deftruction. For want of adverting to this, an opinion hath prevailed among Chriftian interpreters, that the whole prophecy relateth principally to the day of judgment, and to the appearance of an Elias, who fhall then precede Chrift. Whether there will be fuch an Elias at that time, and fo the fecond advent will fymbolize with the firft in the circumftance of being previously proclaimed by a harbinger, like St. John, fent for that purpose, is a fpeculation with which we fhall not at prefent concern ourselves, refting fatisfied with the application of the prophecy, upon infallible grounds, to the perfon of the Baptift, the undoubted forerunner of our Lord, when he came to vifit us in great humility.

GOD

t

GOD punisheth not finners, till he hath firft invited them to repentance. He giveth fair warning before he ftriketh; and a day of grace, in which mercy may be fought, and pardon found, always goeth before a day of vengeance and extermination. Elias was fent" before the coming of "the great and dreadful day of the "Lord;" John called his countrymen to turn from their fins, and believe in their Meffiah, ere yet the defolations of Jerufalem exhibited to the wondering nations a fpecimen of that almighty power and inflexible justice, which shall one day lay the world itself in ruins.

THE third chapter of Malachi containeth a moft evident and clear prediction of Meffiah's advent, with that

of

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of his precurfor St. John, Behold, "I will fend my meffenger, and he "fhall prepare the way before me; "and the Lord whom ye feek shall "fuddenly come to his temple, "even the meffenger of the cove"nant whom ye delight in: behold "he fhail come, faith the Lord of "hofts." The prophet goes on to foretell the effects of Chrift's advent in the selection of a peculiar people, and the purification of a new priesthood, to offer new and acceptable offerings.. "But who may abide the

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day of his coming, and who fhall "stand when he appeareth? For he "is like a refiner's fire, and like ful"ler's foap. And he fhall fit as a "refiner and purifier of filver; and "he hall purify the fons of Levi,

"and

"and purge them as gold and filver, "that they may offer unto the Lord "an offering in righteoufnefs. Then "fhall the offering of Judah and "Jerufalem be pleasant unto the "Lord, as in the days of old, and "as in former years;" pleafant as in the days when their fathers offered in faith, and the defire of Meffiah's appearance was the ruling paffion of their fouls. The reft of the chapter is employed in reproving the rebellion, facrilege, and infidelity of the Jews; and the fourth chapter opens with a description of the day fatal to Jerufalem-"Behold the day cometh "that fhall burn as an oven, and all "the proud, yea and all that do "wickedly fhall be ftubble, and the day that cometh fhall burn them

“up,

up, faith the Lord of hofts, that it "fhall leave them neither root nor "branch." For the confolation of the faithful, God by his prophet again foretelleth Meffiah's advent, with the increafe, victory, and triumph of the church-" But unto you that "fear my name, fhall the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS arife, with heal"ing in his wings; and ye fhall

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go

'forth, and grow up as the firfilings "of bullocks: and ye shall tread "down the wicked, for they fhall "be afhes under the foles of your "feet, in the day that I fhall do this, faith the Lord of hofts." In the mean time, "Remember ye the law of Mofes my fervant, which I mmanded unto him in Horeb all Ifrael, with the ftatutes and " judgments."