Ezekiel 18

Ezekiel 18:2

HAve eaten] have sinned, and the children have suffered for it: as the sins of Mannash are remembred upon Judah, and the sinnes of Jeroboam upon the ten tribes, See Lamentations 5:7.

Ezekiel 18:3

Any more] Since you make my patience an argument whereupon to tax my judgements; I will hereafter bring them presently upon him that sinneth, and lay open your iniquities, like unto the iniquities of your forefathers, for which I have heretofore punished you.

Ezekiel 18:4

All soules] I am equally God, and Judge of all; not accepting of persons. And if I doe delay my generall punishments, it is out of my superabundant goodnesse. And if the children doe beare the iniquities of the fathers, it is according to justice, either by reason of their imitating them, or in so much as I punish them in their body and goods, which they have from their fathers. But the judgements upon the soule, which proceed absolutely from me and is mine, have no other cause nor foundation, but every ones owne works.

Ezekiel 18:6

Hath not eaten] namely, of the idols sacrifices, whose service was done upon hils and mountaines, Ezekiel 22:9. See Deuteronomy 32:38. Psalms 106:28. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21. List up his] that is to say, shall have detested them with all his heart Desiled] by adultery.

Ezekiel 18:10

Any one] the Italian, any thing like to one] Heb. the brother of any of these things.

Ezekiel 18:11

Any of those] namely, all the good deeds set downe before, v. 7, 8, 9.

Ezekiel 18:13

His bloud] He shall suffer the capitall punishment for his owne sinne, and he shall be the causer of his owne death, Leviticus 20:9. Acts 18:6.

Ezekiel 18:17

Hath taken off his hand] the Italian, hath withdrawne] that is to say, keeps himselfe from wronging or oppressing him] though he might have cause to doe it.

Ezekiel 18:19

Why] He sheweth, that those prophane men contending with the Prophets did seeke to catch them, and make them confesse, either that Gods judgements were not just, in punishing the children for the fathers sinnes: Or that the Prophets limitations and expositions were contrary to Gods Law, Exodus 20:5. Deut. 59. When] the meaning of my Law is, that I will punish the sinnes of the fathers upon the children, in case that they follow their fathers examples: which I doe often suffer to fall out so, through my secret judgement; And if through my speciall grace I doe sanctifie them, so that they doe not follow their fathers steps, they shall also be exempted from the punishment.

Ezekiel 18:20

The sonne] namely, the innocent sonne, who is by my spirit purged from his fathers wickednesses: Yet this is no generall rule, in respect of the body, and bodily goods, in which God in all seasons hath visited the children for the fathers sinnes; but must be understood of the everlasting punishment of the soule, or especially and particularly of the corporall punishments of those times The righteousnesse] that is to say, every one shall receive either a reward for his good works, or punishment for his evill works.

Ezekiel 18:22

Shall live] He shall be delivered from the common evils of this world, and shall attaine to everlasting life, to which the true way and direction is the pure and constant conversion of a sinner.

Ezekiel 18:23

And live] Or had I not rather that he should be converted from his evill wayes and live?

Ezekiel 18:25

Ye say] the Italian, will ye say] will you yet dare to taxe, either mine actions with injustice, or my words, and my law with contradiction? Are not your] All the injustice is in you who follow your fathers wayes, and not in me. My Law agreeth well with this doctrine, but your understanding is perverted.

Ezekiel 18:26

When〈◊〉] This is the rule of my soveraigne Justice, that the death of every one shall be the punishment of his owne proper sinne; as the order of my mercy is, to give a sinner hope that he shall be restored by repentance. Both the one and the other ought to be well enough knowne unto you; but that in this contestation you fight against your owne consciences.

Ezekiel 18:30

Every one] and not for the sinnes of their fathers, as you impute it to me Your ruine] the Italian, a stumbling blocke to you] to cause your ruine.

Ezekiel 18:31

Make you] give way to the spirit of grace, to whom it properly belongeth to regenerate a man, who cannot doe it of himselfe, Ier. 13. 23. Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 26.