not how many sorts and change of raiment they have. We are in the number of those rich men, to whom St James saith, “Woe," because they had so great plenty of apparel, James v. that the moths did eat them, and their poor neighbours went cold and naked, wanting them.

goods never

And although those be wonderful and strange kinds of plagues that God laid upon them for their sins, that neither the corn nor the fruit of the earth could increase, their meat would not feed them, nor drink fill them, nor their clothes keep them warm; yet this is most marvellous, that the money which they had in their purses, would not abide with them, but wasted away, they could not tell how, not profiting them, but even as though it had fallen out at the bottom of their purses, or that their purses had been torn so fast, it went from them as they gat it, they did not thrive by it. But such is the wisdom of God, that which way we think to enrich ourselves, displeasing him, the same is turned to our own hurt, and we be catched in our own snares. A man would think his money sure enough when it were in his purse: but lay it where thou wilt, under lock and key, yea, in stone houses Evil gotten if thou wilt; if it be wrongfully gotten, or niggardly laid up, thrive. and not bestowed to relieve the need of other, as occasion requires, rather than thou shalt enjoy that wicked mammon, the rust and canker .shall eat it, thieves shall steal it, or fire shall come from heaven, if it cannot some other ways, and destroy thee and it, rather than thou shalt continue wealthy contrary to God's will, disobeying him. It is with money as in corn and other fruits: for as he that sows much, and that in good ground, reaps much, so he that liberally bestows much of his truly gotten goods on the needy members of Jesus Christ, shall be enriched much of Christ for the poor are the good ground that brings thee forth much increase by the blessing of God. "I have seen," saith Salo- Prov. xi. mon, "some give their own goods, and they waxed richer: other scrape that which is not their own, and are ever in need." So he that will thrive, must first get it righteously, and after spend it liberally; for that which is evil gotten, though it be after dealt in alms, displeases God. When Tob. ii. blind father Toby heard a kid blea in his house, he bids them take heed that it be not stolen. He saith also to his

Tob. iv.

Jer. vi.

goods waste

is truly come by.

son:

"Of thine own substance give alms" (but that which is evil gotten, is not thine own), "and if thou have much, give much; and if thou have but a little, yet give it willingly." These men whom the prophet here rebukes, did none of all these things: for neither it was well gotten, nor liberally spent. What marvel was it then, though it fell out of the purse bottom, and consumed away they wist not how, nor yet did them any good?

This greediness was so far grown into all sorts of men, that the poor labouring man, which wrought for his day's wage, was not content to work a true day's work, but would loiter and be idle, make his work subtle and full of craft and deceit, have a greater wage than his work was worth. It was true now also, that Jeremy complained on in his time, saying: "From the highest to the lowest, from the Evil gotten prophet to the priest, all study for covetousness and deceits." that which But I would wish all such greedy guts to mark this similitude of Chrysostom, where he compares a penny evil gotten, and laid amongst the other silver which is truly come by, to a worm that lies at the heart of an apple. For as she first corrupts the heart of the apple, and that once being rotten, it rots the next piece unto him, and so forth every piece that which is next unto him, until the whole apple be rotten (though for a great space it seem on the outside to be a fair hard apple and sound); so that evil gotten penny, saith Chrysostom, shall infect that which lies next him, and so forth every one his fellow, until all be wasted. Thus the plague being general, that all sorts of men were punished, and nothing did go forward with any kind of men, because generally all sorts had sinned; and God requiring generally of all sorts that his house should be built; it proves that every one had a portion to do in the building of God's house, and that none could be excused from this work.

So we in England all be guilty, all have been punished, because every sort of men should have laid his helping hand to the building of God's house, reforming his religion, restoring and maintaining his gospel, which none or very few have earnestly done: and therefore all these plagues have fallen upon us that these people felt, yea, and more too; for all that would hold fast their profession, either were cast into

the fire or banished. No country has more belly cheer than we, and we eat as though we were hungry still. None has more store of apparel, and yet we be a-cold. How our money has wasted, if I seek but only of the sundry falls of money, many can remember, and yet feel the smart of it; though I trust much good shall follow on it. The Lord for his mercy open our eyes, that we may see and consider the cause of these plagues which he hath laid on us so long, and speedily turn us to amend those faults for which we be punished! For even from the highest unto the poor labouring man we have all sinned, and one plagued another: yea, servants have sought to wax wealthy by great wages taking and little working: but, as this prophet saith, their wages was put into a bottomless purse, and they have not thriven by it. What hath been the end of ambitious and covetous men, from the highest to the lowest, which never being content with enough desired more; he which is not blind may see it more among us than all Christendom.

v. 7. Thus saith the God of hosts: consider in your hearts The Text. your own ways.

8. Go up to the hill, and bring home timber, build this

house; and I will have delight in it, and I will be glo- Targ. dwell rified, saith the Lord.

in it with

glory.

The prophet hath never done enough in beating' in the authority and majesty of his God that sent him with his commission to his people, and never speaks things in his own name; but in the beginning and ending of these short verses addeth the glorious name of God JEHOVA, calling him the Lord of hosts, at whose commandment all creatures be, and who will arm all his creatures to fight against all such as either do not build his house and hinder his glory, or else stop them which would further it. With such words of fear and power must all stubborn stomachs be pulled down: and they which will not be overcome by gentleness to do their duty, must be feared with authority. Thus must preachers An example learn to temper their tongues, never to speak but that which ers. they find in God's book: and where the people be hard

[Second edition, bearing. See p. 84, repeat and beat in. ED.]

for preach

hearted to believe and stiff-necked to hear, they must use such words of God's majesty and power, which will make stony hearts to tremble; and where fear reigns, there to comfort and raise them up by the gentle loving mercies of God offered to the world in his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And yet once again he refers them to their own judgment, and bids them consider in their own hearts their own ways, and be judges themselves. As if he should say: Hitherto have ye followed your own desires, and have had no profit in so doing; but being sundry wise plagued ye have not considered it. Nothing that ye have gone about hath prospered with you: your fruit of the earth hath not increased; your meat and drink hath not fed you; your clothes hath not kept you warm; your money wasted in your purse, ye could not tell how. But now build my house, and mark your own doings well, whether every thing shall not be blessed and increased that ye go about. I will be delighted in your building, and I will shew my glory to the whole world among you, in defending you, and that my house and worship there. I will be your God, and ye shall be my people, and no enemies shall overcome you the earth shall be fruitful unto you; your meat, drink, clothes and money shall feed and nourish you. Choose you whether ye will let my house lie unbuilded still, and still be plagued; or ye will repair it diligently, and be blessed.

"Go up to the hill, bring home timber, and build this house:" these three things God requires of them, and he promises them two blessings for them; first, that he will be delighted in that house building, then that he will shew his glory amongst them. For these causes, rather than for worldly profit, they should be more earnestly stirred to do their duty, when they were certain that they pleased God in so doing. The hill that he wills them to go to is Libanus, as appears in Esdras', which is not within the bounds of Jewry, but of Tyrus and Sidon: for there grew the fairest trees of any 1 Kings v. country. From thence had Salomon trees in his time also for the same building. This figure doth teach us, that as

Ezra iii.

[Esdras: Ezra. It is here and elsewhere quoted by the author as the 1st book of Esdras, according to the practice then in use of calling the book of Nehemiah the second book of Esdras or Ezra. See the 6th Article of our Church. ED.]

The heathen

be members

church.

God's temple was then builded of trees that grew amongst be called to the heathen people; so when the full time was comen, Christ's of Christ's church should be builded of the Gentiles and heathen people, when the gospel should be preached through all the world. And this is comfortable for us, that although we be not born of Jews, yet we be trees meet to build God's house on; and God wills us to be brought home to him by the preaching of his word, that we may be partakers of that house, wherein he will dwell, and be delighted in us, and among whom he will shew his glory. He bids them climb up the hill, draw home trees, and build the house; which all be words of great The painful labour and pains, and speaks nothing of the easier sort of be borne work, as devising, casting the work, framing the posts, &c., respect. but wills them not to refuse the greatest labour that belongs thereto, and that nothing should be thought painful that God commands. And he bids them not look for any great worldly wealth when they had done, (although God of his goodness would give them that beside;) but think this a sufficient reward, that God was pleased in their doings, and would shew his glory among them.

This is the greatest reward that we can look for, when God is delighted with us: and happy is that people to whom it falls. What have the angels in heaven more, than that God is delighted to be among them, and shew his glorious majesty to them? Thus in building God's house we may make of earth heaven, and of men angels. For where God shews himself glorious, there is heaven: and we shall be like angels, delighting ourselves in praising our God; and God will be delighted and dwell with us, shewing his glorious majesty to us, be our God and bless us.

labour must

without

When they had fallen these trees and carried them home, lest they should turn them to their own use, and build their own houses with them, he saith, "Build this house," meaning the house of God and temple which God had chosen among all other places, and where only he willed them to offer their sacrifices. In which we are taught, that we should not turn to our own pleasure those things which God will have dedicate to himself and to the building of his house. Necessary If England had not been so greedy to turn to their own use goods are church goods, which should have necessarily been bestowed taken away.

church

not to be