/ Which was literally fulfilled in the Overthrow of the Perſian Mo- narchy by the Grecians, in the Civil Wars, and ſucceeding Troubles among Alexander his Succeſſors, the Growth of the Roman Power by their ſubduing their Neighbours, and their Difſenfionsand homebred wars, all huſh'd by Auguſtus a lirtle before Chriſt's Birth. Theſe Con- yulſions began a little atter this Prophecy, and continued long, 11 which the Fews under the Maccabees had their ſhare, m Chriſt the moſt deſirable, becauſe the moſt helpful to all Nations, which ſome Proſelites in all Ages did cgme to the knowwledg of, and did earneſtly defire, and who was deſired by all that knew their own Miſery, and his Sufficiency to ſave them, who was to be the Light of the Gent1les as well as the Glory of his People Iſrael. The Meſtah's Coming ( the Fews do own) is foretold in this Texr,yet will they not ſee how this Jet a little while 1s long fince paſt, and the true Meſſiah long fince come. 2 Which you now build, this ſecond Temple. The firſt had a falneſs of Glory in its magnificent Strufture, rich Ornaments, and cofily Sacrifices, but this was a worldly Glory,that which 1s here pro- miſed is a heavenly Glory from the Preſence of Chriſt init. He that was the Brightneſs of the Father's Glory, who 1s the Glory of the Church, appeareth in this ſecond Temple. o Of my Preſence, preach- jog, healing and comforting, faith the eſſtah,the Ring of Giory,who entred theſe everlaſting Doors, Pſal. 24. 7, 8. This was before the Deſolation of this Temple by the Romans, a Demonſtration thar the Meſſiah ſhould come whilſt this ſecond Temple ſtood, Bur noiv the hardned Few ſecks to eyade this Text. p This isa ſolemn Sealing the Certainty of the thing in this Prophet, and Zechartah, and Mala- chi, who ſtile him Lord of Hoſts near an hundred rimes.
$ the filver 7s mine. and the gold zs mine 9, faith the
LORD of holts.
q The Right as indiſputable,the Treaſures of both as full and Jarge; doubt not therefore but I will give enough to build this Houſe, and I could beautifie it with theſe as much as the firſt Temple : but I 1n- tend a greater Glory, I am the Proprietor, others but Truſtees, I have the tull diſpoſal of all. |
9 The glory 7 of this latter houſe s ſhall be greater?
than of the former z, faith the LORD of hoſts: and in this place x will I give peace y, faith the LORD of hoſts 2.
r Which God intends to put upon this Temple. Solomon, and a rich People with incredible Spoils taken from conquered Nations, gave 4 Glory to the firſt Houſe, but God himſe]t will give the Glory of this Houſe. s Which poor Captives, and feudatary Governours do build : this ſecond Temple,the prophet ſpeaks of as if 'twere already a Houſe, wiereas 'twasnow to be built. What God accounts a Glory, muſt be ſomewhat better than Silver and Gold. # More truly Glory, and in higher Degres, the leaſt of Chriſt is greater Glory than all the Magni- ficence of Solomon. u There were no more bur two Houſes built by Gc..'s appointment,into the latter of which the Meſſiah was perſonally to come, as Mal. 3. 1. therefore he came before that latter Temple was deſtroyed, that is 1684 Years ago, when at two Months old he was preſented in the Temple, embraced and confeſſed by Simeon,ſome 70 Years before the Temple was burnt by the Romans. x In my Houſe, Type of Chriſt, and who is the Glory of it. y A Spiritual, Internal and heavenly Peace in pardoning Guilt, and deſtroying Sin, which diſpleaſeth God, and diſquieteth Man himſelf. Chriſt made Peace on his Croſs, preached, or publiſhed it to the World, and zives it to them by the Power of his Spirit. x Solemnly avowed by the Lord of Hoſts, who cannot deceive, or be deceived. _
10 © In the four and twentieth a day of the ninth »exth b, in the ſecond year of Darius c, came the word | of the LORD by Hagegai C the propher, ſaying,
This tenth Verſe is an Introdu@ion to the fourth ſolemn Diſcourſe or Sermon the Prophet makes to this People, and there 1s nothing Citficult in it but what hath been opened already. a Two Months and two Days after the third Sermon, ver. 2. b Part of our November and December, Kiſſeu, Heb. c Which Darius this was, ſee ch. 1. 1. let, a.41.d ver. 15. ler. f. d See ch.1L. 3, let.b, c.
11 Thus ſaith the LORD of hoſts e, * Askf now the prieſts g concernmg the law. þ, ſaying,
e The Prophet comes with his double Parable, or Problem, but nor of his own Head, but in the Name of the Lord of Hoſts. f Conſult with, defire the Solution of the following Caſe. g Whoſe Office bound them to ſtudy the Law, and to anſwer all Caſes of Conſcience, their Lips ſhould retain Knowledge, Mal. 2.7. h What the Law faith In the Caſe ; not what the Church, but what the Scripture ſaith.
12 It one 7 bear # holy. fleſh / in the skirt 7 of his garment, and wirh his skirt 72 do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, ſhall it be holy o 9 And the prieſt anſwered p.and ſaid, No.
! Any one. hþ Carry away from the Altar, or the Prieſts Hands. ? Part of the S:crifice, legally and ceremonially ſanRified, or-made holy by the Altar on which the whole was ſanRified, of which a part 13 ſuppoſed to be carried away in the Skirt of a Garment. m In the Lapof his Garment, or in any other Cloth or Napkin. n And this Cloth touch any common thing, as Bread, gc. ſhall o that common thing by ſuch Contra become legally or ceremovially holy? p Who theſe Prieſts were, is not mentioned, but 'ris likely that there were
H-4 6 G&E
| 13 Then faid 9 Haggai, It one that is unciean » by & dead body s, touch any of theſe 7, ſhall ir be un-
clean z? And the prieſts anſwered and ſaid, I: ſhall be unclean x.
q Now the ſecond Caſe is propoſed for Reſolution, 75. r Cere- monially, or legally pollured, and unclean. s For ſuch torch, tho? at unawares did pollute, Namb. 19. 13. t Bread or Potcage, Wine, or Oil, or Meat. 4 Shall that which the Unclean (by rouch of the Dead) doth touch, become unclean, or no? Though a mediate touch of what is holy will not make holy, yet will not a mediate touch of what is pollured defile whatſoever ic toucheth ? x It is reſfclyed affirmatively, it ſhalt be polluted. |
14 Then aniwered Haggai, and faid y, So > 7s this people 2, and 1o zs this nation 6 hetore me c, ſaith the LORD ; and 1o zs every work of their hands 4, and that which they ofter there e zs unclean f.