and opposing their work that Zerubbabel might not despair of ever seeing the work finished or himself and his people in their former condition for the upholding of his heart God sendeth him such promise that might not only support but advance him forward with cheerfulness In the poorest condition that can be the Church of God is rich in promises and he is no poor man that hath rich men for his debtors though he be destitute of present supplies yet he hath Bills in abundance who hath dispised the state of small things Zerubbabel hath layd the foundation and shall see the top-stone Under the notion of a Reward assured unto Zerubbabel for what he had done he had been zealous for God's Temple and worship and God doth not only accept of it but reward him for it Honorantem me honorabo he that will honour God God will honour him Hath David a purpose to build God an House God requiteth his Intentions and saith I will build thee a sure House What comfort and confidence did this bring to Nehemiah he contended with the Elders and compelled them to bring Tithes into the Temple and then his heart breaks forth unto God Lord remember me for good and remember David and all his troubles his afflictions What were those afflictions his toil his pains his trouble to uphold Gods worship his readiness not only to do good for the Church but to suffer for it Remember the afflictions of David and it followes the sure mercies of David shall be performed The text is a Royal Charter sealed to Zerubbabel and in it a promise of future advancement I know that the Text is interpreted in a mystical sense concerning Christ. And indeed Luther's saying is true that then we understand the Prophets aright when we find Christ in them Christ is the true Zerubbabel the true anointed of the Lord the Diadem Scepter and Crown of the Throne of David belong to him But this hindreth not the intendment of it literally to Zerubbabel or the application of it to those that be as Zerubbabel the anointed of the Lord and so we may use it but with this reservation that Christ only hath the preheminence he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords before whom all the Kings of the Earth must throw down their Crowns and give him homage But by him and after him the Text is a royal Charter made to Zerubbabel wherein are these particulars 1. The time and season when this shall befal In that day 2. The Author and advancement The Lord. First I will take thee Secondly I will make thee Thirdly I have chozen thee It is the Lord the Lord only 3. The person to be advanced Zerubbabel my servant 4. The advancement it self I will make thee as a signet 5. The ground and reason and withall the stability of the advancement the assurance of it is sealed with the Seal of the living God it passeth through three Seales the ratification thrice repeated Thus saith the Lord and again and the third time sealed with the broad seal of Heaven Thus saith the Lord of Hostes. 1. And first of the time wherein this Chater should be made good to Zerubbabel In that day and it 's called a day of overthrowing the kingdomes of the Heathens when the Chariots of the horsmen shall come down when Heaven and Earth shall be shaken in that day Zerubbabel shal be exalted So these words may have the force of several things 1. The force of a supposition or an etsi and then this is the meaning though all the world shall be in an uproare and confusion yet Zerubbabel shall be exalted 2. The force of a condition or a potius rather then Zerubbabel shall not be exalted the Kingdomes of the Heathen shall be overthrown 3. The form of a fined relation and determination or a quando when the Nations shall be rooted out then Zerubbabels throne shal be exalted 1. The first of a supposition etsi Though all the earth be in an uproare yet Zerubbabels Throne shall be set up And this supposition is not meerly imaginary no impossible thing to see the world in an uproare We must not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 think it strange to see this lower region full of stormes and tempests the roaring of the waves the raging of the Sea and the madnesse of the people are put all together and this speaks the world as truly subject to tumults as the Sea Tempests there are venti Typhonici unquiet spirits whose work is to take peace from the Earth and to bring all to confusion and now suppose all this yet Zerubbabel shall have a charter of safty Gods Church his chosen ones his darlings they have a patent of security When God sendeth forth his judgements he gives charges as David did to his Souldiers that they should spare the life of his Son Let not Zerubbabel my servant be harmed The world it is in a tumult as Psa. 2. Why do the Heathen rage and the people of the Earth imagin a vaine thing Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion David and the Sons of David are Sealed up the Psalmist delightes to put their cases to imagin them and so to strengthen their faith Psal. I will not fear though the Earth be removed when the earth doth quake then doth David stand immovable see the courage of his Faith in the rebellion raised against him Ps. 3. 4. I will not be afraid for ten thousand men that have set themselves against me round about See his security in the midst of these dangers I laid me down and slept 2. As a Condition potius rather than Zerubbabel shall miscarry he will overthrow all that shall oppose him nay he will shake Heaven and Earth the whole creation Nothing too costly to redeem him from destruction Zerubbabel's advancement met with great opposition the Prophet compares it with a great mountain but what art thou great mountain before Zerubbabel Thou shalt become a plain Zach. 4.7 All oppositions that rise against him shall become flat God is the God of nature and the Lord of the whole world and so he is merciful to all his creatures but when they come in comparison or stand in opposition to his Church they shall be all parted with Thus Isaiah sheweth how much he esteemed the welfare of his chosen Isa. 43. 34. I gave Egypt for thee Aethiopia and Sheba for thy ransome I will give men for thee and Nations for thy life One David one Zerubbabel is more dear than thousands of Heathens and Aliens 3. As the force of a Quando It sets forth the time when and herein are three gradual periods 1. In the day of adversity he will stand for Zerubbabel and defend him usually when the Church is in adversity God suffers the men of the World to be in prosperity and so when the day cometh he will remember his own and do good to them The Sun of prosperity shineth not in
both their Hemispheres at once God usually sets a pillar of cloud betwixt them when it is dark on the one side it is light on the other The world shall rejoyce but thou shalt have sorrow saith our Saviour David saith the time of the Church's affliction is but till the pit be digged up for the ungodly The Ark of Gods people then rises higher when the world lieth lowest sinketh under water 2. In that day when he shal revenge the opposition of the Church on their enemies Zerub shal be exalted High revenge on the enemies of the Church is accompanied with remarkable mercies to the Church St. Paul shewed that the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in an extraordinary way so likewise he preserveth his own in an extraordinary manner judgments on the enemies of the Church are mercies to the Church He slew mighty Kings for his mercy endureth for ever Their oppositions of the Church are not only repaid with fury and revenge on her enemies but recompenced with comfort on her self 3. In that day that great day that last day the throne of Zerubbabel shall be exalted The promise reacheth unto the time when there shall be a full accomplishment of all things Other judgements were but praejudicia ultimi judicii even then when all Thrones shall be cast down Zerubbabels Throne shall be exalted In that time that he makes up his Jewels Zerubbabel shall be remembred then shall he set him as a signet in his right hand And indeed till then neither Zerubbabel the Type nor Christ the Anti-type shall be at their full glory Christ indeed sitteth now on his throne but he treadeth not on his footstool Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool when Heaven and Earth and the powers thereof shall be shaken then shall Christ and his Saints appear in glory Here is the happinesse of true Christian Kings they shall not be terminated they shall not end with others but shall raign with Christ for ever When Pagans Heathens shal be brought to the barr of justice true Christian Kings shall be taken up as assisters to the Bench Here Christ reigneth in and by them where they shall reign with Christ. I now come to the second part of my Text The person to whom Zerubbabel my servant 1. By compellation He calleth him by his name he directeth a special message to him 1. It is an honour to be owned of God by name It 's a testimony of his favour to Zerubbabel to such it sheweth how high he esteemeth of them like the great officers of State their names and persons are precious or as the great Constellations in heaven stars of just Magnitude for which we have particular names and not for the rest 2. It 's affectionate as well as honorable it 's the language of love thus to speak in those personal sweet expressions God delighteth thus to express himself to his servants Chrysostome observes that it is a signe of Gods displeasure either not to speak or not to speak by name I have called thee by name saith God to Moses 3. It is comfortable especially in the daies of trouble when adversity besets us thus sweetly to be called by him Fear not Abraham said God to his servant Gen. 15. Thus David incourageth himself O God thou hast known my Soul Fear not Jacob. Be of good-chear Paul Christ saith to his persecuted Disciples Thus Iacob prayeth for the blessing when he was in destresse and the blessing assured him by the imposition of his name Thy name shall be called Israel for thou hast prevailed 2. He describeth him by his relation Zerubbabel my servant a title of high honour and worth Noble men are more honourable in their Courts attendances and service unto their Sovereigne than in all the commands they exercise in their own country King Iames of blessed memory counting up the titles which the Scriptures put upon Christian Kings glorieth in this most that God calleth them the servants of the Lord. Bellarmine esteems it servile and trivial and mocketh him for it as Micah did David for dancing before the Arke but this our gracious Prince made it his blessing Indeed though it be a title otherwise communicated to all the servants of the Lord yet it doth most especially belong to those that are in supream authority Moses my servant David and Zerubbabel my servants a title given by God to those that are immediately subordinate to himself and it were wisdome to preserve these titles to that they belong to Titles given by God are real conveiances and not to be transported as the Cardinal would have it to inferiour subjects Zerubbabel is the servant of God 1. Officio The high calling of Kings and Princes is an office which they perform to God St. Paul calleth them Gods servants and Ministers Supremacy is not any intrusion or usurpation as Corah and his complices would have it were it so it were good to be rid of it or were it an aberration 't were good to forsake it were it but a permission made for a time it must in time give place but it is an authority from God set up by original institution The Apostles call it the Ordinance of God David compares it to the Sun at Noon 2. Speciali functione Zerubbabel Gods servant by a special service above all other imployments even the restoring of Gods worship to the full beauty thereof and the building of the Temple This was the work expected from Zerubbabel The Jews say that the keyes of the Temple were laid every night under Solomons pillow they hang not at their priests girdle When Kings serve God as Kings when they do that service which none but Kings can do for him to establish the truth of religion to maintain and uphold it to safeguard the Church to see men be religious and not suffer them to be sacrilegious is the great service that belongs unto Kings 3. Gratiosa acceptatione God graciously accepted of the service that Zerubbabel did for him Zerubbabel might meet with those that would quarrel and wrangle with his proceedings But let others malign him here is his comfort that God whom he serveth accepteth of him It 's the lot of the servants of God to be liable to the quarrels of disaffectionate men so Moses the beloved one so David the man after Gods own heart though for a while the People had very Loyal and Honourable thoughts of Him He did seem to please them yet 2 Sam. 3. There did arise discontent about his Government and ruling over them Well what saith God of him notwithstanding all this this is his Testimony of him He feedeth them with a faithful and true heart and ruleth them prudently with all his power So Solomon his Son even his Government was complained of as too heavy yet all the burdens he loaded the people withal were an over-charge of wealth The Taxes and Summes for the building of the Royal Temple and
neither from the East nor from the West nor any point of the Compass Magistracy is the Image of God which fell from the Heaven to the Earth Exemplum habet de coelo Lo our Saviour sheweth Iohn so It is written in the Law I have said ye are Gods He it was that made them so We must not have gods of our own making the holy Oyle wherewith they were anointed is his with my holy Oyle saith the Lord I have anointed him The Throne they are placed in is Gods Throne 1 Chr. 29.23 Solomon sate on the Throne of the Lord. The Judges they exercised Gods Judgements For the judgement is Gods you shall not therefore respect persons in judgements Deut. 1.17 Hence they are called the sonnes of the most high hence they are all the sons of God In his thigh is there names written All this betokens their high descent This thing considered that Kings are authorised by God it will prove a comfort that our Government is of Gods appointment and God will bless his own ordinance Mens inventions though never so wise have no such promise as his institutions They that set up Abimeleck to be King over Israel took delight in him and he in them but how long did he last and their joy continue But if God setteth one over us let us not question how he shall save us Gedeon suspected himself and Moses groaned under his burden yet both of them prevailed The advancement it self I will make thee as a Signet Zerubbabel shall be unto God as his seale ring It 's a Symbolical expression take it literally and no great matter to be found in it Bernard saith Annulus nihil valet ad hereditates quas expecto It is not so much the Ring as the thing sealed with the Ring the purpose unto which it was destined is that which putteth the excellency on it Materiam saperabit opus and so we may consider it threefold 1. As a seal and testimony and conveyance of authority in the ruling of places unto great officers By a Ring Governments were disposed of Ioseph was thus admitted to advancement Pharaoh took off his Ring and put it on Iosephs hand Alexander declared his Successor by delivery of a Ring So then the impression or Signet of Supream Authority is fixed on Zerub 'T is his Royal Charter None shall lift up hand or foot against thee in the land of Egypt saith Pharaoh to Ioseph all other governments must pass under this seal As Ambrose speaketh of the King given to Ioseph It was for a seal unto others Let the metal be what it will without this Sculpture it beareth no authority 2. Rings were for ornament The Ring and the Robe were brought forth for ornaments Luk. 15. And such is the power of Magistracy it is the ornament of the Creation the lustre of all the great Workmanship of God He made the Sun to rule the Day the Moon and Starrs to rule the Night But the splendency of these lights is the beauty of the Creature Take them away and what remains but horror and darkness See how God describeth the beauty of his people I deckt thee with Gold and Silver and thou wast comely A due proportion of Soveraignty and subjection is the beauty of the body politick and also as every good government hath its beauty so the Royal Government is most beautiful It setteth forth the Glory of Gods name that he governs by Kings and Princes they are his anointed as the great constellations of the Firmament Solomon reckons it amidst the foure happinesses And Kings against whom there iâ—no rising up 3. God will make Zerubbabel his signet and this betokeneth care and custody He will weare keep and hold him as a signet The Scripture doth represent this care of God by a signet in nameing three places wherein God setteth it for safe custody 1. On his right hand and this his usual way of wearing Signets Set me as a signet at thy right hand So then custodia dextrae this is the first and this containeth an ordinary preservation There are crosses and mischances which dayly happen to the life of man unto which even Princes are subject did not this good right hand of the Lord protect them in their going out and coming in In all the turnings and passages of their lives this hand protects them They are viri dextrae 2. There are extraordinary cases and hazards and they require more powerful preservation and for them there must be a stronger place Set me as a seal on thy arm Beside the preservation of his hand he hath for his Anointed the deliverance of his arm of his strong arme of his outstretched Arme. David to shelter himself from ordinary dangers cryes out God is my house it s he that makes David to dwell in safety But in great distresses as when the conspiracy was raised against him he puts himself in a strong protection God is not onely my house but my rock my fortress my strong tower and refuge For daily preservation let thy hand be on the man of thy right hand but in strong assaults awake awake put on strength thou arm of the Lord. 3. Thirdly there is yet a closer and safer place and it is his heart The Spouse saith set me as a seal on thy heart And this betokeneth great care The heart is Loves Pallace in it she keeps her Jewels and such a sure Keeper God is He stretcheth out hand and arm to preserve Zerubb No snatching him out of his hand Here is the safety of Gods people of his Anointed Zerubbabel his hand shall hold him fast and his arme shall strengthen him and his heart shall be a hiding place and a Sanctuary The ground of this advancement for I have chosen thee This election is a sure foundation this Charter of God is sigillum signatum this preferment is an impression from the Great seal This election is like the great stone which supported the Throne of Nebuchadnezzar I will place his Throne on this Throne saith God It s like building on a Rock Let the storms come and the wind blow this rock of election will keep it immoveable Yet will I make Zerubbabels Kingdome steadfast This Election appeareth in five things 1. Ex Electione non tantum ex permissione this is too weak and Sandy a foundation Permission falls short of approbation and Kings are not carried by this but by Gods steady Election In the Kingdom of Providence there is nothing of casualties and permissions the Spirit of God which governeth the world is a Spirit of Counsel and not of temerity So then Zerubbabel raigneth by Gods election and purpose it 's not a matter of meer tolleration or bare permission 2. Exelectione tam cum rejectione aliorum Bernard saith Gods choice must stand when all other competitors are rejected It was this election that transferred the Kingdom of Saul Speak not of him for I have rejected him This advanced David and not