Works (Vol 4) - Newton - IV - Sermon IV (The Lord coming to his temple)

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon IV (The Lord coming to his temple).

My summary
This week Newton preaches on 'the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  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 fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)'

Newton continues to teach us about the Messiah and so from this text explores:
(i) the names which are here ascribed to Messiah;
(ii) the suddenness of his coming;
(iii) the searching power of it in general, expressed by 'a refiner's fire', and by 'fullers' soap';
(iv) its purifying power on 'the sons of Levi', the priesthood in particular.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed Newton's application to ministers: 'It is a mournful fact that the ministry is become contemptible ; nor is it difficult to assign the cause. But we are favoured with the Gospel, and are eye-witnesses of its purifying power. It still produces the effects which marked its progress when it was preached by the apostles. It enlightens the dark mind, softens the hard heart, heals the wounded spirit ; and many persons who before were burdensome to society, are rendered by it ornamental and useful. When every other argument and motive has failed of success, the consideration of the mercies of God in Christ, revealed by the Gospel, constrains the believing sinner to present himself a living, willing, holy sacrifice unto God. Thus, being purified by the blood of Jesus, he offers to the Lord a sacrifice in righteousness. Such principles and aims are essential to a Christian minister. He knows the terrors of the Lord, and has tasted of his goodness. He is constrained by love, the love of Christ, and the love of souls. He preaches, as the apostle did, Jesus Christ, and him crucified ; a subject which, though despised and reproached by the formal Jew and the sceptical Greek, is evidenced , by its efficacy, to be the wisdom and power of God. Such ministers may be, and frequently are, depreciated and disregarded ; but they cannot be contemptible until integrity, benevolence, and usefulness, are the proper objects of contempt. '

The gospel is indeed the power of God.

Next week's reading
Read Sermon V (Immanuel).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.