Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

2. See then that which may bring Holiness into repute,¹ and make us become Proselytes to it. It casts a splendour upon us, and makes God number us among his Jewels. Some are loath to embrace Godliness for fear it will be a stain to their Reputation, and bring them out of favour with great men: you see how it doth raise a persons renown, it makes him precious in Gods sight, he is a Jewel. Believers in regard of their mystical ⟨p. 178⟩union with Christ, have a preciousness above the Angels: the Angels are Morning Stars, Job 38, 7. Believers are clothed with the Sun of Righteousness, Rev. 12.1.

1. 12 Branch.

See the different Opinion that God hath of the Godly and the Wicked:¹ the one he esteems precious, the other vile, Nahum 1.14. I will make thy Grave, for thou art Vile: this is spoken of King Sennacherib: though he was by Birth Noble, yet he was by sin Vile. The Hebrew word for Vile^*, signifies, of base esteem. Though the Wicked are high in dignity and worldly grandeur, yet God slights them. A dunghill may be higher than other ground, but it sends forth noisome Vapours: Psalm 14.3. They are altogether become filthy. In the Original it is, they are become stinking^*