John Trapp on Malachi 3:16

Verſe 16. Then they that feared the Lord &c.] Then: Gen 6.12. Hoſ. 4.1. when all fleſh had corrupted their wayes: and the whole world turned Atheiſts. Then when there was no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land (none, to ſpeak of) but that it was even darkened with profaneneſſe, as Egypt was with thoſe very grievous locuſts that covered the eye thereof, Exod. 10.14, 15. Then when the faithfull city was become an harlot: Eſay 1.21, 22. her ſilver turned into droſſe, her wine mixt with water: her people not dilute onely, but diſſolute: her ſelf exaurea facta eſt argentea, ex argented ferred, ex ſerred, terrea (as One once ſaid of Rome) of gold become [illegible: 1 word], of [illegible: 1 span] iron, of iron earth, or rather muck.

[illegible: 1 span] the Lord] Thoſe few names that had not deſiled their garments in ſo [illegible: 1 word] a ſeaſon:Rev. 2.4. 1 Jch. 5.18. but had kept themſelves unſpotted of the world, undefiled in the way; ſo as that that wicked One had not touched them, had not thruſt his deadly ſting into them, had not transformed them into ſins image. Theſe ſtood up to ſtickle for God, to ſtop the mouth of blaſphemy, and to ſtabliſh one another in perſwaſion of Gods holy truth, and conſtant care of his dear children.

ſpake often one to another] Montanus renders it, Tune vaſtati ſunt timentes Deminum; ſc. ab impijs & Atheis impune cos invadentibus; That is, Then were thoſe that ſeared the Lord Waſted and deſtroyed, viz. by thoſe wicked Atheiſts, who fell from fierce words, to bloody blows: ſo the word is uſed, 2 Chron. 22.10. Pſal. 2.5. But this is far ſet, and nothing ſo agreeable to the mind of the Holy Ghoſt here, as our Engliſh after other approved Tranſlations. It is the ſame word that is uſed verſe 13. Thoſe ſpoke not ſo much againſt God, as theſe did for him, and about him to each other,Heb. 12.13. for mutuall confirmation, that that which was halting haply might not be turned out of the way, but healed rather. Great is the benefit of Chrillian conference, for ſtrengthening the weak knees, and comforting the feeble minded.Job 6.25. How Forcible are right words? One ſeaſenable truth falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a ſtrong and ſweet operation: as ſome ſpeeches of Staupicius had upon Luther: Liſe of L[illegible: 2 letters]k. by Mr Clack pag 85. Of whom it is alſo ſtorted, that he was much cheared up by conference with an old Prieſt diſcourſing about [illegible: 1 span] by faith, and explaining the Articles of the Creed to him. Latimer likewiſe was much furthered by hearing Bilneys confeſſion, and having frequent conference with him, at Heretikes-Lill, as the place where they moſt uſed to walk in the fields at Cambridge,Acts & Mon. fol. 1574. was called long after. Surely, as a little boat may land a man into a large Continent: ſo may a ſew good words ſuggeſt matter ſ[illegible: 4 letters]ient for a whole lives meditation. This [illegible: 1 word] well knows, and therefore as he did what he could to keep God and Daniel aſunder, Dan. 6.7. So he doth ſtill to keep the ſaints one from another, that they may not build up themſelves in their moſt Loly faith pray in the holy Choſt, pull one another out of the fire, &c. How were the Ap[illegible: 2 letters]ies perſecuted for their Chriſtian meetings, the primitive Chriſtians baniſhed and confined to Hes and Mines,Jude 2[illegible: 1 letter], 23. where they could not have acceſſe one to another, as Cyprias complains: the poor faints here in times of Popery, [illegible: 1 span] meeting as they could for mutuall edification; and therefore accuſed of ſedition: for prevention whereof it was ordained, that if [illegible: 1 word] ſhould flock ſecretly together above the number of ſix, they ſhould be attached of treaſon: [illegible: 1 span] ſo the Proteſtants at Milcenburg in Cermany were forbidden upon pain of death to ſpeak together of Scripture-matters And at Nola the Jeſuites ſtraitly charged the people not to talk of God, [illegible: 1 span] either in good ſort or in bad. See more of this in my Treatiſe on theſe words, called The kighteous mans Recomponſe. Chap. 4. Docl. 3. annexed to this Commentary.

and the Lord hearkened and heard] He not onely heard, but hearkened, or liſiened; Giſt us hit eſt diligenter auſcultantis, Eſay 32.3. It imports, not onely attention of body, but intention of minde, (as when a man liſteneth as for life, and makes hard ſhift to hear all) and retention of memory. For which purpoſe alſo a booke of remembrance is here ſaid to be written before him, or by his appointment. Liber monnmemi, A book of Acts and Monuments, in alluſion to the cuſtome of Kings. See Eſth. 2.23. Tamerlan (that warlike Scythian) had alwayes by him a catalogue of the names and good deſerts of his ſervants,Turk, hiſt. ſol. 227. which he daily peruſed, and whom he duely rewarded: not needing by them, or any others in their behalf, to be put in remembrance. Much leſſe doth the Lord, who bottles up the tears of his people, files up their prayers, puts all their holy ſpeeches and practiſes on record, that he may make all honourable mention of them at the laſt day, in that great Amphitheatre, that generall Aſſembly: not once remembring any of their miſdeeds, Mat. 25.35. Heb. 8.12. See more of this in the Righteous mans Recompenſe, Chap. 5. & 6.

and that thought upon his Name] That had God before their eyes, Pſal. 10.8. that minded his glory, 1 Cor. 10.31. that thought upon his commandements to do them; Pſal. 103.18. that can truly ſay with the Pſalmiſt, How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God? how great is the ſumme of them, Pſal. 139.17. See more of this verſe in my Righteous mans Recompenſe, Chap. 7. Doct. 16.