Zechariah 8

'Tis natural for the water to quench the fire, but for the fire to consume the water, this is impossible in the course of nature: But God can bring about all this (Jeremiah 32:27). There is nothing too hard for you (Zechariah 8:6). If it be marvelous in your eyes, should it be m…

When men take a false oath, and by that take away the life of another. Zechariah 8:17: Love no false oath. Chapter 5:2: What do you see?

First from making the true God an idol in your thoughts, by forming apprehensions unworthy of the glory of his essence (Psalm 50:21), You thought that I was altogether like yourself. Now thus we do when we conceive him of such a mercy as to hold fellowship with one that continue…

How goodly then would be your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel! Then, as it is prophesied of the Jews — Zechariah 8:23 — men would say, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is among you.' It is the fellowship your souls have with the Father and with the…

But that the thing may be the better understood, let us take with us, at least, some few general observations, concerning this Temple of Ezekiel, as it represents what should come to pass in the Church of Christ. First of all, there is but one Temple, not many shewed to him: whi…

It is scarce imaginable how a professing people should stand in greater need of prayer, than we do at this day. You were formerly bespoke from that very pertinent text (Zechariah 8:21): "The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before t…

Not only, therefore, does he denounce the punishment of their present cruelty, but says that they must be called to account for the murder of Zechariah, as if their own hands had been imbrued in his blood. There is no probability in the opinion of those who refer this passage to…

God is their shield and their exceeding great reward; and their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ; and they have the divine promise and oath, that in the world to come, they shall dwell forever in the glorious presence of God. It may well be sufficient…

And this kind of expression in the Scripture, when a thing is said to be called that which it is; the name denoting the being, nature, and quality of it, is so frequent, that there is nothing peculiar in it as here used. See (Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 8:3; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:6; Z…

1. Because people do not hearken to the voice of his word and messengers; God speaks audibly by ministers, and when they are not regarded, he speaks more feelingly by judgments; he speaks first by threatenings, and when they are slighted, he speaks by executions. God first lifts…

(7) That will be a time of the greatest temporal prosperity. Such a spiritual state as we have just described has a natural tendency to temporal prosperity: it has a tendency to health and long life; and that this will actually be the case, is evident by Zechariah 8:4. "Thus sai…

2. His forbearance though there be faults in their service. 3. His making known to his the difference between such as serve God, and such as serve him not: and Zechariah 8, the inhabitants of one City encourage the inhabitants of another; and the fruits of it is 1. Praying. 2. O…

Be rather frequenting hospitals of sick ones, making it your work to gain many; it's like to Christ (Luke 16:6, 7, 10; Matthew 9:10, 11, 12, 13; Luke 15). God ordinarily showers influences and promises influences to the flocking together of the godly, and the pouring of his spir…

It is foretold, that the Work of God should be carried on very much by this Means, in the last great Out-pouring of the Spirit, that should introduce the glorious Day of the Church, so often spoken of in Scripture. Zechariah 8:21, 22, 23. And the Inhabitants of one City, shall g…

That is, with silence and reverence receive his commands: and the like everywhere. So for the scandal of persecution, it is everywhere declared that in the latter days the enemies shall be the subjected party, glad to take hold of the skirt of a Jew (Zechariah 8), bow to the sol…

3. Recreation, which in young children especially is needful for their health. In that Zechariah 8:5 told the Jews, and that in way of blessing, that boys and girls should be playing in the streets, he implies that it is a lawful and fitting thing, which parents should permit to…

It may well be sufficient to induce us to resolve to cleave to those that forsake their Sins and Idols, to join themselves with this People, that God is with them. Zechariah 8:23. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, in those Days it shall come to pass, that ten Men shall take hold, ou…

Indeed, it is one of the sins that draws down public and national judgments; and therefore it is said (Hosea 4:2): By swearing and lying therefore does the land mourn. And when God gives advice to his people how they should prevent his judgments (Zechariah 8:16-17): These are th…

Hence men do naturally choose and delight in those things which the Lord abhors. Zechariah 8:17: Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against your neighbors, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, says the Lord. So then the things which God hates, the vile a…

What congruity or suitableness was there then for this work, unless you will make contrariety and the height of sinful rage, and opposition to be congruity? This is God's manner to do wonderful things beyond the reach of common reason; when it was hard to the people of the capti…

Go into their societies as men that resolve to go to the court; for where the King is, the court is; and where God is, Heaven is: the Lord has two thrones; the one of glory in Heaven, where he is all in all to his; another here on earth, a humble heart, where he does all only of…

Unity in faith and discipline is a mercy we cannot prize enough. This is what God has promised (Jeremiah 32:39) and what we should pursue (Zechariah 8:19). Ambrose said of Emperor Theodosius that when he lay sick, he took more care for the church's peace than for his own recover…

In regard of which he says, verse 2: Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband. (Zechariah 8:7) Thus says the Lord, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country. 8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the…

And doubtless God ratified the execution of his own ordinances in heaven, then, as well as now: what the immediate effect of their services was, how far by their own force they reached, and what they typified, how in signification only, and not immediately they extended to an ad…

2. That for a public, formal, ministerial teaching, two things are required in the Teacher: first, gifts from God: secondly, authority from the Church (and I speak now of ordinary cases), he that wants either, is no true Pastor: for the first, God sends none upon an employment,…

Now we have a greater sister: What shall we the Gentiles do for her? There's a day, when ten men shall take hold, out of all nations, of the skirt of a Jew, saying, we will go with you; we have heard that God is with you (Zechariah 8:21). 2. It is the happiness of our land, that…

So common a practice of fasting without due respect had to the occasion, makes it lose the due respect of it. Objection: The Jews in the time of the captivity had many set fasts in the year, as in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months (Zechariah 8:19). Answer: They had sp…

That it is the work of men's hands, or a human invention, I showed before: for the rest: it has a mouth, unacquainted with the mysteries of godliness, full only of cursing and bitterness (Romans 3:14), speaking great swelling words (Jude verse 16), great things and blasphemies (…