THE two firſt chapters of this prophecy contain a reproof of the ingratitude of the children of Iſrael, and the contempt which they caſt upon God in their ſacrifices. The aggravation of their ſin aroſe from the peculiar favour and goodneſs of heaven to their nation, in placing them above the reſt of mankind, by the enjoyment of ſpecial privileges.

The prieſthood incurred reproach by a baſe perverſion of their office and the introduction of manifold corruptions into divine worſhip.

Their violation of the covenant of Levi, provoked God to render them contemptible before all the people: They were impoveriſhed and became deſpicable among their brethren, by the neglect of the tribes in withholding their tithes and offerings. From cenſuring the Levites the Prophet proceeds to reprove the other inhabitants of Jeruſalem for their intermarriages with ſtrangers, and for violating the covenant with their lawful wives: hereby they were ſeduced into idolatry and all the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had caſt out before the face of their fathers.

The Jews wearied God with their impatience and murmuring complaints.

They looked carefully for the promiſed Meſſiah, a Prince to ariſe up in the family of David to be their deliverer out of all their afflictions, and to exalt them high above the nations. They impeached the divine goodneſs for delaying this diſtinguiſhing benefit to them, and ſaid, 'Where is the God of Judgment'. Or wherefore doth not the juſt God fulfil his promiſes, and ſend us deliverance? Hereby they diſcovered their diſtruſt of the divine faithfulneſs; and they wearied God with their infidelity and ſuſpicious jealouſy of his power and goodneſs. But inſtead of chaſtizing them, as their impatient murmurings had merited, God ſent his Prophet with a new and merciful prediction of Chriſt's coming, and the ſigns and manner thereof. This prophecy begins with our Text. In treating of which I ſhall attempt

I. A brief explanation of the ſeveral diſtinct parts thereof—And then,

II. Dwell upon ſome general truths contained therein, with more particular attention. And,

I. Let us attend to a brief explanation of the ſeveral diſtinct parts of the text.

The Prophet uſhers in his gracious prediction with the word, "Behold", thereby challenging the attention of his countrymen to ſomething worthy their higheſt notice and regard. "I will ſend" I the Lord Jeſus, who am the author of this promiſe, by the mouth of my Prophet, "will ſend". Chriſt is the ſource of all benefits to the church. "My meſſenger." Chriſt's meſſenger or the forerunner who proclaimed his approach, was John the Baptiſt. "And he ſhall prepare the way before me". This did the Baptiſt, by preaching repentance unto Iſrael for the remiſſion of ſins. He enjoined renunciation of all their iniquities as a neceſſary preparation for the reception of the Meſſiah, upon his public manifeſtation to the world. He preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.—"And the Lord, whom ye ſeek, ſhall ſuddenly come to his temple". In about ſix months after the Baptiſt's preaching, Chriſt was made manifeſt, and anointed publickly by the Holy Ghoſt, to his work. In the days of our Prophet the people lamented the inferiority of the ſecond temple to that which was builded by Solomon; yet he lets them know for their conſolation, that it ſhould become illuſtrious, by the perſonal appearance of our Lord therein; agreable to the words of the Prophet Haggai. "And I will ſhake all nations, and the deſire of all nations ſhall come: and I will fill this houſe with glory, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. The glory of this latter houſe ſhall be greater than the former, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts"Hag. chap. 2. ver. 7, • . The temple of Chriſt extends not only to the temple at Jeruſalem, but likewiſe to the goſpel church, which is frequently ſtiled, "His temple", and, "the temple of the living God". Chriſt will always protect his church; he will not long abſent himſelf therefrom. Altho' for their declenſion he may viſibly hide his face and withdraw ſome of his ſpecial favours for a ſeaſon, yet he will not long delay his coming: He will never leave nor forſake them; he will return upon the wings of his love: He will not tarry, but come "ſuddenly", "even the meſſenger of the covenant▪ whom ye delight in." Chriſt is the great Prophet of his people and the head of the covenant of Grace; and he will not be negligent in bearing meſſages of peace to the church. He will be faithful and active in his work. The expreſſions, "whom ye ſeek, and whom ye delight in," evidence, that at all times there are ſome who are in a meaſure faithful to the Saviour, who rejoice in his preſence, and earneſtly look for his return and abode in his church or temple.—"Behold he ſhall come, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts". The promiſe is repeated with the moſt ſolemn aſſurances to ſtrengthen our confidence therein. The Father hath promiſed by his great Name, that Chriſt ſhall return to his people. That ſo they might have a ſtrong conſolation, ſince it is impoſſible for God to lie.

"But, who may abide the day of his coming?" However we are aſſured; that the meſſenger of the covenant will come; yet it will frequently be with his terrible Majeſty; in the way of ſevere Judgments: He will chaſtiſe his heritage for their apoſtacies; and ſend the moſt fearful calamities upon the wicked, who deſire not the Saviour's appearance. "God will ſhake nations, when the deſire of all nations ſhall come." The hearts of many may fail them: Many may fall away in the tribulation of thoſe days: The cauſe may at times appear deſperate, and there may be an almoſt total defection; ſome may be brought to death in the terrible conflict: "For there ſhall be diſtreſs of nations; the waves and ſea roring." The Lord ſhall break forth in his glory, from a dark and pitchy Cloud.—"And who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth?" Who ſhall perſevere in the midſt of theſe diſtreſſes? Who ſhall maintain their integrity? who be found faithful to the end? The Prophet's words intimate, that very few would ſtand the trial. "For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's ſoap." Fire is for the purification of metals. Silver and Gold are caſt thereinto to burn up the droſs. The fuller's ſoap is uſed to take out the ſpots in cloaths and garments. Gold is caſt into the furnace, into the extremity of heat, before the alloy, the reprobate metals are conſumed; when it returns, it comes forth pure gold. And likewiſe cloaths go through a ſevere purification before all the blemiſhes are waſhed away. Chriſt is like this fire and ſoap; he raiſes the fire of affliction and perſecution to purge away the ſins of his people. Many are waſhed away in the filth: Many are conſumed with the droſs. God's children are ſeverely tried: Many of their darling ſins are burnt up. He conſumes in them, the wood, the hay and the ſtubble: Things very precious to them. They are often feeble and ſore-broken under divine judgments, and are ready to cry out with the PſalmiſtPſal. 74. 1., "O God, why haſt thou caſt us off forever? why doth thine anger ſmoke againſt the ſheep of thy paſture?" Chriſt comes "with the fan in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor: He ſhall gather the wheat into his garner, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable Fire."

Thus I have explained each part of our text ſeparately. Let us ſee how the promiſe which is twice repeated with ſo much ſolemnity, was fulfilled, as it referred immediately to the Jews—In due time, John the Baptiſt, our Lord's forerunner, preached in the deſert of Judea the baptiſm of repentance for the remiſſion of ſins.Luk. 3. He cried ſaying, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths ſtraight. He warned the people, that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. And accordingly, while he was fulfilling his courſe, Chriſt came and was baptized of him in Jordan, and ſet up his public adminiſtrations. He came with Power and Authority. His doctrines were unexpected. He had his fan in his hand. He caſt off the Scribes and Phariſees and Jewiſh doctors: diſappointed their fond hopes of diſtinction: He refuſed to aſſociate with them. He choſe his followers among the deſpiſed and rejected of the nation. Theſe were led into ſuch tribulation, that their hearts miſgave them, and finally when the meſſenger of the covenant was cut off in the midſt of his week, they all forſook him and fled. And after his Reſurrection, the church was beſet with all the malice of a rancorous and perſecuting zeal. They were murdered; they were diſperſed; they were waſted and laid moſt deſolate, until the iniquities of their perſecutors were full. Then Chriſt came in fearful Judgments to avenge his Blood and the Blood of his Martyrs, and the breach of his covenant.Mat. 24.—Luk. 21. There were wars and rumours of wars. Nation roſe again Nation, and Kingdom againſt Kingdom; there were Famines and Peſtilences, and Earthquakes, in divers places; and ſuch tribulation as was not from the beginning of the world, even unto that time; no, nor ever ſhall be. And had not God ſhortned thoſe days, no fleſh would have been ſaved; but for the Elect's ſake, he ſhortened them.—Joſephus, There were voices and ſights in the air; the moſt portentous prodigies; army againſt army in battle array, engaged over the city: The ſound of trumpets and the moſt aſtoniſhing noiſes, to fill their hearts with terror and dire diſmay. Theſe were but the beginnings of ſorrows, a prelude to that awful and final exciſion which they ſuffered at the hands of Titus—Thus did the meſſenger of the covenant come to his temple; to protect his church, and to execute wrath upon his enemies. Thus was he a Refiner's Fire, and Fuller's Soap, And how few did abide the day of his coming? or ſtand when he appeared? But let us now paſs on,

II. To conſider of ſome of the more general truths in our text.

We are thence taught;

I. That Chriſt will defend his church.

He came into the world a meſſenger of the covenant: And his covenant will he keep with his people. And he hath the ſecurity of the Father's promiſe.Pſal. 89. 29—35. His ſeed alſo will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of Heaven. If his children forſake my law, and walk not in my Judgments; if they break my ſtatutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod, and their iniquities with ſtripes. Nevertheleſs, my loving kindneſs will I not utterly take from him, nor ſuffer my faithfulneſs to fail. Once have I ſworn by my Holineſs, that I will not lie unto David. And our bleſſed Lord, when he was parting from his Apoſtles, after his Reſurrection, to revive their drooping ſpirits under the preſſure of his abſence, gives them this refreſhing cordialMat. •• • 0. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". By this we have aſſurance, that at all times, and to the end of time, God will have a true miniſtry, and a true church. Although he may in a meaſure forſake them for a little ſeaſon, yet he will return; he will return ſuddenly. The gates of hell ſhall not prevail. At times, the church may decline; and God may frown: His people may go about the city ſeeking him whom their ſoul loveth: They may entertain fears left he may have departed to viſit them no more. "But their beloved ſhall make haſte, and be like to a roe, or to a young hart, upon the mountains of ſpices".Solomon's Song. Chriſt will viſibly maintain his church wherein his worſhip and ordinances ſhall be regularly adminiſtred. Although after repeated provocations, and long-ſuffering forbearance, he may caſt off a particular people; yet he will direct his miniſters to turn to other nations; and he will be found of them which ſought not after him. We may never diſtruſt the divine promiſe, "For the Lord whom ye ſeek ſhall ſuddenly come to his temple, even the meſſenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold he ſhall come, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts." Again,

II. God will be ſought unto, that he may come and viſit his church.

"The Lord whom ye ſeek; the meſſenger of the covenant whom ye delight in". Agreable to theſe words, we read that before the coming of our Saviour, there were ſome who were devoted to his ſervice, who earneſtly looked for his appearing. Chriſt's forerunner prepared the hearts of ſeveral for his reception. Among others, there was good old Simcon, who waited for the conſolation of Iſrael. And there was Anna, of the tribe of Aſher, "who departed not from the temple, but ſerved God with faſtings and prayers night and day". Theſe ſought the Lord and according to their deſires they were permitted to depart in peace: "For their eyes had ſeen his ſalvation".Luk. 2. In every dark period of the church there are ſome names which are found faithful; who are conſtantly waiting upon God with an humble, firm confidence in his goodneſs, and merciful deſigns to his church. He expects his people to wait thus patiently upon him, and acknowledge him as the only repairer of breaches, who can reſtore again their waſte and deſolate places. When God was about to viſit his people Iſrael with the moſt precious temporal and ſpiritual bleſſings, he ſays, "I will yet for this be enquired of, by the houſe of Iſrael to do it for them".Ezek. 36. 37. Before Chriſt's merciful return to viſit his heritage, he ſends down his holy Spirit into the hearts of his children, to excite longing deſires after his gracious approach. The motives of our Lord's return to his temple, after the primary deſign of diſplaying the divine Glory, are the tears and ſupplications of his people.

III. Chriſt frequently comes to his church in the Majeſty of Judgments.

When his ſpecial preſence has been for a ſeaſon withdrawn, his church grows corrupt. Many unworthy practices and many unworthy profeſſors creep in. His children become looſe and negligent in their lives, and bring diſhonour upon his name and ordinances. After a ſeries of mercies, they are often remiſs in their walk; return again to the pollutions of the world; and are proud and forgetful of the rock of their ſalvation. Thus they tarniſh the beauty of the temple and give occaſion to the enemies of the Lord to blaſpheme; to deſpiſe God; and refuſe his worſhip. Hereby he is lightly ſpoken of by thoſe who are without. Chriſt therefore comes with the fan in his hand; to purge his church; to ſeparate between the precious and the vile; the gold and the droſs. He ſends his judgments abroad in the earth, that men may learn righteouſneſs,Iſai, 26. 9. God's children are chaſtized for forſaking him, for their worldlineſs; for their pride and carnal ſecurity. The dead, formal and hypocritical, he will by his great ſeverity bring to ſubmit to his righteouſneſs, or otherwiſe burn them in the fire of his jealouſy, and conſume them as the alloy in the refining of ſilver. To effect theſe holy purpoſes the church is caſt into tribulation; and this will often bring on apoſtacies, whereby the corrupt are through fear or malice induced to forſake the congregation of God's people; or God's people are induced to forſake the wicked. Here by the ends of divine judgments are more effectually anſwered. Thoſe who have not the root of grace abiding in them, are ready to apoſtatize from the truth, when they can thereby eſcape ſome temporal calamity, or ſecure any conſiderable good. This method therefore God adopts to prove men, whether or not his fear be in them; whether they can ſtand the teſt of the fire, and come forth pure gold.

Another deſign of Providence herein, is ſuitably to humble a people, and fit them rightly to prize the favour and protection of heaven. Good obtained through ſuffering, is much the moſt delightſome. And when judgments proceed mercies, God's children will become truly dependant, ſubmiſſive and thankful to him. They who have the moſt diſtinguiſhed reward are thoſe who have come out of great tribulation. Theſe have white robes, and palms in their hands, the enſigns of their victory.Rev. 7. 9. There are, therefore many weighty and neceſſary reaſons why Chriſt in a time of deep declenſion, ſhould come to his church in the way of judgments. The moſt excellent deſign hereof is, "That he may purify the ſons of Levi, and render the offering of Judah and Jeruſalem pleaſant unto the Lord"Context ver. 3, 4. Again,

IV. It is high matter of comfort in the midſt of ſevere trials, that God often graciouſly appears for his church in the way Judgment.

Were divine judgments always a token of God's leaving his church and people, believers and all others, would be caſt into a moſt dreadful plunge upon the approach of calamity. But the hiſtory of divine providence ſhews that God is averſe from giving up his people; that his corrections are very commonly the ſtripes of a Father: And that nothing but a ſeries of obſtinate rebellion againſt repeated mercies and chaſtiſements, will induce him to caſt off forever. Therefore when his judgments are abroad, we may hope that it is, that the inhabitants of the world may learn righteouſneſsIſa. 26. 9. That he is endeavouring to reclaim and bring to repentance a revolting people. Although judgments are an invariable ſign of ſome wrong conduct; yet the faithful are allowed, yea it is their bounden duty to hope, that Chriſt is coming to his church to purify it; to purge away the tin, and cleanſe it from wrinkles and blemiſhes: That he is acting the refiner, and the fuller, and is determined to ſanctify unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

When therefore God's arm is ſtretched out, let repentance mitigate his anger, and hope eſtabliſh the ſoul, that good days are yet to come, when he hath ſufficiently purified the houſe of Levi and the houſe of Judah. It is high ground of joy and thankfulneſs, that he who is head over all things for the church, over-rules every affliction and diſtreſs for his own glory, in the peace and enlargment of his heritage.

I have concluded the general truths which I purpoſed to conſider from the text; I proceed to apply them.