Zechariah 5

Sin rots the name, consumes the estate, buries relations. Sin shoots the flying roll of God's curses into a family and kingdom (Zechariah 5:4). It is reported of Phocas, having built a wall of mighty strength about his city, there was a voice heard, [illegible], Sin is within th…

So the sword of God's wrath and curse hangs every moment over a sinner's head. We read of a flying roll written with curses (Zechariah 5:3). There is a roll written with curses that goes out against every person that lives and dies in sin: God's curse blasts wherever it comes.

When God's flying roll or curse goes over the face of the earth, into whose house does it enter? Into the house of him that swears falsely: and it shall consume the timber and stones of his house (Zechariah 5:4). Beza relates of a perjurer, that he had no sooner taken a false oa…

That is the best obedience that is cheerful; as that is the sweetest honey which drops out of the comb. Obey God swiftly (Zechariah 5:9), I lift up my eyes and behold two women, and the wind was in their wings. Wings are swift, but wind in the wings denotes great swiftness; such…

(4.) The judgments which follow this sin. Achan the thief was stoned to death (Joshua 7), and Zechariah 5:2: What do you see? And I said, A flying roll.

(2.) Obedience must be cheerful; I delight to do your will, O my God, yes, your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8). That is the sweetest obedience which is cheerful, as that is the sweetest honey which drops from the comb freely: God does sometimes accept of willingness without…

The Man Gabriel (that was an Angel) being caused to fly swiftly: Thus should we do God's Will as the Angels, as soon as ever God speaks the Word, we should be ambitious to obey, alas! how long is it sometimes ere we can get leave of our hearts to go to a duty; Christ went more r…

Thirdly, if God will honor them that honor him; then by the contrary, consider what a miserable case many a man is in: For, those that dishonor God, God will dishonor them again; as we may see at large, and very plainly, in the example of Eli, and his two sons: for, them that ho…

An instance of the former you have in Genesis 17. 18, 20. On the contrary, you have the threatning, Zechariah 5:4 and both together, Proverbs 3:33 The Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he Blesseth the habitation of the just. True it is, that both these imply t…

You see then what a universal curse these words denounce: a curse that sets its mouth, and discharges its thunder against all the sinful sons of Adam. A curse it is, which as Zechariah speaks (Zechariah 5:3), goes forth over the face of the whole earth, and will, if mercy rebate…

Pray not for this people, neither [reconstructed: lift] up a cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear you. And so (Zechariah 5:4), speaking of the curse that should go forth over the face of the whole earth, I will bring it forth, says the Lo…

O if the careless atheist and sleeping man, who edges by all with 'God forgive our pastors if they lead us wrong, we must do as they command,' and lays down his head upon time's bosom and gives his conscience to a deputy, and sleeps so while the smoke of hell fire flies up in hi…

That is, it brings the heavy Judgment of God upon whole Nations, under which they shall [•]ourn. And in Zechariah 5:2, 3, 4. you have there [〈◊〉]Roll of cuses, (i. e.) a Catalogue of judgments and [•]oes, the length thereof twenty Cubits (i. e. ten yards.) [•]o set out the multi…

Sin lays a heavy yoke upon people. Sin is compared to a talent of lead (Zechariah 5:7), to show its heaviness. The commands of sin are burdensome; let a man be under the power and rage of any lust — whether covetousness or ambition — how he tires and tortures himself!

Men know covetousness is a sin; the Greek word for covetousness signifies an immoderate desire of getting, like Midas who desired everything he touched might be turned to gold; the several species of sin grow upon this root of covetousness (2 Timothy 3:2) — yet men live in this…

In sorrow you shalt bring forth. A man vexs his thoughts in plotting of sin; and when sin has conceived, in sorrow he brings forth: Like one who takes a great deal of pains in opening a flood-gate, and when he has opened it, the flood comes in upon him, and drowns him: So a man…

It is a Moth in the Wardrobe, Murrain among the Cattle, Rot among the Sheep. If the flying Roll of curses enters into a mans house, it consumes the timber and walls of it, Zechariah 5.4. When Christ cursed the fig tree, it presently withered, Matthew 21.19.

When men hasten the maturity of sin like the blossoms of an almond tree, (which come soonest out) then says the Lord will I hasten the judgments which I have pronounced. We read in the Prophet Zechariah of an ephah, a measure into which all the wickedness of that people, figured…