have pierced and mourn, Zechariah 12:10. They remember his gall and wormwood; his cryes and tears; his agony and sweat, his desertion and anguish; his blood and death; the s…

Yea these Graces have the most eminent promises annexed to them, as Isaiah 57:15. chap. 66:2. with blessedness it self, Matthew 5:4. yea they are themselves the matter of many Gracious gospel promises, Zechariah 12:10. so that they are assuredly consistent with any other grace o…

This holds forth these things: 1. That there is an excellent courage and boldness, with which the believer is furnished beyond others; he is bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1), both in duties and sufferings. 2. That there is in believers an undauntedness of spirit, and an unconquera…

By moving of the bowels (or sounding, or making a noise, as the word is elsewhere translated, Isaiah 10:11 and 63:15) is understood a sensible stirring of the affections, when they begin to stound, and that kindly, and in a most affectionate manner, either severally, or jointly,…

We read of the voice of the Lord in power, the voice of the Lord in majesty, the voice of the Lord upon the waters, the voice of the Lord dividing the flames of fire, the voice of the Lord shaking the wilderness of Kadesh, breaking the cedars of Lebanon, and the like, which is t…

God does set a mark upon them that mourn in London for the sins of London, and however he may deal with them in regard of temporal calamities, be sure he will separate them, and preserve them from eternal destruction. Methinks, the fall of London calls for a mourning like the mo…

As it was with Paul after the Spirit of God had laid hold of him, then the next news is, "Behold, he prays!" so it has been in all remarkable pourings out of the Spirit of God that we have any particular account of in scripture; and so it is foretold it will be at the great pour…

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me." The same is promised again in Isaiah 59:21 and Isaiah 43:1, 2 and Zechariah 12:2, 3. So Christ promises the same, when he says, "On this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hel…

Nor can it be forgotten, that though Moses was so eminent for meekness, yet he once transgressed the laws of it; when he was old, and his spirit was provoked, he spoke unadvisedly with his lips, and it went ill with him for it (Psalm 106:32-33), which is written, not for imitati…

It is ill jesting with edge-tools. Jerusalem will certainly be a burdensome stone to all people, that burden themselves with it (Zechariah 12:3). They that spurn at the rock of salvation, will not only be unable to remove it, but will find it a stone of stumbling, and a rock of…

The Gates of Hell, are the power and policy of Hell; for it is conceived to be an allusive speech to the Gates of the Iews wherein their Ammunition for War was lodged, which also were the Seats of Judicature, there sate the Judges: but yet, these Gates of Hell shall not prevail.…

Isaiah 32:15: until the Spirit be poured on us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest; that is, till the Gentiles be called, and the Jews rejected. And chapter 43, verse 3: I will pour my Spirit upon your seed, and my…

But of this elsewhere. He is also called the Spirit of supplication, under which notion he is promised (Zechariah 12:10), and how he affects that in us, is declared (Romans 8:26-27 and Galatians 4:6), and we are thence said to pray in the Holy Ghost. Our prayers may be considere…

This is but a great and strong wind, that the Lord is near unto, but the Lord is not in the wind. When men do truly look upon Christ whom they have pierced (without which there is no healing or peace), they will mourn (Zechariah 12:10); they will mourn for him even upon this acc…

Is it not from the Spirit? He is the Spirit of supplication promised to them who look on him whom they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10), enabling them to pray with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:16). This is confessed to be the great medium or way of faith's pre…

He works all our works in us (Isaiah 26:12); the work of faith with power (2 Thessalonians 1:11; Colossians 2:12). He causes us to pray, and is a Spirit of supplication (Romans 8:26; Zechariah 12:10); and yet we are exhorted, and are to be exhorted to all these. 2. He does not s…

3. I might argue from God's end in pouring out the Holy Spirit; why has God poured out his Spirit? (Zechariah 12:11-14) I will pour out the Spirit of grace, and of supplication, etc. He pours out the Spirit, that it may break out by this vent; the Spirit of grace will presently…

And the Prophet describes them by the work of prayer (Zephaniah 3:10): My supplicants. And (Zechariah 12:10): I will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication. Where ever there is a Spirit of Grace, it presently runs out into prayer.

(Galatians 4:6) "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." And (Zechariah 12:10): "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace, and of supplication." Wherever the Sp…

The world who are wholly sunk in flesh and matter, are little acquainted with these elevations and enlargements of the Spirit, think all to be imposture and enthusiasm. And though praying by the Spirit be a great privilege, (Jude 20. praying in the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:26. Likew…

So Zedekiah swore by the God that made his soul. So (Zechariah 12) He formed the spirit of man within him. The parent does instrumentally produce man in respect of his body, yet the soul is from God, and immediately created and infused into the body by him; and being put into th…

And Jeremiah says when he would weep for the people (Jeremiah 13:17): My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride. And (Zechariah 12:12-13): They shall mourn every family apart, the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart, etc. Sorrow affects solitude an…

There are many, too many, that mourn under affliction, yet laugh over their sins; that sigh and weep when they feel any burden on their bodies, but make merry at that which destroys their soul! Can anything be more mad than these, that laugh, mock, and make sport at that which i…

This is the constant method of God: first to show man his sin then his Savior; first his danger then his redeemer; first his wound, then his cure; first his own vileness, then Christ's righteousness. We must be brought to cry out unclean, unclean, to mourn for him whom we have p…

And this adds to our encouragement, it is the season and time wherein the Lord has promised much of his spirit and presence, and therefore we may look for it. The weak shall be as David (Zechariah 12:8). David we know was eminent and marvelous [illegible] in this service, you [i…

Let us pray that we who have the poison of the serpent may have the tears of the dove. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of mourning; let us pray that God would pour that Spirit of grace upon us, whereby we may look on him whom we have pierced, and mourn for him (Zechariah 12:10). G…

Second, the Spirit of God is a sanctifying before a comforting Spirit. As God's Spirit is called the Comforter, so he is called a spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10). Grace is the work of the Spirit; comfort is the seal of the Spirit.