Malachi

There is some kind of justice, that they should have a temporal reward: God lets them prosper, under whose wing his people are sheltered. God will not be in any man's debt; (Malachi 1:10) Who has kindled a fire on my altar for nothing? 2. God lets men go on in sin and prosper, t…

It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of that honor we owe to God (Malachi 1:6). If I am a Father, where is my honor?

A child of God seeing a supereminency of goodness, and a constellation of all beauties in God, he is carried out in love to him in the highest measure: As God gives his children such a love as he does not bestow upon the wicked, electing love; so God's children give God such a l…

So when we are in God's presence, and God is speaking to us in his Word, and we mind not much what he says, but our hearts go after covetousness (Ezekiel 33:31), will not this anger God to be thus slighted? God has pronounced a curse upon such; (Malachi 1:14) Cursed be the decei…

Use 1. If we are to honor our fathers on earth, then much more our Father in Heaven. Malachi 1:6. If then I am a Father, where is my honor? A father is but the instrument of conveying life, but God is the original cause of our being.

Qu. 8. How many we sanctify the name of God in the use of Gospel institutions? Answ. 1. By a holy reverence of his sovereign authority appointing of them. 2. A holy regard to his special presence in them. 3. Faith in his promises annexed to them. 4. Delight in his will, wisdom,…

Whereupon, David speaking as a King, says, Psalm 60:8, Moab shall be my washpot, over Edom will I cast my shoe: meaning thereby, that he would bring the posterity of Esau into a base and low estate of subjection unto him; according as we may see verified, 2 Samuel 8:14. But some…

And that appears thus. (1) If it were from servile fear only, they would in time grow weary of God's [illegible]ways, as many do (Malachi 1:13 & Isaiah 43:22). It is true, there is often some, yes much servile fear in a child of God, and there is also a weariness in spiritual wo…

If he then must reign, we must be his subjects: and therefore here we crave, that being his subjects we may obey him, and do his will. Malachi 1:6: If I be a father where is my honor? If I be a master, where is my fear?

And hence God says, If I be a master, where is my fear? If I be a father, where is my honor (Malachi 1:6)? Where is plainly taught this second duty; that if God be our father, then as good children we must show obedience to him: but if we disobey him, then we must know, that tha…

4. A righteous man serves God out of a principle of love: grace does new bias the heart, and carry it strongly towards God in ardent affections; a righteous man's serving God is not by constraint, but consent; it is his heaven to serve God: he mounts up in the fiery chariot of l…

He was their Creator as well as yours, and we are all in our blood involved in the same condemnation; he saw as much of original sin in you as in them, we lay in the same polluted mass: oh that free grace should make such a difference! He had as much reason to choose Judas and S…

Objection 3. Malachi 1:11: The prophet foretells of a clean sacrifice that shall be in the New Testament, and that (say they) is the sacrifice of the Mass. Answer: This place must be understood of a spiritual sacrifice, as we shall plainly perceive if we compare it with 1 Timoth…

And yet this fear of punishment, if it be tempered and mingled with other graces and gifts of God in holy men, is not unprofitable — in whom there is not only a sorrow for punishment but also and much more for the offense. Such a kind of fear or sorrow is commanded in Malachi 1:…

There are many hearers, that hear sermon after sermon, the most ravishing truths of the gospel displayed in the most affecting and charming manner, in the highest strains of divine rhetoric to gain their affections; and yet to this day never come up to that with the stony-ground…

This is the way of backsliders in heart; as they grow in sin, they decay in prayer, until they are weary of it, and utterly relinquish it. So they speak (Malachi 1:13), Behold what a weariness it is, and you have snuffed at it. They look on it as a task, as a burden, and are wea…

Vers. 11. Behold, the dayes come, saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the Land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. God hath fed this Nation with the finest of the wheat, even the bread of life, we have had the Cream of Or…

If he then must reign we must be his subjects: and therefore, here we crave, that being his subjects, we may obey him, and do his will. Malachi 1:6. If I be a Father, where is mine honor? If I be a master, where is my fear? 2. The meaning.

The bread for their soul.] That is; When they are seeking God even for their very lives. By bread, is to be understood, their oblations more generally, not only bread, but their oblations, as (Malachi 1:7) "You offer polluted bread upon mine Altar": it's taken generally for all…

When God comes against them in ways of wrath, now they can acknowledge that they feared not God; should the Prophet have come to them before and told them, Oh! you are a wretched vile people, there is no fear of God among you. Why, wherein do not we fear God? as in (Malachi 1) t…

And then further, you shall find that in the Gospel there is a prophesy of the Altar that the Church shall have, in Ezekiel 41:22. The Altar that was in the Law, the text says, it was to be a cubit long, and a cubit broad; but that which must be in the time of the Gospel, must b…

Agreeable to this, the Gospel is represented as preached to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tongue, and kindred, and people (Revelation 14:6). The universality of the prevalence of true religion in the latter days, is sometimes expressed by its reaching to…

To require this obedience from creatures, it is sufficient that God be set before them as the supreme and best Lord — nothing more is required. He therefore demands fear and worship, because He is Adon (that is, the Lord of all) (Malachi 1:6, “If I am the Lord, where is My fear?…

The apostates do not deny this. But when the Messiah came, the last of the prophets foretold that a pure offering would be made to God everywhere, throughout the whole world (Malachi 1:11). And lest anything should be lacking to the establishment of this truth — which brings the…

In this we should delight and grow as the chiefest knowledge (Jeremiah 9:23, 24). Here is forbidden, first atheism, to persuade our heart there is no such true God in heaven (Psalm 14:1; Exodus 5:2); mockers of him and his works (2 Peter 3:4, 5, etc.); those that oppose themselv…

His Sacraments (Matthew 5:6). Also true prayer is the honoring of his name, and evil the profaning of the same (Genesis 4:26; Malachi 1:11-12). Therefore here he comprehends all these, and forbids to use vainly; that is, irreverently, rashly, falsely, or hypocritically, lightly…

And 1. Christ's seed have another original than that which they bring with them into the world; there is in them a change of the ground of their hope; and that on a new account; folk comes into the world sinful, children of sinful parents; but when they come to be believers they…

(Isaiah 59:19) So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. (Malachi 1:11) For from the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place, incense shall be offe…

Consider of it, This is to make God our Prince, when we give up ourselves to serve him. There is a second thing, wherein the having of Christ for a Prince does stand: And it requires, that you do all your service to him, as to a Prince, it should all be princely service, such as…

They knew a divine power, but did not give him a worship at least competent to his nature. God pleads his right (Malachi 1:6): If I be a Father where is my honor? If I be a master where is my fear?

Thus should we see, that our best resolutions and performances come much short of the excellency and greatness of God. All formality and lifeless service proceeds from hence, that we have not due and raised thoughts of his majesty and being (Malachi 1:14): I am a great King, say…

Now that takes place, in (John 4:21): Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this Mountain, nor at Jerusalem, worship the Father, that is, God now does not so much stand upon the place, as the manner of worship, that they worship in spirit and truth (verses…

Secondly, we must use every day to bring ourselves into the presence of God, and we must do all things as in his sight, and presence, presenting ourselves to him, as instruments of his glory in doing of his will. This is the honor that the child of God owes to him (Malachi 1:6).…

Truly a very trim argument. We may easily discern that Malachi speaks there of the service of God, noting it under one of the shadows of the Law, as Isaiah does in this place (Malachi 1:11): and we ought to mark these kinds of speech diligently, which the Prophets are wont to us…

Although Tyre shall seem to be utterly destroyed when God shall afflict her, yet the Prophet shows that she shall obtain mercy, for after her calamities she shall be restored to her first glory. But it is rightly said that such a restoration shall be brought to pass by the work…

In saying then, that the wrath of the Lord against the Idumeans, resembles a fire that never goes out, he takes from them all hope of pardon: for as they ceased not to provoke him, so should they find him a severe Judge to them. And Malachi notes it as a sign of the reprobation…

But because God began not only to be a nursing father to this people from their natural birth, but also begat them spiritually; it is not amiss to extend his speech even to that, to wit, that they issued as it were out of God's womb, into newness of life, and to the hope of the…

Ishmael was rejected (Galatians 4:30). Esau was hated (Malachi 1:3). And many others were cut off.

For the First; Persons under the Power of Corrupted Nature may perform them, and doe so, but without Delight, Constancy or Permanency. The Language of that Principle whereby they are Acted is, Behold what a Wearyness it is, Mal. 1. 13. and such Hypocrites will not pray alwayes.…

Section 9. It must be granted therefore that the end of gospel commands requiring holiness is not that thereby we should be justified — God has provided another righteousness for that end which is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Romans 10:4); but God has appointed oth…

It is said in Isaiah, All the day long have I stretched out my hand to a rebellious people, yet they would not hear. And (Malachi 1) offer the lame and the blind to the governor, will he accept of it? Christ must needs take this unkindly, that you should give the Devil the flowe…

He sent him into the world, set him over his house, gave him command to his work. The very name and title of Father, carries authority along with it (Malachi 1:6). And in the disposal of the Church, in respect of this paternal power does the Son affirm, that the Father is greate…

But some of these, have a participation in the matter, but not in the nature of the especial Mincha. The principal signification of this offering is expressed (Isaiah 66:20) compared with (Romans 15:16); (Malachi 1:10, 11) compared with (1 Timothy 2:8). And two things in it expr…

First, by preferring the promised relief and remedy above all the present glory and worship of the Church; directing it to look above all its enjoyments to that which in all things was to have the pre-eminence. See Isaiah 2:2; chapter 4:2-5; chapter 7:13-15; chapter 9:6-7; chapt…

Oh that darkness had recovered that which in the beginning was under its power! that so my day being wrapped up in darkness, might be without form and void. But the word is frequently translated (and well here) to pollute or to stain a thing, as (Malachi 1:7). You offer polluted…

I must confess, that of all things which belong to the duty of a servant, this is the most difficult; and there is nothing that can sweeten and facilitate it, but only conscience of their duty, and the acceptance and reward which they shall find with God for it; and therefore th…

It plainly argues much profaneness in our spirits, when we bring only our outward man, our dull and heavy carcasses to attend upon God, while our hearts and minds are straying and wandering from him: this is a sign that we despise God, and account anything good enough, the lame…

There was much formality when there was no form; and I suppose that forms have not quickened to more liveliness; there was a face of worship indeed in London; and was there not only, or little more than a face in most places? God is holy and jealous, a great King, and his name i…

This the Apostle cautions us against (Hebrews 4:12, 13), and which God detests (Isaiah 29:13). And he pronounces him a deceiver, and cursed, who offers to him the lame and blind while he has a male in the flock (Malachi 1:14). Yet thus is it with us in some degree, whenever we a…

Alas, how far are they from offering violence to themselves in prayer, who give God a dead heartless prayer. God would not have the blind offered (Malachi 1:8). As good offer the blind as the dead.

How needful is his Spirit; we cannot do any duty without it in a lively manner: when this wind blows upon our sails, then we move swiftly towards heaven. Pray therefore that God will give us of the residue of his Spirit (Malachi 2:15), that we may move more vigorously in the sph…

If a believer should not persevere, God should break his promise (Hosea 2:19): I will betroth you to me forever, in righteousness and loving kindness. God does not marry his people to himself, and then divorce them; he hates putting away (Malachi 2:16). God's love ties the marri…

So then the utility of it may make us cleave to the Lord as our God (Psalm 144:15): Happy is that people who have the Lord for their God. 3. From the necessity: 1. If God be not our God, he will curse our blessings (Malachi 2:2): And God's curse blasts wherever it comes. 2. If G…

But the question is concerning hard places of Scripture, where the weak Christian is ready to wade beyond his depth, who shall interpret here? Response. In the Church God has appointed, Ordo docentium & discentium, some to expound and interpret Scripture; therefore he has given…

Question 1. In what sense is God a Father? Response. 1. By creation; it is he that has made us; Acts 17:28. [in non-Latin alphabet], we are his offspring (Malachi 2:10). Have we not all one Father?

This is a great argument for keeping the Sabbath day holy: God is not benefited by it, we cannot add one cubit to his essential glory; but we ourselves are advantaged: the Sabbath day religiously observed entails a blessing upon our souls, our estate, our posterity. As the not k…

Whatever their persons are, their office is honorable. They are the messengers of the Lord of Hosts (Malachi 2:7). They represent no less than God himself (2 Corinthians 5:20): Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.

When a man shall have all his sins set before his eyes, and drawn out in their bloody colors, and the worm of conscience begins to gnaw — sinner, here are your debts, and the book is not canceled, you must to hell — O what a trembling at heart will the sinner have! All the curse…

But herewith they mixed so many vain curiosities and traditions of their own, that the whole of their endeavor was disapproved of God. Hence in the very entrance of their practice of this way of teaching, he threatens to destroy all them that attended to it (Malachi 2:12). The L…

Answer: Sometimes this name is attributed to all the persons in Trinity, or any of them. Malachi 2:10. Have we not all one father, etc. Luke 3:38. Which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Again, as love is for good, so 'tis for one object; like a pyramid, it ends in a point; affection is weakened by dispersion, as a river by being turned into many channels. In conjugal love (where friendship is to the height) there is but one that can share in it, that's the law…

Now the marriages of Protestants with Papists are private leagues of amity between person and person, and therefore are not to be allowed. Again, in Malachi 2:11 the Lord says: Judah has defiled the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and has married the daughters of a strange…

3. Differences in Religion are not so hard, but that a prudent and pious man may find out the truth. If a man diligently and humbly study the Word of God, and heartily beg of God the spirit of direction, and take advice from able and faithful Ministers whom God has establisht in…

Now without this, let a man seem to turn and reform never so well, all is unsure work, and built upon a sandy foundation. And whoever will not acknowledge their iniquity, and be ashamed for it, God shall make them bear their shame, according to that which is pronounced in the ne…

It was the notion of many Heathens, when they saw many who had acted with much gallantry for their countries afflicted, they questioned whether there were a superintendent power over the world. This has also been the stumbling block of many taught in a higher school than that of…

The World lies in Common, and is as so much waste ground; but the Church is Gods Vineyard and Enclosure, therefore he will hedge it in with protection: Cant. 8. 1. My Vineyard which is mine is before me. The Saints are Gods Jewels, Mal. 2. 17. Therefore he will not let them be l…

But as it was a Church, and not as Jewish, it had foure sorts of ordinary office-bearers, Priests, Levites, Doctors, and Elders, and we conformablie have Pastors, Deacons, Doctors, and Elders. To their Priests and Levits, Cyprian does rightly liken our Pastors and Deacons, for h…

Ans. Otherwhiles this name is attributed to all the persons in Trinity, or any of them. Malachi 2:10. Have we not all one Father, &c. Luke 3:38. Which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

VIII. We shall presently show that this synagogue also expelled from the boundaries of the church the unlawful intermarriage with Gentiles that had scarcely been avoided in a holy manner since the days of Solomon; but they also went higher still. For men instructed with the spir…

The extraordinary preaching of the word by the prophets was so much a matter of divine arrangement that, on that account, the church was neither to be praised nor blamed. God had ordained that "the lips of the priests should preserve knowledge" (Malachi 2:7). It was the duty of…

Proverbs 2:17. Which forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. Malachi 2:14. But you say, Therefore? Because the Lord has witnessed between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you do unfaithfully: yet she is your companion and wife covenanted…

2. A Martyr dying for the truth of Christ may have a natural and conditional desire and inclination to live, though his living be contrary to the Lord's revealed will, commanding him to seal the Gospel with his blood, and to confess Christ before men. 3. If the brother, son, dau…

Wonder not then if so little good be done among the Papists, or in any other Churches where there is only bare reading; make account of it, as the Lord says, My people are then destroyed for want of knowledge. Was there ever any soul so desperately ignorant think you, as to take…

The people left all and went up to feed themselves there, by the tents of the shepherds. This is another part of our purchase of Christ — which God forbid it should be our case — but if it should come to that pass, rather forgo the ordinances of God, which were of his own settin…

Whom I sent.] Isaiah descends by degrees from all men in general, to the Jews in particular; then to the Priests, which were the lights of the world as it were: for it was their office to interpret the Law, to walk before others in a good example of life, and to show to them the…

Hence we are to gather wherein man's chief happiness consists, namely, in having our minds illuminated of God, to comprehend that salvation which is manifested to us in Christ. For as long as we are strangers to this knowledge we are the unhappiest people under heaven; for so th…

And certainly, if they had done their duty, it would have been proper for them to direct the whole people, and to go before them as their leaders. For the priests had been appointed, that from their lips all might seek the knowledge of the Law, and, in short, that they might be…

And therefore these things agree in each respect: and very fittingly are to be applied namely and specially to the Pope, with his Cardinals, Bishops, Monks, Friars, Nuns, and all the rest of his filthy Spirituality, and rumpwood retinue. For they being appointed to be as it were…

That this was the cause and end of his call and separation is evident from hence, that immediately thereupon God assures him that in his seed all the kindreds of the earth should be blessed (Genesis 12:1, 2, 3; Chap. 22:18), which is all one as if he had expressly said to him, f…

Because you have despised knowledge, therefore also will I despise you. Mal. 2. 9. Therefore have I made you to be despised and vile, before all the people; because ye kept not my way, but have beene partiall in the Lawe.

Observation 1. Since our Lord Jesus had a Church militant, he has thought good to guide it mediately, by a standing ministry and ordinances; and that is to set out his vineyard to keepers. 2. There ought none without Christ's tack or lease, enter upon the ministry, and become ke…

Every sermon they study, they do but draw up a bill of indictment against themselves; and every time they preach, they do but pronounce the sentence of their own damnation: And woe to such pastors, when they whom Christ has set over his sheep, shall themselves be found at the la…

God indeed seemed to connive at this in the holy men of old; yet it never was otherwise than a sin from the foundation of the world. And therefore the Prophet Malachi refers us to the primitive institution of marriage, to show the obliquity of this practice (Malachi 2:15). Did n…

A covetous miser could not take such delight in his bags, nor a young heir in a large inheritance, as holy David did in God's Word. All the saints are priests to God; now of Levi it is said (Malachi 2:6) that the law of truth was in his mouth, and his lips kept knowledge as a st…

The God with whom we have to do demands the heart, looks at the principle, and requires truth in the inward parts, not only in the duties of his own immediate worship, that those be done in the spirit, but also in the duty we owe to our neighbor, that that also be done with a pu…

It is an instance of unquietness to be ever and anon quarrelling with our allotment. Those wives wanted a meek and quiet spirit, that covered the altar of the Lord with tears (Malachi 2:13) — not tears of repentance for sin, but tears of vexation, at the disappointments they met…

And this is as clear in Scripture as the other. It is the Lord that takes away the Fishes of the Sea, Hosea 4:3. Zephaniah 1:3. It is he that curseth our blessings, Malachi 2:2. This God does as a punishment for sin, and the abuse of mercies: And therefore in such cases, we ough…

He is not like the hard hearted Jews, who upon every slight occasion would put away their wives. The Lord hates putting away (Malachi 2:16). Though therefore the Church, through her weakness, does depart from him, and play the harlot, yet return again to me, says the Lord (Jerem…

1. That the world might be increased: and not simply increased, but with a legitimate brood, and distinct families, which are the seminaries of cities and commonwealths. Indeed also that in the world the Church by a holy seed might be preserved, and propagated (Malachi 2:15). 2.…

And that is a Part of his Duty, at proper Seasons, in some of his public Ministrations; for he must conceal nothing of the Counsel of God from them, that may be useful or profitable to Men: The Methods of his Worship, and Institutions of his Gospel, should be treasured up in his…

The curse is taken out of our blessings, and the sting out of our afflictions. As long as sin remains unpardoned, our blessings are cursed (Malachi 2:2): "If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of Hosts, I will even send…

1. That God is a Father. He is a Father, 1. By Creation, he has given us our Being, Malachi 2:10. Have not we all one Father? has not one God created us?

4. That the remembrance of the most illustrious examples of his justice, power, and goodness, should comfort us, though we do not perfectly feel the effects of his righteous government. 1. I will prove we are apt to suspect God's righteous administrations when we see not the eff…

We know not the value of mercies so much by their worth as by their want, [illegible], a thing too near the eye cannot be seen, God must set things at a distance to make us value them. If he take them not away, yet many times he blasts them as to their natural use (Malachi 2:2):…

8 God witnesses against sin by the many great and severe judgments which he has executed upon, as well as threatened to sinners, and which he will in all ages execute on many, and to all eternity on some sinners; for what God has done, shows what God will do; as the Apostle infe…

1. Sin is contrary to the nature of God; God's name is holy, and as his name is, so is he and his nature, all holy, yes, he is so, and cannot but be so: And therefore God takes it more ill, that men should think him wicked like themselves (Psalm 50:16-22), than that they think h…

But then says sin (11) it is but your infirmity, you cannot help it: this is a thing (tell sin) that none but fools and children can pretend to; besides, to plead for infirmities, is more than an infirmity, and that which is but an infirmity today, may become a disease tomorrow,…

What if poisoned bread be given to dogs? The long furrows in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them, when the table of the wicked becomes a snare, and their honor their halter (Malachi 2:2). SECT. 9.

Noah's sacrifice was a perfume (Genesis 8:21): the Lord smelled a sweet savor. The sighs of a wicked man are an unsavory breath; his solemn sacrifice is dung (Malachi 2:3); there is such a noisome stench from a sinner's duties that God will not come near (Amos 5:21): I will not…

This is the soundness of heart that excludes a blushing consciousness, and misgiving; exempts it from the fear of a shameful discovery. "Let my heart be sound in your statutes" is explained as having respect to all God's commandments (Psalm 119:6, 80); to which is opposite, that…

In uno Christo Angelus faederis completur, Fagius. The Angel of the Covenant (Malachi 3:1), a Lamp (2 Samuel 22:29), the bright Morning-star (Revelation 22:16). Jesus Christ is the great Prophet of his church; the woman of Samaria gave a shrewd guess (John 4:19).

The next attribute is God's unchangeableness (Malachi 3:6). I am Jehovah, I change not.

Christ cursed the barren fig-tree. 2. It reproves such as are so far from bringing glory to God, that they rob God of his glory (Malachi 3:8). Will a man rob God, yet you have robbed me.

2. God adopts us to a state of dignity: God makes us heirs of promise; God installs us into honor (Isaiah 43:4): Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honorable. The adopted are God's treasure (Exodus 19:5), his jewels (Malachi 3:17), his firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).…

1. By his essential greatness, I am the Lord; or as in the Hebrew, Jehovah. This name of God sets forth his majesty: Sanctius habitum fuit, says Buxtorf, the name Jehovah was had in more reverence among the Jews, than any other name of God; it signifies God's self-sufficiency, e…

1. In case of private devotion. Christian, you set hours apart for God, your thoughts run upon him as your treasure, God takes notice of every good thought (Malachi 3:17). He had a Book of Remembrance written for them that thought upon his name.

Quest. 6. Wherein lies the dignity of such as have God for their Father? Resp. They have greater honor than is conferred on the princes of the earth; They are precious in God's esteem; (Isaiah 43:4) Since you were precious in my eyes, you have been honorable; the wicked are dros…

Good discourse brings holy truths into our memories, and fastens them upon our hearts. (Malachi 3:17) Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another. There is a great power and efficacy in good discourse.

Fourthly, in this we resemble God, to be doing good to others. 'Tis our excellence to be like God. Godliness is God-likeness. And in what are we more like him than in acts of bounty and munificence? Psalm 119:68. You are good, and do good. You are good, there is God's essential…

3. Consider what the Scripture says, and it may ponere obicem — lay a bar in the way to this sin. Malachi 3:5: I will be a swift witness against the adulterers. It is good when God is a witness for us — when he witnesses for our sincerity, as he did for Job.

That may be one reason why some people get no more good by what they hear, because they never speak one to another of what they have heard: as if sermons were such secrets, that they must not be spoken of again; or as if it were a shame to speak of matters of salvation. Malachi…

Use 2. Seeing there is a God, he will deal righteously, and give just rewards to men. Things seem to be carried in the world very unequally; the wicked flourish (Psalm 73); they who tempt God are delivered (Malachi 3:15). The ripe clusters of grapes are squeezed into their cup,…

(Psalm 78:22): They believed not in God. Verse 41, they turned back — sinners have hard thoughts of God, they think they may pray and hear, yet never the better (Malachi 3:14): they question whether God will give them the kingdom at last, then they turn back, and throw away Chri…

Christ after his resurrection did speak of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Are our tongues tuned to the language of the heavenly Canaan (Malachi 3:16)? Then they that feared the Lord spoke often to one another.

Wings are swift, but wind in the wings denotes great swiftness; an emblem of the swiftness and cheerfulness which should be in obedience; we go to heaven in the way of obedience. 14. If we would obtain this kingdom, be much in the Communion of Saints; one coal of juniper will wa…

If sin be so deadly an evil, then we cannot get any profit by it; no man did ever thrive upon this trade. Those atheists said (Malachi 3:14), It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it? But we may say more truly, what profit is there in sin?

Christ answers, "Go tell John, the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor the Gospel is preached, and blessed is he that is not offended in me" (Matthew 11:2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Secondly, Christ says of John: "This was that Elias that was to come, that should prep…

And the tithe of the land, says he, is the Lord's (Leviticus 27:30). Hence those that withheld their tithes are said to rob God (Malachi 3:8). And wherever it can be manifested that God has by an institution of his own, taken the whole tithe of any place into his own possession,…

Yet we must observe that from the giving of this promise to the accomplishment of it, was near 600 years. And yet about 90 years after, the Prophet Malachi speaking of the same season, affirms, that the Lord whom they sought, should suddenly come to his Temple (Malachi 3:1). The…

And it answers to the description of the time of making the New Covenant given in the verse foregoing: Behold the days are coming, the time or season approaches. It is also used in a way of eminency; a day or a signal eminent season (Malachi 3:2): Who may abide the day of his co…

Again, the same counsel once set down, is unchangeable. God says, I am Jehovah, and I change not (Malachi 3:6). With God (says Saint James) there is no variableness, nor shadow of change (James 1:17).

The roof of the mouth is called Coelum, heaven; a godly man's mouth is full of heaven; he speaks as if he had been already in heaven: The holy conference of the two disciples going to Emmaus brought Christ into their company (Luke 24:15). While they communed together, Jesus hims…

Therefore it should be our care to be able to read that our names are written in the Book of Life, than which there cannot be a greater privilege (Luke 10:20). And it presses caution; all that we do stands upon record; our speeches (Malachi 3:16, 17), our thoughts (1 Corinthians…

Here (say they) is a prayer made to angels. Answer: By the angel is meant Christ, who is called the angel of the covenant (Malachi 3:1) and the angel that guided Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:9 compared with Exodus 23:20). Objection 2.

Psalm 66:12: We have gone through water and fire. Malachi 3:3: The children of Levi must be purified in a purging fire of affliction. 1 Peter 1:7: Afflictions are called the fiery trial whereby men are cleansed from their corruptions, as gold from the dross by the fire.

A SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable the House of PEERS, at a late Solemn Fast.. MALACHI 3:2. But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's sope. If you ask, of whom speaks the Prophet…

Which conceit must be grounded upon a secret notion of God's carelessness of the world; such fruit could not arise but from that bitter root. But the Prophet Malachi plainly expresses it (Malachi 3:14). You have said it is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have…

They have spoken words:] That is, they get together and contrive one with another what they shall do in such a case as this, how they may any way help themselves. As we reade sometimes of the people of God in (Malachi 3:16), those that feared God met one with another and spake t…

The angel that pours out this vial is the harbinger of Christ; and when the harbinger is come, the King is at hand. John the Baptist, that was Christ's harbinger, who came to level mountains and fill up valleys, proclaimed, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; and when he had prepa…

But nothing occurs more frequently in all the prophecies concerning that state, or is more solemnly set forth, than this true and saving holiness of the members of that church. See Psalms 2:6, 24:3, 4, 45:18, 68:18; Isaiah 11:8-10, 35:8, 54:11-14, 60:21; Ezekiel 47:9; Zechariah…

In this we should delight and grow as the chiefest knowledge (Jeremiah 9:23, 24). Here is forbidden, first atheism, to persuade our heart there is no such true God in heaven (Psalm 14:1; Exodus 5:2); mockers of him and his works (2 Peter 3:4, 5, etc.); those that oppose themselv…

A seventh ground or cause (which is as large and comprehensive as any,) is folks resting and sitting down, before they have any solid ground to rest upon, taking a counterfeit work for a real one, like these spoken of (Hosea 7:16), of whom it's said, They return, but not to the…

In Song of Solomon 6:9: My dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bore her. The saints in Christ's books are jewels (Malachi 3:17) — his only choice, the flower of the earth. All the world is Christ's refuse, and kings…

It is true in civil assemblies, and judicatures, Christ has a few number; yet he has a fair and numerous offspring of children, and when they are gathered together, they are a fair beloved world: In the Hebrew many and great, are often one and the same. As one Ruby is worth ten…

In the high priest's breastplate when he went into the Holy of Holies, were set twelve stones, on which were written the names of the twelve tribes: the mystery of which is this, Christ bears us and our names in his heart, when he goes to God: and moreover, we are God's jewels,…

There be three things by which we receive Christ as into a temple: First, when we do prepare a way for Christ to come in to us, as it is said of John, he prepared the way for Christ, that so he might suddenly come into his Temple (Malachi 3:1). And Isaiah speaking of the same Me…

In the Temple the Messiah was as in his own house, where it was fit the Messiah should exhibit himself to his people. There was an old prophecy (Malachi 3:1): "The Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come into his Temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in." A…

1. There is a tempting or proving of God in a way of duty. So we are bidden (Malachi 3:10): Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now therewith, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pou…

So (Hebrews 3:1): "Consider the Apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ." Again, he is called the Angel or Messenger of the Covenant (Malachi 3:1). Christ with a great condescension took upon him the office of his Father's Ambassador to the Church, to promote the…

Hosea tells us, it was an Angel, yet withal he tells us, That by his strength he had power with God (Hosea 12:3-4). Therefore this was God himself, the creating, not a created Angel, even Jesus Christ, the Angel that redeemed him from all evil, whom Malachi calls, The Angel of t…

8. Obj. But I get no good by Closet-Prayer, I have used it so long, and still my heart is as cold, hard, dead, as ever; I will give over now. Answ. Is not this too like the language of those that say, It is in vain to serve God? (Malachi 3:14). And are you like those atheists, t…

Iam. 1. 17. Mal 3:16. It may be obiected, that God is saide in Scripture to repent.

Secondly, our common people are deceived, who think because they deal truly, and justly before men, that they are in as good a case, as they that hear all the sermons in the world: as though true happiness stood in civil conversation. Thirdly, this doctrine serves to beat down a…

Moreover, touching conversation, our consciences are settled thus: in that we are freed from the rigor of the law, God in mercy accepts the will and endeavor to believe, repent, and obey, for faith, repentance, and obedience. He spares them that fear him, as a father spares his…

When the Israelites refused to have Samuel and his sons to rule over them, the Lord says They have not cast you away, but they have cast me away, that I should not reign over them (1 Samuel 8:7). When the Levites were defrauded of their due, the Lord by his prophet tells the peo…

Thus also the Lord speaks by Malachi, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me,” (Malachi 3:1.) In short, the calling of John had no other design than to secure for Christ a willing ear, and to prepare for him disciples.

Elisabeth had been barren in the prime of life, and now she is in old age, which of itself shuts up the womb. By two hindrances, therefore, the Lord gives a twofold, surprising exhibition of his power, in order to testify, by stretching out his hand, as it were, from heaven, tha…

Malachi, distinguishing the two conditions of the Church, places the one under the Law, and commences the other with the preaching of John. He unquestionably describes the Baptist, when he says, “Behold, I send my messenger,” (Malachi 3:1:) for, as we have already said, that pas…

He was, no doubt, a Prophet, like others whom God had appointed in his Church to be expounders of the Law, and messengers of his will; but he was more excellent than the Prophets in this respect, that he did not, like them, make known redemption at a distance and obscurely under…

Among other passages in which our Author has treated of the erroneous notions entertained by the Jews respecting Elijah, the reader may consult his Commentary on John 1:21, 25. — Editor. Perhaps, too, they cunningly and wickedly endeavored to lessen the authority of Christ by br…

And then were they removed by the same authority whereby they were instituted and appointed (Colossians 2:14, 18, 19, 20). So that though God would never allow, that men, upon what pretense whatever should make any alteration in the worship appointed by him — by adding to it, an…

For no inferior, nor an equal authority, can abolish or alter that which is already appointed, so as to give satisfaction to the consciences of men in obedience to such alterations. And therefore because there arose not a Prophet like to Moses under the Old Testament, there coul…

It is called 'the wounding of the spirit' (Proverbs 18), which no creature knows how to reach and heal — none but God who is the Father of spirits, who made them and knows how to mend them. It is not only called the sickness of the spirit (as in Isaiah 33:24, where the want of a…

But he was, in the first place, to evince it from the faith and principles of the ancient church of Israel, which he does in this chapter: for he declares how God had many ways instructed them to expect an alteration of the Levitical priesthood, by the introduction of another mo…

1. On this occasion he takes off the vail from the face of Moses, declaring the nature and end of the Old Covenant, the use, signification and efficacy of all the institutions and ordinances of worship thereunto belonging. They were all prescribed to the diligent observation of…

They longed for the breaking forth of that glorious light, which the Son of God was to bring, attending in the mean time to the Word of Prophecy, which was as the light of a candle to them shining in a dark place. They lived on that great promise (Malachi 4:2). They expected rig…

Hence is [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], the East, from the rising of the Sun. So the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is called the rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] (Luke 1:78), the day-spring from on high.

For God then showed them great kindness, to win them to obedience. But neither can this time be intended; for God then made no New Covenant with the people, but strictly obliged them to the terms of the Old (Malachi 4:3, 4, 5). But when this New Covenant was to be made, the old…

And had it so fallen out, then the great end of God in preserving them a separate people until the seed should come, and a representation thereof among them had been frustrate. Therefore although he punished them for their transgressions, according to the threatenings of the law…

All this while it had been the certain rule of God's acceptance of the people or his anger towards them; for while they complied with it, his blessing was continually upon them; and the neglect of it was still punished with severity. And the last caution that God had given them…

That intended is destruction, inevitable, unavoidable, and terrible in the manner of it. See (Malachi 4:1), from where those expressions are taken. Only the similitude is not to be extended beyond the proper intention of it; for fire does so consume and devour what is put into i…

For God both required it strictly of them, and approved of it in them, when duly performed: the whole Law and Prophets bore testimony hereunto. And it was the great injunction which he left with the people, when he ceased to grant any more immediate revelations of his will to th…

See Psalms 36:9: With you is the fountain of life, in your light &c. 2. They have tasted the sweetness of this light: it is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun: much more to have the light, which comes from the Son of God, the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2). Whenever he shall…

So, for example, where the Vulgar Latin has (Isaiah 32:4), The tongue of the stammerers (or mafflers, as the Doway Translation would have it englished) shall speak readily and plainly: in the Confession of Saint Patrick we find it laid down more agreeably to the Greek lection: T…

They had a certain time prefixed to their duration, according to the degrees of whose approach they waxed old, and at length utterly disappeared (chap. 8:13). Until that time they were all punctually to be observed (Malachi 4:4). But there were many antecedent indications of the…

The Synagogue of Satan may be utterly destroyed but not the City of God; in the saddest miseries there is hope of God's children that their dead stock will bud and spring again (Zechariah 9:12). Prisoners of hope, the cutting off of root and branch, is the judgement of the wicke…

This is a strange way indeed of estranging themselves from God's Law, many men will estrange themselves from the Law of God by too much familiarity in the world, but for people to have this way by their familiarity with Jesus Christ, because they come now to know Christ more the…

Yes, even good men smite one another: there was a time when the Prophet desired to be smitten by the righteous, in Psalms 141:5, Let the righteous smite me (says the Prophet) it shall be as oil to my head; but now we may justly cry out to God, Lord, let not the righteous smite m…

The Time given to the Sun of Righteousness to rule, as the Day is the Time God has appointed for the natural Sun to bear rule. Therefore the bringing on of this Time is called Christ's coming in his Kingdom; wherein he will rend the Heavens and come down, and the Sun of Righteou…

The Final Apostasy of the Jewish Church. [Book 5. and God had strictly commanded the people to attend to the law of Moses until He came, and with that word had, as it were, laid a final hand upon the revelations of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:4-6) — there ceased entirely for se…

As Arminians expound many that Christ died for (Matthew 20:28) to be all and every man without exception (1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:1) so they are debtors to us for the same liberty. Malachi 4: he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children (Luke 1:16), many…

Daniel first raised up the standard, to the end the faithful might prepare themselves to return home: after him, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Nehemiah, Ezra, and others after them, until Christ's coming, always exhorted the faithful to be of good comfort, and to hope against hope…

We must therefore comprehend all these things together, if we will attain to the true meaning of the Prophet's words. And in this sense it is that Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai do encourage the people touching the hope of their estate to come, while they thought they lost so mu…

First then let us hold it for certain, that this benefit proceeds only from God: secondly, that all indifferently do not partake hereof, but the elect only, whom the Lord enlightens by his free grace, that he might exempt them out of the common rank of other men. Now this is don…

Such was the reunion of parents with children, which was begun by John, and at length finished by Christ. Accordingly, when Malachi speaks of “turning the hearts of the fathers to the children,” (Malachi 4:5,) he intimates that the Church would be in a state of confusion when an…

In this way, whenever our salvation is the subject, we ought to raise our minds to the contemplation of the divine mercy. There appears to be an allusion to a prediction of Malachi, in which Christ is called "the Sun of Righteousness," and is said to "arise with healing in his w…

means for enlightening the Gentiles. Hence we infer, that men are by nature destitute of light, till Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” (Malachi 4:2,) shine upon them. With regard to Israel, though God had bestowed upon him distinguished honor, yet all his glory rests on this s…

He unquestionably describes the Baptist, when he says, “Behold, I send my messenger,” (Malachi 3:1:) for, as we have already said, that passage lays down an express distinction between the Law and the new order and condition of the Church. With the same view he had said a little…

The commencement of this light, and, as we might say, the dawn, was the return of the people from Babylon. At length, Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” (Malachi 4:2,) arose in full splendor, and, by his coming, utterly “abolished” (2 Timothy 1:10) the darkness of death. In the…

It will perhaps be asked, Is the same condition reserved after death for the godly of our own day, or did Christ, when he rose, open his bosom to admit Abraham himself, as well as all the godly? I reply briefly: As the grace of God is more clearly revealed to us in the Gospel, a…

14. And if you are willing to receive it He now explains more clearly in what manner John began to preach the kingdom of God. It was in the character of that Elijah, who was to be sent before the face of God, (Malachi 4:5.) Our Lord’s meaning therefore is, that the great and dre…

Why then should any one allow himself to be directed by them, except that he might fall into the same ditch? Now Christ, who has risen upon us as the Sun of righteousness, (Malachi 4:2,) and not only points out the road to us by the torch of his Gospel, but desires that we shoul…

As a generative virtue is used to be attributed to the Sun, so it cherishes also its own productions. The beams of that Sun of righteousness make them that fear God grow up as calves in the stall, fill them with marrow and fatness, cause them to flourish as the Cedars of Lebanon…

By reason of the same wonderful conjunction, Christ is represented by a great variety of sensible things that are on some account excellent. Thus in some places he is called a Sun (Malachi 4:2); in others a Star (Numbers 24:17). And he is especially represented by the morning st…

The close and last hand was not to be put to this work before the coming of the Messiah. He, they all acknowledged, was to reveal the whole counsel of God (John 4:25), after that his way had been prepared by the coming of Elias (Malachi 4), until when they were to attend to the…

This place is an eminent prophesie concerning the § 11 Messiah and his prophetical office, not before anywhere mentioned. But the law being now given, which was to continue inviolably to his coming (Malachi 4:4), when it was to be changed, removed, and taken away, this part of h…

He does not only wish away full, clear and perfect light, but the dawning of the day, which is imperfect light, let not so much as the beginning or first moment of a morning succeed that night. The words in the original are, Let it not see the eyelids of the morning: it is a ver…

Rulers shall love their people, and with all their might seek their best good; and the people shall love their rulers, and shall joyfully submit to them, and give them that honor which is their due. And so shall there be a happy love between ministers and their people: Malachi 4…

Like furious Bulls, when they together rush? The fighting of these sheep does in two respects, notably comport with the sinful practises of contending Christians, (1) That in this fight they ingage with their heads one against another; and what are they but those head-notions or…

None are thriving and growing men as the godly are. Malachi 4:2. But to you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow as calves in the stall. Proverbs 4:18. But the path of the just is as the shining light,…

I will so love them, that I will not depart from them; and they shall so Fear me, that they shall not depart from me. 15. There are excellent Promises made to them that Fear God, Malachi 4:2. To you that Fear my Name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his Wing…

There should be a mutual condescension between men; for God resists the proud, that is, those that are lifted up above others. 2. Spiritual pride, that is disobedience and impenitency, which is discovered by a neglect of God, and contempt of his law; and that pride is often so t…

Men are serving divers lusts: but whatever lust besides there may be, pride reigns in the unregenerate soul. Hence such persons are in the Scripture called the proud (Malachi 4). There is no sin more natural than that of pride: we see it in children who discover that corruption…

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He it is that sends his Spirit into our hearts to be a refiner's fire, to burn up our dross and make our graces sparkle like gold in the furnace. Christ arises upon the soul with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). He heals the understanding and says, Let there be light; he heal…

Christ does not only heal but adorn. He is called the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) not only because of the healing under his wings, but because of those rays of beauty which he puts upon the soul. Christ is the most generous physician.

This is commonly called the law absolutely; but most frequently the law of God, the law of the Lord; and sometimes the law of Moses, because of his especial ministry in the giving of it. Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him, Malachi 4:4. And this the…

All the wicked in the world shall then be destroyed. Mal. 4:1. For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yes and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts. Therefore the day of Judgeme…

If any man answer that he therefore did not make them enjoy so great a benefit because he judged them unworthy, those who come after shall not be proved any more worthy. Of which thing, beside the experience, Malachi is a substantial witness, who, reproving infidelity mingled wi…

Which is gathered from a notable place of Malachi, where he bids them to be mindful of the law, and to give heed to it, even to the preaching of the Gospel (Malachi 2:7). For thereby he forbids them all newfound doctrines, and grants them no leave to swerve never so little out o…