Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13:1

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

In that day of the passion of the Son of God, there shall be a Fountain opened, even in the side of that Blessed Redeemer; which shall flow forth, for the cleansing of all penitent and true believers, from all their sins and all their spiritual uncleannesses: that precious blood, which shall issue thence, shall be an allsufficient laver for all repentant and faithful souls.

Zechariah 13:2

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

That gross idolatry, wherewith the world was infected, shall now cease; and the very names and mention of those Pagan idols shall be forgotten: and the oracles, whereto they resorted in all their doubts, shall cease; and those prophets and priests,

Zechariah 13:3

And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

And if any false prophet shall yet take upon him to use these wicked divinations, his very parents, that begat and bore him, shall rise up against him; and, out of their detestation of his sin, shall be both his accusers and his executioners: so shall the zeal of God’s glory prevail with them, above all natural respects.

Zechariah 13:4

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive.

And the false teachers, which shall arise in the Church, shall be convinced of their errors; and so laid open by the light of the Gospel, that they shall not any more, under colourable pretences, deceive God’s people.

Zechariah 13:5

But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

But, contrarily, the false teacher shall be confounded in himself; and be forced to confess, that he hath erred, and that God hath not given him any warrant for the broaching of his erroneous doctrines, or any lawful calling in his Church; but that his education and breeding hath been in another way, even in secular employments from his youth.

Zechariah 13:6

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

And when one shall say unto him, What are these grievous censures that are inflicted upon thee? Then he shall answer, These are just censures, wherewith I was branded in the holy Church of God, by them which did seriously and lovingly seek my conversion.

Zechariah 13:7

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

O thou, my sword of affliction, awake, arise, and lay about thee: smite him, that is nearest and dearest unto me; even him, that is my Coequal and Coeternal Son, the image of me the Invisible God, saith the Lord of Hosts: smite thou this Great Shepherd of my Church, and his sheep, his disciples and followers, shall be scattered, and shall both forsake him and be severed from each other; for, even against those disci- VOL. IV. I ples also, as well as against their Master, will I stir up enmity and opposition in the world.

Zechariah 13:8

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

And it shall come to pass, that if Judea be divided into three parts, equally; two of those three shall die, and miscarry under the great judgments which I will bring upon the land, for this murder of the Lord of Life; and only the third part shall be left alive.

Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined.

And that third part, which shall be left alive, shall pass under many fiery trials of grievous afflictions, wherewith they shall be refined, as silver is refined.