A learned and very usefull commentary upon the whole prophesie of Malachy by ... Mr. Richard Stock ... ; whereunto is added, An exercitation upon the same prophesie of Malachy, by Samuel Torshell.

VERS. VI.

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 cursing.

AND he shall turne the heart of the fathers.] In this verse is de∣scribed the end of Iohns comming before Christ, his office, which is to convert the hearts of the Fathers to the children, and to bring them to an holy union of faith, to worke repentance in all, and to turne them from iniquity to the living God.

He shall turne.] He shall be my instrument to turne or convert men; speaking honourably of the Ministery of the word, to shew how powerfull it is, when he worketh with it. The Mini∣sters then convert, when they are Co-workers with God, 1. Cor. 4.15. 1. Cor. 15.10. but prevaile not when he denies assistance, 1. Cor. 3.7.

The heart of the father to &c.] Saint Aug. and Hierom, by the Fathers, understand Abraham, Isaack, and Iacob, and the Prophets, and by Children, the Jewes; when by the preaching of Iohn the Jewes should believe in Christ, in whom the Fathers had belie∣ved; then should their fathers hearts be turned and affected to∣wards them, which otherwise were averse from them. Some un∣derstand by Fathers, the Jewes, and by Children, the Apostles and other Christians, according to that Psal, 45.16. And when the Jewes were converted, by Elias, to believe as the Christians did, then were the Fathers and Children of one minde, consenting in one truth. But some understand by them all ages, orders, de∣grees of men, meaning that Iohn should execute his office with the like authority, gravity, and power towards all, and shall have and see the fruit of his labours in all sorts, and so it is interpreted, Luke 1.17. That Iohn when he came, should finde many dissensi∣ons, many strange opinions and dotages, but he should gather

them to God, and bring them from those dissensions to true uni∣ty, that they may grow together in one faith.

Last I come and smite the earth with a curse.] These words menace as many as resisted Iohns Ministry. There were among this people many obstinate and wilfull, who had need of this rowsing and awakening: a threatning also, not only against parti∣cular men, but to destroy the whole Nation of the Jewes, by fa∣mine, pestilence, war, and exile.

[Doctrine 1] Repentance is wrought by the preaching of the word. Vide, Cap. 3.7.

[Doctrine 2] The Ministry of the word works upon all, old, yong, rich, poor, noble, base, &c. This was manifest by Iohns preaching, Mat. 3.5. Luc. 3.10. &c. By Pauls, 1. Cor. 1.26.27. We read of Noble Theophilus, Luc. 1.1. Of the Shop-keeper, Act. 16.24. Of the Iaoler, ver. 34. Of the devout Greekes and the honorable women, Act. 17.4. And of the elect Lady, 2. Epist. Iohn.

[Reason 1] Because God hath decreed to save of all sorts some; then must the word needs worke upon them, it being the means of salvation, 1. Tim. 2.4.

[Reason 2] Because that when he converts by it, the wise, rich, and migh∣ty, he might shew his power, and the power of the word, in the weaknesse of man; 1. Cor. 1.25. when by it he shall make them ac∣count their wisdome, folly &c.

[Reason 3] Because when he calls of all sorts, it might appeare that when they are not wrought upon, it is not their state and condition that doth hinder them, as if God had given it them to snare them, but it is from the corruption of their own hearts who abuse them, seeing others their equalls are converted.

[Vse] To encourage the Ministers in the diversity of their hearers, as different in conditions as complexions, in hearts as faces; yet to go on and deliver the word with faithfullnesse, expecting that the Lord shall make it profitable to the saving though not of all, yet of some of all sorts; that as he wrought effectually in Peter to∣wards the circumcision, and was mighty in Paul towards the Gentiles, Gal. 2.8. So he will this day be powerfull to some of the rich, the next to some of the poore; this Lords day to one of honour, the next haply, to one in disgrace and vile, to all accor∣ding to the pleasure of his own working.

Notes

• Vide brevem expos. hujus versus, apud D. Abbot. Antich. De∣monstr. ca. 6 p. 133.