Zephaniah 2

4. Of the Callings of the Ministry, out of two places of Scripture. 5. Of Repentance, out of (Zephaniah 2:1). Besides many other particular Sermons, and short discourses made upon several, and special occasions: of all which, some are already published by others, and some by mys…

Those Cities were utterly destroyed, and accordingly is the destruction of Sodom put for an utter overthrow. See (Isaiah 13:19; Zephaniah 2:9; Jeremiah 48:18; Jeremiah 50:40; 2 Peter 2:6). From there, that in judgements wicked men may be brought to an utter destruction.

For: "Jehovah is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting King: at His fury the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to endure His indignation. Thus," He says, "you shall say to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish f…

The great hypocrisy of many, who taking some delight in the thing outwardly, have no true feeling wrought by it, when they hear (Ezekiel 33:31-32). The brawny and fat heart, which being never a whit moved, never or to small purpose repeats, examines, applies, or practises (Ezeki…

A meek and quiet spirit, is before God, a thing much set by. Thirdly, God has made excellent promises to them that are of a meek and humble spirit, that he will guide them in judgment, and teach them his ways (Psalm 25:9), that they shall be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath (Z…

Next, Let us consider what this case does suppose, and include in it, and we shall find That it supposeth the people of God to have a foresight of troubles and distresses approaching and drawing near to them: I confess 'tis not always so, for many of our afflictions, as well as…

Your prayers are to be suitable to your conditions: sometimes we are called to praise, sometimes to humiliation. In the way of his Judgements you are to wait for him, Isaiah 26:8 to prepare to meet him, Zeph. 2. 1, 2. Amos 4:12 Now your business is, to turn away his anger which…

The Churches' mercies and deliverance, have their appointed season: in the midst of the years it shall be accomplished. As there is a decree bringing forth the wicked's destruction (Zephaniah 2:2), so there is a decree goes forth in its appointed season for the Churches' deliver…

If pride, lust, oppression abound, God will hear the cry, and will quench the fire of sin with a shower of blood. Objection. 2. Zephaniah 2. 1. I will search Jerusalem with candles. Implying, that something is hid out of his reach.

If nature teaches to prepare for temporal life, much rather Grace should provoke to greater care, soul food in time to gather. (Jeremiah 8:7; Matthew 16:26) Days of affliction, and distress are hastening on apace, If now I live in carelessness; how sad will be my case! (Zephania…

There is a double time: a time of preparing and trying before this unchangeable decree comes forth. (Zephaniah 2:1-2): Gather yourselves together, indeed gather together, O nation not desired, before the decree comes forth, before the day passes, as the chaff, before the fierce…

In the day of the Lord's anger, the meek of the earth are most likely to be secured. It may be you shall be hidden, so runs the promise (Zephaniah 2:3). If any be, you shall — you stand fairest for special protections.

1. That we must seek meekness. This command we have (Zephaniah 2:3), and (which is especially observable) it is directed to the meek of the earth: seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth: — seek meekness. Though they were meek, and were pronounced so by him that searches the he…

Must we not needs say, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? The several false religions of the heathen with their various superstitions and idolatries, though they gave very little opposition one to another, but agreed together well enough, yet having no f…

He speaks doubtfully. (Zephaniah 2:3) It may be you shall be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. (Amos 5:15) Hate the evil, and love the good; it may be the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

It is the pride of the oppressor which God takes notice of, his puffing, scoffing and mocking at the hopes of God's despised ones; he never dreams of any checks from any, but despises and contemns all. And partly, because of the insulting over their misery and low estate (Zephan…

God's justice is peremptory in punishing, and therefore they must be as peremptory in abandoning their lusts; they cannot avoid the justice of the Lord, and therefore they must avoid their sins. Whatever deluded hope they had formerly of God's connivance, now they see themselves…

God sometimes threatens sinners, and in those threatenings, there is a reserve, in case of their repentance: and then, when the sinner repents, God is said to repent, namely, when he revokes the threatening, and does not put it in execution, hence that (Jeremiah 18:8). The meani…

Use 2. Let me beseech all Christians to labor to be eminent in this excellent grace of meekness. Zephaniah 2:3: Seek meekness. Seeking implies we have lost it; therefore we must make an earnest search to find it.

Truly we are the remnant of Joseph; we are (as Joseph was) separated from our brethren, who can tell but that the Lord may be gracious to us? Zeph. 2:3. Seek you the Lord, all the meek of the earth; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of the…

It is the breakneck of souls. Zephaniah 2:9, 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, etc. this shall they have for their pride. The Doves (says Pliny) take a pride in their feathers, and in their flying high, at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk.

What will you do then? And therefore as Zephaniah 2:3, having foretold of the evil day, cries to his hearers, Seek meekness you meek of the earth; seek meekness, so say I to you: for you will find all little enough. Come down from your throne and be the footstool and threshold o…

My friends, a day of trouble is near, a dying hour approaches us, and when our eye-strings, and heart-strings are breaking, when we are taking the last grasp of Christ and the promises, you will then know to what purpose those hours spent in such work as this were. Search yourse…