Zechariah 4

But as God had fore-signified what he would do, when the time of the reformation of all things should come, so when he performed his word herein, he did it in that manner, with that evidence of his glory and power, as introduced him against all opposition. For when the appointed…

So then if you think you have good works, consider whether you can deny your selves in them, and acknowledge God in them all: perhaps you say, I live, but do you say also, yet not I but Christ, &c. If your works be from God (in that sense we are speaking of) God will own them, a…

Thirdly, the work is begun and shall it not be finished? God has laid the foundation, and shall he not bring forth the head stone (Zechariah 4:7, 9)? Christ has put Antichrist from his outer works in Scotland, and he is now come to put him from his inner works in England.

It shall be firmer than all worldly power, and the strongest kings (Isaiah 2:2): And the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established upon the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. Above mountains and hills, to which sometimes the powers of the world a…

Again (Daniel 10:9), when I heard his voice, then was I in a deep sleep. So the Prophet Zechariah in the midst of his visions (Zechariah 4:1), the Angel of the Lord wakened me as one in a deep sleep, any eminent passion causes sleep, and they were astonished so with these vision…

This Power they could no way conflict withal; yet God tells them that all this Opposition shall be removed and conquered. Who art you, saith he, O great Mountain? before Zerubbabel you shalt become a plain, Zech. 4. 7. All the hindrance that arose from that great Mountain of the…

Sect. 1 VVE have considered the Work of the Spirit of God in his laying the Foundation of the Church of the New Testament, by his Dispensations towards the Head of it, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Foundation Stone of this Building, with seven Eyes engraven on him, or filled…

Sun stand you still upon Gibeon, and you Moone in the valley of Ajalon (Joshua 10:12). Who are you, O great Mountaine? Before Zerubbabel, you shall become a plaine (Zechariah 4:7). The most Mountainous opposers shall be levelled, when the Spirit of God sets in for that purpose.

For the present I shall only intimate the continuance of this persuasion among the Jews, both then when the Apostle wrote to them, and afterwards. To this purpose is that of Jonathan in the Targum on Zechariah 4:7, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]: He shall reveal the Messiah whose n…

And hence the Targum of Jonathan, supposing the Spirit of Prophesie to be intended, referreth the words to the Prophets that were then among them, who instructed them in the Will of God. But by the Spirit, nothing is there intended, but the efficacious working of the Providence…

Our translators keep to the letter; he spoke to me. And that alone answers to the words of the verse foregoing; The Spirit of the Lord, [in non-Latin alphabet] spoke in me, or to me; so are the revelations of God expressed; see (Zechariah 4:1, 4), and it expresses the communicat…

It is said there, that they were sent to walk to and fro through the earth; it was not a bare passing through the earth, but a curious observing and prying into all things as they went: we translate it a walking to and fro, but it is a walking so as to bring God intelligence, fo…

In a word, she is where she would be, as the effects show. 2. Consider who brought her into these chambers; it is the King, even him she prayed to, to draw her, he has heard her: this King (as being the chief of all that ever bore that name) is called the King, by way of eminenc…

Even when he is away he is still coming, though it may be afterward the distance seem to grow greater, and the night of absence darker. The third thing is, that there are mountains which he comes over, that is something standing between him and us, marring our access to him, and…

1. The Spirit of God shall be gloriously poured out for the wonderful revival and propagation of religion. This great work shall be accomplished, not by the authority of princes, nor by the wisdom of learned men, but by God's Holy Spirit: Zechariah 4:6-7. "Not by might, nor by p…

Men spend and waste away their actings, and call not for the spirit to get them compassed about. We are men abundance to build the Temple, and mighty Kings favor us, and work-men have strength in legs and arms to lay stones in the wall: O but that will not do it (Zechariah 4:6).…

This then is that which we are peculiarly to eye in the Lord Jesus, to receive it from him, even GRACE, gospel grace, revealed in, or exhibited by the gospel. He is the headstone in the building of the temple of God, to whom GRACE, GRACE, is to be cried (Zechariah 4:7). Grace is…

If there be duty to be done, burden to be borne, or battle to be fought, Christ is giving in supply. As the olive trees (Zechariah 4:11-12) were always dropping into the lamps; so is he dropping in strength and grace into the heart. (Psalm 16:8) I have set the Lord always before…

The coming in of the kingdom of Christ, shall not be by the arm of flesh, nor shall it be the product of the strifes and contests of men which are in the world. It is not to be done by might or power, but by the spirit of the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6). Great wars, desolation…

Pray for us that the word of God may have a free course, that it may run as chariot wheels on smooth ground, without rubs and oppositions. There are many times mountains in the way, potent oppositions and strongly combined interests that hinder the liberty of the word, but God c…

Train up yourself thus, and diet your soul with [reconstructed: the] daily admiration of this rich mercy of the Lord, [reconstructed: feed] with [reconstructed: your] daily bread; it's mercy that gives, mercy that continues, mercy that perfects all spiritual good for you [recons…

1 As he is the second person of the Trinity, the wisdom of the Father to whom the dispensation of the great work of our salvation was committed, But, 2 and especially, (which most concerns our purpose) our Savior Christ is said to make all spiritual good ours, as Mediator, God a…

It's a gift, and free also, though one thirst, never so earnestly desire it, never so constantly endeavor to attain to that end, yet unless the Lord do more out of mercy, than any can procure by any sufficiency, or worth of his own, he will gain nothing. As it was in the buildin…

Both of these graces, like cordial-water, comfort the fainting soul — there is joy in believing (Romans 15:13), rejoicing in hope (Romans 5:2). Faith and hope, like those two golden pipes (Zechariah 4:12), empty their golden oil of joy into a Christian. But though in some things…

Therefore Solomon made ten Candlesticks of pure Gold (1 Kings 7:49), to set out yet further the increase and multiplying of the Churches of God. Upon this account also, the two witnesses are said to be two Candlesticks (Revelation 11:4), and the two anointed ones that stand befo…

And was not the national Church of Israel as powerfully able by the same spirit to do the same? Surely it was both spoken and meant of the national Church of the Jews, not by might nor by power, but my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6). So that by what I have already…

The second fullness that was in Christ, was a communicated fullness, which was in him by dispensation from his Father bestowed upon him to fit him for his work and office, as he was and is the Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5), not as he is the L…

When things were come to this, that the very presence of Christ with his people, was made the direct object of the hatred of men, the Lord could bear it no longer; but swore by himself, that time should be given them no more. In this very house he raised up saviors and deliverer…

And then when you come here, you shall find the word to have another manner of working upon you than it does ordinarily. If God is thus ready to punish his own children, and that thus sharply, it shows the sin of those that are fearless and careless, which provokes God exceeding…

O what a rare treasure is the Word of God! It is the field where the pearl of price is hid; how precious are the promises, they are the conduit that hold the water of life, they are like those two Olive branches, Zechariah 4, which through the two golden pipes did empty the gold…

The Engagement of the great God of Revenges against Murder and Treachery, the Interest of the Lord Christ and his kingdom, against the man of Sin, furnished the undertakers with manifold Promises to carry them out to a desired, a blessed Issue. Take now a brief view, of some Mou…

The Lord Jesus here chooses the most pure, precious, resplendent, durable, and valuable thing, in all the treasuries and magazines of nature, to shadow forth saving grace, which is infinitely more excellent: certainly that must be the best thing, which the best things in nature…

But how? Neither by King, nor Parliament, nor Armies, for (Zechariah 4:6): Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. When Babylon is to be destroyed (as the work is even now on the wheels in Britain) (Revelation 18:21): A mighty Angel took up the great millsto…

Therefore the Lord acquaints them with his power together with his promises: O my people, you shall know that I am the Lord! that is, that my ways and thoughts are infinitely above your shallow apprehensions, when I shall have brought you out of your graves (Ezekiel 37:11, 13).…

(§ 7.) The recovery and return of the people from the captivity of Babylon was a type of the spiritual redemption of the Church by Jesus Christ. And how God effected that as a type hereof, he declares (Zechariah 4:6): Not by army, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of…