ing upon Thee; and because of Thy signs, which are every day with us ; and because of Thy wonders, and marvellous loving-kindnesses, which are, morning and evening and night, continually before us. Thou art good, for Thy mercies are not consumed; Thou art merciful, for Thy loving-kindnesses fail not. For ever we hope in Thee; and for all these mercies be Thy name, O King, blessed, and exalted and lifted up on high for ever and ever; and let all that live give thanks unto Thee. And let them in truth and sincerity praise Thy name, O God of our salvation and our help. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, whose name is good, and whom it is fitting always to give thanks unto. 19. Give peace, beneficence, and benediction, grace, benignity, and mercy unto us, and to Israel Thy people. Bless us, O our Father, even all of us together as one man. With the light of Thy countenance hast Thou given unto us, O Lord our God, the law of life, and love, and benignity, and righteousness, and blessing, and mercy, and life, and peace. And let it seem good in Thine eyes to bless Thy people Israel with Thy peace at all times and in every moment. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who blessed Thy people Israel with peace. 22 Amen. MALACHI. LECTURE XLV. MALACHI. glow of the of the pro- The last brief Prophets. "THE age1 of Ezra-the last pure "long days of the Old Testament seers — "duced one more prophetic work, the composition of Malachi. With its clear insight into "the real wants of the time, its stern reproof even of "the priests themselves, and its bold exposition of the "eternal truths and the certainty of a last judgment, "this book closes the series of prophetic writings in "a manner not unworthy of such lofty predecessors. "And, indeed, it is no less important than consistent in "itself that even the setting sun of the Old Testament days should still be reflected in a true prophet, and "that the fair days of Ezra and Nehemiah should in "him be glorified more nobly still." Malachi was the last of the Prophets. Such prophets and prophetesses as had appeared since the time of Haggai and Zechariah 2 were but of a weak and inferior kind. He alone represents the genuine spirit of the ancient oracular order - as far at least as concerns the purely Hebrew history-till the final and transcendent burst of Evangelical and Apostolical proph 1 Ewald, v. 176. 3 2 Nehemiah vi. 7, 12, 14. 1 Macc. iv. 46; ix. 27; xiv. 41; Dan. iii. 38 (LXX.); Psalm lxxiv. 9; Ecclus. xxxvi. 15. |