and straight follows sunshine and fair weather; so when a man, for fear of his sins, in conscience lies flat down in the sight of God, confessing his sin, as one oppressed with the burden and vileness thereof; complains to God, accuses himself, groans, sobs, and sighs like the thunder-crack, dare not look up towards heaven for his wickedness, but condemns himself; at the last bursts out on weeping, and the tears like rain-drops come trickling down his cheeks: straightways follows quietness of mind, God offers him pardon and clearness of conscience, with wondering and praising the unspeakable goodness of God for his mercies and comfort in Christ his Son offered to such a troubled conscience.

decays the

In the latter verse is first declared the worthiness, authority, high title and rule given to the preachers, for the commendation of their office. Aggeus here is called "the angel of the Lord," as some in English do translate it, or the messenger, or embassador, which signify all one thing unto us. So these names with such like are given to preachers in the scripture, to set forth the highness of their vocation and authority that God calleth them to. The wordly-wise men, Worldliness considering the decay of the living of bishops and priests, ministery. and that they be not so much esteemed and as wealthy, as when they were loitering, lordly, unpreaching prelates, and ruled all, would say, 'Shall I make my son a minister, and when I have spent all I have on him, he shall neither be able to help my other children, nor yet scarce able to live himself, but shall be disdained of all sorts of men; and if he preach the truth, he shall be in jeopardy of his life? Or shall I marry my daughter to a priest?-with such like uncomely sayings: nay, I trow not; there is more profit by the law or physic: yea, if he be but a pen-clerk, an auditor or receiver, I will provide for him better any of these ways.' The goods of the church are the goods of the poor woe therefore be to them that rob the church so by impropriations, that neither the minister nor the poor can be relieved! For by that means the necessary food of the preacher is given. to idle bellies: and these worldlings declare themselves to desire nothing but worldly wealth, in thus doing or so saying. But if they mark this and other places of the scriptures, and [ Both editions have deceiver. ED.]

The preach would have their children made worshipful, they shall find worshipful. more worshipful names given to the preaching minister, than to any one sort of men.

er's office is

Angel.

be angels.

Rev. i. ii.

The noblest creatures that God hath made be the heavenly spirits and angels, which be always in heaven most happy for the continual beholding of his glory; and for their office' sake are chosen and called angels, because they be sent on his message, and do most willingly go at his commandment. This word "angel" betokens not the substance of the creature, but the office; and is a Greek word signifying a messenger or embassador: this name "angel" was commonly used to be given to these heavenly messengers, whom God sends [on] his message from his holy place of majesty: as Gabriel the angel was sent to the virgin Mary, and other to Preachers Joseph, Daniel, Moses, &c. This name is also given to the preachers for the heavenly comfort that they bring to man from God, whose messengers they be. In the Revelation St John writes to the seven angels, that is to say, to the seven ministers, of the seven congregations or churches in Asia. John Baptist was called the angel of the Lord, or embassador, sent to prepare his ways. And whom do kings use to send embassadors, but such as be faithful and trusty, whom they love, and [to] whom they dare commit secret and weighty matters unto? What can be more worshipful than to be God's embassador, and in such trust with him that God will vouchsafe to send him on his message? St Paul desires the Ephesians to pray for him, that he might have utterance given him to speak and preach the gospel freely, for the which he was sent embassador. 2 Corinthians v, he saith his embassage stood chiefly in this point, to reconcile us to God.

Mark i.

Eph. vi.

Stewards.

Is not the steward's office an high office, and of greatest credit in great men's houses, and at their commandment and appointing all things be done? They provide and give all in their master's house meat in due season, &c. St Paul therefore saith, "Let a man thus think of us, that we be the servants of God and stewards of his secret mysteries," Matt. xxiv. which be meat for our souls. St Matthew in a parable calls the preachers stewards, appointed over God's house, to give Mark xiii. their fellow-servants meat in due season. St Mark calleth

1 Cor. iv.

Porters.

Matt. v.

them porters in God's house, having in commandment to watch that no thieves nor unruly persons come in to trouble the house. They be called "the light of the world," to lead Light. other the right way: they be "the salt of the earth," to season Salt. us, that by corruption we do not smell evil before God: they be God's soldiers, to fight for his people, as St Paul says, "No man goes to war on his own wages." They be watch- Watchmen. men, to give warning when enemies come. They be dogs, to Dogs. bark and awake us out of our deadly sleep, when we forget God. They be the mouth of God, that where we were not able to stand in the sight of God, if he should speak unto us in his glorious majesty, he doth vouchsafe to speak unto us by the mouth of his minister, being a man as we be, and whom we should believe to be sent from God as long as he teaches Christ and his word.

Isai. Ivi.

These names of trust and credit are given to preachers for the commendation and setting forth of their office, which they bear in God's house; and that they should not think it a vile, but a most worshipful room. And to make them more regarded, the Lord counts those injuries done to himself, which be done to his preachers, saying: "He that despises Matt. [x.] you, despises me; and in what town soever ye come, if they will not receive you, shake the dust off your feet, and it shall bear witness against them in the day of judgment."

And because he joins to the next saying, "In the messages of the Lord;" it doth us to weet the faithfulness of this prophet in his duty, that he speaks nothing but the words of the Lord truly, which sent him; which rule all true preachers should follow. But of this is enough spoken in the verses before.

Now follows the glad tidings of the gospel to comfort this people withal after the great threatenings of God, which the prophet here pronounced in the former verses. For as God works in his creatures, that after winter comes summer, and after a storm fair weather: so in the spiritual doctrine of our souls, first he teaches repentance, preaches the law, threatens vengeance for sin, casts down man in his own sight, and lets him look even into hell with fear of conscience for his disobedience; but afterwards he comforts him, raises him up, and heals him, that this may be found true that is said of our Saviour Christ, "I came not to call the righteous, Matt. ix.

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The law is first to be

then the

gospel.

Matt. iii.

Acts iii.

but sinners to repentance;" and "they that be whole need not the physician, but the sick.”

All the prophets use the same trade in teaching, as Esay taught, and in his first chapter calleth the Jews worse than beasts; for "the ox would know his master, and the ass his master's manger, but they would not know their God:" and the rulers he calls the "princes of Sodom," and "fellows with thieves." Jonas also in the beginning of his prophecy saith, “Within forty days Nineve shall be destroyed." Sophony's' first words be, that God "will destroy man, beast, fowl, corn, and fruit of the earth." But afterwards every one of them prophesies of Christ, promises blessing from God, with increase of all wealth and goodness. Likewise John Baptist began his preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." And our Saviour Christ began his preaching with the selfsame words. Peter in his first sermon, after they received the Holy Ghost, rebuked the Jews sharply for crucifying Christ the giver of life, and for asking Barabbas a murderer to be delivered unto them: but when their conscience pricked them, they asked what they should do; and he comforts them, bids them repent, and be baptized every one of them in the name of Christ. So here, after the sharp preaching of the law, and threatening of God's plagues, followeth the sweet comfort of the gospel; for he saith, "I am with you, saith the Lord:" as though he should say, Let nothing grieve you, neither the greatness of the sin, that ye have been so negligent in forgetting the building of this house so long; nor the great cost, as though ye were not able to bear and perform it; nor be not afraid of the king's officers which stopped you; for "I am with you, saith the Lord," whose power they cannot withstand, whose mercy passeth your misery, and who can pardon and forgive more than you can sin, and who shall be judge of your doings, and am able to forgive all things trespassed against me. All the riches of the earth is mine, and I bestow it as pleases me: the hearts of kings and rulers be in my hand, and I rule them as I think good: when I will, they shall shew you favour and friendship; and when they lust they shall not stop, hurt, nor hinder my work according to their desire or pleasure, as [Zephaniah's. ED.]

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much as they would: but those that fear and love me, I will bless, and they shall not have any harm, and my works shall prosper and go forwards in their hands, as I think good, in despite of all their foes: therefore let nothing fear nor trouble you; for I, whom all things do obey, am with you, saith the Lord.

promised

up to enter

things.

These are but few words in number, but they are mighty in operation and working, where they be received with an earnest faith; and so mighty, that whosoever hears and believes them to be spoken of God, is not afraid to attempt anything, be it never so great and hard. When Jacob was Gen. xlví. doubting and afraid, whether he should go into Egypt to his son Joseph or no, God spake to him and said, "Jacob, be not afraid; for I will go down into Egypt with thee, and I will bring thee out again also." Then Jacob, fearing neither God's help the death of his son Joseph, nor the displeasure that might stirreth us come to him and his, if either he or yet Joseph offended prise great the king; nor yet lest Joseph should lose his authority by a new king, as it is commonly seen; nor the jeopardy of the journey, no, nor yet any other worldly thing that could or might chance, [but] went into Egypt boldly with all his children and substance, and was defended by God. When Moses keeping sheep saw the fire in the bush, and God Exod. iii. said unto him, that he would send him to king Pharao to deliver his people, he was afraid and marvelled that he, being but a shepherd, should be sent on such a message to so mighty a prince: but after that God had promised him that he would be with him, he was encouraged, and took in hand to go to Pharao on his embassage, and to lead God's people out of Egypt. When God sent his angel to Gedeon, Judg. vi. threshing his corn, and said he should deliver the people from their enemies, which invaded their country and lay as thick in number as grasshoppers do in the field; Gedeon doubted at the matter, until such time as God said unto him, that he would be with him. And after trial of his faith in that promise made unto him, he durst with three hundred naked men, having no weapons but earthen-pots, a fire-brand and horns in their hands, set on their enemies, which fled all away, as soon as they heard the potsherds knocked together.