A learned and very usefull commentary upon the whole prophesie of Malachy,: by that late Reverend, Godly and Learned Divine, Mr. Richard Stock, sometime Rector of Alhallowes Breadstreet, London, and now according to the originall copy left by him, published for the common good. Whereunto is added, An exercitation vpon the same prophesie of Malachy / by Samuel Torshell.

VERS. XVII.

And they shall be to me, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day that I shall do this, for a flocke, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

AND they shall be to me saith the Lord] Here is the Prophets second answer, from a gracious and sweet promise of God, of his goodnesse and favour towards them who feare him; even as an effect of his remembrance, and a proofe he did not forget them. And the sum of this promise is, that in the time of the Gos∣pell, he would make his choice and refusall of the good and bad, when it should appeare who was more excellent then others; so that those who did believe, should be taken into his family, and should enjoy great commodities and great dignity, both be his and so respected, and enjoy the benefits belonging to his.

And they shall be to me.] And, Here, hath the force of an illati∣on, or reference to the former sentence, ending that, and beginning this. i. To shew that I remember them, I will make them mine: so much the phrase in the originall signifies.

In that day when I shall make them my treasure, my peculiar.] The Lord to shew how dear they should be unto him, how he would defend them, how he would honour and adorne them, used this word which is used, Ex. 19.5. translated chiefe treasure: It signifies

a portion of wealth got by a mans owne labour and industry, which men used to love more earnestly and keep more diligently, when they have it: and so by this, he tels them how dear and preti∣ous they should be unto him, who did receive the Gospell and truly professe him.

Some understand this of the last judgement only, and that day which is not probable: Some both of the day the Gospell, and the judgement which hath great probability with it.

I will spare them, or I will use mercy and compassion towards them.] I will receive them and specially love them, and will shew my love in this, in sparing them when they offend, or as some in winking at their infirmities and corruptions, and not rejecting their service for them, which the similitude doth shew.

As a man spareth &c.] A similitude illustrating the promise of compassion and mercy, shewing how great and how tender his compassions should be toward them, when it should be as of a father to his sonne, whom he loves both as his sonne, and also because of that reverence, honour, and obedience he hath done unto him. Now this that is first promised is that they shall be his, for so is the phrase, they shall be mine, like that which we have, Gen. 48.5. And now thy two sonnes Manasseh and Ephraim which are borne unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, shall be mine, as Ruben and Simeon are mine. i. They shall not be as my Grand children, but as my owne sonnes, and in the division of the Land, shall have their portions, as any one of my sonnes: so here they shall be mine. i. I will a∣dopt them, and make them mine, who are not so by nature, nor of themselves.

No man is of himselfe and by nature, not of his parents the child of God, but adopted so of God to it, Reve. 2.17. [Doctrine] and in thee a new name written.

In that day that I shall do this for a flocke,] Or rather in that day when I shall make them my chiefe treasure: as it is translated: Exod. 19.5. But all comes to one end, to note how deare the Church and people of God are unto him.

They who feare God and thinke of his name, [Doctrine.] delight in his waies; are more excellent then others, and more pretious, deare, and beloved of God. Rev. 2.9. with 1. Pet. 2.9.

And I will spare them, &c.] Another matter promised unto them, & in it two things. First, That he would wink at, and passe by their infirmities, when they served him and did the duties of his worship, and passe by many infirmities in them, which he will not do in another. Secondly, That when he did visite them, yet he would do it in love and compassion, and use them as a father his son, that serveth him.

This is a speciall thing, [Doctrine] promised to Gods children proper to

them: that in their obedience when they endeavour to serve and performe duties commanded, he will accept it though it be mix∣ed with many infirmities, and will winke at them, and passe by them, as though he never saw them. Mich. 7.18.

I will spare them or have compassion of them.] When he should come to afflict and correct them, it should be in compassion and love.

The Lord when he afflicts and corrects his, he doth it in com∣passion and love, [Doctrine] grieving to do it, retaining ever his fatherly af∣fection towards them. Isaiah 27.4. Rev. 3.19.