John Trapp on Haggai 1:2

Verſe 2. Thus ſpeaketh the Lord of Hoſts, ſaying,] This title is oft uſed in theſe three laſt prophecies (eighteen ſeverall times in that eighth of Zachary) becauſe, being to build, they had many enemies; therefore had need of all encouragement. And Hierom in his Prologue [illegible: 1 letter]oteth it as an act of great courage in Haggai and Zachary, that againſt the Edict of King Artaxerxes (or Cambyſes) and the oppoſitions of Sanballat, and other potent Adverſaries, they ſhould ſtir up the people to build the Temple: and as an act of heroicall faith in the Prince, prieſt, and people, to ſet upon the work, and finiſh it, Not by might, nor by power, but by the ſpirit the Lord of Hoſts, Zach. 4.6. See more of this title in the Note on Mal. 3.17. Doct. 1.

this people ſay] Words then have their weight: neither are mens tongues their own: but there is a Lord over them (Pſal. 12.4.) that will call them to a ſtrict account of all their waſte words, Mat. 12.36, and hard ſpeeches, Jude 15. and then they ſhall experiment that by their words (which they happly held but winde) they ſhall be juſtified, and by their words condemned, Mat. 12.37. How good is it therefore to carry a pair of ballance betwixt the lips? Neſcit poenitenda loqui qui proferenda priùs ſuo tradidit examini, ſaith Caſſiodore; He that weighs his words before he utters them, ſhall prevent an after-reckoning for them.

the time is not come, the time, &c] He repeateth their frivolous and frigid excuſes, in their own very words; that he may the better confute them, Ʋſus eſt [non-Latin text not transcribed] ut rei indignitatem amplificaret. and the ſooner bring them to a ſight of their ſinne. Sinne and ſhifting came into the world together, Gen. 3.12. And this is ſtill the vile poiſon of our hearts, that they will needs be naught, and yet never yeeld, but that there is reaſon to bee made, and great ſenſe in ſinning. Theſe Jewes (likely) had both Scripture and Reaſon to plead for their backwardneſſe (as there is no wooll ſo courſe, but will take ſome colour: and the ſluggard is wiſer in his own eyes, Prov. 26.16. then ſeven men that can render a reaſon:) For Scripture: To every thing there is an appointed time, a ſet ſeaſon, ſuch as we can neither alter nor order, Eccleſ. 3.1, and verſe 3. There is a time to break down, and a time to build up. And that this time to rebuild the Temple was not yet come, ſome might pretend, that the ſeventy years foretold,Hieronym. R. David. were not yet fully expired: others (with more ſhew of reaſon) that they had been too haſty in laying the foundation long ſince, as appears by their ill ſucceſſe, and many adverſaries: that, God who had dwelt ſo long in a Tabernacle, and was now worſhipped at his new-created Altar, would bear with them, if they firſt built their own houſes, and then be more free to build his Houſe, which they intended to do hereafter, with great care and coſt. This is ſtill the guiſe of graceleſſe procraſtinatours, to future and fool away their own ſalvation. Hereafter, ſay they, may bee time enough, and what need ſuch haſt to build the ſpirituall Temple? In ſpace comes grace, God is more mercifull then ſo: and at what time ſoever a ſinner repents from the bottom of his heart, &c.Mat. 23.17. Fools and blind men (as our Saviour calls the Phariſees) that thus ſtand trifling, and baffling with God, and their ſouls, being ſemper victuri, as Seneca ſaith, alwayes about to do that, which if not well done, they are utterly undone for ever: for upon this little point of time hangs the crown of eternity. The gales of grace are uncertain, the day of grace, (which is very clear and bright) is uſually a ſhort one. Non licet in bello bis peccare, ſaid Lamachus to a ſouldier of his brought before him, and pleading he would doe ſo no more: So God will not ſuffer men twice to neglect the day of grace, which, if once paſt, will never dawn again. Let none therefore when preſt to the preſent Now of meeting God by repentance, anſwer as Antipater King of Macedony did, when one, preſented him a book treating of happineſſe [non-Latin text not transcribed] I am not at leiſure: Or as Archias the Theban, when forewarned of a conſpiracy againſt him, caſt the letters by, with In craſtinum ſeria, and was ſlain ere the morrow came. Or as theſe Cunctators in the Text, that had oft in their mouth, The time is not come, the time &c. leſt the very next minute they be cut off by death from all further time of repentance, acceptation and grace for ever. Men may purpoſe, promiſe, expect a time of healing and happineſſe, when they ſhall be deceived, and find a time of terrour and torment, Jer. 14.19. Some, when a dying, would have given a world for time: as I have heard (ſaith a Reverend man) one crying day and night call time again: but that could not be.Poſthac occaſi[illegible: 1 letter] calva. As in warre, ſo here, none are permitted to erre twice. Time muſt be taken by the forelock, as being bald behind.