John Trapp on Malachi 4:2

Verſe 2. But unto you that fear my name What ſhall be the condition of gra[illegible: 2 letters]eſſe perſons, hath been ſaid already. Now for the righteous, that they have not ſerved God in vain, it ſhall well appear by the many benefits they ſhall reap and receive by Chriſt: five whereof are he[illegible: 1 letter]e recited. 1 Imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe; which is compared to the illightening of this lower world by the beames of the Sun. 2. Remiſſion of ſins, which is compared to the healing or diſeaſes. 3. Regeneration, which is likened to a ſick mans walking forth, when he is ſomewhat recovered. 4. Spirunall grouth, as calves of the ſtall. 5. Victory over all enemies corporall and ſpiritual, which ſhall be trodden under foot, as aſhes of the furnace ver. 3.

ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſſe ariſe] So Chriſt is called (as by other Prophets Iſa. Pſal. 84.11. 60.1, 2, 19. Luks 1.78. Ioh. 8.12.) to ſignific the joy of Gods elect at the ſight of him: as thoſe that have long layne in darkneſſe count it a Pleaſant thing to ſee the light. A Sun of righteouſneſſe he is ſaid to be. 1. As afferting and vindicaing the righteouſneſſe of God, called in queſtion by thoſe Blaſphemers 2. As beſtowing upon his people a double righteouſneſſe (Imputed and Imparted) as the Sun doth his light Ioh. 1.16. It is further ſaid here, that he ſhall ariſe, that is, he ſhall appear and ſhew himſelf on earth, who now lieth hid, as it were in heaven; as the materiall Sun doth under the Horizon. God was manifeſted is the ſteſh 1 Tim. 3.16. Manifeſted out of the boſom of his father, out of the womb of his mother, out of the types of the law &c. In his Nativity he came forth as the Sun doth, as a bridegroome out of his chamber. In the whole courſe of his life he rejoyced as a Gyant to run his race. He enlightened and warmed the dark and dry hearts of men, he filled them with the fruits of righteouſneſſe Ioh. 15.5. He could not be ſtay'd or ſtopped in his courſe: He made his goſpel to run and be glorified. He was and is ſtill in continuall motion for the good of his Church: as the Sun in heaven is for the good of the world. He went under a cloud in his paſſion, and brake forth again in his Reſurrection. From heaven he daily darts forth his beams of righteouſneſſe, and ſhowres down all ſpirituall bleſſings in heavenly priviledges Eph. 1.3. The Sun ſucks up foul water from the earth, drawes it up into the ayte, not to hold it there; but firſt purifies it, and then diſtilles it down again with a fattening and fructifying property. Hereupon the thankfull earth brings forth moſt fair and fragrant fruits and flowers &c. Semblably this [illegible: 1 letter]un of righteouſneſſe took on him our ſins and miſeries, ſordes noſtras induit, aſſumed our humane nature, not to retain it, and glorify it in himſelf alone,Philip. 1 10 but that we might be congloriſied, and, in the mean ſpace, filled with thoſe fruits of holineſſe, which are by Jeſus Chriſt unto the glory and praiſe of God. And as the Sun the nearer he runns to the earth, the weaker he is in operation (as in winter-time) But the higher in heaven, the more effectuall: So while Chriſt was not yet aſcended, the holy Ghoſt and his grace, were not in that full meaſure imparted, nor Churches gathered as afterwards Ioh. 7.39. Laſtly at that laſt and great day he will ſhew himſelf in ſpeciall manner a Sun of righteouſneſſe: clearing all obſcurities, bringing to light the hidden things of darkneſſe, cauſing his peoples moſt holy faith, that now lyes hid in great part, to be found to praiſe, honour and glory, Chearing up their ſpirits after manifold tribulations, healing all their ſpiritual maladies; for he comes with healing under his wings] and making them as ſo many Sampſons (whoſe name ſignifies, a little Sun) in the Noon of their full ſtrength.Ipſe eſt ergo neſter Apolle ſanitatis praeſes. A Lap. Soliſus. For the righteous ſhall ſhine as he Sun in the kingdome of their Father Mat. 13. I ſhall ſhat up this diſcourſe with that obſervation of an Ancient: When the Sun of righteouſneſs was yet in his Mothers womb, he might be ſaid to be in Virgo: when on the Croſs, in Taurus: when he roſe from death, in Leo: when he ſhall come again to judgement, in Libra. And as when the Sun is in Libra the day is of an equall length: ſo when Chriſt cometh, all ſhall be perfected.

with healing in his wings] that is, in his beames. This implies ſickneſſe in all, to whom Chriſt comes: the world being as it were a great Hoſpitall, or Neſoromium (though few feel it) and that true of every perſon that is ſpoke of the whole people Eſay 1.6. The whole head is ſick &c. O my head, my head, ſaid the Shunamites ſon: my belly, my belly, faith the Prophet, my leaeneſſe, my leaneneſſe &c. And ſurely it were happy if men would be more ſenſible of their malady, and make out to this Jehovah Rophe, this Almighty Phyſitian,Exod. 15.26. that wants neither will nor skill to cure all that come unto him. See him hanging out his tables as it were, and ſetting to ſale his eye-ſalve Rev. 3.18. for there he begins the cure Act. 26.18. Hear him. 1. Complaining of our dulneſſe, backwardneſſe, frowardneſſe Ior. 8.22. Ezech. 24.13. Hoſ. 7, 1. 2 Wiſhing we had more care of our poor ſoules. Oh that this people were wiſe &c. Why will ye dye? 3. Threatening Ezek. 24.13. 4. Promiſing Hoſ. 14.4. mat. 11.28. 5. Performing Pſal. 103.3. 2 Cron. 30.20. Laſtly providing all ſorts of phyſick for us preventing, purging, reſtoring, corroſives of the law, lenitives of the Goſpel, plaiſters of his on blood (for here Sanguis medici eſt curaio phrenetici) and requiring us no more but to come unto him (as they of old did to the brazen ſerpent) with ſorrow for ſin, and faith in his name, having a good opinion of our Phyſician, and caſting our ſelves wholy upon him for cure: Calling upon him, as blind Bartimaeus did, and crying out as that Martyr did at the ſtake, Son of God ſhine upon me; and immediatly the Sun ſhone out of a dark cloud ſo full in his face,Act. and Mor. fol. 1398. that he was conſtrained to look another way. What ſhall I ſay more? this bloſſed Sun of Righteouſneſſe muſt be ſought in the Weſt, if we will get the kingdome (as Strato's ſervant in Juſtin did by the adviſe of his maſter,Lib. 18. whom he had preſerved) upon the croſs I mean, and in the ſtate of his Abaſement: ſo ſhall we be ſure to finde healing in his wings, that is, the gracious influence of the holy Spirit convaying the vertue of Chriſts blood to the conſcience, as the beames of the Sun do the heat and influence thereof to the earth; thereby calling out the herbes and flowers, and healing thoſe deformities that winter had brought upon it.

and ye ſhall go forth] To ſhew that ye are thoroughly healed, ye ſhall riſe up and walk? Where the ſpirit is, there is liberty: live things love to be ſtirring:2 Cor. 3.17. and thoſe that are reſtored to health after ſickneſſe, are not ſatisfied till they can go about their buſineſſe in their accuſtomed ſtrength, Quod ſanitas in corpore, id ſanctitas in corde. Holineſſe is to the ſoul, what health is to the body. Let men [illegible: 1 span] out, that Chriſt Jeſus hath wrougtht a cure upon their ſoules, by being [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 span] in his work. Life conſiſts in action Eſ[illegible: 1 letter]y 38.16. O Lord by [illegible: 1 span] and in all the[illegible: 2 letters] things is the life or my ſpirit, ſaith Hezekiah: And, [illegible: 1 span] in them ſaith the Lord; as the fiſh lives in [illegible: 1 span] lives in the oyle, and as the creature by his food. Ʋp [illegible: 1 span]; Live betime, live quickly, and apace. Some men live [illegible: 1 span], then others in a moneth: as wi[illegible: 1 letter]e men ſpeak more in two words, [illegible: 1 span] two hundred, or as one piece of gold is more worth then twenty of [illegible: 1 span] what to do for God, as David did Pſal. 116.12. ſerve out your [illegible: 1 word] as he Act. 13.36. do not idle it out, wear out, do not waſt out: ſlame out,Hie ſuns eſt Vacla. [illegible: 1 span] out: burnout, be not blown out. Be not buried alive as [illegible: 1 span] out of the world ver. 23. as [illegible: 1 letter]acia in Seneca. Fall not from [illegible: 1 span], [illegible: 1 span] as leaves in Autumne, as that ſapleſſe fellow Nabal did: and as [illegible: 1 span] in Sr. Jude, Without fruit, twice [illegible: 1 word], pluckt uply the rootes. God expects that, [illegible: 1 word] firſt by him, we ſhould act as the inferiours do, when [illegible: 1 word] by the Superiour, that when he hath infuſed ſap, we ſhould fructifie, [illegible: 1 word] when he hath tuned u[illegible: 1 letter] and doth touch us, we ſhould make muſick, when he [illegible: 1 span] willing, he requires that we both will and work that which is [illegible: 1 span] When we ſet victuals before an hungry man, we expect he ſhould [illegible: 1 span] ſocking child to draw the breſt when it is once put to the [illegible: 1 span] as we uſe to ſay He that made us without us, doth [illegible: 1 span];2 [illegible: 1 span] but expects that our wills, which at firſt converſion were [illegible: 1 span], ſhould be after ward [illegible: 1 word] in adding to [illegible: 1 span] out our ſalvation with ſear and trembling Thil. [illegible: 1 letter].12. Here [illegible: 2 letters] [illegible: 1 span] us, as our Saviou[illegible: 2 letters]d d[illegible: 1 letter]w[illegible: 1 letter] finiſh the work which [illegible: 1 span] to do [illegible: 1 word] 17.4. This work [illegible: 1 span] him with our bodyes [illegible: 1 span] it be [illegible: 1 span]. 1.19. Ye to glorifie him [illegible: 1 span] bodyes, and nour [illegible: 1 word], which [illegible: 1 word] Cor. 16.2.20. God ſelis [illegible: 1 letter]s [illegible: 1 word] of grace for ſweat, [illegible: 1 word] One. He gives it as [illegible: 1 word] gave Ruck corn, chap. 2.1[illegible: 1 letter], 16, 17. He could have given her at [illegible: 1 word] Ephah of [illegible: 1 word]; and it had been no more charge to him: but he will have her gather it, glean it, beat it out, uſe her endeavour, and that ſhould be the price ſhe ſhould pay for it. So here Gods people healed muſt go forth or leep about, uſe legs and have [illegible: 1 word] &c. This I had becauſe [illegible: 1 span]. 119.[illegible: 1 letter]6. What had he? [illegible: 1 word] an ability to keep Gods law ver. 55. he kept it: becauſe he kept it: [illegible: 1 word] every new act of obedience fits the ſoule for a following act [illegible: 1 span] And to you that hear ſhall be more given Mark. 4.24.

and grow up as calve[illegible: 1 letter] of the ſtall] ye ſhall battle and [illegible: 1 word] both in fleſh and fat, [illegible: 1 span]1 2. Ioh. 15.2. as [illegible: 2 letters]. David expound it: your [illegible: 1 word] ſhall be [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 word] as waters of the ſanctuary they ſhall uſe higher, as threes plant [illegible: 1 span] paradiſe, they ſhal bring ſo th[illegible: 1 letter]n[illegible: 1 letter]w fruit every moneth: acth [illegible: 1 span] ſhall ſhine more and more unto the perfect day Pro. 4.18.2 Tim. 3.13. when the [illegible: 1 span] growing worſe and worſe ſtumble in darkneſſe ver. 19. ſo that they lie down in for [illegible: 3 letters] Iſa. 50.10. Th[illegible: 2 letters] bleſſing on man in the firſt creation was increaſe and multiply: in the ſecond, Grow in grace Eſay 61.[illegible: 1 letter], 11. A Chriſtian hath his degrees of growth, and his ſeverall ages, of childhood, youth, o[illegible: 1 letter] will-grown age, full-grown, and old age 1 Ioh. 2.[illegible: 2 letters]. Theſe things write I unto you, that beleeve in the name of the Son of God, that ye may beleeve in the name of the Son of God, ſaith the ſame Apoſtle that is, that ye [illegible: 2 letters]a[illegible: 1 letter] grow in that [illegible: 1 word], as ye grow in dayes and: [illegible: 1 word], proceeding from faith to faith: as the Church in the Canticles hath her firſt light like the day dawning, her ſecond beauty like the Moon, her third degree like the Sun Cdnt. 6.10. A Chriſtian (though in ſome ſenſe perfect) yet hath he ſtill his Plus-ultra, and may take for Motto Charles the fifth his Ʋlterius Further yet: he muſt be ſtill adding grace to grace, that he may have on entiance further and further into Chriſts kingdome 2 Pet. 1.5. and 11. as by ſtep and ſtain they went up to Solomons temple. And the Apoſtle there gives us to underſtand, that thoſe that thus add not to their ſtock of grace ſhall have little comfort either from the time paſt, for they ſhall forget that they were purged from their ſins; or from thoughts of the time to come, for they ſhall not be able to ſee things farr off ver. 9. becauſe they delight not in high-flying as Eagles: their wings, as the Oſtriches, do little more then bear them above-ground. Many care for no more grace then will keep life and fool together, that is, foul and hell aſunder. This is a low and unworthy ſtrain, and comes not near that of St. Paul, who ſet up for his mark the reſurrection of the dead Phil. 3.10. that is, that perfection of holineſſe that accompanieth the refurrection. To the attaining hereunto he followed har[illegible: 1 letter]on, reaching forth, and ſtretching out head, hands, and whole body, to lay hold on the high prize propoſed unto him. ver. 12, 13, 14. and would have all men to be thus minded. Runners in a race look not how much they have run, but how much remameth: and although moderate in the beginning, (for hot at hand feldom holds out) yet the nearer they grow to the goal, the faſter the ſpeed their courſe; that their laſt dayes may be their beſt dayes: accounting that day loſt wherein they have not ſome ſenſible commings in from Chriſt; like as good huſbands in dead times when ſtirrings fail, are diſcontented, when they have had no takings.