Matthew Poole and continuators on Malachi 3:7

7 ¶ Even from the dayes of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances , and have not kept them : Return unto me g, and I will return unto you , saith the LORD of hosts: But ye said, Wherein shall we return ?

We need not fix a particular time, or age wherein this Apostacy began; It is an old Apostacy that is here charged on them, and they were notoriously guilty of it.

Are turned away by the Examples, and by the corrupt Doctrines of your Fathers, and false Teachers; yea, you have voluntarily and of choice gone away.

Which either directed my worship, or your dealings one with another, so that you have sinned greatly by polluting my Temple with your own Additions, or diminutions, with Idolatry, or, corrupt manner of performing my Service, and you have sinned against one another by Injustice, Unfaithfulness, and Cruelty, since you have gone away from my Laws, which direct the way of Righteousness and Equity.

It is a farther asseveration confirming the Truth of the charge, and added to make them more sensible of their sin. Some tell us that this chargeth on them their sins against Negative precepts, as the other charged them with sins against Positive precepts, so the whole Law was now, and had long been broken by their Fathers, and themselves.

I will yet pardon, accept you, establish, and bless you; amend your wayes and doings, and I will soon amend the state of your Affairs.

As to other, so now to this advice, they return a proud, shameless, and self-justifying Question, wherein, or what is the evil from which we should return to thee? What is our sin?

It is the only course you can take, repent e're 'tis too late, return whilest there is hope.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 paragraph]