they would in their carriage toward their neighbour both in private and in courts of justice study truth without dissimulation and to judge righteous judgement in such a way as might tend to peace and to put on affection which might guard their heart from wishing or devising evil to their neighbour And that in reference to God they would not prophane his Name by false oathes all these things being an abomination before him Doct. 1. It is a sweet case and speaks much of a blessing when men joyne a publick spirit with personal holinesse therefore after the exhortation to build the Temple this concerning their private conversation is pressed 2. Such as desire to approve their sincerity before God ought in their speeches professions or promises to their neighbours to study truth without dissimulation or double dealing and pretending to that which they intend not Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour 3. In perfect administration of justice care should be had by such as would approve themselves to God that judgement go not forth without exact knowledge of the cause or out of any by-respect to persons violence of passion or affection or according to mens inclination being blinded with gifts but singly and according to truth Execute the judgement of truth in your gates which was the place appointed for courts of judgement Ruth 4.1 2 Sâ—m 15.2 3. As truth so also peace both private and publick is to be studied after in administration of justice and care is to be had that judgement be equitable so as may breed peace that perverted justice breed not private quarrels and that by protracting of law-suits irritations and bitternesses grow not Execute the judgement of truth and peace 4. The Law of God is spiritual reaching to the inward as well as the outward man so that an ill course is not sufficiently abandoned unlesse we mortifie our love and affection to it for so is expounded here Let none of you imagine evil inyour hearts against his neighbour and love no false oath 5. It is a fearful prophanation of Gods Name when an oath is taken to affert a falshood or in promising of that which men minde not to performe or wilfully do not perform this they are disswaded from Love no false oath 6. As Gods displeasure and hatred against sin ought to be a sufficient aw-band to keep men from it so the consideration thereof is the most cleanly motive to disswade from sin therefore is this only argument used here For all these are things that I hate saith the Lord. Vers 18. And the Word of the LORD of hostes came unto me saying 19. Thus saith the LORD of hostes The fast of the fourth moneth and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the honse of Judah joy and gladnesse and cheerful feasts therefore love the truth and peace The Lord having thus reproved encouraged and exhorted this people upon occasion of their question concerning their fasting He gives yet a new commission for further encouragement and particularly to resolve their question and assure them that not only that fast but all the rest of them of which see on ch 7 1 2 3. should resolve in joy causes of their sorrow being taken away and matter of feasting given which therefore invites them yet to studie their duty Doct. 1. The sorrowful dayes of Gods people will not only have an end but will resolve in such advantages as will afford much matter of joy for These fasts shall be unto the house of Judah joy and gladnesse and chearful feasts 2. The Lords allowance unto his people is far beyond any thing they ordinarily propound unto themselves for their question was but of one fast his answer of foure they only question about leaving it off he promises to make it end in joy 3. The more frequent encouragements we get from God the more are we to minde our duty at least to grow in love to it and desire of obedience for it is subjoyned Therefore love the truth and peace By which we may understand either 1. Love sincevity and peaceablenesse in your dealing as v. 16. Or 2. Love the truth of Religion not doting on your fasts which only can bring you true peace Or 3. So love truth in all debates as love to peace be joyned with it yet so as truth be put in the first place as the only way for attaining sure peace Vers. 20. Thus saith the LORD of hostes It shall yet come to passe that there shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities 21. And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD and to seeke the LORD of hostes I will go also 22. Yea many people and strong Nations shall come to seek the LORD of hostes in Jerusalem and to pray before the LORD To confirm the truth of the preceding promise and clear how their Fasts should be turned into joy the Lord subjoynes a new promise of the accession of the Gentiles unto the Church v. 20. who should mutually exhort and stir up one another to seek God v. 21. and should be so blessed therein as that great and potent Nations should come and worship God in his Church whereof Jerusalem was the type v. 22. Doct. 1. It is the Churches safety to learn to understand promises spiritually and not expect satisfaction to their carnal humours for thus doth the Lord clear unto them that the matter of their joy should be spiritual in the Gentiles joyning with the Church 2. Saddest times should not hinder the Church from minding her charter for enlargement and believing her priviledges to come for in her sad times she is called to think on this There shall come people and the inhabitants of many Cities 3. Mutual up-stirring to holy duties is an especial meanâ—s to make a growing time and thriving Church for The inhabitants of one City shall go to another saying Let us go c. 4. The true errand of real Converts in Religion is singly to seek God for himself and his favour and peace and the special way of testifying and obtaining their desire and making grace to grow is to be much in prayer this is twice set down as their work Let us go pray before the Lord and seek the Lord of hostes v. 21. and again v. 22. 5. True liveliness in Religion will admit of no lazinesse luke-warmnesse formal indifferency or want of constancy in seeking God but mens greatest activity will be accounted but a slow pace and all that as nothing unlesse it be constant for Let us go speedily or continually is their call and invitation one to another 6. Mutual up-stirring is then most effectual when every one casts a copy in his own practice of what he would have others to do for so is it here I will go also saith every exhorter 7. As great and potent people and
thereof upon these grounds is this charge given Remember ye the Law of Moses 2. The doctrine revealed by God to Moses and by him to the Church containes the substance of all that is necessary to salvation and is the foundation of all the rest of the Scriptures which are as a Commentary and particular application of it upon this ground it is that they are remitted to the Law of Moses not to seek justification by the works of the Law nor yet only to be led by the Law to Christ but as containing the summe of all the doctrine of the Prophets which they would not neglect who made conscience of Moses law as being Gods own Commentarie upon it enjoyned as an appendicle to it 3. That the Word may have place and be entertained with due reverence and respect we are seriously to consider the authority of God enjoyning it I commanded our obligation to it and our honour in enjoying it I commanded for all Israel and only Israel secluding other Nations the Majestie of God at any time appearing in or about that Word how dreadful he was in publishing it at first what of God hath appeared in refreshments by or judgements and mercies according to that Word I commanded it him in Horeb with great glory and what authority his servants have to inculcate that Word upon us and how much their fidelity in duty will condemn our contempt Remember the Law of Moses my servant which I commanded him 4. Such as make conscience of submitting to and walking by the rule of Gods Word will be far from allowing to themselves or others a liberty in some points of truth and practice to believe or do as they please providing they keep right in some chief and fundamental things but will be tender of the whole Will of God of lesser and greater Commandments they are enjoyned to remember the ceremonial statutes and political judgements as well as the moral Law and in a word his whole doctrine Vers 5. Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD A second direction is earnestly to expect Christs coming and to prevent any mistake about it he premonishes them that he would send John Baptist in the spirit and power of Elias immediately before his coming This is so clearly expounded in the New Testament Luks 1.17 Mar. 11.14 and 17.11 12. that it is high presumption to contradict it Doct. 1. Christs coming in the flesh and as a Prophet to his Church is not only greatly to be reverenced by the godly as when Jacob had the vision Gen. 28.17 but indeed terrible unto the wicked and may be the occasion of terrible judgements to corrupt visible Churches whose measure of sin will be filled up by contempt of such an offer It is the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And so the Nation of the Jewes found it 2. Christ is not easily discerned when he comes to his Church as not appearing in such a way as carnal men imagine but may be mistaken and rejected or another taken for him which because it is the hinge whereupon our happinesse turnes that we have Christ indeed and mistake him not in his manifestations nor embrace a delusion in his stead therefore we would studie sure and cleare light in this truth Hence it is that the Lord so much guards this by shewing the marks of the Messiahs coming and the Evangelist Mark begins where Malachi leaves off Mark 1.3 Ministers who would preach repentance unto a people and fit them for the Kingdom of Christ ought to be men of Elijahs temper for through zeal and integrity for courage and fidelity to resist a declining generation to contend with the greatest decliners and freely to reprove the sins of the time such a one was Christs fore-runner he was Elijah the Prophet as coming in his Spirit and power Luke 1.17 Verse 6. 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 a curse Johns doctrine is commended from the end of it which is to convert the people to prevent the curse and from the efficacie of it that by his preaching for reformation of the Church he shall either be instrumental to convert both elder and younger and make an harmonie in faith amongst themselves and with the Patriarchs their Ancestors from whom they had so far degenerated as that they might justly renounce them Isa 63.16 and to beget mutual love amongst them as a sure fruit of faith or else they being unfit to receive and embrace Christ the whole Nation should be ripened for the ensuing curse and withal that his Ministery should be blessed to convert some of all ranks and bring them to unity in the truth and love that the Nation be not totally rejected and destroyed but a remnant saved Doct. 1. As the Lord in mercy sends his Ministery with the doctrine of repentance to prevent sadder messengers and messages so a Ministery will either be effectual to convert or ripen for ruine It is the Lords last Word to his Church that the lively Ministery of the Word will either ruine the corruptions of men or occasion mens own ruine on whom it hath no saving effect as here we may see 2. True Conversion and the fruit of the Ministery of the Word will shew it self in making all ranks both the old that have lived long in a good conceit of themselves and the young who may seem not to have gone far astray see need of repentance and reformation and making use of Christ in discovering unto men how far they have degenerated from the rule and from the piety of Ancestors of whom they are ready to glory in a carnal way and will unite men in adhering to the truth of Religion and in the bond of love He shall turne the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers doth import all these 3. The great love of Christ toward the world appears in that no provocation would hinder him to come and perfect the work of Redemption however his coming was occasion of ruine to many I come is an absolute promise made by Christ as God 4. Such as embrace not the Word of God to fit them for Christ nor will admit of the grace offered by Christ and his servants are lying under the curse from which Christ alone can free men and do provoke him to let that curse break forth to the utter ruine of Nations and visible Churches for such is the certification if Johns Ministery had no place and consequently Christs whose way he prepared Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse 5. As the Lord is alwayes effectual in some measure by them whom he calls and sends forth about his work so faithful Ministers however looked on as turners of the world up-side down are as pillars to uphold a Nation and according to the measure of their being fruitful among a people shall the moderation of a judgement on a people be for John shall turne some his zealous Ministery was a means if it had been received to prevent that curse on Judea which after followed and his turning of some as also Christs successe whose way he prepared and the Apostles was a means of preserving a remnant of that Nation from the curse as a seed and first fruit till the encrease and lump of that Nation be saved and turned to the Lord Even so come LORD JESUS Amen FINIS
in all the Chapter 3. The fountain of the Churches encouragement is in Gods free love and marriage-affection which as it doth not break off in affliction so will it be very severe in avenging injuries done to such as are beloved of him for so is here held forth I was jealous for Zion with great jealousie and I was jealous for her with great fury His jealousie proves he is married his fury testifies how much he resents their affliction and both these concur to comfort her 4. The Lord hath at all times prevented his Church and people with such manifestations of himself as may be abundant proof of his affection toward them and ground of encouragement for the time to come therefore he leads this people back to what had been done especially in their late deliverance to clear this truth and encourage them for the future I was jealous c. Verse 3. Thus saith the LORD I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth and the mountain of the LORD of hostes the holy mountaine The second ground of encouragement is that God was now reconciled to them again would dwell among them as of old and restore them to the dignity and priviledges they formerly enjoyed Doct. 1. The Lords being reconciled unto a people and their enjoying his favour is a special ground of their encouragement especially that after just wrath he will deigne them with mercy and be at paines to make up the friendship for thus he encourageth them Thus saith the Lord I am returned to Zion 2 When the Lord is reconciled unto his people he will manifest his presence unto them and be as near and careful to help every grievance as the heart is to supply every member for I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem saith he 3. Reconciliation with God is the way to recover a peoples lost honour and priviledges and to make them enjoy them and the comfort of them for upon his returning look what made her eminent before and it shall be restored She shall be called by her old names which is not a promise of a bare tittle only but that she shall be eminent in her duty and the priviledges and mercies following thereupon shall be as visible as if they were her name 4. It is the great honour of a people to enjoy and sincerely to adhere unto and professe the truth of God as he hath revealed it in his Word to adorne that Profession with fidelity and uprighteness in matters of the second Table and to be the people to whom God verifieth the truth of his promises so are we here taught Jerusalâ—m shall be called a City of truth in place of her idolatry and corrupting the worship of God her double dealing in her conversation and her feeling the sad fruits of threatenings 5. To have relation unto God and be owned as his speaks much honour to a people that he unto whom all things belong should appropriate them unto himself as a peculiar lot to be cared for in an especial way this honour is imported in that name the mountain of the Lord of hoster 6. As holinesse beseemeth a people who are the Lords so it is their special honour and dignity to be such and a commendation to the truth they professe when they hold a good conscience with it for this mountain shall be called the holy mountaine Vers 4. Thus saith the LORD of hostes There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem and every man with his staffe in his hand for very age 5. And the streets of the City shall be full of boyes and girles playing in the streets thereof The third ground of encouragement is held forth in a temporal promise of their increasing in number and enjoying of peace Whereas they were now a few of many they should again be many men and women living unto old and decrepitage and a numerous issue springing up to succeed them and whereas the sword had cut them off in their cities Lam. 2.21 and 5.11 12 13 14. and they might seare the like considering the times yet he promiseth that old men should walk and young children play in the streets as in times of great peace Doct. 1. The encrease of a people especially such as are members of the Church and peaceable times with the common refreshments thereof in living to old age want of terrour not being cut off by violent deaths childrens recreations and growing up without feare of enemies c. are in their own kinde choice mercies to be acknowledged where they are and to be a cause of humiliation where they are wanting for the promise of this is a ground of encouragement here See Ps 78.62 63 64. and 144.11 15. 2. A people reconciled to God and adhering to the true spiritual priviledges of Gods presence shall enjoy as much outward prosperity as is for their good for this promise is subjoyned to the former as a fruit of them Vers 6. Thus saith the LORD of hostes If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these dayes should it also be marvellons in mine eyes saith the LORD of hostes In regard these promises might seem improbable and impossible to be performed considering that the Jewes were at that time but a despicable remnant and the times full of dangers and feares the Lord removes all difficulties by leading them to look on him to whom nothing is impossible Doct. 1. As faith is very necessary for honouring of God and our owne comfort in receiving his promises so it is no small difficulty to attain to it Things promised may seem very impossible not only to carnal men but sometimes even to the Lords people for this confirmation of the former doctrine shewes that he expects faith to close with what he saith and its being marvellous or hid a thing which they cannot see through as feasible or possible shewes their temper 2. The fountain of much unbelief is mens looking to themselves and their present hard condition and receiving no more truth then reason and probability thus pre-occupied will convince them of for this is marvellous because they looked on themselves as the remnant of the people and on these dayes as hard dayes 3. The way to attain to faith in hard and difficult times is to eye God who makes the promise and give him the glory of being God of faithfulnesse in promising and Omnipotency to perform and overcome impossibilities whatever we be for he refutes their unbelief by leading them from themselves to eye him The Lord of hostes in whose eyes it is not marvellous 4 A people taking up God rightly will themselves being Judges condescend that it is a wronging of God to lay any thing in opposition to his power as able to over-balance it or to distrust his promises whatever they see in the world or their own condition to render