372 Chap. 3 3 . AnExpo f v tion apex the Boob o f J o B. Verf. 23 . untoSaul, filling, haft theeand come ; for thePhiliflims have in-, vaded the land. We readof an evils meffenger ( Pro: i 3. 17. ) who is either fuch a one as brings ata evill rneffagè , or is himfelfe. evill ( Ifa: 14. 3 2.) What fhallone then aaifwer to the mefengers oftheNation, theLordbath foundedZion, and thepoore ofhis peo- ple(hall truft in it. And as it notes a meffenger firfi byman, to a meffenger fent by God. The ancient Prophetswere in this fence the Angelis of God, his meffengers, and fo are theMinigers of the Gofpel at thisday. The Epiftles to the feaven Churches, are all 'dire* ted to the Angells ofthe Churches, that is, to the feverall Paflors or Minigers of the Churches refpeelively. And thus we may conclude, that by the meffenger in this text,we are to under- {land any faithfull Minifter of Chrifl, fent to convince, convert, or comfort a Fick troubled foule. And, as was intimated before, we may very well gather up both theft latter interpretations into one, that which applyeth intoChrifl, and that which applyeth it to the Minigers ofChrifi. For fowe have here both the author and the infirument of this comfort to the lick man. left*, Chrift is the chiefe meffenger and comforter of porefanners ; and the Mini- fiers of the Gofpel are infiruments in his hand, fent out by him for the perfecting of that worke. Theword is applyed to both, Nuncio/ eft ( Mai: 3.1. ) Behold, 114411fend my meffenger (or, myAngel ) propheta alt- and he fhail prepare the way before me. John the Baptifi was ¿co feu or Chrii}smelfenger, as Chrifl himfelfe(an infallible interpreter ) rift; affureth us (Math: I I. To.) And prefently it follows, The Lord whom ye feekjleall fiaddenly come to his Temple, even thf effexger of theCovenant, whomyedelight in ;Behold; he fhallcoo , faith the Lord ofhofls. In the firfi part of the verfe, john is called the Lordsmeffenger, and inthe latter part Chrift is called the Lords meffenger. Both were meirengers, yet with a mighty difference ; and therefore John the meffenger of Chrift , faith of Chrifi the meffenger, (Math 3. I I .) He that comethafter me is mightier then I, whofs (hoes I amnot worthy to beare. - Andagain( john r. 26.) He it as that coming after me is preferred beforeme, ,bofe (ioeslatchet I armnot worthy tosenloofe. If there be ameffcngur. Hence note.. Firft , .The MintersofChrifl.are themeffengers ofChrift. Cbrifi is the fathersmeffenger and they are sneffengers lent
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