The Prophecy of Haggai Interpreted and Applied, Exposition · Sermon 12
Sermon the Twelfth.
Haggai 2. 9. 10.
The ſilver is mine, and the gold is mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoaſts: The glory of this laſt houſe ſhall be greater then the glory of the firſt, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and in this houſe will I give peace, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.
GOdlineſſe is profitable to all things, having the promiſe of this life, and that to come, ſaith Paul to Timothy; the truth of which ſentence is here illuſtrated by an example of a duty here comanded, touching the building of the Temple: For of the three gracious promiſes made by the Lord to ſtir up the Jewes thereto, the two laſtly handled, concerne the promiſe of the life to come, the glad tidings of the Goſpell; and the laſt now to be unfolded, compriſed in the words read, containes the promiſe of this preſent life. Silver is mine, &c. Wee heard before, as may be gathered from the Prophets words, is it not as nothing, &c. that the people were diſcouraged when they ſaw the foundation of the Temple how farre ſhort it would come of the former, to recomfort them, therefore this is added, that the glory of this latter houſe ſhould be greater then the glory of the former, and that not only in reſpect of the ſpirituall glory mentioned in the former verſe, And I will fill this houſe with glory; but even with temporall and eternall glory alſo, wherewith becauſe the other was ſo beautified, they were caſt downe and diſcouraged, as if the latter would be nothing in reſpect of the former; therefore the Lord here doth not only promiſe to fill it with glory, but alſo that the glory thereof ſhall be greater then the glory of the former; which for that (in reſpect of that glory which they meant, it might ſeeme a thing unpoſſible, ſince they had not the riches of Solomon which built the former.) Therefore firſt the Lord mentions that the ſilver is his, and the gold is his, &c. The ſilver is mine, and the gold is mine, as if hee had ſaid, notwithſtanding yee are now poore, and ſee no meanes how to effect this, yet it is in my power to inrich you, The earth is the Lords, and all that therein is, which he ſhewed when hee fulfilled Pſal. 24.his promiſe by raiſing up Herod, and inriching him to build up this Houſe in glory, as an eye witneſſe, Joſephus by name Antiquitat. l. 15. e. ult. and de bello Judaico, lib. 6. cap. 5, as it is divided in the Greeke, doth teſtifie; the diſciples deſire our Saviour to behold the goodly buildings of the Temple. And Luke 21. 5. It is ſaid that ſome did admire the Temple, how it was garniſhed with goodly ſtones and conſecrated things: Now Mat. 24. Luk. 21. 5.for the ſtones, Joſephus, who at large expounds that in Luke, ſaith the Temple was made all of white ſtones, ſome ſix cubits long, and ſive broad, ſome of twelve, and ſome of twenty five, ſome of forty five, in reſpect of which, perhaps it might be compared with that other built by Solomon. Now for thoſe conſecrated things which Luke calleth foreign the ſame Joſephus ſaith, that all the upper parts of the Temple were ſet about with ſpoyles which Herod had taken from the Arabians and others. Further he affirmeth, that nine of the doores were covered with gold, the upper gate with Corinthian braſſe, the inward with gold: the poſts were covered with gold, the forefronts with plates of gold, the roofe ſet with round ſpires and boules of gold, ſo that all was either gliſtering white, or ſhining with gold. And ſo alſo within, the veſſels were many of gold, ſome of thoſe as were before, others made new, eſpecially the golden Table, Candleſtick, and Altar of Incenſe; Inſomuch, that beſides Luke and Joſephus, even externe writers, as Tacitus lib. 5. Hiſtory ſaith, that it was immenſae opulentiae Templum. Now whether in theſe reſpects it may be ſaid to be more glorious than the former, I pronounce not; but certainely in reſpect of the ſpirituall glory mentioned in the former verſe, and this temporall added together, it was much more eminent and glorious then the former. Now hereto is added, And in this houſe I will give peace, meaning thereby that not onelyonly warre and diſſention ſhould ceaſe, as we commonly take the name of peace; but that alſo all proſperity & temporall bleſſings ſhould be added, as the word in the Hebrew doth ſignifie perfection and Integrity, Salubritie and Inc…lumitie, as they uſed it in their ſalutations, Peace be unto you, wiſhing them all good, as wee may ſee 2 Sam. 11. 7. where it 2 Sam. 11. 7.is ſaid that David asked of Ʋriah, of the peace of the warre, that is, of the proſperouſnes and of the good ſucceſſe of the war, which Zachary, Zach. 8. makes plaine to be meant here, ſpeaking Zach. 8. 11, 12, 13.of the ſame thing two yeares after, for there he asked them whether before they received the commandement of building the Lords houſe, they did not remember there was no peace, Nay ſaith God, I did ſet every one againſt his brother, but now there is a ſeed of peace, as (i.) as tranſlations render it a proſperous ſeed; noting, that by peace is meant proſperitie, Zach. 8. 12for which they muſt waite, as husbandmen doe untill it grow up, which is plaine from the words following, that as other peace cannot (as it is ſaid doth) make the vines to bud, but is Gods gift of peeac, as after he ſaith; and you that were once accurſed, ſhall be a bleſſing among all Nations; So that by peace there is not meant onelyonly concord and unitie, but that as is promiſed Deut. 28. all proſperitie to them that obey the Lord.
And this you ſee, that the Lord of Hoſtes, the Almighty God, ſignifying unto theſe people, that gold and ſiluer is his, and therefore that he can performe what they cannot, doth promiſe alſo that he will make the glory of this latter houſe greater then the former, and therewithall will bleſſe it with peace and temporall proſperitie.
The foundation of which promiſe being a premonition to take away diſtruſtfulneſſe from them, the ſilver is mine, doth inſtruct us in this ground of common faith, that the Lord of heaven by the right of creation, doth injoy and poſſeſſe all earthly bleſſings, and can as he pleaſe diſpoſe them. This Moſes and Aaron did not ſo well remember, when Numb. 20. being commanded to ſpeake to the Rocke, and promiſed that the water ſhould flow out, they by deſtruſting Gods power, did not ſanctifie the Lord in their hearts, nor ſo before the people by beleeving his promiſe as they ſhould have done, that therefore he would not let them bring the people into Canaan, God then ſanctified by beleeving, this which here is ſaid that the ſilver is his, under which are comprehended all other creatures and temporall bleſſings as his owne and at his diſpoſing, ſerving for the performance of his will, the benefit of his ſervants. When Samaria was beſieged and the famine ſo ſore that the Mothr was to boyle her ſonne, and to refreſh her ſelfe with her owne childe as we reade, 2 Kings 7. and the Prophet coming to the King told him from the Lord, that by to morrow this time there ſhould be plenty in the gate of Samaria: A Prince on whom the King leaned, thinking it a thing impoſſible, anſwered the man of God and ſaid, behold, If God ſhould make windows in the heaven, could this come to paſſe? The Prophet replyed that he was ſent from God and confirming that which he ſaid, threatned him puniſhment for his incredulity, that he ſhould ſee it with his eyes, but that he ſhould not taſte thereof, as alſo it came to paſſe when the Angell Gabriel ſent from God promiſed Zachary a ſonne, Luke 1. How can this be, ſaith he, ſince I am old and my wife barren? well ſaith the Angel, I am ſent from God and it ſhall be, but becauſe thou haſt not beleeved thou ſhalt be dumbe untill this thing be done, which example of Moſes, of Aaron, of the Prince and of Zachariah, doth teach us to beleeve, that what the Lord doth promiſe in his word it ſhal undoubtedly be made good by his worke in due ſeaſon, ſilver is his, and gold is his, for ſo ſaith the Lord of Hoſtes, The ſilver is mine, and the gold is mine, &c.
A point that may further teach us to remember that ſeeing alſo theſe earthly bleſſings are the Lords, therefore in getting, uſing, looſing or wanting them, we ſhould have care ſo to behave our ſelves as thoſe that know they are not ours, but the Lords, In getting he giveth it them to whom it pleaſeth him, and it is not (as many fooliſhly imagine) committed to the Prince of the world, to be diſpoſed by him at his pleaſure: It's true indeed, that Sathan ſaid ſo, that all the Kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them are delivered unto him, and to whom hee would, he gave them, but he ſaid it falſly, and for the moſt part as falſe as this wee ſee here worldly men, as if ſilver and gold and theſe worldly things were not the bleſſings which God beſtowes, ſeeke them by unjuſt and unlawfull meanes, belike thinking they are none of Gods at all, otherwiſe as Jacob ſaid hee would ſerve Laban ſeven yeares for his daughter Rachel; ſo they would alſo ſerve God for his bleſſings. But with many (as the wiſe man ſaith) ſtolne waters are ſweet, and his bread is pleaſant. The ſonnes of Eli robbed the people that came to ſacrifice, and tooke by force that which was not theirs: And I would to God that not only the ſons of Eli, but that alſo our Elies themſelves, for I would be loath to judge any, did they not, I will not ſay rob, but did they take more then their owne from the portion of the Lords Sacrifices, &c. Sure if any ſo doe, they conſider not with David, Pſalme 15. that preferment comes not, neither from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, but that it is the Lord that doth give it, elſe they would be of Davids mind I hope, who 1 Sam. 26. 11.would not doe any thing that hee ſhould not againſt Saul, a wicked-King, no not for a Kingdome; God forbid that I ſhould doe this, and ſinne egainſt God, &c. They that pray to God as their heavenly Father, Give as this day our daily bread, and yet delight in ſtolne waters, ſhew that they doe the luſts of another Father; Ioh. 8. 44.God forbid that I ſhould ſay they are of another Father, but ſure herein they ſerve him, by ſerving another then the Lord in good duties, they ſhould get that they deſire by good meanes; For ſilver is mine, and gold is mine, &c.
Secondly, in uſing we are but Stewards to the Lord, in uſing and diſpoſing thoſe bleſſings which wee enjoy, and therefore muſt remember, that wee muſt give an account thereof unto the Lord. Nabal, when Davids meſſengers came to him for ſome proviſion to refreſh himſelfe and his followers, 1 Sam. 25. Shall I take my bread, and my wine, and my fleſh, &c. And give it to ſtrangers? All was mine, and mine, and mine with him, he did not conſider, that he had received them from God, to be at his will diſpoſed, not all for himſelfe, but ſome for others alſo. It is ſaid Proverbs 3. Withold not the goods from the owner thereof; neither ſay to thy neighbour, goe, and come againe too morrow, &c. The owners are called, them that has need of any good we have, and we are but as ſtewards to diſpoſe it to them, according to that rule in the Epiſtle to the Corinthians, He that ſoweth bountifully, ſhall alſo reape bountifully, for the Lord loves a cheerefull giver, and he gives 2 Cor. 9. 6.twice, that gives quickly.
The Iſraelites in Hoſea, had forgotten that it was the Lord Hoſ. 2. 9.that gave them ſilver and gold, flax and oyle, which they gave to Baal, and therefore hee threatens to take it away; So, if wee beſtow thoſe bleſſings that he gives us, amiſſe, let us know, that he yet retaines an intereſt in them to take away. What if his ſilver and his gold bee beſtowed upon Papiſts Images, Idolatry, &c. what if men make their bellies their Gods, as Phil. 3. and ſerve them with their riches like Polixhemus in Euripides, who ſaid he never ſacrificed to any God but to his belly, and he thought that wiſe men would thinke that it's a mans God to eate and drinke; yet for all this, the right of theſe bleſſings thus abuſed by wicked men, belongs unto God, and hee will at his pleaſure both take them away from them, and call them to an account for the abuſe of them. Alas, if it were not ſo with us alſo, we ſhould be more ready to come to theſe aſſemblies, when as we are ſo ready to fill our owne bellies, but let us know, that we have now but the diſpoſing of theſe things, and the Lord will require an account of us.
Thirdly, what if we looſe them, yet let us comfort our ſelves 3 In loſing.with Job, remembring, that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, and therefore bleſſed be the name of the Lord.
Fourthly, if we want them, yet remember they are the Lords, 4 In wanting. Pſal. 73. Je…e. 12. Rom. 2.who if he pleaſe, can give them … But ſay that we want them, and the Lord beſtowes them upon the wicked that worſe deſerves them? This is a grea… temptation I confeſſe to the godly, as we may ſee in David, and Jeremy, yet conſider he is the Saviour of all, though eſpecially of the godly, and he makes his Sun to ſhine, and his raine to fall on all ſorts, that ſo by his long ſuffering and goodneſſe, he may call them to repentance, or at laſt, as Acts 14. Filling their hearts with food and gladneſſe, he may not leave himſelfe without witneſſe. But to come from this point, Acts 17.which is ſet downe to ſtrengthen their faith in the power of God to the promiſe it ſelfe, of greater glory, The glory of this houſe ſhall be greater then the former, which miniſters greater comfort to the Church, as comprehended with Judah in this promiſe under the name of Iſrael, Zach. 8. 13. whereby Iſrael is meant the ſame as in that ſpeech, Gallat. 6. As many as walke according to this rule, peace ſhall be upon them, and upon the Iſraels of God, &c. Iſrael not according to the fleſh, but according to the ſpirit. Even the Gentiles which are joyned in the building of this latter houſe, as the Peophet Iſa. ſpeaks, Iſa. 6. 13. alluding to the Temple, The glory of Lebanon ſhall come to thee, the Firre tree, the Elme tree, and the Boxtree together, (i.) the Gentiles to beautifie the place of my Sanctuary, and then ſhewing he meanes hereby the Church to be gathered out of all Nations, he ſaith, The ſons of them that hated thee ſhall bow to thee, &c. And, I will make thee an eternall glory and joy; noting thereby, that before the Goſpell was preached, the Jewes were hated by all, who then being converted, ſhall ſubmit themſelves to that religion, which before they deteſted, ſo that there ſhould be a perpetuall joy made for all the Church. And verſe 9. he ſaith, that the Iſles ſhall come, and the ſhips of Tarſhiſh, &c. Even they that grow by merchandiſe unto greater wealth, as Iſa. 23. ſpeaks of Tyrus, that came with their ſilver and their gold Iſa. 23. 18.unto the Lord, to beautifie therewith his ſpirituall Temple, the Church.
This is that then which here is promiſed, that God will provide for the merchandiſe of his Church thoſe things that may be ſufficient, as for food and raiment; for ſo the Apoſtle interpreting the promiſe, limits it 2 Tim. 6. When we have food and raiment, let us therewith bee content. Howbeit to this is added a greater glory due in this life, (that prerogative to bee called the John 2. 12 2 Cor. 4.ſonnes of God) and fellow heires with Chriſt, Rom. the 8. And after this life, to enjoy an exceeding weight of glory. So that the Church ſhall be bleſſed, though not with abundance and ſuperfluitie of earthly goods (it may be) for it was not for nought that Solomon prayed, Proverbs 30. Give me neither poverty nor riches. And Deut. 23. we ſee, that when the people waxed full, they ſpurned againſt the Lord. But alwaies with ſufficiency, and with a ſpirituall glory greater yet in this li…e, and an immortall weight of glory in the life io come. Therefore to thoſe that lead a religious chriſtian and a godly life that indeavour to build upon themſelves and others in an holy building to the Lord, is this promiſe made that this later houſe ſhall be more glorious than the former. They before Chriſt having but a taſte in compariſon of that, whereof we have the full fruition, this is it that Solomon hath Proverb. 8. exalt wiſedome and it will exalt thee, and he learned it from his Father, who taught that God would give both grace and glory. Pſal. 84. 11. and no good thing will I with hould from thoſe that walke uprightly, no good thing, nothing that if indeed good for them, with that moderation, 1 Cor. 14. the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe and ſuch as he was, that they were a gaſing ſtock unto Angels and men, hungry and thirſty, naked and buffeted, but 2 Cor. 4. he addeth that thoſe ſmall afflictions ſhould worke in them a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory, ſo that God workes alwayes that which is moſt of al for our good, therefore in reſpect of thoſe other greater good things theſe leſſer are denyed, whoſoever ſaith Chriſt, ſhall looſe Father and Mother, or Friends, for my name ſake he ſhall even in this life receive a hundred fould, but with perſecutions, & in the world to come life eternall, He that hath given us his ſonne how ſhould he not give us all things together with him, the Pſa. 84. 11Lord can deny nothing that is good to them that walk uprightly, but then we muſt walke uprightly, and in ſo doing our glory ſhall be the greater, For if we build the Lords houſe then wee glorifie and honour him and their it is written, them that honour me I will honour, ſaith the Lord. 1 Sam. 2. 30.
Now the laſt promiſe and in this houſe will I give peace, is made of a ſeed of peace, &c. not onelyonly that diſcention ſhall ceaſe, but that the heavens ſhall heare the earth to give her dew, and the earth ſhall heare the corne to give her fruit, &c. and they ſhall heare Iſrael, ſo travel in the building of the houſe of the Lord Hoſea. 2. 21. 22.and the ſervice of him as they ought, which may put us in mind, that we may feare that we have not laboured ſo as we ought in the building of the houſe of the Lord, foraſmuch as there be ſo many breaches and vents among us, and in the ſeventh chapter the Prophet tells them, that before when they built not the Lords houſe but every one his owne, that the heaven ſtaid it ſelfe from dew, and the earth her ſelfe from her fruite, there was no peace, nay ſaith Zach. 8. 10. Before thoſe dayes there was no hire for man nor beaſt, neither was there any peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, becauſe of the affliction, for ſaith God, I ſet every one againſt his neighbour and that by the juſt judgement and vengeance of God, becauſe they travelled not in the building of the houſe of the Lord. From whence are wars and contentions ſaith James? are they not hence, even from your owne luſts James, 4. 1. 2.and pleaſures that fight in your members; And are not our contentions to maintaine our luſts and our pleaſures, alſo I would to God we did conſider aright the roote of them, Its an old Proverb to fiſh in troubled waters, Cleon in Ariſtophanes was told that he dealt like them that fiſhed for Eles, for as they when the lake is calme and cleare can take nothing, and therefore do they trouble it and ſtirre up the mud and ſlime, ſo when the City was quiet he could get nothing, and therefore he ſought to make ſtrife in the City, if any ſuch Cleons be amongſt us, I Heb. 2. Prov. 11. 30. Hee is wiſe that wineth Soules Jam. 3. 15.would they would remember that they are called not to be fiſhers of Eles, but to be fiſhers of Men, not of ſuch ſlimy ſtuffe which Hab. 2. is called thicke clay, but for the ſoules of men which are moſt pretious, and which they muſt ſeeke for; as for the wiſdom of ſuch as fiſh for Eles it deſcendeth not from above as St. James ſaith, but is earthly, ſenſuall, carnall, & deviliſh, ſuch as do not conſider that the Lord ſaith, Silver is mine and Gold is mine, and I will give peace in this houſe, But if St. James cannot ſerve to perſwade, then let them yet remember what a heathen man, worthy their remembrance, ſaith Ʋarro by name, whom Auſtin ſo commends, Diſtractione civium ſaith he langueſcit praecipium Varre li. 1 de vita populi Rom.civitatis bonum eſt incipit aegrotare & defloreſcere out of all controverſie, the Prophet having promiſed peace unto them when the Temple and houſe of the Lord was built, doth ſhew plainely that we doe not build the Lords houſe, becauſe we are not at peace. But is by the example and promiſe wee hope to have peace, let us looke to be fiſhers of Men, and not of Ecles, then ſhall we bee ſure to have proſperous ſucceſſe, and to bee inriched as the Jewes were afterward, wo be to him ſaith God to Jehocakim, that buildeth his houſe with unrighteouſneſſe, and his Ier. 22. 13.chambers by wrong.
Did not thy father Joſiah eate and drinke, and proſper when he executeted Judgement and Juſtice. If men could be content with moderation as Joſiah was, and not ſeeke to juſtifie their inordinate luſts and affections as many doe, then might they eate and drinke, and proſper, as Joſiah did, But when they begin with Jehoiakim to follow after their owne wicked luſts, then its not moderate eating and drinking that will ſerve their turne. They thinke they muſt ſhift for more by other meanes, the ſentence that St. Iames addeth upon his exhortation and reprofe of their contentions, Iam. 3. 15. is worthy our remembrance. vi…le, the fruit of righteouſneſſe i… ſown… in pence to them that exerciſe peace, wherein the former place peace is taken for Gods love and favor accumpanied with temporall and ſpirituall bleſſings, and in the latter for peace and concord, and ſo doubtleſſe Gods eternall peace which paſſeth all underſtanding, is ſowne to them that make peace, yet they muſt waite as the husbandman doth for fruit, and not thinke to have it ſtraightway, but certainely they may expect it for the Lord hath promiſed, that as many as ſow righteouſneſſe ſhal have the fruite of peace in this life and in the life to come life everlaſting. But I beſeech you to remember that Iſa. 2. 4.which is propheſied to come to paſſe in the time of the Goſpel, To breake our ſwords into mattocks, and our ſpeares into ſithes, let us lay aſide the inſtruments of war, and take unto us the inſtruments of Gods husbandmen, and labourers, and ſo build the houſe of God that the Lord may dwell among us, ſanctifie us O Lord that we may remember that the gold is thine.