July 6

And he shall sit as a Refiner.—Malachi 3:3.

CHRIST is obviously intended in this prophecy, and it quite accords with the Apostle's description of the end of Christ's coming, "Who gave himself that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14.) Christ's refining, is the purifying of his people, the removal of all dross, and alloy, and imparting unto them those holy qualities, which will render them fit for the most honorable purposes on earth, and finally meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. The Gold of Christ's church is not pure, until he hath sat, and brought it through the refining process. How then does he do this, in what way does he act as the refiner of his people? His truth is refining. The words of his mouth are pure words, and they enlighten the eyes, and exert a cleansing power over the heart and life. Hence he prayed to his Father, and said, "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." His Spirit is refining. Hence that blessed agent is called the Holy Spirit, not only because he is essentially holy, but also because all holiness is the result of his influences. The Spirit refines, by leading the mind into all truth, and by applying the blood of Jesus to the conscience, which cleanseth from all sin. Hence in reference both to the truth and the Spirit conjointly, the Apostle says, "Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit. (1 Peter 1:22.) Christ refines by afflictions. He brings his people into the furnace, and by causing them to pass through the fires, he makes them to lose the dross and tin of sin. He himself, is said to have been made perfect through sufferings, and though no chastening for the present is joyous, but grievous, yet afterwards, it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them, who are exercised thereby.