Malachi 4

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…