NOTES.
(a) P. 153. — ' The Original, in the time present, reads " taking away;" ' And again —
(6) P. 157. — 'As it is in the Original, in the present number, "passing by iniquity.'" The Hebrew is J7^3~7^ ^^y, = passing by transgression. So Dr
Henderson, and all the early and recent Commentators. Q.
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOTE.
The Sermon from Malachi iv. 2, 3 is appended to the Exposition of Philippians ii. 12-30 . (See Vol. V. p. 2 ) The pagination is continuous from Philippians and there is the simple heading,
A
SEKMON VPON MALACHIE. G.
^
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
But unto you that fear my name shaU the Sun of righteousness arise viith healing in his wings ; and ye shall go' forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked ; for they shall he as the dust in that day. — Malachi IV. 2, 3.
In the former chapter we may read of a sort of wicked men, yet those not of the worst, that had in their corrupt observation noted that God did seem to approve of those that were notorious idolaters ; therefore they contested with him, ' What profit is there,' say they, ' that we have kept his ordi- nances ?' ver. 14 and 15. This God could not endure, and therefore, verse 8th and 13th, he reproves their boldness, telling them that they had robbed him, and had spoken stout and rebellious words against him, and from the laying open of their rebellious carriage, he proceeds to describe the carriage of some that were good, who spake often to one another ; whence we may observe by the way, that in the worst times some take God's jmrt. Some are notoriously wicked, carrying sin with a high hand, and some are more civil, yet irreligious, murmuring and complaining as if Christ were not king, and as if true religion were not to be cared for ; and these are as hateful to God as the other. For this complaining proceeds either of anger, because things are not suitable to their humours, or from a mur- muring at God's government, as if they were wiser to dispose of things than God ; and there are likewise some that recover themselves from such misapprehensions of God's dealings, and justify God : ' Just art thou, 0 Lord, and righteous ; and it is thy mercy we are not consumed,' Neh. ix. 33 ; and such look at those favours they have, though burdened with other calamities, and to these are these words spoken, ' But to you that fear my name,' &c.
In the former verse there is a terrible denunciation against the wicked, and therefore there is no ground that any should be offended at their prosperity. There is a day of vengeance, when they shall be burnt up, and there shall be left them neither root nor branch. This vengeance began to the Jews at the first coming of Christ, and was accomplished at the destruction of Jerusalem. They looked indeed for the Messiah, and the day of the Lord, but woe be to them, ' for it shall be a day of darkness,' Amos v. 8. The persons against whom this denunciation was threatened are said to be the proud men, such as sin against their own consciences, casting off God's
168 THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
rule and laws. When he bids them not to swear, they will ; when he com- mands them to attend the means of salvation, they will not, they will live by their own law. So as pride is an ingredient in every sin, as humility is in every virtue ; for humility gives God place above ourselves, and above our lusts. But to the present purpose ; those words are a gracious promise made to those that fear. lathe ivorst tunes God hath a iiinnber that do fear him ; for else it would follow, there should be an act without an object, that we should believe a church where none is, and that there should be war without enemies, that there should be God without glory. For what gloiy hath God from such as rebel and shake off all rule ? No ; it is the saints that praise God : Ps. cxiv. 10, * All thy works praise thee, and thy saints bless thee.' This should comfort us in that our posterity shall ever have some to stand for God in the worst times ; nay, in the worst places, where Satan's throne is. In the next place we may observe, that comfort belongs to such as are God's; for here it is pronounced to those * that fear.' The ground of which is in this, that Christ is given to them, and ministers should give ' such their portion,' and not grieve those that God grieves not ; for such as do not thus are carnal in their disposition, and do steal the word from the people. But to proceed: good men are described here by this, that ' they fear the name of God;' that is, they fear lest by their infirmities there bhould be a divorce between God's outward favours and them, and fear lest they should offend so good a God, and so they fear his name ; that is, fear him as he hath revealed himself ia his word ; for the devil will fear when God comes in his person. There- fore it is no thank for men to fear his presence ; nay, those that fear God most when God declares his presence in his judgments, as when the wicked are smitten with horror and trembling, as Belshazzar was at the hand- writing, they have the least true fear. And therefore to come to church at a set time with a composed carriage, and doing outward duties, is not enough to make a man such a one as fears God. Some solace themselves while they are in prosperity. Oh ! they will repent when judgments come. The devil will do as much, he will tremble. Can there be any comfort in this fear ? Can we think that a man who lives in all manner of notorious crimes till judgment overtake him, will heartily repent him of his faults, that he hath committed, out of love to God ? No. It is the fear of wrath and judgment that terrifies him. If this be repentance, the damned in hell have it. How then shall this fear be discerned where it is ? I answer. If we fear the name of God there will be a jealousy over ourselves, and a spec'ml jealousy of our inward corrupthms, so as we fearing the traitor within us, will not give ear to everything, nor give our eyes liberty to look on temptations, but eat with fear, and converse with fear ; for those that fear temptations are not secure, and fear not God.* Secondly, where this fear of [God] is, it frees us from base fears. "We will fear no man when we are in a good cause. ' The man that feareth God shall not be afraid of evil tidings,' for his heart is fixed upon God, Ps. cxii. 7, and fears no creature further than as having a beam of God's glory. He fears not death itself, though the king of fears. God he fears as his king, father, husband, and master, and considers of him accordingly to stir up in him an awful reverence of so great a majesty. There is indeed a covenant between God and him, but BO as it is with those that fear him.