Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 7
VER. 7.
For the Prieſts lips ſhould keep knowledge, and, they ſhould ſeek the Law at his mouth; for, he is the Meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts.
GLoſs of Papiſts: Hence they deduce, That Prieſts cannot erre; how abſurdly; See ver. 8. They had forſaken the way, and cauſed many to fall: Know we, then, That this no promiſe, but a preſcription of duty. The Lord doth not promiſe, that they ſhall be free from errour; but preſcribes what were their duties, namely, to labour to be even a treaſure-houſe of knowledge for the people of God: ſo alſo, that place, 1. Tim. 3. underſtood of Office, not of Fact.
Hence, then, may we obſerve, Obſerv. What the Office of a Paſtour is. He muſt be ſuch an one, as is ſtored with knowledg of the will of God; See Mat. 13.52. The good Scribe, &c. Thoſe many offices required of us, ſhew it; as, to be able to reſolve all doubts, to convince errours, &c. Tit. 1.9.
This knowledg is of two ſorts: 1 Theoreticall. 2 Experimentall; both theſe neceſſary in a Miniſter.
And it ſhould teach us, Ʋſe. as Paul. 1 Tim. 4.13. to give attendance unto reading, &c. Ignorance and Idleneſs, fit not (of all men elſe) a Miniſter. Secondly, Pray God for ſuch; it is his great bleſſing, when ſuch are given, Jer. 3.15. to feed us with knowledg, and with underſtanding.
The next is, the duty of the people, in reſpect of ſuch a Miniſter; to ſeek the Law at his mouth.
Hence then we collect, That it is Gods ordinance, Obſerv. the people ſhall depend on the Miniſtry of the Word; See 1 Theſ. 5.28. Deſpiſe not Prophecying; Heb. 10.25. Forſake not our aſſembling together. For this cauſe, many difficulties, and obſcurities mingled in Scriptures; many things hard to be underſtood,f2 Pet. 3.16. perverted by the unlearned, duplicate page duplicate page and unſtable; of which we may ſay, as the Eunuch to Philip, Acts 8.31. How can I underſtand, without a guide, or an Interpreter? And ſecondly, For this cauſe, it pleaſeth God, by little and little, to give his graces; a little knowledg, a little experience; Wherefore? But that he may continually keep, as it were, an appetite, and edge, upon our deſires? Therefore alſo many decaies, as in buildings, Epheſ. 4. that what we ſeemed beſt to know, we forget; comfort and conſolation, not ſtable, &c. namely, by this means, to evidence the neceſſity of uſing an Interpreter.
Therefore, Beloved, Vſe. they are deceived, and do deprive themſelves of much comfort, that content themſelves with their own private meditation, and ſtudy of the word of God; and refuſe, or neglect publique Miniſtry: That they uſe private endeavours, I blame not, but that they neglect the publique Miniſtry; this is their heavy ſin, and unſpeakable diſcomfort. And yet, I know a common opinion, and practice of many, that they are perſwaded, by private reading, they may come to know God, in Chriſt, to Salvation. Now, Beloved, I will not ſay ſimply, but that ſome man, namely ſuch an one, as to whom the Lord denies the publique Miniſtry, may come to ſaving ſaith, by reading; no nor, but that a man living in the Church, may come to a great meaſure of diſcourſing knowledg. But this I ſay, A man that may heare, and will not; and contents himſelf with private duties; he ſhall never come to know God, to Salvation. The Reaſon is, God uſually breaks not his ordinary courſe, when it may be had. 2. He hath curſed all private devotions, where the publique Miniſtry is contemned, Pro. 28.9. He that turneth his eare from hearing the Law, his prayer ſhall be abominable; his ſtudy, reading, all is accurſed unto him: And therefore, mark when you will, ſuch men, how it pleaſeth God to give them up, many times, to foul and groſs errors, in judgment, and life: wherefore, I ſay again, Deſpiſe not Prophecying.
He is the Meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts.] 1. His Office. 2. The Author of it: See we the meſſage, Rom. 10.15. 2. Cor. 5.20. From whom ſent, from the Lord of Hoſts.
Now, this teacheth us that are Miniſters, ſundry duties: Obſerv. 1. Not to add, alter, or diminiſh any thing of that Meſſage the Lord hath put into our mouths; this the office of a good Meſſenger. Secondly, You that are the people, are taught, with meekneſs and reverence, to entertaine our Meſſage, howſoever diſtaſtefull unto you; conſidering we are but Meſſengers. Thirdly; ſeeing Meſſengers of the Lord of Hoſts; you are taught reverence to us, in reſpect of our Meſſage: The contempt of a Miniſter, in reſpect of his Meſſage, is the contempt of him that ſends, Mat. 10.40. And, that contempt the Lord will never ſuffer to go unpuniſhed: Whenf2 Sam. 10. David ſaw, how his Meſſengers, whom he ſent to Hanun, to entreat of peace betwixt them, were uſed, or rather abuſed by him, his wrath is enkindled, and juſtly, againſt him: And, let all thoſe that deſpiſe Miniſters, lay it to heart; Ye have heard of the ſins of Sodom, and Gomorrah; and how the Lord made them enſamples of his vengeance; believe it, for the mouth of truth hath ſpoken it; very Sodomy it ſelf, is not a heavier ſin, nor more ſeverely puniſhed in hell, than this of deſpiſing a Miniſter, in the ſaithfull diſcharge of his Miniſtry.