Homilist Malachi 3:3 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… In this character, sitting, purifying, Christ RECOGNISES THE WORTH OF REGENERATE SOULS. He created them by His power. He redeemed them by His love. His work is to them even more valuable. As He burns up the dross of depravity, the souls become more precious in His sight. II. HE EMPLOYS PAINFUL INSTRUMENTALITIES. Purifies by fire. The fire of truth. The fire of the Spirit. The fire of trial; of personal and relative afflictions, the fire of persecution. As nothing can purify the gold and the silver but fire, so nothing but the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of providence can purge the human soul of all the dross of sin. III. HE IS PERMANENTLY ENGAGED. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier." IV. HE AIMS AT THE ENTIRE CONSECRATION TO GOD. "That they may offer unto God an offering of righteousness." The great work of every man is that of a priest. Man has to "offer to the Lord," his faculties, his being, all he has and is, and to do all this in "righteousness." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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