Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 1, 2
CHAP. 2. VER. 1, 2, &c.
And now, O ye Prieſts, this Commandement is for you: If ye will not heare, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, I will even ſend a Curſe upon you, and will curſe your Bleſſings; yea, I have curſed them already, becauſe ye do not lay it to heart, &c.
SUmme of the Text, A perſwaſion of the Levites to do their duty, in reforming the worſhip of God; by an Argument of the perill of the contrary neglect.
Parts.
1 A Preface, ver. 1
2 A Commination; wherein are three things.
1. The condition interpoſed, which if neglected, the judgments threatned ſhall certainly be inflicted.
2. The Judgments threatned; as, firſt, Curſe of their Bleſſings. Secondly, Corrupting their ſeed. Thirdly, Caſting dung in their faces.
3. The Reaſons: Firſt, from the Lords mercy towards them. Secondly, their ſwerving from that Covenant, and the example of their Predeceſſors; the foulneſs whereof is amplified.
The Preface hath in it, an Apoſtrophe, and turning of the ſpeech generall, to the Perſons of the Prieſts.
Collection hence, this; It is lawfull for a Miniſter, in Preaching, to particularize, that is, to direct his reproofs, Obſerv. threatnings, &c. to particular perſons, and States; See Hoſ. 5.1, &c. Chriſt, to Scribes, and Phariſees.
Reaſons, What is ſpoken to every one, ſeems ſpoken to no one: And hence is that ſhifting of the ſtroke of the Word from themſelves, through the ſubtilty of Satan, Hypocriſie of heart, and love of our ſins. Secondly, The Apoſtle gives this Precept, 1 Tim. 5.20. That we ſhould thus deal even with Elders; whoſe credit (if any) ſhould be moſt ſpared; if they ſin openly, rebuke openly: Reaſon, That the reſt may fear.
Caveats here are: Firſt, That the Fact be publique, Mat. 18. In private ſins, another courſe to be holden, ſo long as any hope of Reformation appears. 2. That it be evident; either, by the Fact, or, by Confeſſion; or, by Witneſſe, of the fact; See 1 Cor. 5. of witneſſes, 1 Tim. 5 19.
And this the Doctrine, the Practice whereof ſo diſtaſtefull to carnall men; Ʋſe. whoſe ſins, though never ſo notorious, and ſcandalous, may not be pointed at, except in generalities: And, generall Preaching, generally applauded by moſt, as ſtanding beſt with a Miniſters diſcretion: But, Beloved, if we will follow the wiſdom of Gods Spirit in the Prophets, and Apoſtles, we ſhall ſee another courſe warranted to a Miniſter, in notorious, and ſcandalous ſins; Paul, in a publique Epiſtle, notes the inceſtuous perſon, 1 Cor. 5. And, why a Miniſter may not ſo deal with men publiquely offenſive, I fee not; as, if there be any in our own Congregation, known Brablers▪ as, of late, the Fact is evident in one, whoſe bond to the good behaviour might have taught him better carriage; To whom, if I ſhould now, as Malachy here, turn my ſpeech, and tell him, vengeance is the Lords, and, that he that ſmites with the ſword, ſhall periſh with the ſword, I ſee not but I follow a preſident, beyond exception: And view, if you will; the ſmall effects that come of generall Teaching, in all Congregations, where it is uſed; Little or no good done, while particular abuſes, in particular perſons, are generally only reproved: But, Learn we hence to ſubmit our ſelves, without murmuring, to this kind of Teaching; and ever think, that Preacher preacheth beſt, that can beſt particularize; and in whoſe mouth, Prophecy is the diſcoverer of our ſecret, and particular corruptions, 1 Cor. 14.25.
This Commandement is for you.] To wit, of reforming Religion, and the worſhip of God.
So then, It is a duty ſpecially belonging to Miniſters, to ſee to the Reformation of Religion, Obſerv. and maintaining thereof, in purity; See for this, Tit. 1. Let us ſee how this is to be underſtood. Papiſts underſtand it, Excluſively, ſo that they would not have Civill Magiſtrates to have any thing to do, in matters of Religion, and the worſhip of God: Now, that even in matters Eccleſiaſticall, the Civill Magiſtrate hath power of commanding, appears: 1. Signis, Deut. 17.18. A charge is given, that the Book of the Law be delivered to the King, not only for private information of his life; but, as Auſtin well ſaith, That he might provide, that others alſo obſerve it. 2. A minori, If Fathers, in Families, muſt deale in information of Houſholds, how much more the King? 3. 1 Tim. 2.2. Godlineſs, as well as honeſty, muſt be promoted by them. 4. Judg. 17. and 18. Neglect of Reformation is imputed to lack of Magiſtrates, which what argues it, but a duty to promote purity of the worſhip of God. 5. Kings in Judah, and Iſrael, blamed for tollerating abuſes, commended for care in reforming, Ergo, &c.
Briefly, That we may ſee, what the duty of Civill Magiſtrates is, in this kind; See we what they may not meddle with. Secondly, what concernes them, in duty, in this kind. 1. The execution of Miniſteriall Functions belongs not unto them, becauſe, they are not thereto called, Heb. 5.4. Therefore, Saul blamed for this, 1 Sam. 13. In that, being a King, he would take upon him, to burn Sacrifice; and Ʋzziah, 2 Chron. 26.16, is ſaid, to tranſgreſs the Commandement of the Lord herein; and Amaziah well tells him, it is not for him to burn Incenſe; and, the Lord ſtrikes him with Leproſie.
See we, now, what it is, that belongs unto them. 1 Making Laws, for ſtabliſhing pure Religion, aboliſhing of falſe; See this, as, in Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 3. ſo in Joſiah, &c. commended. 3. To ſee to the execution of thoſe Laws; So, it is ſaid of Joſiah, he compelled thoſe that were found in Iſrael, and Judah, to ſerve the Lord, 2 Chr. 34.33. 4, To enjoine every Church-Officer, to ſee to his office, and place, 2 King. 23.4. 5. To aſſign to every one his particular ſtation, and calling, in the Church, 2 Chro. 17.7. 6. To correct, and puniſh omiſſions: So that, this Doctrine is not, excluſively, to be underſtood, in reſpect of the Civill Magiſtrate; but ſerves only to awaken the Prieſts, that were, in this point of duty, moſt negligent: And, parts of the Prieſts duty, this way, are: 1. To teach. 2. To exerciſe Diſcipline,
Therefore, how well they diſcharge Miniſteriall Offices, that are the foremoſt in corrupting the ſincere worſhip of God; conſider we: Corruptions in Religion are of two ſorts: 1. In matter. 2. In manner. In matter, when means of worſhip not preſcribed, are brought in by men, as Mat. 159. How full of ſuch Corruptions is the Church of Rome? In manner, when abuſes in the worſhip of God, are tolerated: Secondly, See here, what we have to anſwer to that common objection of the people; That we meddle where we need not, when we oppoſe our felves to corruptions in Religion: As, to inſiſt in one particular, Profane abuſe of the Sacrament; the common ſaying is, The unworthy Communicant ſhall himſelf ſmart for his profaneneſs, True; yet the Miniſter alſo, For, to him is this Commandement given, to inhibit, as much as in him lyeth, all profaning of the Lords holy Ordinances.
Proceed we to the threatning: Obſerv. Wherein we may obſerve, how the Lord, in threatning of Judgment, interpoſeth condition of obedience, and repentance; which if performed, the ſtreame of Gods judgments is ſtayed; See Jer. 18.7, 8, 9, 10.
Ʋſe 1 See then, how true it is, what the Lord profeſſeth of himſelf, Ezek. 33.11. That he delights not in the death of ſinners, but rather would, they ſhould convert and live, that every mouth may be ſtopped: And ſee, whether ever the Lord was haſty (before warning) to execute judgment upon any people: The old world had corrupted their waies before God; yet not ſuddenly ſwept away, but Noah (a Preacher of righteouſneſs) given to warn them; So, in Sodom, Lots example, and admonitions; So Hieruſalem; often would the Lord have gathered them; with our ſelves, the Lord hath thus dealt.
Then, that we may avert, and turn away the judgments of God from us: See our duty, of two branches: Ʋſe 2 1. To hear, that is, with attention and regard, to mark what the Lord requireth of us. 2. To lay it to heart: And, this duty hath in it two things: Firſt, Due conſideration of what the Lord enjoynes. Secondly, Reſolution, and care, to put it into practice; the other without this, nothing. Laſtly, To give glory to God, by reforming abuſes, crept in upon us.
Beloved, The Lord hath come near unto us, in ſundry judgments: Peſtilence hath long dwelt in our Land; Famine and ſcarcity have been oft amongſt us: greater Judgments may be expected, if theſe be neglected; and yet, who cares to heare? Or, hearing, who conſiders? Or, conſidering, who reforms? So that, juſt muſt needs be our deſtruction, whenſoever the Lord ſhall bring it upon us.
See the Judgments: 1. Curſe their bleſſings, that is, weaken their abundance. 2. Corrupting their ſeed, ſo taking away hope of recovery. 3. Caſt dung upon their faces, that is, extremity of vileneſs, and contempt: And, the cauſe of all this, corruptions in Religion.
Corruptions in Religion cauſe of moſt judgments of God: Obſerv. See Neh. 13.81. Did not your fathers thus, and all this wrath is come upon us? Jer. 44. Their Incenſe-burning to the Queen of Heaven, true cauſe of Gods judgments; Hag. 1. The people wonder at their Famine; the Lord ſets them down this, one true cauſe, and reaſon of it, His houſe lay waſte, ver. 9, 10, Exod. 32. The Calf incenſeth him.
See we, then, to what cauſe we may impute all thoſe heavy Plagues, Ʋſe. wherewith the Lord hath ſo long followed us; ſurely, no doubt, this the main, Neglect of Religion, and of the worſhip of God, in Princes, Prieſts, People. And, this let us all be aſſured of: Never to have peace, till abominations, this way, be removed from us: And, therefore, let us all be admoniſhed, for our particulars, here to begin Reformation, at the worſhip, that it may pleaſe him, to turn away his fierce wrath, that he hath determined to bring upon us; many are the corruptions, that are grown in upon us, this way: Reſolve we, every of us, with Joſuah, cap. 24.15. As for me, and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord.
I will corrupt your ſeed.] So then, God is he, that is, the inflicter of all judgments: Obſerv. From him come Famine, Poverty, Infamy, &c. Amos 3.6. No evill in the City, but the Lord hath done it; So Iſa. 45.7. Job 5.6. Affliction riſeth not out of the duſt.
Manichees, then, are here refuted, who dream'd of a double, Ʋſe. or twofold beginning; one, Authour of good things; The other, of evill. For the underſtanding whereof, know we; That nothing is ſummum malum; inflicting of pains a part of Juſtice, and therefore hath in it ſome reſpect of goodneſs. Again, amongſt our people, Luck and Fortune carry away all: But, though in reſpect of us, that know not ſecond cauſes, ſome events may be termed caſuall; yet in reſpect of God, all things are determined; not a ſparrow falls to the ground, without our father, Mat. 10.30. Some ſtick in ſecond Cauſes, impute famine to drought, &c. But, though it be true, that judgments are many times executed by ſecond cauſes; yet ſo, as that the firſt Cauſe orders all, barrenneſs comes of drought, but the Lord makes drought; Hag. 1.11. I called for a drought, &c. Therefore, Learn we to whom, in all judgments, to reſort; See Hoſ. 6.1. To the Lord, it is he who ſmites, and he only muſt heale.