Download Ebook

130
Chapter
XVIII.
Yen 2.
Yetvj.
A Commentary
Ver. 2. 1\HgA T mean ye that ye ufe
this Troverb concerning the
Land of lfrael?~\ With refpeft
to the Defolations made
in it by Sword, Famine and
Peftilence. See Chap. vi. 2,
3, he. vii. 2.
Ibid. The Fathers have eaten fower Graces , and
the Childress Teeth are fet on Edge J] i. e. The
prefent Generation is punifhed for the Offences
committed by their Forefathers, particularly for
the Sins committed in the time of Manaffeh King
of Judah : See Jerem. xv. 4. xxxi, 29. Lament, v.
7. 2 Kjngs xxiii. 26. This Proverb had likewife a
profane Senfe implied in it, and infinuated that the
prefent Age was not remarkably worfe than thofe
that had gone before it, and fo did not deferve to
be made an extraordinary Example of God's Ven-
geance.
Ver. 3. qAs I live, faith the Lord, ye {hall not
have occafion to tije this Troverb any more in IfraelJ]
I will make fuch 'avifible Difcrimination
between the Righteous and th* Wicked, between
thofe that tread in the Steps of their Forefathers,
and thofe who take warning by their Examples,
that you fhall not have any farther Occafion to ufe
this Proverb among you. God expreQy threatens
to Vifit the Sins of the Fathers ufon -the Childre?i
both in the Old and New Teftarnent ; See Exod.
xx. 5. Matth. xxiii. 35. But this is to be underftood
only with refpect to the temporal Punifhments of
this World, (and thefe he doth not always inflict in
an exact Proportion to the Demerits of thofe that
fuf-