Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 3 · Exposition of verse 13-15
VER. 13, 14, 15.
Your words have been ſtout againſt me, ſaith the Lord: yet yee ſay, what have we ſpoken ſo much againſt thee? Yee have ſaid, it is vain to ſerve God, &c,
THe crime laid to their charge, ſtout words againſt God: In them conſider the blaſphemies themſelves. 1. Vain to ſerve God. 2. Proud bleſſed. Arguments, whereby they prove it. 1, From their own experience, what profit have we had? The interrogation denies; that is, none at all. 2. From the preſent proſperity of the wicked; they are exalted, and delivered.
Mark here, how one ſin draws in another, Obſerv. till man come to extremity of profaneſs; even to blaſphemy of the name of God, and to utter renouncing of his ſervice. This might be inſtanced, in ſundry particulars: Judas harboured covetouſneſs; what villany brought that him unto? even to betray innocent blood.
The reaſon whereof is this; Gods judgment upon them; giving them up to hardneſs of heart, Rom. 1.28. Which alſo we ſee verifyed, in common experience.
Let it admoniſh us, to take heed how we harbour any one ſin in our hearts, Ʋſe. yea even the leaſt impenitency: Sins are linked together in a chain; no one enters but, it draws its fellows after it, and enclines to the greateſt enormities: Yet, its ſtrange to ſee how many throw off this admonition, as needleſs, in reſpect of groſs ſins; as Hazael, 2 King. 8.12, 13. When Eliſha tells him, with what cruelty he ſhould uſe the people of God; what, is thy ſervant a dogg, that I ſhould do this thing? ſo, many of us: But, conſider we. 1. How ſtrongly we are enclined to every ſin, by nature; not blaſphemy, not murther, not Atheiſme excepted: that any of us are not as vile, as the vileſt Atheiſt, it proceeds from Gods grace reſtraining us. 2. That we have no other bridle, but the grace of God, Gen. 20.6. I kept thee: and, longer then this Divine bridle curbs us, no hope of ſtay; man, ſaith Job, is, in his nature, born as the wilde aſſes colt in the wilderneſs; he drinks iniquity like water; when that bridle is gone, whither run we not? even to thoſe ſins, that nature teacheth, to be abominable. 3. Conſider, into whoſe power we come, when the Lord gives us over, even to the power of Sathan, Eph. 2.2, 3. that works in the children of diſobedience; he muſt needs go, we ſay in the proverb, whom the divell drives. 4. How ſins themſelves fret like cankers, 2 Tim. 2.17. and encreaſe ſtill to more ungodlineſe; evill men, and deceivers, grow worſe and worſe, 2 Tim. 3.13.
Pray we, therefore, to God continually, to put his fear into our hearts, that we may never depart away from him, Ier. 32.40. And, if any of us have fallen, make haſte to riſe, not by coloured, but by hearty repentance. Adultery drew David to murther; if David, what ſtay have we of our ſelves?
Let us next conſider the words themſelves; its vain to ſerve God] See the like profane ſpeech of Atheiſts, Iob. 21.15. Nor may we much marvail at this, in profane men; for, its that, that hath aſſaulted the dear ſervants of God; David confeſſeth ſo much of himſelf, Pſal. 73.13, 14.
What are the meanes, whereby the devill inſinuates this thought into our hearts? 1. It is the preſent afflicted State of Gods children, betwixt whom, and wicked men, we can ſee no difference, in externall things; nay rather, we ſee affliction the portion of Gods children; outward proſperity granted to the ungodly. 2. Another cauſe is, that we walk by ſence, and not (as we ought) by faith, 2 Cor. 5.7. And becauſe, we ſenſibly feel not Gods love, therefore think, he is not gracious unto us, nor regards us; and, how many times, upon this ground, look we back to Egypt? 3. Too much admiring the things of this life: The gariſhneſs of honour, and wealth, and pleaſures, it ſo dazels our eyes that we think them the only happy men, that enjoy them; our ſelves miſerable for nothing elſe, but for that we want them.
Let us then ſee a little, what profit there is in religion, Ʋſe. and the ſervice of God heartily performed 1 2. How we may arme our ſelves, againſt this temptation.
See we, then, the benefit of the ſervice of God: this is of two ſorts: 1. The one ſeen and felt, in this life. 2. The other, in another life, 1 Tim. 4.8. The benefits of this life are, either outward, or inward: Outward ſo free, and warrantable uſe of all the creatures of God, 1 Cor. 3.21. And, what a benefit is this? We uſe to ſay of our own; though but little, yet, its mine own, and I may comfortably enjoy it; not ſo the caſe of wicked men. 2. A ſecond benefit, is, protection in common calamities, See Pſal. 37. & 91. And, howſoever it pleaſe God to chaſtiſe particular diſobedience, to take them away, ſometimes, with others; yet then failes he not of his promiſe, but turns into better. 3. A third benefit is peace, Gal. 6.16. And that. 1. With God, Rom. 5.1. Thus they may aſſure themſelves, in all hatred of men; yet, God loves them, and is favourable unto them. 2. Peace with themſelves, in their own conſcience; that, whereas the wicked and ungodly, are alwaies, as the raging ſea, Iſai. 57, ult. and no peace unto them; Gods children have peace in their conſcience. 3. Peace with all creatures, in Heaven, and Earth; the very Angels wait on them, Heb. 1. ult. Devils themſelves cannot hurt them. 4. Add unto theſe that which, indeed, is the true riches, Iam. 2.5. & Luk. 12. Plenty of knowledg; contentment in all States, 1 Tim. 6, 8.
Now, beloved, if a man ſhould conſider theſe unſpeakable joyes, that God hath provided for his children; who can ſay, that it is in vain to ſerve the Lord▪ Is it nothing, that a man hath right to all creatures? Nothing, to be preſerved in common calamities? Nothing▪ to have Gods favour, peace of conſcience, which wicked themſelves would, ſometimes, redeem with all the world? Nothing, that God hath called us to a lively hope, to an inheritance immortal? 1 Pet. 14. Let them ſo ſpeak, that have no taſte of theſe things; Gods children are otherwiſe minded.
Now ſee among our ſelves, againſt theſe temptations; as 1. afflictions.
Anſw. Mark firſt, their benefit preſent; how do they, being ſanctified purge, and ſubdue corruption! 2. They give us plentiful experience of Gods favour, Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 12. 3. That incomparable crown of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17. See Moſes, Heb. 11.25.
Ob. This we alwayes ſee not.
Anſw. Walk by faith, not by feeling. God ſometimes ſeems to hide himſelf from us, (ſee Iob 13.) and that for our good; for, hereby he magnifies faith, and returns to us with new favours.
2. Glory of riches.
Anſw. See but their vanity; how little avail they, in the day of Gods wrath! Prov. 11.2. and, withal, conſider, how to the wicked, they become occaſions of many foul ſins, and ſo of heavier condemnation; bringing with them alſo, in the mean time, much diſquietneſs; riches being often reſerved for the hurt of the owners.
3. We have deſerved better.
Anſw. Conſider what we have deſerved, indeed, and we ſhall ſee; it's not the leaſt mercy, but the heavieſt wrath▪ And, even in the beſt ſervice, there is ſome imperfection, &c. And thus may we armour ſelves, againſt this temptation.
What profit] Mark here the nature of a carnal man; Obſerv. he meaſures religion, by his belly; and profit is the line, that he walks by; and that is the beſt religion with them, that brings greateſt advantage in the things of this life: See Iob. 21.15. Ier. 44.17, 18. 1 Tim. 6.5. The reaſon whereof, is, nothing, but earthly mindedneſs, Phil. 3.19. Their belly is their God, they minde earthly things.
Let me apply it to the times: Ʋſe. And let us but hear the common cenſure, that worldlings paſs of religion: Look, ſay they, and ſee what kinde of men they are, that are the forwardeſt in religion; poor raskal people, beggars, in compariſon; right, as the Phariſees, Ioh. 7.48. Now, brethren, though that be not generally true; for, it pleaſeth God to ſhew his power; and, though not many rich, and mighty, 1 Cor. 1.26. Yet ſome; and, ſee how rich theſe others are in faith, Iam. 2.5.
And here, let us a little ſee, why it pleaſeth the Lord to keep his children ſo low, in this life. Reaſons are. 1. To mortifie, and abate their ſins: Thou bleſſeſt thy ſelf, in the multitude of thy riches; Oh, how bleſſed were it for thee, if thou hadſt leſs wealth, and more grace! And, what happineſs ſhould the Lord do thee, if he would deprive thee of that abundance, that ſteals away thine heart from God! 2. To juſtifie their ſincerity, that it may be ſeen, they ſerve not God, for commodity, Iob 1.9. 3. To teach them, and us all, that the hope of a Chriſtian, is not in this life, 1 Cor. 15.19. 4. To magnifie the power of his grace▪ in their weakneſs, and infirmity.
Secondly, how many are there, that even for this, refuſe to embrace religion, becauſe, they ſee, religion allows them not their benefits. They could be content to be religious, as the young man, in the Goſpel; but, they love not the conditions, ſuch ſtrictneſs; that a penny muſt not be gotten, but with good conſcience. Now mark, my brethren, Mar. 10.30. that Chriſt hath promiſed all that may be expedient; and wouldeſt thou have wealth that ſhould hinder thy ſalvation? 2. Conſider, that if thou loſe all, yet God gives contentment; and that is a benefit, which no worldling can attain. If thou ſee but the carking and toyl, that ſuch earth-worms are put unto, me-thinks, thou ſhouldſt never envy them their plenty, with ſuch conditions. 3. Obſerve what a company of noyſome luſts they pierce themſelves through withal. 4. With the Lord are durable riches, Prov. 8.18.
Laſtly, ſuch alſo as for the exchange of things in theſe dayes of the Goſpel, run back, in their affections, to Popery. As the Iſraelites, when they came to the wilderneſs, and were but a little pinch'd with hunger, cry out; it had been better for them, to have ſitten by the fleſhpots, and garlicke, and onyons of Egypt. And, how many ſuch, that wiſh for Popery, for no other end, then that they might again enjoy the old plenty, and happineſs of all things.
And now, we call the proud happy] That is, they thought thoſe that walked in the ſtubbornneſs of their hearts, againſt God, more happy, than they. Reaſon, becauſe they were delivered, and freed from afflictions. Shall I need to ſay, This is the ſtate and opinion of our people. How do they applaud the ſtate of ungodly men, in reſpect of their outward proſperity? And, how happy think they ſuch, as abound with things of this life, though wholly deſtitute of the graces of Gods Spirit? yet look but upon ſuch a profeſſour, you ſhall ſee him leſs friended, leſs honoured, and living at leſs hearts eaſe, Now, that we fall not into this blaſphemy; let us ſee, a little, the reaſon, why it pleaſeth God, thus to deal with ungodly men? And, ye ſhall finde, he doth it, for this end.
Firſt, to fat them againſt the day of ſlaughter, as we are wont to put our cattel deſtin'd to the ſlaughter, into the fatteſt, and faireſt paſtures, Prov. 1.32. Eaſe ſlayeth the fooliſh; ſee alſo, Pſal. 37. and 73.
Secondly, to teach his own children, not too much to admire the things of this life, which they ſee the very wicked themſelves may be, and are partakers of: Who would dote upon thoſe things, which when a man hath, make him, never a whit, the more happy; yea, perhaps, further, through abuſe, his condemnation?
Thirdly, to aggravate their judgment, when as by ſo many bleſſings of God, they have been allured to obedience; and have had ſo plentiful means of doing good, and yet have done none.
Fourthly, therefore doth the Lord put ſuch power into their hands, that he may, by them, exerciſe, and chaſten the diſobedience of his children, Iſa. 10.5. They are Gods hangmen, and executioners.
Now, for the ſecond part, that, in all theſe things, they are not happy, what need I ſtand long to prove? Preſuppoſing ſuppoſing them to be ſuch, as are here deſcribed.
Firſt of all, it is an argument, that the Lord hath utterly rejected them from his love; for a man to proſper, and to be delivered, continuing his ſin, Hoſh. 4.14. Among many curſes, this is one of the moſt grievous, when the Lord gives a ſinner proſperity in his ſin; this hardens the heart, and makes them pleaſe themſelves in their wickedneſs: Therefore, ſee the contrary promiſed unto Gods children, Pſal. 89.31, 22. Therefore, ſaith David, bleſſed is the man, whom thou chaſteneſt alwaies, and teacheſt in thy way, Pſal. 94.12. & 1 Cor. 11.32. We are chaſtened of the Lord, that we might not be condemned with the world; and, a thouſand times better is this ſtate, then his, whoſe ſins the Lord-winks at, without chaſtiſement: And therefore, envy them not in this, whileſt their hearts are fleſhed in their ſins, 2. Conſider what Iob hath; the rejoycing of the hypocrite is but ſhort, & Iob 21. 3. The feares, wherewith they are perplexed, Dan. 5. 4. Have no aſſurance of pardon of ſins; wherein, notwithſtanding, bleſſedneſs, indeed, conſiſteth, Pſal. 32.1. 5. Have their portion in this life, and only here, Mat. 6.5.
Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered] Let us, a little, ſee, what it is: It is, generally, to make needleſs experiment of the truth, power, mercy, juſtice of God.
Some try his clemency; ſome, his patience, Pſal. 78. Some, his juſtice, by preſumptuous ſins; ſome, his power, in needleſs dangers; ſome, his wiſdome, whether God will aſſiſt, on the ſudden: Each of theſe a ſtep to, or a degree of this ſin. And, in ſome, in this place, its nothing elſe; but, when a man preſumptuouſly ſins, as it were daring the Lord to take vengeance; See Num. 15. The law of God, and execution of it.
Even they are delivered] Men of extreameſt impiety are, Obſerv. ſometimes, proſpered; See Pſal. 37. & 73. Ier. 12.1. &c.
But, Ʋſe. marvell not a this, nor be diſcouraged, when thou ſeeſt it: It hath, indeed, for lack of due conſideration of the reaſons thereof, much diſquieted Gods Children. But yet, ſecondly, let none bleſs himſelf in this courſes, for that he hath outward proſperity; very godleſs men, ſometimes, partake it.