Exposition of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi, Exposition of prophecy 3 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
IN this Chapter, 1. The Lord confirms yet further, the difference to be betwixt the godly and the wicked, by ſhewing the judgements to come on the wicked, v. 1. and mercies to the godly, v. 2. and their victory over their enemies, v. 3. 2. The Prophecie is cloſed with an admonition to adhere to the written Word, prophecie being now to ceaſe, v. 4. and to expect for, and mark the coming of the Meſſiah, which ſhould be knowen by the coming of John the Baptiſt, v. 5. the end and efficacy of whoſe doctrine is held forth, v. 6.
Verſe 1.
For behold, the day cometh that ſhall burne as an Oven, and the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly ſhall be ſtubble, and the day that cometh ſhall burne them up, ſaith the LORD of hoſtes, that it ſhall leave them neither root nor branch.
The particle for ſhewes that the Lord is confirming that aſſertion, chap. 1.18. of a viſible difference to be betwixt the godly and the wicked. And firſt, for the wicked he threatens that they ſhall be as eaſily and totally conſumed, as a fiery Oven burnes ſtubble. This was accompliſhed upon the body of the Jewiſh Nation, ſhortly after the firſt coming of Chriſt, when they were utterly ſcattered, their land waſted, and city burnt; and is alſo of verity in the particular judgement of every wicked man; and in the ſecond coming of Chriſt, when the whole Word hath its full and final accompliſhment. Doct. 1. Man by nature is a proud creature, and retaines a ſtamp of Adam, and the devils ſin, that would be as God; Humility is no native plant in fallen man: they are the proud whom God hath to do with. 2. A mans daring to hazard on wicked wayes, which the moſt high God hath prohibited, and guarded with ſad threatenings, is a clear evidence of pride, let him otherwiſe appear never ſo humble; the proud, and all that do wickedly, are conjoyned, as being the ſame, and the latter an evidence of the former, as chap. 3.15. See, Pſal. 119.21. 3. The ſtouteſt of creatures will prove but weak, when God reveals his juſtice, and deals with them in wrath; The proud, and all that do wickedly, ſhall be ſtubble to the fire, in the day of the Lord that cometh. 4. The pure wrath of the living God is a dreadful thing, leaving neither hope of out-gate, nor preſent mitigation, but violently conſumes all without recovery; The day ſhall burne us an Oven, (where the heat is cloſed in, and all that is put in it ſhut up from coming out,) and ſhall burn them up, and leave them neither root nor branch.
Ver. 2.
But unto you that feare my Name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſſe ariſe with healing in his wings, and ye ſhall go forth and grow up as Calves of the ſtall.
As for the godly, he promiſes to ſend Chriſt unto them, bringing illumination, righteouſneſſe, healing, protection, and encreaſe of grace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt. Doct. 1. An infallible character of the truly godly, is their reverence and holy feare, (preſumption being very contrary unto piety,) and that not only of Gods juſtice and terrible judgements, which the wicked may tremble at, but alſo of his Name, and whatſoever he reveals himſelf by, his Word being enough to make them tremble, Iſa 66.2. and his goodneſſe to make them feare, Hoſ. 3.5. ye that feare my Name, get the promiſe, 2. Chriſt is the ſubſtance of the godlies encouragement, as being unto his Church and children in a ſuper-excellent manner, what the Sun is to this inferiour world, in enlightening all their darkneſſe, illuminating all the inferiour lights that ſhine in any meaſure, making all hid things patent, rejoycing, warming, cheriſhing, and ripening all fruits; Unto you that feare my Name, ſhall the Sun ariſe. 3. Not only is every man by nature and without Chriſt, in a dark, diſconſolate condition till he come unto them; but his manifeſtation of himſelf under the Law, was far inferiour to that under the Goſpel, which is far more clear, glorious and comfortable, then the legal ſhadowes were: for, where Chriſt comes, the Sunariſeth after a dark night; and this eſpecially relates to his Incarnation, which is Sun-light in compariſon of the Old Teſtament, which had but, as it were, Moon-light. 4. That which makes Chriſt eſpecially comfortable to the godly is, that he brings glorious righteouſneſſe to them, whereby they who durſt not appear before God, and are vile and menſtruous; become glorious and beautiful in the eyes of the Lord; he is not only righteouſneſſe, but the Sun of righteouſneſſe, glorious righteouſneſſe unto them. 5. As theſe who get good of Chriſt, will have many ſores, and be made to feel the deadly wounds and diſeaſes which every one by nature hath: ſo Chriſt is the only Phyſician to cure ſuch ſores, and deliver his people from all ſickneſſe of ſin and miſery: He ariſes with healing. 6. Chriſts merit, and his love and providence is the ſweet ſhelter of ſinners, when purſued by their enemies; and theſe who would taſte of his healing vertue, are to lie near this Sun, and get in under his beams and rayes, which embrace and cheriſh the ſick till they be healed; He hath warme wings to hide us under, and this healing is under his wings. 7. As every man by nature is but a priſoner, and a ſlave to Satan and his own luſts: and lying under the power of a hard heart and ſpirit of bondage, and their ſouls are alſo waſted with leanneſſe, and feeding upon the husks: ſo Chriſt being fled unto, and enjoyed, and made uſe of, as the ſoules ſhepherd, brings ſpiritual libertie, and encreaſe of grace to make fat and flouriſhing, and of joy and gladneſſe in the Lord; Ye ſhall go forth and grow up as Calves of the ſtall; who being well fed and ſet at liberty, do skip for joy.
Verſe 3.
And ye ſhall tread down the wicked: for they ſhall be aſhes under the ſoles of your feete, in the day that I ſhall do this, ſaith the LORD of hoſtes.
To make this difference yet more conſpicuous, he not only threatens judgements againſt the wicked, and promiſes ſpiritual comforts to the godly, but promiſes to bring the wicked under the godlies feet, and to make them triumph ſolidly over all their enemies. Doct. 1. Whatever external excellencie be permitted to the wicked, yet they are, in compariſon of the godly, but vile and contemptible, and will in due time appear ſo; they are but aſhes to be tread upon by the godly. 2. Albeit the godly are oft-times lying under the feet of wicked enemies, yet not only are they even then Conquerours over all their enemies in Chriſt their Head, and by faith which keeps them from hurt, and brings them advantage from their troubles, and makes them boaſt in God over all of them, and ſometime get their hand over enemies even in this world, either by themſelves or by others: But in due time their victory ſhall be compleat and viſible, when they ſhall be ſet with Chriſt on his throne, and all the wicked made his and their footſtool; Ye ſhall tread down the wicked, for they ſhall be aſhes under the ſoles of your feet, in the day that I ſhall do this, ſaith the Lord of hoſtes.
Verſe 4.
Remember the Law of Moſes my ſervant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Iſrael, with the ſtatutes and judgements.
This Prophecie, (as alſo the reſt, he being the laſt) is cloſed with ſome directions to the Church, whereof the firſt is, that ſince there was no other extraordinary Prophet to ſucceed him, till Chriſt and his fore-runner ſhould come, and there being terrible ſchiſmes and commotions to enſue amongſt them, therefore they would have recourſe to the written Word, therein to ſeek eternal life, and inſtruction how to walk in Gods way, till they come to the actual poſſeſſion of ſalvation. Doct. 1. The written Word of God is to be cloſely adhered unto, as that which will direct our courſe in dark times, which ought to be the rule of our faith, worſhip and manners, which will ſupply the defect of extraordinary revelations, and to which all extraordinary revelations agree, and bear witneſſe, and will afford matter of comfort in ſaddeſt times, and for attaining theſe ends, the Church is to be much in the ſtudie thereof; upon theſe grounds is this charge given, Remember ye the Law of Moſes. 2. The doctrine revealed by God to Moſes, and by him to the Church, containes the ſubſtance of all that is neceſſary to ſalvation, and is the foundation of all the reſt of the Scriptures, which are as a Commentary and particular application of it: upon this ground it is that they are remitted to the Law of Moſes, not to ſeek juſtification by the works of the Law, nor yet only to be led by the Law to Chriſt, but as containing the ſumme of all the doctrine of the Prophets, which they would not neglect who made conſcience of Moſes law, as being Gods own Commentarie upon it, enjoyned as an appendicle to it. 3. That the Word may have place, and be entertained with due reverence and reſpect, we are ſeriouſly to conſider the authority of God enjoyning it, I commanded: our obligation to it, and our honour in enjoying it, I commanded for all Iſrael, and only Iſrael, ſecluding other Nations: the Majeſtie of God at any time appearing in or about that Word, how dreadful he was in publiſhing it at firſt, what of God hath appeared in refreſhments by, or judgements and mercies according to that Word, I commanded it him in Horeb with great glory: and what authority his ſervants have to inculcate that Word upon us, and how much their fidelity in duty will condemn our contempt, Remember the Law of Moſes my ſervant which I commanded him. 4. Such as make conſcience of ſubmitting to, and walking by the rule of Gods Word, will be far from allowing to themſelves or others, a liberty in ſome points of truth and practice, to believe or do as they pleaſe, providing they keep right in ſome chief and fundamental things, but will be tender of the whole Will of God, of leſſer and greater Commandments, they are enjoyned to remember the ceremonial ſtatutes and political judgements, as well as the moral Law, and in a word, his whole doctrine.
Verſ. 5.
Behold, I will ſend you Elijah the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
A ſecond direction is, earneſtly to expect Chriſts coming, and to prevent any miſtake about it, he premoniſhes them, that he would ſend John Baptiſt in the ſpirit and power of Elias, immediately before his coming. This is ſo clearly expounded in the New Teſtament, Luks 1.17. Mar. 11.14. and 17.11, 12. that it is high preſumption to contradict it. Doct. 1. Chriſts coming in the fleſh, and as a Prophet to his Church, is not only greatly to be reverenced by the godly, (as when Jacob had the viſion, Gen. 28.17.) but indeed terrible unto the wicked, and may be the occaſion of terrible judgements to corrupt viſible Churches, whoſe meaſure of ſin will be filled up by contempt of ſuch an offer: It is the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And ſo the Nation of the Jewes found it. 2. Chriſt is not eaſily diſcerned when he comes to his Church, as not appearing in ſuch a way as carnal men imagine, but may be miſtaken and rejected, or another taken for him, which becauſe it is the hinge whereupon our happineſſe turnes, that we have Chriſt indeed, and miſtake him not in his manifeſtations, nor embrace a deluſion in his ſtead, therefore we would ſtudie ſure and cleare light in this truth: Hence it is that the Lord ſo much guards this, by ſhewing the marks of the Meſſiahs coming, and the Evangeliſt Mark begins where Malachi leaves off, Mark 1.3. Miniſters who would preach repentance unto a people, and fit them for the Kingdom of Chriſt, ought to be men of Elijahs temper, for through zeal and integrity, for courage and fidelity, to reſiſt a declining generation, to contend with the greateſt decliners, and freely to reprove the ſins of the time; ſuch a one was Chriſts fore-runner, he was Elijah the Prophet, as coming in his Spirit and power, Luke 1.17.
Verſe 6.
And he ſhall turne the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, leſt I come and ſmite the earth with a curſe.
Johns doctrine is commended from the end of it, which is to convert the people to prevent the curſe; and from the efficacie of it, that by his preaching for reformation of the Church, he ſhall either be inſtrumental to convert both elder and younger, and make an harmonie in faith amongſt themſelves, and with the Patriarchs their Anceſtors, from whom they had ſo far degenerated, as that they might juſtly renounce them, Iſa. 63.16. and to beget mutual love amongſt them, as a ſure fruit of faith; or elſe they, being unfit to receive and embrace Chriſt, the whole Nation ſhould be ripened for the enſuing curſe, and withal, that his Miniſtery ſhould be bleſſed to convert ſome of all ranks, and bring them to unity in the truth and love, that the Nation be not totally rejected and deſtroyed, but a remnant ſaved. Doct. 1. As the Lord in mercy ſends his Miniſtery with the doctrine of repentance, to prevent ſadder meſſengers and meſſages: ſo a Miniſtery will either be effectual to convert, or ripen for ruine: It is the Lords laſt Word to his Church, that the lively Miniſtery of the Word, will either ruine the corruptions of men, or occaſion mens own ruine, on whom it hath no ſaving effect, as here we may ſee. 2. True Converſion, and the fruit of the Miniſtery of the Word, will ſhew it ſelf in making all ranks, (both the old that have lived long in a good conceit of themſelves, and the young who may ſeem not to have gone far aſtray,) ſee need of repentance and reformation, and making uſe of Chriſt, in diſcovering unto men how far they have degenerated from the rule, and from the piety of Anceſtors, of whom they are ready to glory in a carnal way; and will unite men in adhering to the truth of Religion, and in the bond of love: He ſhall turne the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, doth import all theſe. 3. The great love of Chriſt toward the world appears, in that no provocation would hinder him to come and perfect the work of Redemption, however his coming was occaſion of ruine to many; I come, is an abſolute promiſe made by Chriſt as God. 4. Such as embrace not the Word of God to fit them for Chriſt, nor will admit of the grace offered by Chriſt and his ſervants, are lying under the curſe, from which Chriſt alone can free men: and do provoke him to let that curſe break forth, to the utter ruine of Nations and viſible Churches; for, ſuch is the certification, if Johns Miniſtery had no place, and conſequently Chriſts, whoſe way he prepared, Leſt I come and ſmite the earth with a curſe. 5. As the Lord is alwayes effectual in ſome meaſure, by them whom he calls and ſends forth about his work: ſo faithful Miniſters, (however looked on as turners of the world up-ſide down) are as pillars to uphold a Nation, and according to the meaſure of their being fruitful among a people, ſhall the moderation of a judgement on a people be; for, John ſhall turne ſome, his zealous Miniſtery was a means, if it had been received, to prevent that curſe on Judea, which after followed: and his turning of ſome, as alſo Chriſts ſucceſſe, (whoſe way he prepared) and the Apoſtles, was a means of preſerving a remnant of that Nation from the curſe, as a ſeed and firſt fruit, till the encreaſe and lump of that Nation be ſaved and turned to the Lord; Even ſo come, LORD JESUS. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Hutcheson, Exposition of Haggai Zechariah and Malachi (1654)