Restraining or Stopping (“to check”) the Wisdom of God to the Church by treating some of inspired and preserved Scripture “needless.”

“There are some who think many things needless to be known and heard, many things not fit to be taught, as before, ver. 6. Besides that was then said, I say, let them see if this be not to check the wisdom of God, who hath both written and preserved the whole to the church; and if pride did not transport them beyond themselves, it could not be they should be so affected. As wisdom would teach them that many things are necessary, though not the present profit of them appear. For as in instruments only the strings sound, yet there are other things in the whole body, as that whereunto they are tied, the bridge, the pins, which help the music. So in the prophets, though all be not prophecies, yet they are things to which these are tied and illustrated (Aug. de Civ. Dei, lib. xvi. 2). And sometimes for those things which signify something, are those things which signify nothing added. As the ground is only ploughed and rent up by the ploughshare, yet that this may be, other parts of the plough are necessary. And humility, if they had any, would teach to suspect their own wisdom in not seeing the use and end, the profit and fitness of things, rather than questioning and reasoning against God. Others can be content to hear all pleasant things, as the promises and mercies of God; but judgments and reproofs, threats and checks, that they cannot brook; like unto those who, in medicines affect only the smell, or trimness, or gayness of them, as pills rolled in gold, but cannot away with the force of purging and preserving. And see not that a great company more go to hell by presuming in their lives than by despairing at their deaths. Some can willingly hear that which concerns other men and their sins, their lives and manners, but nothing touching themselves at all and their own sins: as men can willingly abide to hear of other men’s deaths, but cannot abide to hear of their own. Oftentimes they will make the minister to believe as they did, Jer. lxii. 5, 6, ‘Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a witness of truth and faith between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good or evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.’ But when he shall declare unto them the will of God that crosseth their affections, they will entertain him, and answer, as chap, xliii. 2, ‘Thou speakest falsely, the Lord hath not sent thee to say thus.’ These, and such like, are here reproved and convinced of the breach of this duty, that the receive not, nor desire the law of God.”

Richard Stock (1568/69-1626), “A Commentary upon the Prophecy of Malachi” (1651), Nichol’s Series of Commentaries, Thomas Smith, ed., (Edinburg: James Nichol, 1865), 146.