Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 13
VER. 13.
And this have ye done again, concerning the altar of the Lord with teares, with weeping, and with crying out, in ſo much that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
FOllowes the amplification; this have ye done again: as if he had ſaid, not enough to have once done it, ye repeate it.
Iterating of ſins, Obſerv. hainous in the ſight of God; See Ezra 9. & 10. its hated by us, in our own very children, and ſervants: Therefore this mark, Gods Children have not been noted, to have fallen twiſe, in the ſame kinde, except in matters of ſmaller weight; I mean, after once brought to ſee their ſin, by affliction, or other meanes: few, or none examples of iteration, ſhall be found; of Abraham concealing the truth we read, that it was done twiſe; but, of great, and groſs ſins, we read it ſeldome: Indeed, of Lot, and Solomon, we read they fell oftner; but mark, their acts were, as it were, continued acts; and in the interim, little or no remorſe, or chaſtiſement; but, after once ſcourging, you ſhall not (I take it) finde, that they turned to their old ſins.
Now then, Ʋſe let us be admoniſhed to take heed of theſe ſins; or the Iterating of any ſin whatſoever: Its a grievous thing, to fall into the hands of God, and, by one ſin, to provoke him; but to fall again, that is diſcomfortable; once, drunkenneſs, or whoredome; &c. fearfull; but, once warned, to fall again, marvellous diſcomfortable: I do not exclude ſuch men, from hope of pardon; for, I know, the Lord is much in ſparing; and he that will have us to forgive ſeventy times ſeven, he (no doubt) hath mercy in ſtore, upon repentance renewed: But, repentance in ſuch caſes, hardly attained; and admonitions contemned cauſe, that the Lord withholds; and permits to wallowing many times.
And, therefore, Let this be mine admonition to all thoſe, that have been, in any one ſin, overtaken: Haſt thou ſinned? and hath the Lord had mercy on thee? Remember who ſaid, Joh. 5.14. ſin no more, leſt a worſe thing happen unto thee; the laſt errour worſe then the firſt, conſcience deeplyer wounded, Gods favourable Countenance more eſtranged: And, for this cauſe, we muſt be exhorted. 1. After ſuch falls, ſeriouſly, and heartily to repent, not to content our ſelves with ſuperficicall cures, but to have the wound ſearched to the bottome. As it fares in the body, ſo in the ſoul; a wound ſuperficially only cured, the rottenes ſtill remaining within breaks out again, and the cauſe is evident; ſo, in ſpirituall diſeaſes, ordinary; this the cauſe we ſee many fall again into the ſame ſins. 2. But, ſpecially, keep watch over that affection, or that occaſion, that was occaſion to betray us; ſurely, as the divell ceaſeth not, every where, to aſſault us; ſo eſpecially, he there gives the onſet, where he hath once prevailed, and there ſpecially hopes for ſucceſs; If thou haſt fallen, once, by luſt, look again to be aſſaulted there; and therefore, there-againſt ſpecially arme thy ſelf. 3. Labour eſpecially to ſhun all occaſions of that ſin, and come not neere any of thoſe meanes, that have entangled thee; if company, beware it: if idleneſs, beware it: the burnt child dreads the fire, let it be true of thee. 4. Labour eſpecially to forget the pleaſures of that ſin. 5. Be not behinde in any meaſure of humiliation, publique, or private.
Covering the altar of the Lord with teares, Obſerv. with weeping, and with crying out, &c.] The thing we may here obſerve is, how even the wicked are ſometimes grieved at the teſtimonies of Gods diſpleaſure, eſpecially in rejecting their ſervices from his acceptance: One ſpeciall inſtance we have, Gen. 4. How doth Cain go drooping, and hange the head? when he ſees the Lord give teſtimony of accepting his brothers, rejecting his own Sacrifice, verſ. 5. and Iſa. 5.8.3. The Hypocrites are brought in reaſoning the caſe with the Lord, why he ſhould not reſpect their faſting: And, Heb. 12.17. and Gen. 17. As lightly as Eſau eſteemed of that favour of God, in his primogeniture; yet when he ſees himſelf deprived of the bleſſing; how weepes he, and howls to think of it?
This one Reaſon of it, there ſeems to me to be; namely, becauſe there is not the wickdeſt man that lives, but knows, and thinks this, that the top of bleſſedneſs conſiſts in Gods favour, and the teſtimonies thereof: Balaam, as vile a wretch as he was, he could wiſh to dye the death of the righteous, when he had ſeen the bleſſednes that God had provided to beſtow upon his Church, Num. 23.10. And, I am perſwaded, howſoever we have many at this day, that like Atheiſts mock at the counſell of the poor, becauſe he makes God his hope, Pſal. 14.6. Yet, he wiſheth from his heart, he were as many of them be; ſo well acquainted with Gods will, ſo ſenſibly favoured of the Lord, and ſo highly aſſured of his love: All the world for a good conſcience, in extremity.
Now, hence it follows, that (every) grief for the loſs of Gods favour, is no token of a childe of God; becauſe, Ʋſe even wicked men may have it; a very caſt-away may bewaile the loſs of Gods favour, as Eſau did; he may be diſcontented at the Lords teſtifying his diſpleaſure, as Cain; and therefore, let no man thus conclude; It grieves me to think, that the Lord favours me not, therefore, I am a Child of God.
And yet, its true, there is a kinde of grieving for the teſtimonies of Gods dis-favour, that is a true note of a Child of God; and therefore, let us examine it.
Signes of that grieving for the lack of Gods favour, that is a note of a childe of God, are. 1. A Childe of God, that is indeed ſorrowfull for the loſs of Gods favour; he is never at quiet, till he have recovered the ſenſible tokens of it; as, Pſal. 32. When David had offended the Lord by thoſe his fearfull ſins, ſee how he profeſſeth of himſelf, that he found no quiet in himſelf, till he had recovered it; conferr Iob 33. Sleep, and all things, are unpleaſant to him: with a wicked man, its not ſo ordinary; though, perhaps, it may diſquiet him ſome time, yet the ſtorme is ſoon blown over; and, you ſhall ſee, ſuch is the like eſteeme of it, that, as they ſpeak, it ſhall never break their ſleep; they will never eate, or drink leſs, &c. By this try thy ſelf. 2. Confeſſion of ſins, as the cauſe of it, Pſal. 32.5. And, they will be the firſt, who will accuſe themſelves, and acknowledg, that its juſt with God, thus to plague them; with a wicked man, not ſo. 3. A deſire to remove all things, that may offend, and continue the Lords diſpleaſure; as Ioſh. 7. When it pleaſeth the Lord, to manifeſt his diſpleaſure againſt Iſrael, for their ſin, and the Lord hath made known the cauſe of it; Ioſhua preſently goes about the removall: Thus is it, with all Gods Children, and nothing ſo dear, but they part with, to recover his love: Not ſo, with a wicked man: gladly, would he have Gods favour; but doth nothing to procure it; if they may have his favour, together with the pleaſures, and profits of their ſins, they are contented; if otherwiſe, rather then loſe their pleaſures, farewell Gods favour. 4. Inſtant prayer, and that, without ceaſing. as in David, &c. Not ſo with a wicked man; hypocrites in heart encreaſeth the wrath, for they call not, when the Lord binds them, Iob 36.13. 5. Bitter complaint, under that ſad condition, as, Pſal. 42. & 84. and Pſal. 74.9.10. Bewailing alſo, and bemoaning themſelves to every one, that they think may do them eaſe. 6. The means to recover it, by diligence in Gods ſervice, are never ſlacked, but rather encreaſed by it: In thoſe times, above all, moſt diligent to ſeek God, Hoſ. 5.15. With a wicked man, not ſo; but, preſently, ſlacks he his devotion; as thoſe wretches, Mal. 3.14. Cry preſently, its in vain to ſerve God, and what profit is it? &c. 7. A Child of God reſolves, even in the middeſt of feeling Gods diſpleaſure, ſtill to continue his ſervice, what ever becomes of him; Iob 13.15, 16. Though he kill me, I will truſt in him, and never forſake him, he ſhall be my ſalvation: With an Hypocrite, and wicked man, its not ſo; if the Lord be not, preſently, mercifull again, and at their beck; preſently, they renounce him; as, 1 Sam. 28.6.7. When the Lord anſwered not Saul, by dreames, &c. preſently, he flies off to a witch: And, would God, this were not too evident amongſt our people! So long as any thing can be gained by Religion, and the current of the times ru… that way, who but they? But, if the Lord juſtly be diſpleaſed, for hypocriſie, ſo that, they feel him not ſo gracious, as in times paſt; or perceive, that he anſwers not preſently to their call, they then forſake, and renounce him. 8. A wicked mans at the loſs of Gods favour, it works envy, and hatred againſt thoſe, to whom the Lord ſhewes moſt tokens of his love; as Gen. 4. compared with 1 Ioh. 3.12. ſo, in Saul, 1 Sam. 18.6, 7, 12, 28, 29. With a childe of God, its not ſo: That love of a childe of God, is a permanent grace, 1 Ioh. 3.14. And, though they could wiſh to themſelves, the happineſs of other of Gods children; yet envy they not thereat, but ever magnifie the grace of God to them ſhewen.
Ʋſe. 2 Is this ſo? Is this a thing that even wicked men grieve at? That the Lord rejects their ſervices? Then learn thou, for ever to acknowledg Gods favour to thee in this, when he ſhall give thee teſtimonies, and evidences thereof: And, beloved, this grace of prizing aright the favour of God, and the tokens thereof, is an excellent grace; and the lack of it cauſeth ſo much miſery to the dear children of God. Doth God hear thy prayers? Rejoyce in it, as in the greateſt happineſs in the world; doth he bleſs thy hearing? and, art thou bettered in knowledg, and obedience? Bleſs God for it; and forget not this loving kindneſs of the Lord unto thy ſoul.
And, for this end, gather as many teſtimonies of them, as poſſibly thou canſt.
What are the ſigns of it?
Falſe ſigns, outward proſperity, with the common appendices thereof; but againſt this, ſee Eccleſ. 91. becauſe they come not into misfortune, as others; therefore, they applaud themſelves in their evil.
Notes of Gods reſpecting our ſervices, are, 1. Extraordinary; ſuch was that ſame ſending down of fire from heaven, 1 King. 18. and, 2 Chron 7.1. but thus, the Lord deals not, at this day. Yet, its true, there are certain ſenſible tokens of Gods accepting us, and our ſervices, at this day; which Gods children may take and eſteem, as pledges of his love. 1. Succeſs in all things that thou putteſt thine hand unto: but here, leſt I be miſtaken, underſtand by ſucceſs, not that which the world ſo eſteems, a flouriſhing, and proſperous eſtate; but this call thou ſucceſs, when all things work to thy good, Rom. 8.28. To thy true good, furthering thee, in the ſalvation of thy ſoul; or when outward proſperity makes the full of good works; and, fearfull is the eſtate of thoſe, to whom theſe things work evill; when proſperity puffs up the heart; or, when afflictions amend not, when hearing betters not, &c. Fear then, leſt the Lord be angry with thee. 2. When the Lord ſhall bleſs thee, in ſpirituall things, in Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 1.3. That is, when thou ſhalt feel this fruit of the ſervice of God; that, thereby the graces of God be obtained, and encreaſed; that a token; that God accepts thy ſervice. 3. Thou ſhalt perceive it, by that inward teſtimony, and certificate, that Gods Spirit gives to thee, in thy conſcience: God deals not, now, with us, as he did with Cornelius; Act. 10.3. To ſend an Angell from Heaven to tell us, that our prayers, and almes-deeds are accepted with God: but this he doth, he ſends his Spirit into our hearts, that aſſures us, by the word of God, that our courſes pleaſe him; theſe if thou feel, bleſs God for them; and, thus think, they are ſuch, as even wicked men, ſometimes, would redeem with the loſs of all that they enjoy.
Ʋſe. 3 Is this ſo? Then mark what a miſerable caſe ſuch men live in, as when the Lord gives many teſtimonies, that he rejects both them, and their ſervices, yet are no whit moved therewith: Surely, they come not ſo neer Heaven, as Cain, and Eſau; for, they grieved at this, which theſe wretches never do. As, how many are there, that can ſay, and ſaying, deride all Religion, that they could never perceive themſelves to be any whit better for their prayers, &c. What, nothing the better? And, findeſt thou no feeling of Gods love therein? Wretched man that thou art! what comfort, then, canſt thou have in thy wealth, pleaſure, honour? &c.
Yea, if thou had'ſt all the world, what could it comfort thee? But, how much more miſerable their condition, that are the worſe for it? For example, when God, gives wealth, they are the worſe; when he ſends afflictions, they are the more heardened: when he gives preaching, and they are the more blinded, as Iſa. 6.10. What a wretched caſe live ſuch men in? except they ſhould go down, Obſerv. preſently, to hell, they could not be more miſerable.
Inſomuch, that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will, at your hand] Hence note we, that during ſtate of impenitency, no ſacrifice, or ſervice, is accepted with God, though performed with never ſo great devotion: See Iſa. 1.12. Sabbaths, and new-moons commanded, yet, in theſe people during impenitency, moſt odious, and abominable; See alſo Prov. 15.8.
Impenitency is of two ſorts. 1. Generall 2. Particular: Generall impenitency is, when a man lives in a continuall courſe of ſinning, without any converſion at all unto God; as, before calling, and turning, by the Spirit of God: Particular is that, which, after the firſt converſion, Gods children fall into; as, they ſometimes go aſtray, ſo, for a time, perhaps, they lye unhumbled in their ſins; as David, 2 Sam. 12. till Nathan comes to him. Will you hear Reaſons of it? One is, that extream hatred the Lord holds all ſins in, eſpecially, when they are thus lived in, Hab. 1.13. Its true, that the Lord bears many ſins, in his people, ſo long as they are bewailed, and ſtriven againſt ſparing us, even as a father ſpares his own ſon that ſerveth him. And, though there be, in the deareſt children of God, abundance of iniquity, and corruption; yet whileſt they are ſtriven againſt, the Lord ſees them not, that is, he takes no notice of them, Num. 23.21. He ſeeth none iniquity in Iacob, nor tranſgreſsion in Iſrael, But, when a man lives in his ſins, (without repentance,) theſe ſins, even the leaſt of them, are moſt deteſtable unto him.
A ſecond reaſon of it is, becauſe no obedience can be performed by ſuch a man, in ſingleneſs of heart; and, he doth but dally with the Lord, and even mock him, who comes before him with ſuch ſervices; Iſai. 29.13. This people, ſaith the Lord, draweth neer me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; Singleneſs of heart is that the Lord accepts.
A third Reaſon; becauſe ſuch performe not the conditions of acceptation; neither doth Chriſt, (during that ſtate) mediate for ſuch: Its one main condition the Lord requires in all that come neer him; that they be holy, even as he is holy, at leaſt in affection, &c.
Ʋſe. 1 This then ſhewes us the cauſe, why the Lord walks ſo ſtubbornly againſt us, notwithſtanding, we ſeemed daily to ſeek him, as Levit. 26.21. and, as he ſpeaks, Ioſh. 7. When Ioſhuah complains unto God, for his wrath upon Iſrael; what ſhall I ſay, when Iſrael turns his back upon their adverſaries? Its becauſe of ſome deteſtable ſin amongſt us.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, let it teach us all, with ſpeed, and ſingleneſs of heart, to turn to our God, that our ſervices may finde acceptance with him; upon this ground, the prophet Iſaiah chap. 1 18. Exhorts us; comfortably inviting us, then, though ſins be as skarlet, yet ſhall they be as white as wooll; as on the other ſide, though ſervices never ſo glittering, and glorious; prayers never ſo many, and fervent, all is to no purpoſe; If I regard wickedneſs in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, Pſal. 66.18. Yea, and let Gods children make uſe of it, in this kinde, for the comfort, and aſſurance of acceptance of their ſervices, before the Lord.
Ʋſe. 3 Thirdly, ſee here the miſerable eſtate of men living impenitently in their ſins; they glory, perhaps in this, that they ſerve God earely, as thoſe hypocrites, Iſa. 58. But alas! vain men, all they do, is unclean unto them; God heareth not ſinners, Ioh. 9.31. No drunkard, uſurer &c. Impenitently ſuch: and here, by the way, I might take notice, how many deceive themſelves, with an opinion of repentance; ſome think the buyers ſpeech, in Solomon, is repentance, It is naught, It is naught; and, would I could leave it! fondly; for, what is it, verbally, to dislike ſin, and affectionately to practiſe it?
Some cry God mercy, as fondly; ſome mourning for ſin, ſome confeſſing of ſins, ſome forbearing the outward practice, when their hearts run after their covetouſneſs; ſome leaving off ſome ſins living in others; contra, Ezek 18, 28. Conſider ſin, and turn from it.