Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 9 – Exposition of verse 10
VER. 9.
Therefore, have I alſo made you contemptible, and baſe before all the people, according as ye have not kept my wayes, but have been partiall in the law.
FOllows now the puniſhment of this their ſin; I have made you contemptible, &c. Wherein two things. 1. The puniſhment. 2. The cauſe of it.
Where, Obſerv. firſt, obſerve we, That baſe eſtimation amongſt the people, is a puniſhment: even this, to be vilely eſteemed, and diſregarded amongſt men, is a puniſhment; See verſ. 3. cap. 2. And ſurely, if good Name, and Reverence, be a Bleſſing, then is Contempt, a Puniſhment.
Object. If any ſhall ſay, that this befell Chriſt, Pſal. 22. A worme, and no man. Anſw. This a part of his humiliation, Phil. 2.
Object. The Lot of the Apoſtles, 1 Cor. 4.9. Anſw. With the wicked only, for otherwiſe, their feet are beautifull, Rom. 10.15.2. Even they alſo have Sins to be chaſtened; and this muſt be acknowledged, as a part of the Curſe. Deut. 28.37.
This ſhould teach us Humiliation, Ʋſe under the mighty hand of God, for our many abaſures, we are ſubject unto: there is no blemiſh in good Name, but comes for ſin; and, he hath promiſed to Honour thoſe, that Honour Him. Its true, that the Lord turns theſe things unto the Beſt, unto his Children, and brings good out of them, unto thoſe that are his. As, 1. It ſeems to purge from Ambition, and deſire of vain-glory, a great hinderance of ſincerity, Ioh. 12.43. 2. It works in us a care to approve our ſelves the more to God, that we may be glorious in his eyes. 3. It makes us more dye to the world: But yet, it's, in its own Nature, a Puniſhment, and many times, to Gods own children, a chaſtiſement.
Therefore.] The cauſe followeth; whence we obſerve; That vitious life breeds vileneſs of eſtimation; this caſts the ſalt of the earth to the dunghill; Luke 14.34, 35. and, as its the Lord promiſe, to Honour thoſe that honour Him; ſo, they that deſpiſe him, ſhall be deſpiſed, 1 Sam. 2.30. How did the Lord honour David, in time of his uprightneſs? How did that dog Shimei preſume to raile at him, when he had defiled himſelf? 2 Sam. 16. yea, and how did his own Son faile, in duty towards him?
Ʋſe 1 So then, let us all here take notice of the true cauſe of that vile eſteeme, wherein, at this day, many live; I ſpeake of all ſorts of men: Its a common, and moſt juſt complaint, that many have in their mouths; How much the dignity of the Miniſtery, is, in theſe dayes, decayed; contrary to that Reverence given by Cornelius unto Peter: And, to what cauſe, think you, do they impute it? Some, to lack of Authority; Some, to our poverty; Some, to decay of Auricular Confeſſion: But, theſe not the maine Cauſes: Apoſtles were never Confeſſours, yet highly eſteemed; never abounded with wealth, yet reverenced; John Baptiſts rochet was of haire-cloath, yet reverenced by Herod himſelf. But, this is that which hath expoſed us to contempt, namely, the lewd life of many, in place of miniſters. The like of Magiſtrates; the like of Fathers; the like of the Aged; Children preſume againſt the Ancients; and no marvell, when old age is not found in the way of righteouſneſs. 1 Tim. 4.12. Let no man deſpiſe thy youth, but be thou, then, unto them that believe, a pattern in good works.
Ʋſe 2 See we here, where a man muſt begin to lay the ground of Reverence, and Reputation, namely, in an holy life: Live holily, then ſhalt thou live honourably; if not amongſt the wicked, yet amongſt Gods Children, who honour ſuch as feare the Lord, Pſal. 15.4. While Adam ſtood in innocency, the ſavage beaſts did him Reverence; when he threw off obedience, they began to Rebell; John Baptiſt feared of Herod, becauſe he knew him to be a juſt man; Mat. 6.2….
If a puniſhment, to be vilely eſteemed: then, a Bleſſing, to be honoured, and juſtly well eſteemed, eſpecially for Miniſters: good name, a rich pearle, and loving favour above ſilver, and gold, Prov. 22▪ 1. Eccleſ. 7.3. How prevalent this is, for ſecurity; how many times did this reſtrain the fury of Iewes againſt our Saviour? The people held him, as a Prophet, Mat. 21.46. Beſides the good, that ſuch may do, rather then others: True honour is that that is given by men, rightly judging of the graces of God.
Hence then collect, Ʋſe. that its lawfull for a man, by good meanes, to ſeek honour, and good report from men; See 1 Tim. 4.12. Let no man deſpiſe thy youth, & 1 Tim. 3.7. A teſtimony even from men without, is to be laboured for: And, here, that little regard of approving our ſelves to men, juſtly taxed; what men ſay, or think, they care not; yet, ſaith the Apoſtle, Phil. 4.8. If there be any vertue, if any praiſe, follow things of good report.
Meanes. 1. To be an Honourer of God 1 Sam. 2.30. in all carriage, publique, or private. 2. To do the things that tend to good Report, rather then ſimply, to hunt after praiſe. 3. Not principally to ayme at praiſe; It is like your ſhadow, the more you run after it, the faſter it runs from you.
But have been Partiall in the law.] A new reaſon of this judgment mentioned; partiality in the Law. This is propounded, verſ. 9. 2. Confuted by a reaſon, a communi principio, and ſo from equality; This uttered in a Rhetoricall Dialogiſme.
Partiality what it is.See we the nature of this ſin: Partiality is, when (without juſt cauſe) one is preferred before another, in matter of juſtice; this is commonly called Acception of perſons; preferring one before another; See 1 Tim. 5.21. Now, not every ſuch preferring, is partiality; For, there is a preferring of one before another, warrantable; therefore, its added, without juſt cauſe: cauſes of preferring, of two ſorts; juſt, unjuſt: Unjuſt, as when a rich man is regarded, for his Riches; a poor man, for his poverty; See Deut. 1.17. Exod. 23.3. Levit. 19.15. Laſtly, in matter of juſtice, as in puniſhment, or reward, in reproof, or forbearing reproof: So, in kindneſs, we may without partiality, preferre. 1. Our own before ſtrangers, 1 Tim. 5.8. 2. Houſhold of faith, before others, Gal. 6.10. but, in matter of juſtice, no ſuch thing to be done.
This preſſed upon Magiſtrates, Ʋſe. that they eſpecially obſerve it, Deut. 1.19, we have the example of God himſelf, Rom. 2.11. 1 Pet 1.17. They are Gods, Pſal. 82.6. nor may inferiour officers goe unpreſſed herein.
To miniſters urged, with a ſtraite charge, 1 Tim. 5.21. However, it be imputation to my ſelf. To people, Jam. 2.1. ſundry reaſons. 1. God chuſeth. 2. Rich in faith. 3. Heyrs of the kingdome. 4. A breach of Gods Law. 5. A cauſe of murmuring, Act. 6.1.
VER. 10.
Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherouſly every man againſt his Brothers by profaning the Covenant of our Fathers?
HEre is ſet down the Confutation: Obſerv. One common principall of all men; Adam, our common father; Eve, our common mother; God our common Creator; Chriſt our common Redeemer; See Eph. 4.6.
This ſhould teach us vnity in judgment, and affection, Ʋſe. Eph. 4.3. It ſhould abate pride, teach to avoid partiality in any thing; and, would God, in all things, we could conſider this! it would be a bridle from many injuries, and injuſtice,