Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 4, 5
VER. 4, 5.
And ye ſhall know that I have ſent this Commandement unto you, that my covenant might be in Levi, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. My covenant was with him, of life and peace; and I gave them to him, for the fear, wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my Name.
FOllow now the Reaſons▪ 1. From the ſpeciall mercy of God beſtowed upon them, and their fore-fathers: Gods Covenant was with them, of life and peace.
Now, Gods Covenant is of foure ſorts. 1. Generall, made with all Creatures, Gen. 9. 2. With the Church, in generall. 3. With the Church of the Elect. 4. With ſome particulars, of ſome ſpeciall graces: of this laſt, muſt this place be underſtood, God having entred a Covenant with them eſpecially, to give them life, and peace
So then, with Miniſters eſpecially, hath the Lord made a Covenant of Peace, binding himſelf, eſpecially, Obſerv. to be a mighty Protector, and gracious rewarder of them: And therefore ye ſhall ſee, in evill times, how the Lord hath given ſpeciall charge of them; Touch not mine Anointed, and do my Prophets no harme; hath made ſpeciall promiſe of aſſiſtance, and protection, unto them, Mat. 18. and we ſee ſundry examples hereof; as, if ye read the whole Scriptures you ſhall not ſee any to whom more ſpeciall deliverances vouchſafed, than unto them; See in Jeremy, Elijah, Peter, &c. God was their portion.
And, this ſhould be our incouragement, unto whom the Diſpenſation of the word is committed, Ʋſe 1 couragiouſly to do our duties; Jer. 1.18. It is true, that of all men, we are moſt ſubject to the hatred of the world, as being thoſe whom the Lord hath called to deale with the ſins of men; but yet, if we ſhall look up to our God, that hath made Covenant with us; leaſt cauſe have we, of all others, to fear the malice, or power of Adverſaries.
Ʋſe 2 This ſhould be an admonition unto the people, to take heed, how they attempt any malitious courſes againſt them: The Lord hath ſaid, concerning his people, in generall; he that toucheth them, toucheth thee Zech. 2.8. Apple of his eye; but, more ſpeciall care of Miniſters hath he, every where, proteſted: And, would God, this could ſink into the hearts of thoſe wretchleſs people amongſt us, whoſe indignities and wrongs, no men taſte more.
For the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.] Here have we Levi's behaviour, in the Covenant, declared by the cauſe, effects, and ſigns of it. Feare of God, is an affection of the heart, whereby we reverence the Majeſty of God,What the fear of God is. and flye from his offence, in all things.
Of it there are three kinds: 1. Meerly ſervile, ſuch in Devills, Jam. 2.19. 2. Meerly Filiall, ſuch in the Saints in heaven. 3. Mixt of both; which is that only, whereof we partake in this life: The firſt of theſe ariſeth only from judgments, either felt, or feared; and only, in that regard, reſtraineth: The ſecond, from Gods goodneſs, and feeling of his mercy, Hoſ. 3. ult. and, in reſpect thereof, cauſeth to depart from evill: The laſt, from both; partly, from fear of judgment; partly, from ſence of mercy: But, let us ſee the properties, and effects of it. 1. It cauſeth a reverence of the Majeſty of God; therefore, the Lord called, The fear of Jacob; and ſheweth it ſelf partly, in ſpeaking reverently of God, and his ſervices; partly, in trembling at his words; partly, in a ſeemly carriage in all things, as in the preſence of God; together with a conſtant care to depart from evill, and a ſtout courage in good cauſes, and courſes: Try by theſe things.
And, I gave them to him.] Here, we obſerve, That fear of God is his own gift; See Jer. 32.40. And, Obſerv. this appears by that generall depravation of nature, whereby, ſince the fall of Adam, we are deſtitute of all ſaving grace, Rom. 3.18. Naturall men are thus deſcribed, No fear of God before their eyes; apparent, by effects contrary, running into all exceſs of riot, without any bridle, or reſtraint, till this gift of God be obteyned.
If this be ſo, where is that Doctrine of free-will, Ʋſe. taught by the Church of Rome?
And ſecondly, ſee the excellency of this gift; Jer. 32.40. ſet out in the Scripture, by ſundry Arguments: 1. It is made the note of a Child of God; therefore, it is the uſuall deſcription of men Religious, to be ſuch as fear the Lord. 2. Bleſſedneſs promiſed unto it, Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord. 3. The immunity that ſuch men have, in common judgments.
Wherefore, bleſs God, if he have given it unto thee; and think him more mercifull to thee, in this, than if he had given thee all the wealth of the world, ſevered from it: This, indeed, by earth-wormes, commonly counted faint-heartedneſs; whereas it is, indeed, The higheſt point of wiſdom, and courage.