Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 8
VER. 8.
But ye are departed out of the way: ye have cauſed many to ſtumble at the Law: ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.
ORdinary Paſtors (many) erre, Obſerv. and teach falſe Doctrine: For Explication; Paſtors of the Church, are of two ſorts; ſome extraordinarily raiſed up by the Lord, extraordinarily aſſiſted by his Spirit; ſuch were Prophets, and Apoſtles, of whom Peter ſaith, 2 Pet. 1. ult. That they ſpake not, of any private motion, but even as they were inſpired by the Holy Ghoſt: Ordinary, ſuch as by ordinary calling are deputed to the Office of Teaching; of theſe, whether alone, or collected, it is true, they may erre.
Firſt; That they have erred; See Mat. 23. Scribes and Phariſees ſate in Moſes Chair, had ordinary calling, and ſucceſſion, without interruption; yet had they Leaven mingled with their Doctrine, Mat. 18.8. And, leſt any ſhould ſay. That [Singularly] they might erre, but not [Collected;] See Mar. 15.64. High Prieſt, and all aſſembled, and yet conclude of Chriſt, He had blaſphemed. Secondly, if not, then becauſe they ſpake infallibly, by inſpiration of the holy Ghoſt: But, this not; for, then it will follow, that their decrees are foreign, and ſo of equall authority with the Scripture. Thirdly, if not, this, either in reſpect of Multitude, or Wiſdome, or Holineſs, or Promiſe; but, firſt, Multitude frees them not, as in Achabs g1. King. 22.Prophets; and that warning, agree not with a Multitude, Exod. 23.2. Secondly, Not in reſpect of their Wiſdome, for, they are not alwaies the wiſeſt, that are aſſembled in Councells. Thirdly, Not in reſpect of holineſs; for themſelves confeſſing, They may be as lewd as any. 4. Nor in reſpect of promiſe. If any alledge, Joh. 16.18. Anſwer. That promiſe, in that meaſure, made to the Apoſtles; and that, as well ſeparate, as collected.
Beſides all this; expetience ſheweth it: Concilium Laodicenum approves only the books, that are now received; Trident concludes the Apocryphall; one muſt needs erre: Councill of Neocaſarea, againſt ſecond marriages, and will have Prieſts put them to penance, that admit them; yet S. Paul warrants them, Rom. 7.3. 1 Cor. 7.39. Councill of Nice ordeined rebaptization for all, that had followed Paylus Samoſetanus.
Object. The high Prieſt of the New Teſtament cannot. Anſwer, True, if underſtood of Chriſt: But, if of the Pope, ye ſhall ſee experience. Liberius ſubſcribed to Arrianiſme John the 22 that the ſouls of the wicked ſhould not, at all, be puniſhed, till the day of Judgment, and this he ſends Preachers to publiſh. John the 23. That the ſouls of men are mortall; and that there is no Reſurrection, not Life after this. Honorius a Monothelite, and this he did dogmatizare, deliver by way, and as in the nature of a decree; What needs more?
Heare Reaſons proving it: 1 Ignorance, 1 Cor. 13.12. 2. Imperfect Sanctification. 3. No promiſe of Infallible, and inceſſant aſſiſtance; that promiſe peculiar to Apoſtles, Joh. 16.13.
Let it teach us that wiſdome that S. Paul preſcribes, Vſe. To try all things, 1 Theſ. 5.21. 1 Joh. 4.1. and even to fill our ſelves with knowledg of the Word of God; And never ſo much admire any Miniſter, be his gifts never ſo reverend, as not to bring him to the common tryall, and touchſtone: And, if ever this Exhortation needfull, now are the Times; wherein you ſhall ſee a manifeſt going out of the way, and a reviving of old Errours. And, in ſuch Times, lamentable the caſe of men ignorant, or negligent, this way; And, let no man ſay, Their Teachers ſhall anſwer. Though that be true, yet thou periſheſt alſo with them, Mat. 15.14.
Ye have cauſed many to ſtumble at the Law.] So ſeldome falls a Miniſter alone, but draws many with him into fellowſhip of errours, and corrupt manners; Obſerv. See 2 Tim. 2.17. their ſpeech frets like a Canker, and encreaſeth to more ungodlineſs; See Gal. 2.14. Peters example compulſory, &c. Now, this cauſing many others to fall, is, partly, through neglect of Inſtruction; partly, through connivance; partly, through example: So that a Miniſters Errours, whether in Judgment, or Practice, enwrap many ethers in the ſame condemnation; See Jer. 10.21. The Paſtors were become brutiſh, therefore, all the Flocks of their Paſtures are ſcattered; as when a maine ſtone in a Building, or a tall Cedar, falls.
Reaſons: 1. Evill examples, in generall, are marvelous prevalent with corrupt nature, even as Leaven, or as a gangrene, in the Body; but, eſpecially thoſe of Teachers, partly, through admiration of their perſons; partly, through ignorance, or forgetfulneſs, rather, that thoſe who know moſt, ſometimes practiſe the leaſt: and partly, through a fond opinion, that their Leaders ſhall excuſe them.
Now, Vſe. this ſhould be an admonition to us, in place of Teaching to take heed to our ſelves, as well as unto Learning, 1 Tim. 4.16.
So alſo you, the people, are here admoniſhed of ſundry duties. 1. As the Lord hath laid this charge on every of you, to pray, that the Goſpell may have free paſſage, 2 Theſ. 3.1. So, eſpecially, to pray for this; that it would pleaſe God, as, to give gifts of knowledg, ſo eſpecially of Sanctification, unto your Miniſters, men, as your ſelves, compaſſed about with many infirmities, and whom Satan eſpecially labours to winnow, and ſift to the very bottome: and what ſhould many Reaſons need? We ſee from our wofull experience, what impediments to the proceedings of the Goſpell, the ungracious behaviours of lewd Miniſters are: Pray therefore for us. 2. The powerfull effect of good life.
And, Ʋſe 2 as this duty is to be performed by you, in behalf of Miniſters: So eſpecially your ſelves, whom the Lord hath madehRev. 1.6. Prieſts, and Prophets to your family; learn you hence, of all the reſt, to be moſt wary in your carriage; Such Maſter, ſuch Man; ſuch Father, ſuch Son, commonly ſeen in experience: And mark, if ye will, how the leaſt of your Infants crept out of the cradle, like Apes, can imitate the Speeches, Actions, Geſtures, eſpecially, of Parents; and, if nothing elſe, yet let this reſtrain. Excellent is the benefit of it; wofull the iſſues of the contrary.
Thirdly, ſith this ſo; Ʋſe 3 you are taught to arme your ſelves here-againſt: our Saviour hath made us wary againſt ſuch miſleadings, Mat, 23.3. where ſpeaking of Scribes, and Phariſees, he thus admoniſheth; do as they ſay, while they ſpeak out of Moſes Chair: And, every of you labour for ſo much knowledg of the word of God, that you may be able to judge, when they teach truth, when falſhood; when they do well, when ill; See Joh. 10.27. The ſheep of Chriſt heare his voice, know not a ſtranger. Hence know, that, in imitation, Chriſt ſets us our limits, 1 Cor. 11.1. and, withall conſider, that fellows in ſinning, are fellows in puniſhment, Rev. 18.4. and, laſtly, beware of too much admiring the perſons of men; for, how much this prevailes to Hereſie and impiety, wofull experience teacheth.
Ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi.] Here we have expreſſed the reaſon of Gods Commination, or threatning; partly, becauſe the Lord had entred a Covenant with Levi; and partly, becauſe they degenerated from the good example of their Predeceſſours, and ſo declined from the right way. The Protaſis of this diſſimilitude explaines the life of their Fore fathers, ver. 5, 6, 7. The Apodoſis, the aberration of the Poſterity, ver. 8. Levi walked with God, in truth, and equity; Theſe turned out of the way; he turned many from iniquity; theſe cauſed many to fall, or to ſin againſt the Law; He, according to the Covenant, feared God; Theſe brake the Covenant of Levi,
From the body of the Text, we have two thing, Obſerv. worthy our obſervation: 1. Degenerating from the holy examples of Predeceſſors, is a ſin hainous in the ſight of God. When the Lord ſhall, in his mercy, vouchſafe us holy patterns, and we are not by them moved to walk in their ſteps, this that the Lord hates. Therefore, mark, how conditionally he promiſeth Solomon a bleſſing; if he will walk before him, as David his father walked, in pureneſs of his heart, and righteouſneſs, 1 King. 9.4, 5, &c. Cap. 11.4, 6. This noted as his blemiſh, that he was not, as David his Father; and, 1 King. 14.8. The Lord reproves Jeroboam for this, that he had not been as his ſervant David: yea, in many places, where worthy commendations of many Kings are recorded, yet this is added as a blemiſh, they did not as David, and other their Fathers.
And, this may not ſeem ſtrange, in as much as even amongſt men, rightly judging, this is a thing odious, to degenerate from our Lineage, and Predeceſſors; but, in Religion much more. The Reaſon is, becauſe the Lord hath, by ſo many Precepts, urged this duty upon us, To imitate and follow the ſteps of our Forefathers, when they walked after Gods Commandement; Rom. 4. Walk in the ſteps of your father Abraham.
Or, 2. If we conſider, how, by their example eſpecially, the Lord effectually teacheth us, and gives them as guides unto us, in the waies of piety, and obedience: How powerfull examples are, chiefly, of Parents, we ſee in common experience. And, though God be mercifull, in teaching by his word; yet this may not be eſteemed a ſmall bleſſing, that it pleaſeth him to give us guides, to go before us, Jam. 5.10. Heb. 11. & 12.1. As, in a journey, it is ſomewhat comfortable, to have the way pointed out unto us; but more comfortable, to ſee another more skilfull, conducting us; and, if a man will then erre, his errour muſt needs be wilfull; even ſo, &c. Beſides this, this degenerating is a blemiſh, and diſhonour to the name of Parents.
Let us now apply this, Ʋſe. Generally, and Particularly; ſo as to be admoniſhed thereby, to take heed of degenerating from the holy Patterns, that our Fore-fathers have ſet us.
Beloved in Chriſt; God hath dealt graciouſly with us, in this Kingdom, in this kind; chalking out the way to Heaven, in the example of our Fore-fathers; ſo as, except we will ſhut our eyes, we cannot but behold the beaten track that leads to his Kingdom; how hainous ſhall declinings, and degenerations be in us▪
I will ſingle out but a few of their worthy examples: 1. Their love of Gods truth manifeſted, eſpecially, in theſe three particulars: Firſt, their fervent deſires to be hearers of it; as, whoſoever ſhall read the hiſtories of our Church, he cannot but acknowledg; as, 1 Sam. 3.1. The word of God was precious in thoſe daies, when there was no manifeſt viſion; how frequent was it with them, then, to ride many a skore miles to heare a Sermon, ſetting apart all worldly employments! But, alas! How are our people degenerated, in this kind! To whom when the Lord comes home, even in every of our particular Congregations, yet audience not vouchſafed.
Again, How dear was the word of God unto them, when, for it, and to maintain it, in purity, how many of them laid down their lives, and ſhed their bloud! Read the hiſtories of our Martyrs, ſet out for this end; and, you ſhall ſee how many, of all ſorts, and conditions, the Lord then crowned with Martyrdom, and with what conſtancy they embraced the extremeſt torments, for Chriſts ſake.
But behold, degenerate children! How do we flinch even at the leaſt verball perſecution, if it be but a ſcoff! and what they counted their glory, and that juſtly, we now count our ſhame; to be profeſſors of the Goſpell. Beſides, in education of Children, and in ſtraight charging of them, to maintain the truth, which they ſealed with their bloud, how forward were they? O we ſlow-backs, in this neceſſary duty!
Time would faile me to ſpeak of their temperance, the juſt condemnation of our gluttonous times; their peaceableneſs, condemning our jangling; their hoſpitality, condemning our nigardly living to our ſelves: Theſe things we can, oft, talk of; Lord! that we did make conſcience, to walk, and to tread in their ſteps; we wonder, as Solomon, Eccl. 7.10. Why it is, that former daies were better, than theſe; though we enquire not wiſely of theſe things, when our manners are ſo far worſe than theirs.
More particularly; I doubt not but many of us can ſay, and that truly, that God hath given us our own immediate Parents, Patterns of many excellent graces, Gravity, Piety, love of Religion, Bountifulneſs, &c. ſhall t not be our ſin, and ſhame, to degenerate, and diſgrace our families? What greater ſhame can there be, than for the Son to talk of his Fathers Religion, himſelf living as an Atheiſt? Of his Fathers bounty, himſelf a niggard? Of his Fathers zeale, himſelf a luke-warme Monſter?
Now, ſurely, as theſe ſins are odious in whomſoever; So moſt odious in thoſe, who have had ſo worthy Patterns, as examples, to go before them. To conclud this point, as Eſay, in another caſe, Cap. 51.2. Conſider Abraham your Father, and Sarah that bare you; Conſider every of us, and call to mind their commendable parts; Surely, of all things, the Lord moſt hates degenerating Children.
In the ſecond place, we may hence well obſerve; That the piety of the Parent ſhall not priviledge the degenerating Child from the wrath of God; Obſerv. but yet threatned as a judgment for ſwerving from their fathers footſteps: In Ezekiel, Cap. 18.20. The Lord purpoſely teacheh thus much: when the unthankfull Jews began to juſtifie themſelves, and condemn the Lord of injuſtice, for their affliction, as if they had ſmarted for their Fathers ſins, only; The Lord proteſteth, that the Son ſhall not dye for the Fathers ſin; nor, on the contrary, a degenerate Child ſhall not live, by his Fathers righteouſneſs, except he walk in his fathers ſteps: And, this that the Scripture affirmes, Hab. 2.4. The juſt ſhall live by his (own) faith.
Object. If any ſhall ſay, That the Lord hath ſomewhere proteſted; That, for Davids ſake, he would ſpare, as Solomon, Rehoboam, &c. 1 King. 11.12. Anſwer, It is true, that it pleaſeth the Lord, remembring the righteous dealing of Fore-fathers, ſometimes to beſtow outward mercies upon degenerating Children: But then, theſe are not to them, in the nature of bleſſings; ſuch an one may have wealth, but to his hurt, as Solomon ſpeaks: Riches reſerved to the hurt of the owners thereof. 2. Not the Child, but the Parent in them, crowned.
And, this ſhould teach us, not to truſt, Ʋſe or vainly to put confidence in the righteouſneſs, and obedience of our forefathers; as if we, for that, ſhould eſcape the Lords wrath: yet this, Beloved, is the conceit of many ungracious children, that love to be telling of their forefathers piety, and love, and zeal; and how many deſcents Religion hath continued in their families, what their Fathers ſuffered for the truth; &c. And this is, indeed, a Bleſſing if men know how aright to uſe it: Its a Bleſſing, when the Lord permits a man a Religious Parent, as above; but, ſhall we, therefore, thinke, that we are priviledged from Gods wrath, being degenerate? nay rather, not much more laid open to his fierce Indignation, becauſe of our declinings? was thy father Religious? Thou an Atheiſt? Heavy is thy Condemnation: Thy father frugall, Hoſpitable? &c. Thou a ſpend-thrift? Woe worth the time, that ever thou wert born of ſo righteous Parents, whoſe ſteps thou refuſeſt to follow, and walk in!
Object. Promiſe made to parents and ſeed. Anſw Rom. 9.8. To the ſeed that are ſuch, by Imitation, conditionally, ſo that they Imitate, and tread in their fathers Righteous ſteps; As well, as to the ſeed, who are ſuch only, by natural Deſcent.