Malachies Prophecy of the iudgement, and of such as are to be purged by fire. CHAP. 25.
THe Prophet (a) Malachiel or Malachi, (other-wise called the Angel, and held by some as Hierome saith, and namely by the Hebrews, (b) to bee Esdras the Priest that wrote some other parts in the Canon) prophecied of the last iudg∣ment in these words. Behold hee shall come, saith the Lord of Hoastes: but who may * 1.1 abide the day of his comming? and who shall endure when hee appeareth? for hee is like a purging fire, and like Fullers Sope: and hee shall sit downe to trye and fine the siluer, hee shall euen fine the sonnes of Leui, and purifie them as golde and siluer, that they may bring offrings to the Lord in righteousnesse. Then shall the offerings of Iudah, and Hierusalem bee acceptable vnto the Lord as in old time, and in the yeares afore. And I will come neere vnto you to iudgement, and I will bee a swift witnesse against the Sooth-sayers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that wrong fully keepe back the hirelings wages, and vexe the vviddow and the fatherlesse, and feare not mee, saith the Lord of Hoastes: for I am the Lord, I change not. These words doe seeme euidently to imply a purification of some, in the last iudgement. For what other thing can bee meant by this, Hee is like a purging fire, and like Fullers sope, and hee shall sitte downe to trye and fine the siluer, hee shall * 1.2 fine the sonnes of Leui, and purifie them as golde or siluer? So saith Esayas: The Lord shall wash the filthinesse of the daughters of Zion, and purge the bloud of Hieru∣salem ont of the middest thereof, by the spirit of iudgement, and by the spirit of burn∣ing. Perhaps this burning may bee vnderstood of that seperation of the pollu∣ted from the pure in that paenall iudgement, the good beeing to liue euer after, with-out any commerce with the bad. But these words; Hee shall euen fine the sonnes of Leui, and purifie them as gold and siluer, that they may bring offrings to the Lord in righteousnesse, doe intimate a purgation euen of the good, who shall now be cleansed from that in-iustice wherein they displeased the Lord, & being clean∣sed, and in their perfection of righteousnesse, they shall bee pure offerings them∣selues vnto him their Lord. For what better or more acceptable oblation for him, then them selues? But let vs leaue this theame of paenall purgation vnto a more fitt oportunity. By the sonnes of Leui, Iudah and Hierusalem, is meant the Church of God, both of Hebrews and others: but not in that state that it standeth now in: (for as we are now, if wee say wee haue no sinne, wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs:) but as it shall be then, like a threshing-flore cleansed by the fan of the last iudgement, all being penally purged, that needed such a purification, so that now there shall need no more sacrifice for sinne, for all that offer such, are in sinne, for the remission of which they offer to bee freed from it by Gods gracious acceptance of their offring.