it self therefore is this message called the Word of the Lord of hostes 2. The Word of God and the doctrine therein contained concerning our duty is of general concernment unto all however many times only few are sensible of their need of it for this cause it is that the answer is not given only to these who enquired but to all the people of the Land as being a doctrine of general use to all 3. Such as ought to be instructers of others may oft-times turne as far aside and need instruction as much as any for the very Priests who were enquired concerning this case v. 3. are to be spoken to and taught and so the Church had been in a sad case if the Lord who is never wanting to his Church had not provided this remedy of an extraordinary Prophet as is marked on v. 1. 4. The Lord accepts no service how glorious-like soever as done to him that is not commanded and enjoyned by himself for saith he of these Fasts of their appointment Did ye at all fast to me even to me even albeit they both fasted and mourned A will-worshipper fancies a god in his own imagination to accept his service who is not the God who hath revealed himself in his Word or at best is a mistaken God 5. The excellencie and worth of our service and our happinesse thereby doth not consist in what measure of performance we can attaine unto but in Gods accepting of it as service through Christ which we are chiefly to look unto and have a care of and not to be discouraged with mean endeavours if he respect them nor puffed up with fairest flourishes while that is wanting so much is implied in that doubled question Did ye it to me even to me 6. As humility is a sure symptome of one who serves God in a right manner so it may humble us in performances before the Lord to consider that our services cannot profit him nor is he obliged to us for them otherwise then by free grace so much also is imported in this question for in opposition to their ostentation in propounding their question the Lord layes them low by telling them it was not done to him all the profit if there were any would be their own 7. Days of fasting and humiliation with never so much sense and feeling can never be acceptable to God so long as only the sense of our own calamities sets us on work and we rest there without attaining to sense of sin and minding to turn to God this is another fault reprehended in their fasting Did ye at all fast unto me had ye any sense of the injuries done to me or purpose to amend them was it not because of your own miseries ye fasted and mourned 8. Men do for most part mistake or remain ignorant of their own condition and carelesse of what the Lords servants say through want of serious examination of their own conscience A tender active and well-informed conscience would shew much as the Lords servants do say therefore the Lord appeales to their own consciences in this question as able to solve the doubt and plead for him if it were put to it Did ye fast unto me Vers 6. And when ye did eat and when ye did drink did not ye eat for your selves and drink for your selves He proves their abuse of fasting from their sinful way of eating and drinking after their fastes were over and their feastings at other times in which they satisfied their own lusts without respect to his glory Hence learn 1. It is the duty of all especially of the Lords people not only in their immediate worship but in their common and ordinary affaires and use of ordinary refreshments to do them as service to him and eye his glory in him for it was their fault that they did eat for themselves and drink for themselves 2. Such as in their ordinary conversation do not minde and eye God may justly be suspected as sleighters of his immediate worship and such as do abuse prosperity do prove that adversity hath not been sanctified for they fasted not to God because they did eat for themselves and drink for themselves both in their ordinary refreshments and prosperous conditions Ver. 7. Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former Prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity and the cities thereof round about her when men inhabited the South of the Plain The second fault which the Lord finds with their way is that they were taken up with these observations but neglected that which was substantial He declareth that it were rather their duty to hearken to and obey these commands which God had enjoyned them by his Prophets when all was well with them in Judah when Jerusalem and all the cities thereof were yet entire and the land inhabited which if they had been believed and obeyed they had not been driven into exile nor needed such questions He mentions the South and the Plain as it is in the Original because Judahs portion and these who joyned with him lay partly Southward to Jerusalem and partly in the Plain toward the Philistines Josh 15.1 2. Obad. v. 19. and so it comprehends the whole land The word also rendered South doth signifie in the first place dry and desert ground and by consequence the South because the heat of the Sun made these places barren and so it cometh all to one purpose to shew that not only Jerusalem and all her cities but all the countrey was peopled when God warned them of their duty and danger and that not only fruitful Plaines but even the hills which were usually dry in Judea and may be understood here in opposition to the Plain and other desert places were frequented with people dwelling therein Doct. 1. External performances of external duties of Religion are nothing in Gods sight where there is not study of obedience to all his revealed Will not will howling under miserie availe while wickednesse is kept under their tongue for so saith the Lord to these Fasters Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried 2. The Lord in all ages is uniforme and like himself in approving and enjoyning of duty and in disliking of sin yesterday and to day the same for ever for the Lord here requires the same he required of their fathers Should ye not heare the words which the Lord hath cried by the former Prophets 3. The longer the Lord by his Word hath been pressing duty upon his people they ought to heed it the more lest judgement prove the sadder for he presseth a doctrine that had been long since cried to be so much the rather heard 4 The Lords chastiling a people for sin and disobedience doth not warrant them to look on their deliverance from the chastisement as a full assurance of their being reconciled as if their stroaks had made up all but being delivered they are to make conscience of obedience
by gracious acts that he will let out proofs of his glory there accept their service as glory given to him and give them frequent occasion of glorifying him for Build the house and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified saith the Lord. 5. It may be a great encouragement to the Church to do service that the all-sufficient Lord should condescend to accept any service they can do or own and take pleasure in them or it for so doth the Lord encourage Build the house and I will take pleasure in it that is your service shall be owned I will dwell in that which ye build See 1 Chron. 29.14 1 Kings 8.27 Vers 9. Ye looked for much and lo it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it Why faith the Lord of Hostes because of mine house that is waste and ye run every man to his owne house 10. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit 11. And I called for a drought upon the land and upon the mountaines and upon the corne and upon the new wine and upon the oile and upon that which the ground bringeth forth and upon men and upon cattel and upon all the labour of the hands To stir them up yet more effectually to the work he again layeth before them the evidences of Gods anger against them in disappointing their hopes of the harvest and not blessing what they had gathered in and all because there was no care had of the Temple and publick worship of God but all sought their own things v. 9. for which cause God had remarkably smitten them making the heavens to deny dew and the earth to deny fruit v. 10. for the drought had not only destroyed the fruit of all kindes and made all mens endeavours uselesse but he had made men and beasts feel it also by want of drink and food and by diseases which such a season occasions v. 11. Doct. 1. Even rods when they are sent on do not soon work nor speak Gods minde to an afflicted people to any purpose therefore here the observation and use of their râ—d is again inculcate 2. When the Lord is provoked he can not only send an affliction but so order it by faire appearances of a better lot and heightening of the sinners expectation and desire as may make it most sad Ye looked for much and lo it came to little 3. Sinners are never a whit the nearer contentment and happiness that they have these things which usually men take for their portion of happinesse for by withdrawing a blessing God can make it all one as if they had them not And when ye brought it home I did blow upon it 4. Though impenitent sinners having felt some stroakes may readily because of that expect exemption for the future yet it is righteous with God to pursue them with rod upon rod till they be compleatly miserable unlesse they return for it is not enough that the great harvest they expected came to little but that little is blasted I did blow upon it 5. As when the Lord strikes his owne people there must be some special and remarkable cause to be sought out so the stupidity of a stricken people is ordinarily so great that they can neither search nor finde it out till God discover it this question Why saith the Lord of Hostes doth not import any ignorance in him but that it was their duty to search the cause and yet could not finde it out without his light 6. The true cause of the Church and Professors their ill thriving in the world is that their care of these things takes them up from minding Gods work and matters and that they are taken up with the worst things neglecting the best thus to seek to gaine is indeed to lose for zeal for the publick and work of God is the compendious way to prosper in our private affaires this is the true cause of their want Because of my house that is waste and ye run every man to his own house 7. It is useful for secure sinners being afflicted by God to take a serious view of the rods upon them that they may see more of the bitter fruits of sin then can be discerned at first therefore doth the Lord repeat and inlarge the sight of their stroak v. 10 11. that therein they might see God provoked to be their Party in whose favour their life stood I called for a drought that they might see all the creatures armed and ready to execute Gods quarrel for sin Heaven stayed from dew and the earth from fruit both conspiring the sinners ruine that they might see mans frailty however he be oft-times stout against God in that there is no need of striking him immediately but take away one of many drops from him and he is gone stay but the heavens from dew and the earth from raine and fruit and man will smart for all that they might see that vengeance pursuing sin will cut a man short of all his contents and refuges on all hands will blast a land and all the fruits of it will sinite man and beast and all his labour v. 11. and in a word the afflicted sinner may see that it is great folly to provoke the Lord to jealousie and that there is no safety but in being reconciled with God and setting about duty Vers 12. Then Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel and Joshuah the sonne of Josedeâ—h the High Priest with all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the Prophet as the LORD their God had sent him and the people did feare before the LORD The fruit and successe of this doctrine is recorded that the Rulers and remnant of the Jewes who were left of the preceding sore judgements or who had returned from captivity did acknowledge the voice of God in the mouth of his servant though there had been no Prophets sent of a long time before and out of the sense of their guilt and justnesse of Gods judgements did stand in awe of God speaking to them and did submit to the Command and go to work Doct. 1. The Word of God in the mouth of his servants will not take effect till his authority be seen and acknowledged in it and his servants looked on as coming in his Name for here they look on this message as the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai as the Lord had sent him that is that the Lords voice was in his Word whom he had sent 2. It will be a notable meanes to make the Word effectual when beside the absolute authority of God speaking in his Word his interest in his people is considered and believed by them and that he who speaks and reproves and directs is their Confederate God whom they should be loath to offend or disobey so much the rather as his relation stands
a sore partie to the stoutest for Asâ—kelon shall see it and feare 2. It is a judgement on wicked men that they get not the right use of calamities on others for when they should repent and turne to God they feare 3. Whatever it be beside God that men in an ill time put confidence in it will produce nothing but feare sorrow and confusion for so was Tyrus to the Philistines they see and feare and be very sorrowfull and their expectation is ashamed 4. Gods having a controversy against a people how flourishing soever is sufficient to overturne their government dispeople their Countrey and put it in the possession of forreigners for the burden some word makes that The King or government which was managed in every city by a supream Lord 1 Saw 5.11 and elsewhere shall perish from Gaza and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited and a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod This judgement on the Philistines is amplified from two effects that by this calamity the Lord should revenge and lay their pride and should punish their cruel and abominable oppression and preying on his people Whence learn 1. Pride and insolency in prosperity is a certaine presage of ruine and an evil which God will be seen in bringing down and stripping the sinners of all wherein they gloried for by thus ruining them I will cut off the pride of the Philistimes saith the Lord. 2. As oppression is the fruit of pride so it is so beastly like and abominable a sinne before the Lord that he will manifest himselfe eminently before it be not punished and hindred of its course therefore the Lord speaks of it as a beastly sinne which himselfe will punish I will take away his blood out of his mouth and his abomination from between his teeth 3. It is a token of very great perversnesse in a people and of very great displeasure from the Lord when there is no end put to their sinning but by their destruction for thus is it with the Philistines it is by their ruine that their pride is cut off and their blood taken away Unto this threatened judgement on enemies round about a twofold encouragement to the Church is subjoyned whereof the first in the end of v. 7. is that she should increase by the ruine of her enemies the remainders of whom should be converted and entered into Covenant with God and be as carefull of the Churches affaires and eminent in her as if they were governours of Judah and particularly the Philistines and Ekronites should be converted and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem as the Jebusites did of old who had a Fort in it till Davids dayes 2 Sam. 5. or as Araunab the Jebusite 2 Sam. 24.16 Doct. 1. The Church of God is no loser by all the commotions of the world he mindes her profit and rising in the ruine of others for he will ruine many Nations if it were but to gather a few precious stones to advance her structure But he that remaineth shall be for our God 2. As these who are reserved in judgements ought to be drawn to God especially so preservation may give ground of hope that God intends much good to them who improve it well for He that remaineth even he how low soever or how great an enemy soever he hath been shall be for our God 3. It is a great token of Gods favour toward afflicted remnants when they are driven to close with him in a Covenant of grace and when in faith thereof they consecrate themselves to him to be for him and at his disposal for He shall be for our God 4. These who really turne unto God and labour to be usefull and comfortable to the Church in their stations may expect to be truly honourable in the eyes of God and of his people how many blots soever have been upon them before for He shall be as a governour in Judah both for tendernesse in duty and eminency for reputation 5. Even the most inveterate enemies to the Church may be gained by grace and coming sincerely will be welcome for such were the Philistines of whom it is promised Ekron shall be as a Jebusite 6. Testimonies of Gods prevailing with and receiving such as had been enemies and came to him are not wanting in the Church to encourage the Church to waite on him and to encourage others to come and make proof of his goodnesse for here there is an instance of Jebusites who not only dwelt long in Jerusalem but were some of them eminent in piety as Araunah to be a confirmation of this promise concerning the Philistines Ekron shall be as a Jebusite Vers 8. And I will encamp about mine house because of the army because of him that passeth by and because of him that returneth and no oppressor shall passe through them any more for now have I seen with mine eyes The second ground of encouragement unto the Church is Gods preservation of her in the midst of calamities upon all round about her Whereas they might be in danger by incursions of enemies coming again and again upon them and by armies ranging up and down in the Countreys about the Lord promiseth to guard his Church signified by the Temple that she should not be troubled with these tumults and incursions and particularly that no oppressor should passe through her and that because he had taken a sufficient proof and experience had sufficiently shewed the sinfulnesse and misery of his people and their inability to expede themselves by themselves out of their misery and had shewed also what their enemies cruelty was This being a promise peculiar to the Jewes or Israel however it was this farre verified before Christ that when enemies came against these Cities before mentioned or against themselves or were ranging to and again through their land betwixt Syria and Egypt they did not so go through as formerly to burn the Temple and carry them captives Yet the promise was not then fully accomplished for not only did oppressors go through the land and make it tributary yea and many times profane the very Temple but in processe of time they were carried into captivity and the Temple made a desolation whereas here it is said They shall not passe through them any more And therefore it seemeth we must expect a more full accomplishment of this to converted Israel in Gods preserving his Church and their possession of their land in peace to them Doct. 1. The Church may have many and great causes of fear when God is about to do great things for her for she hath armies and passers by and returners sometime coming to destroy others and sometime to infest her selfe which are a triall to her 2. Where the Lord hath his house and Church set up amongst a people and they look on that as their chief glory he will protect it and the State for the Churches sake for I will encamp about my house saith the Lord and that is a safeguard
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE Prophecies OF Haggai Zechariah and Malachi BY GEORGE HUTCHESON Minister at EDENBURGH EZRA 5.2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel and Joshua the sonne of Jozadak and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem and with them were the Prophets of God helping them 2 PET. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawne and the day-star arise in your hearts April the 29th Imprimatur EDMUND CALAMY LONDON Printed by T. R. and E. M. for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange 1654. CHRISTIAN READER THe former Undertaking of this Reverend and learned Author hath found so much acceptance and hath been received with such a general Approbation both by Ministers and other godly Christians as that it hath emboldened him to make a further Essay in the same kinde This ensuing Treatise presents to thy view a brief Explication of and choice Observations upon three other of the Lesser Prophets All that I shall say to encourage thee to reade it is That it is written by the same Master Hutcheson that it is as elaborate and as useful as the former that it will fully satisfie expectation and tend much to thy spiritual edification Imprimatur EDMUND CALAMY To the Right Honourable JOHN EARLE of Cassillis LORD KENNEDY c. Grace Mercy and Peace through Jesus Christ be multiplied Right Honourable SUch is the tender kindnesse and rich bounty of our all sufficient and gracious God to his Church and people whom he hath chosen from among the lost posterity of Adam as that in wrath he still remembreth mercy and when his dispensations seem to speak greatest displeasure and to render them most miserable yet upon serious consideration they will finde cause to say that he is good and his mercy endureth for ever He doth not deny to them the sure mercies of David when for wise reasons he cuts short their outward delights and their afflictions when they need them are taken in as Articles and Priviledges of his unchangeable Covenant with them Psal 89.30 31 32 33 34. In particular it is a mercy never enough acknowledged that the Lord vouchsafes upon his people his Word written in holy Scriptures which as it was a special favour to Israel of old Psal 147.19 20. so the riches thereof and the advantages to be had thereby are not soon pondered for herein is held forth the true and saving knowledge of God and an impartial discovery of our selves herein we have the offer of the salvation purchased by Christ and by it is the infallible way of attaining true happinesse pointed out It is to the Word we are directed by the righteousnesse of faith to know the minde of God concerning lost sinners Rom. 10.6 7 8. It is the Word the Lord employes to be the seed of regeneration and which the regenerate man should esteem more then his necessary food for promoving his growth By the Word the Lord doth quicken his people when they are dead reclaime them when they are wandring comfort them when they are afflicted and point out their way unto them Hereby we are directed to try the spirits when delusions are aloft and Satan is transformed into an Angel of light By the light thereof we may infallibly know what is right and what is wrong in the world when all things are to sense wrapped up in clouds and mists and may know what to think of sad times and lots and what issue to expect of them And in a word the Scriptures are profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3.16 17. As this great and inestimable favour ought to engage all Christians to be much in searching the Scriptures and conversant with God speaking therein especially in times when the Lord 's letting out many strong delusions proclaims our negligence and not receiving the love of the truth and when his chastisements call on us to seek teaching out of his Law And as it doth call on Ministers in their publick stations to be instant in season and out of season inculcating this Word of truth so it hath invited me to essay how I might be instrumental through the Lords assistance and blessing in opening up some parts of this Charter for the more general use and help of the Lords people And having met with such acceptance of my former Essay as hath encouraged me to make this further progresse upon these three last of the Lesser Prophets I do humbly crave leave to present it to the world under your Lordships Honourable name who have obtained mercy of the Lord to taste that he is gracious as is daily evidenced by your desiring the sincere milk of the Word and by your cordial resolution and sincere endeavour to cleave to the Law and Testimony and follow the revealed Will of God in your wayes Which as it hath made your Lordship precious in the hearts of the godly who know you so I judge my self bound in a special way to take hold of this opportunity to expresse my sense of the same who have had more frequent oceasion for many yeares both during my service in the Ministery in that part of the countrey where your Lordships interest and residence is and since my removal from thence to be a witnesse and observer of the grace of God in you and have met with such undeserved respects for the truthes cause from your Lordship as requires a more worthy testimony and acknowledgement of my obligations and bound dutie to honour you then is this piece as to what is my part in it Yet such as it is I make bold to offer it to your Lordship and being an Exposition of holy Scriptures and of such places as do hold forth much of the Lords minde concerning his publick work and state of his Church I hope it shall not be unacceptable to your Lordship whose care and diligence in seeking light from God and cleaving to it and whose following the publick work of God in singlenesse of heart even to the prejudice of your particular interest hath convinced and put to silence even such as were enemies thereunto I shall not insist on this subject which I know your Lordship takes no pleasure to hear of nor is it my way to dwell much upon nor shall I trouble your Lordship with any account concerning my part in this work only this I may say that the subject-matter is divine being a part of that light which shined in a dark place in the dayes of the Old Testament many passages thereof need an Interpreter and threed of Exposition as much as any and the doctrine therein contained is useful for our admonition on whom the ends of the world are come We may reade herein the
true causes of Judahs captivity the ill use they made of deliverance which drew new plagues upon them out of Gods hand and their conceit of external performances when yet they neglected the weighty matters of the Law We will finde God so reproving them for sin as yet encouraging them to duty and richly comforting them when they are engaged in it we will see them declining after a reformation and this to be the cause of the many calamities that ensued We will also finde here many sweet Predictions concerning the Messiah in the accomplishment whereof the Gospel-Church ought to rejoyce and predictions concerning the various dispensations of God toward his ancient people the Jewes partly in their rejection and dispersion after the coming of the Messiah in the accomplishment whereof we should reade the severity of God and partly in their future conversion and recollection which we should be much in prayer to God for that he would hasten it These and many other precious truths are expressed in these Prophecies and briefly hinted at in the Exposition and Notes Which that they may prove useful to the Church of God and in parricular to your Lordship is the prayer of My Lord Your Lordships obliged Servant in the Gospel GEO. HUTCHESON TO THE Reader Christian Reader THy Acceptance of my former endeavours upon some of the Lesser Prophets hath encouraged me to go on in this work and to offer unto thee also this Exposition of these three Prophets who lived in the Church of the Jewes after their return from the captivity of Babylon My aime and desire herein hath been and is the promoving of thy spiritual good by holding forth as briefly as I could the sense and use of this part of Holy Writing And I desire that accordingly thy care may be to make right use of this as of other meanes which God in these times notwithstanding the thick clouds of errours and delusion that now abound offereth unto thee And that it may be so it is requisite that thy scope in reading be not to satisfie curiosity or to judge of mens abilities and parts in accomplishing what they undertake which is the most that many in this nauseating and wanton age propound to themselves in reading but that thou be one who indeed art making earnest in working out thy own salvation and of honouring God in thy station and generation In which case only the Scriptures will relish with thee as being driven thereunto for reproofe consolation and direction as thou needs them Nor is it to be expected that what is here gathered from the Scripture and presented to thy view will have due weight till first thou learne in thy heart to magnifie the truth and certainty of the written Word and see God who cannot lie speaking to thee in it and by it and then thou may discern much more in it and in every sentence of it then our weaknesse can dip into or comprehend and that thou art bound to deny thy self thy corrupt sense and reason and simply trust God speaking in it blessing him for so sure a ground whereupon thy soule may leane its weight I shall adde nothing concerning this peece in particular wherein are expounded many dark places by the obscurity whereof the Lord would exercise and humble us and the subject whereof is of use to the Church under variety of conditions and revolutions Only recommending it to thy favourable acceptance and thy self in making use of it to the Lords blessing who teacheth his people to profit I am Thine to serve thee in the Gospel GEO. HUTCHESON BOOKES Printed by RALPH SMITH Master Dicksons Exposition on the whole Book of the Psalmes in three Volumes Mr. Hutchesons Exposition on Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk and Zephaniah The Christians Charter shewing the Priviledge of Believers in this life and in the life to come by Mr. Watson Minister at Stephen Walbrook the third Edition much enlarged Also Mr. Watsons Art of Divine Contentment the second Edition A SERMON of Mr. Simeon Ash at the Funeral of Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker together with a Narrative of his pious life An Exposition on the whole Book of Ecclesiastes by that late learned and pious Divine Mr. John Cotton Pastor of Bostock in New-England A BRIEF EXPLICATION OF THE Prophecies OF Haggai Zechariah and Malachi Haggai THE ARGUMENT THis Prophet with the two that follow were sent of God unto the people of the Jewes after their return from the captivity in Babylon We reade not of any Prophets they had immediately after their returne but after that they had by reason of much opposition from without and their own weakness shamefully neglected the building of the Temple Ezra 4.23 24. The Lord who had inflicted several plagues on them for this did also stir up first this Prophet and shortly after Zechariah to rouze up the people and be helpful to them in building of the Temple Ezra 5.1 2. And then sent Malachi list of all to reprove and correct the abuses that fell out amongst them after the Temple was built Haggai being the first sent out is employed partly to reprove their following their own interests and neglecting of the work of God and to stir up that secure people to the work 〈◊〉 partly to encourage them to go on and to do it bonesily being set about it In which Zechariah chiefly joynes with him and enlarges that subject of their encouragement CHAP. I. IN this Chapter after the Inscription v. 1. we have 1. A Sermon reproving the peoples sinful negligence and stirring them up to build the Temple wherein he reproves their shifting to put hand to this work as if the time of doing it were not come whereas they were most active in their own private affaires v. 2 3 4. And exhorts them seriously to consider their condition and for what God had so smitten them v. 5 6. and so to consider as to be stirred up to set to the work of the Temple in which God would shew himself gracious v 7 8. and the neglect whereof had been the cause of so many plagues v. 9 10 11. 2. We have the successe of this doctrine all of them fearing God who spake by his Word set to the work v. 12. and being encouraged by the Prophet in so doing v. 13. they are so active as in short time they have materials ready wherewith they begin the work v. 14 15. Vers 1. IN the second yeare of Darius the King in the sixth moneth in the first day of the moneth came the Word by the LORD by Haggai the Prophet unto Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel Governour of Judah and to Joshua the sonne of Josedoch the High Priest saying In the Inscription we have not only the Author and Penman of this Prophecie but the time of iâ— reckoned from the yeare of the Persiâ—n Kings reign under whose power now they were and the moneth designed which was the time of their hervest the Feast of Tabernacles being the