same Spirit that raised up Zerubbabel, and inspired them with a zeal to forward the great work which they had in handd. And was He not still as able as ever to accomplish his own gracious purposes ? or did they need to indulge either hope or fear with respect to man, when they had the Almighty God for their help?]
But, as the words are spoken generally, let us con- sider them more at large,
II. In reference to the work which was therein typi- fied—
The whole work of redemption from Babylon was typical ; and had respect to,
1. The establishment of Christianity in the world —
[What was then done for the Lord in the erection of a material temple, was done by Jesus Christ in the formation of a spiritual temple, "of which the Prophets and Apostles were the foundation, and he himself the Chief Corner-stone ; and the whole being fitly framed together, is continually growing up a holy temple to the Lorde." But how has this been built? or how is it carried on? Is it, or has it at any time been, by might or by power? Who instructed the Prophets and Apostles ? Who gave effect to their word ? Who digs out the stones from the quarry, if I may so speak, and fits them for their places in this spiritual buildingf? It is the Spirit of God altogether. The powers of the world have been exerted to the uttermost against it : yea, men and devils have been con- federate against it from the very beginning: but "it is founded on a rock ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."]
2. The maintenance of religion in the souls of men —
[The soul of every individual believer is a temple of the Lordg. But every such temple is " the workmanship of Jehovah" altogether11: it is a new creation. In the natural man there is not any thing of which such a building can be formed: there is not in him either power or inclination to serve God: it is the Spirit of God alone that "gives him either to will or to do, and that altogether of his own good pleasure." Human power has no part in effecting it: "We are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God1." "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy k:" and,
d Hagg. i. 14. e Eph. ii. 19—22. f 1 Pet. ii. 5, 6.
s 1 Cor. iii. 16. h Eph. ii. 10. i John i. 13.
k Rom. ix. lG.