A paraphrasticall explication of the twelve minor prophets. Viz. Hoseah. Joel. Amos. Obadiah. Jonah. Micah. Nahum. Habakkuk. Zephaniah. Haggai. Zechariah. Malachi. / By Da. Stokes. D.D.

CHAP. I.

1. THe word of the Lord, by the Prophet Malachi, (a) delivered in heavy, and threatning words against the Israelites that were returned from the captivity, and were guilty of many great sins: specially of negli∣gence, and misdemeanour in things belonging to the worship of God: and of keeping strange wives, against those laws, and admo∣nitions, that should have wrought better upon them.

2. I might have expected better fruit from my people of Israel, were it but meerly by way of thankfulnesse for my peculiar love, and indulgence unto them: not above all other nations onely, but even above those of the same stock and original with them. For,

I have ever loved you of Israel saith the Lord, and you may read it in many arguments of that love. But you will say, Wherein hast thou show∣ed any particular instances, and evidences of that thy special love to us? To which I answer, that, if you look to the root, from whence you took your beginning, there you may best begin to see the signes of my love. For, was not Esau brother to Iacob, your Patriarch, by the same venter? Were they not twins, and Esau the first-born? yet did I show a more ten∣der, and fatherly affection to Iacob and his po∣sterity, placing you in the land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey: and, when your sins had cast you out, reducing you hither again, and shielding you here from all danger, by the hand of providence.

3. Esau all this while, and his posterity, the Edomites that came from him, may rather see the signs of my hatred and disaffection to them from the very womb. For, as I foretold, that he should be inferior to his younger brother, before he was born: so, afterwards I placed him and his in the barren mountains of Seir, no way to be compared with the fruitful land of Canaan. And when my Justice had (b) cast him out from thence, I did not restore him

thither again, as I did you into Canaan: but I turned those mountains of Seir, his antient ha∣bitation, into a wildernesse: and, as a testimo∣ny of mine anger, that which was his pecu∣liar lot, and inheritance (c) I gave to the Dra∣gons, and other wild beasts of the Desert, as a place of habitation for them.

4. And I am so far from any intention of restoring them now to those parts. that if they of (d) Edom should say, We are now in poor con∣dition indeed, but we will take courage, and return from whence we came, and there we will build up again whatsoever the enemie hath laid wast: Thus would the Lord of hosts answer to such fool-hardie undertakers. If they re∣build them, I will find waies to pull them down again, and lay them even with the ground. And they that see the execution of that ju∣stice shall say, It was but deservedly done to a Countrie, whose bounds, and limits, were all full of impiety to God, and unnatural cruelty to you, their brethren: and the inhabitants thereof a People, whom God had threatned with the effects of his anger, and heavy displeasure for ever∣more.

5, Your own eyes shall be the witnesses of the performance of what I thus speak against the Edomites, and your own tongues shall makes pro∣fession and acknowledgement of this difference that I put between you and them, and say, Let God ever be magnified, and praised for his mercie to the land of Israel, which he restored, and continues to us with the same bounds, and li∣mits, that we had before.

6. Such hath been my Fatherly affection to you: and my anger and severitie upon them. Which you should be so sensible of as to ex∣presse it in your thankfulnesse and obedience. For, Doth not a Son worthily honour his father? Is not a servant ready to expresse his bounden duty to his Master? If my benefits show my fathèrly love, why should not your honour, and respect, be answerable to them? If I de∣fend, and maintain you, as your Lord, and Ma∣ster, where is that fear, and reverence of my Name, that should be seen in you? saith the Lord of Hosts. Specially in you my Priests, that live upon such things as are devoted to my service, and yet are so far from serving me aright, that you rather openly contemn, and despise my name. If you ask, wherein you have done any thing, in neglect and contempt of me, and in dero∣gation to the Honour and Majestie of my name? Look into your daily imployments

about my Temple, and there you will see it.

7. For, You bring to my Altar such (e) pro∣visions to be there offered up to me, as I can no otherwise account of, then as of things polluted, rather then sanctified to my service. But you will say yet further. What is that pollution, wherein we are said to offer contempt unto thee? And I must tell you, it lies in those base words of yours, that the Table of the Lord is so despi∣cable a thing, that we need not be very scrupu∣lous of sacrificing and offering any thing there, though it be not so perfect and without blemish as is required.

8. And so, when you bring a lamb, or any other creature, that is blind, to be offered up in sacrifice, that is no great harm. O, by no means, in your opinion it is not. And when your offering is of that which is lame, and sickly, there is no ill in so doing, as you seem to ima∣gine. But, go and bestow such a blind, and lame, and sickly present upon your Prince and Gover∣nour, and see if he will accept kindly of it, and be of your opinion, that it is a present good enough for him, saith the Lord of Hosts. Sure he will not. What shall then be said of those poor contemptible sacrifices, so unfit to be

brought in your addresses to me, and as types, and figures of that immaculate lamb, that must take away the sinnes of the world.

9. Now therefore it onely remains, that in lue of them, you present your selves before him in humble prayer, that he would please to be merciful to us all: (who are, all of us, likely to fare the worse for these great sins.) For, it is plain, that, this (f) great fault hath been committed (g) by you. And therefore (while you continue in it) do you think, that you can be acceptable in his sight, at whose altar you serve, or that he shall accept of such offerings of yours, saith the Lord of Hosts?

10. Nay, if these be thought fit sacri∣fices for my Temple, which of you will do me that acceptable service, to shut up your doors, and passages to your Sanctuarie, (h) that there may be no more fire in vain kindled upon my altar? (for, all your service is in vain, while it is tendered in such negligent, and scornful manner) I can take no pleasure in you that are such sacrificers, saith the Lord of

Hosts, nor will I accept of any such sacrifices from your hands.

11. But I will tell you, what sacrifice I shall delight in. In the spirituall sacrifice of a good, and spiritual heart. For ere long from East to West (all the world over) shall my Name be magnified among the Gentiles: and, in every place, shall the holy incense of (i) pray∣er, and the pure offering of (k) themselves, their souls, and bodies, be presented unto me. For, once again I tell you, great shall my name be among the Gentiles, since it is so slighted, and undervalued by you, saith the Lord of Hosts.

12. But, you still go on to pollute that sacred name, as much as in you lies: as, when you say within your selves, that the Table of the Lord is no such pure thing; nor the (l) offe∣ring so pure, that is laid upon it: neither is that fire, (m) which consumes the sacrifice, so pure, that we need be so nice, and dainty about the choice of the sacrifice.

13. Nor is this contempt among the Priests onely that do attend the sacrifice, but it is the

fault of you among the people too, that bring it to the Priest. For, you have been heard to say, when you have brought the sheep, or what else was sent into that Court of the Temple, where you were to leave it. O, what a weari∣som businesse is this? How am I tired with the weight of this burden? And then. you have puffed and blown at it, as if that you brought had been so fat and plump, that the bring∣ing of so heavy a burden, had almost taken away your breath. This you have said in a jesting and scornfull manner, puffing at my sacrifice, and indeed slighting of it, saith the Lord of Hosts. Nay, such things have some of you brought to be offered, as have been stolne, (n) or purchased by rapine, and oppression: and you have sent into the Courts of my Temple, lame and weake sick∣ly creatures, to serve for an offering, and so for a poor acknowledgement of the many mercies, and favours, that I have showed to you. And do you think I shall ever be pleased, with what is offered (o) by you, in such contempt, saith the Lord of Hosts.

14. No, cursed be that (g) subtle, and deceit∣ful man, that makes a mock at these Acts of Re∣ligion and (g) being able to send that which is good, and having in his flock, a male, (q) that is sound, and in good liking, doth yet, when he comes to pay his vows, render a poor, weak, and blemished sacrifice unto the Lord. But, I am the great King of Heaven, and earth, (r) and therefore other kind of presents were fitter for me, saith the Lord of Hosts: and among the very Gentiles, more fear and reverence shall be given unto my Name.

Notes

• (a)

  Onus verbi domini. i. onerosa Prophetia à Domin••.
• (b)

  Jer. 49. 8. Thren. 4. 22, Eze••. 25. 13.
• (c)

  Elleipsis verbi, nisi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 repetamus ex praeced.
• (d)

  Hi••, ut suprà Edom pro Edom••lis ut Iacob pro Is. ae••••is.
• By Judas Maccab. and Hyrcanus.
• (e)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 panis, bic pro omni cibi, non pro panibus propositionis.
• (f)

  Elleipsis substantivi.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 per.
• (h)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ut non.
• (i)

  Apoc. 5 8.
• (k)

  Rom. 12. 1.
• (l)

  Or continual provision for supply of the offerings. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (m)

  Hebr. That which con∣sumes it, quod illud consumit (s. sacrisicum) nam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est etiam con∣sumere, & igni quasi in cibum dare.
• (n)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (o)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & dolosum significat. i. maligne astu••um à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & eum qui ••iquid potest. à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unde Sept. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (g)

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & dolosum significat. i. maligne astu••um à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & eum qui ••iquid potest. à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unde Sept. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (q)

  Elleipsis adjectivi.
• (r)

  Vide v. 8.