John Trapp on Malachi 3:4

Verſe 4. Then ſhall the offerings of Judah and Jeruſalem] That is, of the Latine Church, and of Rome, ſaith Ribera. A partiall fancy of a Poniſh Interpreter boldly pr[illegible: 1 letter]pou [illegible: 1 word], barely proved: and therefore as he affirmeth without reaſon, ſo h[illegible: 1 letter] may b[illegible: 1 letter] diſm[illegible: 1 letter]ſſed without refutation. Uaderſtand it rather of the whole church wh[illegible: 3 letters]ſo[illegible: 1 letter]ver, in Cities, or Countries: and obſerve, that neither Judah nor Jeru[illegible: 1 letter]d[illegible: 1 letter]m, how highly ſoever honoured or favoured otherwiſe, ſhall have their oftering accepted in heaven, unleſſe their hearts be firſt purified by faith. Till then,Rom. 12.1 their ſacrifices, how ſpecious ſoever, are neither living (but dead works, as the [illegible: 1 letter]uthow to the Hebrews calles it) nor holy, that is, pure and unpolluted 1 Cor. 7.34. unleſſe themſelves be partakers of the grace of life 1 Pet. 3.7. and can boldly ſay with David, preſerve my ſoule, for I am holy, or one whom thou favoureſt. Pſal. 86.2. So Pſal. 4.3. he makes this the ground of his hope, that his prayer ſh[illegible: 2 letters]ld [illegible: 2 letters] heard, that the Lord looked upon him as a godly perſon. God regards [illegible: 1 word] the praye, if the man be not right. The blood of a ſheeep and of a ſwine are like: yea, it may be the blood of a ſwine is better and ſweeter then of a ſheep, yet was [illegible: 1 letter]t not to be offered, becauſe of a ſwine. See Heb. 13.16. Philip. 4.18. Joh. 15.16. Pſal. 147 11. Eſay 62.4. Heb. 11.6. Look how light, ſaith Chryſ[illegible: 1 letter]ſt[illegible: 1 letter]ne, maketh all things pleaſing to men: ſo doth faith to God. True faith is like t[illegible: 1 letter]e ſalt that healed the waters 2 King. 2.21. O pray Chriſt to caſt in a curſeful[illegible: 3 letters] it into our hearts, or elſe we loſe all our ſervices; nay we do worſe then loſe our labour, for diſpleaſing ſervice is double diſhonour: we do but take paines to go to hell. See more of this matter in the Notes on chap. 1. verſe 9, 10.

as in the dayes of old, as in former years] i. e. As the ſacrifices of Abel, Abraham, Aaron, &c. as the prayers and holy performances of David, Eliah, Samuel (who is thought to be the ſame with Pethu[illegible: 1 letter]l lo[illegible: 1 letter] 1.1. which ſignifieth a I'erſwader of God, and that he was ſo called, becauſe he could have what he would of God) Cornelius, Paul &c. were very effectuall and available, and did wonders even to the opening and ſhutting of heaven,Iob. 41 14. as Eliab to the opening of the doores of Leviathan, as Ionah, to the delivering even graves of their dead, as Heb. 11.35. &c. ſo they ſhall be ſtill, as effectuall, as thoſe Ancient Saints, we draw near with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, having our hearts ſprinkled from an evill conſcience, and our bodyes waſhed with pure water Heb. 10.22. See Iam. 5.16, 17, 18. and Hoſ. 12.4. The Prophet ſpeaking of Jacob his wreſtling with God by weeping, and his prevailing by praying (ſo that he was knighted for his good ſervice, and dubb'd Iſrael, or a Prince of God) ſubjoynes for our comfort, God found him in Bethel, and there he ſpake with us. So then, what encouragement acceſſe and ſucceſſe Iacob had at Bethel, the ſame have we: provided that we ſo carry the matter, that it may be ſaid of us, as Pſal. 24.6. This is the generation of them that ſeek him; of them that ſeek thy face: this is Jacob: Provided that as Jarob wreſtled in the night, and alone, and when God was leaving him, and upon one leg: ſo do we, amidſt all difficulties and diſcouragements.