3$6 Religious Converfation recommended. SERM. lachi was to the worthier and better fort of XV. that people a meffenger of glad tidings, for v-he foretells the fpeedy coming of the Mgah, the confolation of Israel in every age.. He defcribes his character very particularly, and the great work of reformation he was to ef- feet, inftituting a purer form of worfhip, pre - fcribing a more rational and fpiritual obe- dience to the divine moral precepts than had formerly been pra &ifed or underftood, and effetually perfuading men to come into it. And he foretells our Saviour's fending his fore- runner to prepare his way, which is ex- pounded in feveral paffages of the New Tefta- ment concerning John Baptift. And to him the defcription exa&ly agreeth. But, from the feventh verfe of this chapter, the prophet feverely reproves that crooked and perverfe generation for their greatwickednefs He chargeth them with imitating the bad example of their fathers, notwithftanding the many fignal difpenfations of providence both in the way of judgment and mercy whereby God had interpofed to reclaim them fpecially the exa& completion of more an- tient threatnings by dormer prophets of the lamentable defolation of Jerufa.'em, and the cap-
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