Malachi 1

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.

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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.

To the same purpose speaks another Prophet, Zeph. 1. 1, 2. Gather your selves together, (or as some read) fan your selves, yea, fan your selves, before the decree bring forth, and the day pass as the chaff. He does not mean, that the time shall pass as the chaff, but there is a…

When the tender shoot is cut off from the Tree, there are (ordinarily) many more left behind upon the same Tree, as promising and vigorous as that which is taken; but it pleaseth the Husbandman to chuse this, and leave them. Even so it is in the removing or transplanting of a so…

1. He was free from sin: The Lamb of God, without spot, and without blemish. The male of the flock to be offered unto God, the curse falling on all other oblations, and them that offer them (Malachi 1:14). The purity of the snow is not to be compared with the whiteness of this l…

Faith in the Father, John 5:9-10, and love toward him, 1 John 2:15. Malachi 1:6. So is prayer and praise.

By these do we hold communion with the Father in his love. Hence God calls that love which is due to him as a Father, honor: Malachi 1:6 — if I be a Father, where is my honor? It is a deserved act of duty.

Third, it is necessary in respect of its end — whether you consider God, ourselves, or the world. The end of our obedience in respect of God is his glory and honor, Malachi 1:6. He will take his honor from the stoutest and proudest rebel in the world, but all we give him is in o…

That difference which is made between Esau a type of the world (Esau have I hated) and Jacob a type of the Church (Jacob have I loved) shows that the Lord is far from hating his Church. The world, not the Church, is the object of God's hatred (Malachi 1:2-3). Object.

So proper is this fear to a servant in relation to his master, as where it is wanting, there is a plain denial of his master's place and power; which God intimates under this expostulation, If I be a master, where is my fear? That is, you plainly show that you account me not you…

O shall we serve God then in a slight and careless fashion! (Malachi 1:8) If you offer the blind, the lame and sick for sacrifice, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor, will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the Lord of Hosts.

2. As we are the children of God by adoption: The great duty of children is to honor their parents. God pleads for honor upon this account, (Malachi 1:6) If I be a Father, where is my honor? So that if you consent to the preface, and say, Our Father; then the next request will b…

Secondly, as it encourages us to pray, so it furthers our duty in prayer, that we may behave ourselves with reverence, love, and gratitude. 1. With a child-like reverence, and affection in prayer; (Malachi 1:6) If then I be a father, where is my honor? And if I be a master, wher…

Mean persons will behave themselves with all honor and reverence, when they supplicate to men of [reconstructed: quality]; so should we to God, who is so high and so much above us, he is in Heaven. It is a diminution of his greatness, (Malachi 1:14) when we put off God with anyt…

2. As God's children, so we must do his will. [reconstructed: Malachi 1:6]: If I be a Father, where is my honor? And if I be a Master, where is my fear?

1. In that he prefers them before others. He chooses them, and passes by the rest, Malachi 1:2. Was not Jacob Esaus brother? (says the Lord,) yet I hated Esau and loved Jacob.

These are not Right Thoughts of God. Men think him to be an hard Master: But God will be in no mans debt, he gives double pay, Malachi 1:10. Neither do ye kindle a sire on my Altar for nought.

God will not be long kept out of his portion. Youth, it is our best time (Malachi 1:13); when they brought a weak and sickly offering, should I accept this of your hand, says the Lord? The health, strength, quickness of spirit, and vigor, is in youth.

God is the same God still; he hates sin as much as ever; therefore we should not be slight. 4. It is a dishonor to God to do his work negligently: "Cursed be the deceiver which has in his flock a male, and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing, for I am a great King,"…

3. The reasons of the point. 1. It does encourage us, and quicken us to diligence in our work; as soldiers fight best in their general's presence; and scholars ply their books when under their master's eye; so by living always in the sight of God, we study to please him; the mor…

If we endure anything for God, we are apt to repine, and pitch upon that evil we receive from his hand, passing over the good. A little evil (like one humor out of order, or one member out of joint) disturbs the whole body: so we by poring upon the evil we endure, pass over all…