dead; who delivered us from so great a death, and doth
deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us," 2 Cor. i. 8-10.
Our brethren also "helping together by prayer for us," that for the mercy
bestowed on us by means of the prayers of many, thanks may be given by
many on our behalf. "The Lord liveth, and blessed be my Rock: and let the
God of my salvation be exalted," Psal. xviii, 46; He is our God; and we
will prepare for him an habitation; our father's God, and we will exalt
him, Exod. xv. 2; "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only
doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let
the whole earth be filled with his glory," Psal. lxxii. 18, 19. Scotland
shall yet be "a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem
in the hand of thy God," Isa. lxii. 3; and shall be called Hephzi-bah and
Beulah. Only let us remember our evil ways, and be confounded, and never
open our mouth any more because of our shame, when the Lord our God is
pacified towards us. Now are both kingdoms put to a trial, whether their
humiliations be filial, and whether then can mourn for sin more than for
judgment. And let us now hear what the Spirit speaketh to the churches,
and not turn again to folly New provocations, or the old unrepented, will
create new ones; therefore "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto us."

SERMON.

MALACHI iii. 2.

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when
he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's
soap."

If you ask, "Of whom speaketh the Prophet this, of himself or of some
other man?" (Acts viii. 34)--it is answered, both by Christian and Jewish
interpreters: The Prophet speaketh this of Christ, the Messenger of the
covenant, then much longed and looked for by the people of God, as is
manifest by the preceding verse. And as it was fit that Malachi, the last
of the prophets, should shut up the Old Testament with clear promises of
the coming of Christ (which you find in this and in the following
chapter), so he takes the rather occasion from the corrupt and degenerate
estate of the priests at that time (which he had mentioned in the former
chapter) to hold forth unto the church the promised Messiah, who was to
come unto them to purify the sons of Levi.

But if you ask again, Of what coming or appearing of Christ doth the
Prophet speak this? whether of the first, or of the last, or of any