Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 6
VER. 6.
The Law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: He walked with me in peace, and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
A ſecond reaſon, why the Lord threatens to inflict thoſe judgments, upon the Levites, was, their ſwerving from thoſe good precedents ſet before them, by their Fore-fathers. And, it is handled in a plenary Compariſon of unlikes; The Protaſis whereof contains an explication of Levi's behaviour; The Apodoſis expreſſeth their ſwerving from the pattern ſet them, ver. 8:
Now, before I proceed to particular handling, it is fit; Firſt, to remove the gloſſes of Papiſts. Hence they infer, That it is poſſible for ſome man, in the ſtate of this life, to walk ſo inoffenſively, and perfectly before God, that he may merit, and deſerve Salvation; one argument for which they take hence: indeed, they confeſs, that we cannot ordinarily live without veniall ſins; but, without mortall ſins, that is, ſuch as deſerve, in their own nature, death, we may: Now, againſt the ſtate of ſuch perfection, the Scripture every where ſpeaks: The Apoſtle, Rom. 7.23. expreſſing the ſtate of himſelf, and others, in ſtate of grace, confeſſeth, that he was led captive to the Law of ſin; and, leaſt they ſhould ſay, they were veniall ſins, he acknowledgeth them deadly, when as he calleth the corruption, whence they proceeded, to be a body of death: And, in many things, we offend all; ſhall we ſay, venially? Nay, deadly, Rom. 6.23. For, The wages of every ſin, is death.
Hear the Reaſons: 1. Becauſe, but, in part, ſanctified, 1 Cor. 13.15. 2. Knowledge, in part. 3. The perfecteſt fear tryall, in extremity of juſtice, which they would not do, were their works perfect, Pſa. 43.2. 4. Taught to pray for forgiveneſs. Wherefore, if we may live free from mortall, only with veniall ſins, why may we not perfectly expiate?
What then is that perfection, that the Scripture ſpeaks of? Anſwer, 1. Perfection in Chriſt. 2. Perfection in Parts. 3. Uprightneſs, and ſincerity of heart, in all duties, when we are free from hypocriſie; And this is that, here, commended in Levi.
In this verſe, then, we have two things.
1. The behaviour of Levi; in two things; In Doctrine; and in life. In Doctrine, Truth, and it only: In life, peaceable, and equall carriage: In both, ſincerity, and uprightneſs before God: Where, 2. we have the effect of theſe two, He turned many from iniquity.
See here the deſcription of a true Paſtor, Obſerv. in foure qualities: 1. That they are Teachers. 2. Teachers of truth only, without mixture of errours, or humane inventions. 3. That they are men of inoffenſive life. 4. That they are upright in all theſe, and walk as with God. Their firſt good property, is, That they are Teachers; therefore, it is ſaid, that the Law of truth was not only in his braine, or in his heart, but that it was in his lips, and in his mouth; therefore, we are called, Feeders of others, Joh. 21.15. Voices, Mat. 3.3. Aaron had Bells on the skirts of his Garment, and his ſound muſt be heard, when he goes into the Tabernacle.
Second property, That, as he taught, ſo he taught truth, and meere truth, without wilfull mixture of falſehood, or other corruptions; therefore Paul, as he bids us preach, ſo to preach the Word, 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. and, it muſt be wholſome Doctrine; and, Phariſees are blamed, not, for that they taught nothing but errour, (for ſome truth they taught, Mat. 23.1, 2.) but, for that they (mingled) errours, and humane devices; Mat. 16, 6. as Leaven that ſoured the whole lump.
Third this, That as he taught well; ſo, he lived uprightly, and inoffenſively; a ſingular duty of a Miniſter; See 1 Tim. 3. As much care takes the Apoſtle, to inſtruct touching life, as a liberty of teaching: and Mat. 5.16. Let light ſhine by good works; See 1 Cor. 9. ult. and the myſtery of Ʋrim, and Thummim, that is, light, and perfection, that ought to be in the Prieſts.
Fourth, That all this was done, in ſincerity, and uprightneſs of heart: this that Paul challengeth to himſelf, 2 Cor. 1.12, and counts it his chief comfort; walking with God; that is, when a man is not carried away with the ſtreame of the times, but keeps on a conſtant endeavour of approving himſelf, and his heart, to God.
Ʋſe 1 Reproved here all ſuch, as in place of Teachers, teach not at all; and theſe, of two ſorts: 1. Some, for lack of ability, as, how many amongſt our ſelves, in this Church of England. 2. All ſuch, as having ability, yet uſe not their gifts, to the good of Gods people; See 1 Cor. 12.7. the gifts of the Spirit are given, to profit withall; called diſpenſers, 1 Cor. 4.1. and, 1 Pet. 4.10. As we have received, ſo we muſt miniſter the ſame gift, to edification.
Secondly, Thoſe that teach, but teach unſoundly; whether groſs errours, or quirks of their own wit: The Apoſtle dealing againſt this kind of Teaching, thus ſaith, That their labour, and reward is all loſt, 1 Cor. 3.15. They profane the Temple of God; and the Lord ſhall deſtroy ſuch.
Thirdly, Thoſe that teaching truths, and nothing but truths, yet walk inordinately, to the diſgrace of truth, hinderance of the Goſpell: How many ſuch are every where? cauſing Chriſts ordinances, as the Sons of Eli, 1 Sam. 2.17. did the Lords ſacrifices, by their ungracious lives, to be loathed.
Fourthly, That are outwardly painfull, and honeſt; vet, without uprightneſs of heart, in the ſight of God; Phil, 1.15. Some ſuch ſpoken of, that preached Chriſt, indeed, but it was, out of envy, or, for filthy Lucre; ſuch an one was, Judas: And, would God, many ſuch did not diſcover themſelves dayly; their ſins cannot be hid, 1 Tim. 5.24.
Ʋſe 2 Now, this, as it teacheth us, in place of Miniſtry, to labour to be ſuch; ſo you that are the people, to pray God to give ſuch Paſtors unto his people; Mat. 9. ult. Pray God, that he would thruſt forth Labourers into his harveſt. Beloved, How our Church groans under the burthen of ſuch idle, Idoll, or profane ſhepherds, we ſee, and can talk of; would God, we could heartily bewaile, and, as becomes us, pray heartily, for redreſs; no doubt, we ſhould ſee the work of the Lord goe faſter forward.
And did turne many away from iniquity.] In this clauſe, we have expreſſed the effect of theſe Levites, thus demeaning themſelves: They turned many from iniquity.
Senſe: How is this ſaid of the Miniſtry, when converſion is made the peculiar work of God? Anſwer, As to Inſtruments, becauſe, by them, the Lord works converſion, faith, repentance, &c. Therefore, we are ſaid, to ſave others, 1 Tim. 4. ult. to wit, as Inſtruments; becauſe, without us, God ordinarily, ſaves none; and, by us, and the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, ſaves them that believe; therefore, 1 Cor. 3.9. ſaid to be foreign, fellow-workers with God, and Inſtruments effectuall; Miniſters, by whom ye have believed; ſo to remit ſins, as Inſtruments, and Miniſters.
So then, here obſerve, That the Miniſtry of the Word, Obſerv. in the mouth of a faithfull Paſtor, is not ineffectuall, but is Gods ſtrong power to Salvation, Rom, 1.16. See Iſa. 8.18. Loe me, and the children which thou haſt given me, 2 Cor. 10.4. The weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but mighty; through God; Heb. 4.12. mighty in operation; 1 Cor. 14.25. Prophecy humbles, and makes fall down.
The reaſon whereof is, The promiſe of God, and his good pleaſure; I will be with you, that is, not only to protect you, and to aſſiſt and enable you; but, to bleſs your Miniſtry. Object. Sometimes ineffectuall. Anſwer. A double effect of the Miniſter, 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. Iſa. 55.10. As the ſhow, and the raine. 2. Fruit may be, that is not ſeen, as in Elias his time, ſeven thouſand, but inviſible, Rom. 11.4. Act. 18.10. much people in that City. 3. Though bleſſing promiſed, yet times and ſeaſons kept in Gods power; as Act. 18.10. The day of viſitation is not come.
Ʋſe 1 This ſhould be our incouragement, to whom the Miniſtry of the word of God is committed, if we walk uprightly, in the ſight of God: howſoever, perhaps, we ſee not, at the firſt, the fruits of our labours; yet (keeping our ſelves in the waies of God) and waiting on him, we expect a bleſſing.
It is truly a diſcomfortable thing to be a Miniſter, to take paines, where no fruit appears; it made Jeremy reſolve to ſpeak no more in the name of the Lord, Jer. 20.9. and ſecondly, Paul ſhakes his raiment, Acts 18.6. but is reproved of the Lord.
Ʋſe 2 This ſhould teach us, not to deſpiſe the Miniſtry of the word of God, being ordeined to be ſo powerfull an Inſtrument to convert▪ many ſuch ſpeeches there be of profane men; they cannot remember, that ever they were the better for any Sermon they heard; It may well ſo be; for, this ſeed takes not root in all grounds: But, this I dare ſay, He that with an honeſt heart hath heard, Luk. 8.15. can ſay, He ſeldome hath heard Sermon, but, he hath been bettered thereby: how powerfull feele we it ripping up corruptions, in humbling for ſins, in furthering with comfort, &c? And, let ſuch as have not felt their power, ſuſpect their State.