Chap. 1. Showing That Christians Should Hold Fast Their Integrity in Times of Defection

THE Scripture of Truth, is the Ground of Faith. This Portion of Scripture which now presents it self to our view, has its Sacred Elegancies, and is all glorious within. It was composed by Malachy, whose name imports Messenger; he came upon an Ambassage from the God of Heaven. This Prophet was so famous, that Origen and others (though injudiciously) supposed him to be an Angel. He lived after the building of the second Temple, and was, contemporary with Haggai, and Zechariah.

This blessed Prophet did lift up his voice like a Trumpet, and tell the Jewish Nation of their sins; and he was the last Trumpet that sounded in the Old Testament. In the words of the Text are these parts.

- I. A Character of the Godly. 1. In General, they were Fearers of God; they that feared the Lord. 2. In Special: (1) They spoke often one to another. (2) They thought upon Gods Name. - II. The Good Effects of their Piety. 1. The Lord regarded it; he listened and heard. 2. He recorded it; a book of remembrance was written. 3. He rewarded it; and this reward consisted in three things. (1) Gods owning them; they shall be mine. (2) Gods Honouring them; in that day when I make up my Jewels. (3) Gods Sparing them. I will spare them as a man spares his own Son that serves him.

Before I come to the several parts distinctly, here is a connective particle stands in the front of the Text which may not be omitted, namely, the word Then.

Then they that feared the Lord, etc. Then, that is, after Israels return from the Babylonish Captivity; then, when the major part of the people grew corrupt, and came worse out of the Furnace than they went in, verse 13, 14 in this bad juncture of time, then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another. Hence observe,

That the Profaneness of the times should not slacken but heighten our zeal. The looser others are, the stricter we should be. In those degenerate times when men were arrived at the and highth of Impudence, and durst speak Treason against Heaven; then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another. When others were Plaintiffs these were Defendants; when others spoke against God, these spoke for God.

In Noah's days all Flesh had corrupted it self, (the old World was drowned in sin before it was drowned in water:) now at this time, Noah was perfect in his Generation, and Noah walked with God, Genesis 6:9. He was the Phoenix of his age. Athanasius stood up in the defense of the Truth, when the World was turned Arrian. The more outragious others are in Sin, the more couragious we should be for Truth. When the Atheists said, 'tis Vain to serve God, Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another.

Why should we be holiest in evil Times.

1. Because of the divine Injunction. God chargeth us to be singular, Matthew 5:47. to be circumspect, Ephesians 5:15. to be separate from Idolaters, 2 Corinthians 6:17. to shine as Lights in the World, Philippians 2:15. He forbids us to symbolize with Sinners, or doe as they doe: the way to Hell is a beaten road, the Lord calls to us to turn out of the road, Exodus 23:2. You shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. This is reason enough to keep our selves pure in a time of common Infection. As Gods Word is our Rule, so his Will is our Warrant.

2. To be holiest in evil times is an Indication of the truth of Grace. To profess Religion when the times favor it, is no Great matter. Who almost will not court the Queen of the Gospel when she is hung with Jewels? but to own the ways of God when they are decried and maligned, to love a persecuted truth, this evidenceth a vital Principle of Goodness. Dead Fish swim down the stream, living Fish swim against it. To swim against the common stream of evil shews Grace to be alive. The Prophet Elias continuing zealous for the Lord of Hosts, when they had digged down Gods Altars, 1 Kings 19:10. shewed his heart and lips had been touched with a Coal from the Altar.

1 Use. See hence how unworthy they are of the Name of Christians who use sinful compliance, and cut the Garment of their Religion according to the Mode and fashion of the times. They consult not what is best, but what is safest. Complying spirits can truckle to the humours of others; they can bow either to the East or to the Host; they prefer a whole Skin before a pure Conscience. They can with the Planet Mercury vary their motion; they can as the Mariner shift their Sail with every wind: and as the Mungril Israelites speak the Language of Canaan and Ashdod. These are like the Samaritans of whom Josephus says, when the Jews flourished they pretended to be a-kin to them, and come of the tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh, but when the Jews were persecuted, they disclaimed Kindred with them. The old Serpent has taught men crooked windings, and to be for that Religion not which has truth on its side, but power.

2 Use. Let us keep up the vigour of our zeal in times of degeneracy. We should by an holy Antiperistasis burn hotter in a frozen age. We live in the dregs of time; Sin is grown common and impudent: 'Tis excellent to walk Antipodes to the World. Romans 12:2. Let us be as Lillies and Roses among the Briars. Sin is never the better because it is in fashion, nor will this plea hold at the last day, that we did as the most. God will say, Seeing you sinned with the Multitude, you shall go to Hell with the Multitude. O let us keep pure among dregs; let us be like Fish that retain their freshness in salt waters; and as that Lamp which shined in the smoaking Furnace, Genesis 15:17.

Consider, 1. To be holy in times of General defection is that which God is Greatly pleased with. The Lord was much taken with the holy conferences and dialogues of these Saints in the Text. When others were inveighing against the Deity, that there should be a parcel of holy Souls speaking of Glory and the Life to come, their words were Musick in Gods ears.

2. To keep up a spirit of Holiness in an adulterous Generation, is a Christians honor. This was the glory of the Church of Pergamus, that she held fast Christs Name, even where Satans seat was, Revelation 2:13. The Impiety of the times is a Foil to set off Grace the more, and make it cast a greater lustre. Then a Christian is most lovely, when he is (as Ambrose says) like the Cypresse, which keeps its Viridity and freshness in the Winter season. Psalm 37:37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the Vpright: An upright man is always worth beholding, but then he is most to be admired when like a bright Star he Shines in the dark, and having lost all, holds fast his integrity.

3. To be Good in a profligate Age, does much animate weak beginners; it Strengthens feeble knees, Isaiah. 35:3. And shores up those Temples of the Holy Ghost which are ready to fall. One mans Zeal is a Torch for others to light at. How did the Constancy of the Martyrs inflame the love of many to the Truth! Though only Christs blood does Save, yet the blood of Martyrs may strengthen. St. Paul's Prison Chain, made Converts in Nero's Court, two of which were afterwards Martyrs as History relates. Mr. Bradford's holy advice and example so confirmed Bishop Farrar that he would not touch with the Roman Pollution.

4. How sad will it be for Christians to fall off from their former Profession, and espouse a novel Religion. Julian Bathed himself in the blood of Beasts Offered in Sacrifice to the Heathen Gods, and so as much as in him lay wash'd off his former Baptism. In the time of Iulius Cesar this Prodigy happened, after a plentiful Vintage there were wild Grapes appeared upon their Vines, which was looked upon as Ominous. When men seemed to bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness, and afterwards bring forth the Wild Grapes of Impiety, it is a sad Omen and Prognostick of their Ruine, 2 Peter 2:21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness, than after they have known it to turn from the Holy Commandment. Let all this make us maintain the power of Holiness in the worst Times: Though others wonder we do not sin after the rate that they do, yet, remember, it is better to go to Heaven with a few, than to Hell in the Crowd.

How may we keep up the briskness and fervour of Grace in times of Apostacy.

1. Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the World. The World damps zeal, as Earth chokes the fire. We are bid to love our Enemies; but the World is such an Enemy as we must not love, 1 John 2:15. Love not the World. The World bewitcheth with her Blandishments, and kills with her silver Darts. He who is a Demas, will be a Iudas; a lover of the World, will for a piece of Money betray a good Cause, and make Shipwrack of a good Conscience.

2. Let us be Voluntiers in Religion; that is, Choose God's service, Psalm 119:30. I have chosen the way of truth. It is one thing to be good out of Design, and another thing to be good out of Choice. Hypocrites are good only out of worldly design, they embrace the Gospel for secular advantage, and these will in time fall away. The Chelidonian Stone keeps its Virtue no longer than it is inclosed in Gold, take it out of the Gold, and it loses its virtue. False Hearts are good no longer than they are inclosed in golden Prosperity, take them out of the Gold, and they lose all their seeming Goodness: But if we would retain our Sanctity in Backsliding times we must serve God purely out of Choice. He who is good out of Choice loves holiness for its beauty, and adheres to the Gospel, when all the Jewels of preferment are pulled off.

3. Let us be inlaid with sincerity. If a piece of Timber begin to bend, it is because it is not sound. Why do any bend and comply against their Conscience, but because their hearts are not sound, Psalm 78:37. Their hearts were not right with him, neither were they stedfast. Sincerity causes stability. When the Apostle exhorts to stand fast in the evil day, among the rest of the Christian armour, he bids them put on the Girdle of truth, Ephesians 6:19. Stand fast therefore, having your loins Girt about with truth. The Girdle of Truth is nothing else but sincerity.

4. Let us get love to Christ. Love is an holy transport, it fires the affections, steels the Courage, carries a Christian above the love of life, and the fear of death, Song of Solomon 8:7. Many waters cannot quench Love: Love made Christ suffer for us. If any one ask what Christ died off; it may be answered, he died of Love. If we love Christ, we will own him in the worst times, and be like that Virgin Basil speaks of, who not accepting deliverance upon sinful terms, cried out, Let Life and Money go, welcome Christ.

5. If we would keep up the sprightly Vigour of Grace in evil times, let us harden our Hearts against the taunts and reproaches of the wicked. David was the Song of the Drunkards, Psalm 69:12. A Christian is never the worse for reproach. The Stars are not the less Glorious though they have ugly names given them, the Bear, the Dragon, etc. Reproaches are but Assulae Crucis, the Chips of the Cross. How will he endure the Stake, who cannot bear a Scoff? Reproaches for Christ, are Ensigns of Honor, Badges of Adoption, 1 Peter 4:14. Let Christians bind these as a Crown about their Head. Better have men reproach you for being good, than have God Damn you for being wicked. Be not laughed out of your Religion: If a Lame man laugh at you for going upright, will you therefore halt?

6. If we would keep up the Vigour of devotion in a General Epilepsy, let us beg of God confirming Grace. Habitual Grace may flag; Peter had habitual Grace, yet was foiled; he lost a single Battel, though not the Victory. We need exciting, assisting, corroborating Grace; not only Grace in us, but Grace with us, 1 Corinthians 15:10. Auxiliary Grace (which is, a fresh gale of the Spirit) will carry us undauntedly through the Worlds blustering storms. Thus shall we be able to keep up our Heroick zeal in corrupt times, and be as Mount Zion which cannot be moved.