A briefe exposition of such chapters of the olde testament as vsually are redde in the church at common praier on the Sondayes set forth for the better helpe and instruction of the vnlearned. By Thomas Cooper Bishop of Lincolne.

The Exposition vpon the .xviij. Chapter of Ezechiel.

The woorde of the Lorde came vnto mee saying,* 1.1 what meane ye by this, &c.

THe Prophetes often Prea∣ched vnto the Iewes, that it could not be but God would grieuously punish them because they Continued in the sinnes of their forefathers, and that he had long time of his Pacience borne with the offences of them both, and therefore of Necessitie Gods Iustice must nowe be executed. Vpon this occasion the Waywarde people easily beleeuing their fathers offences, and hardly brought in per∣swasion of their Owne, blasphemously murmu∣red agaynst God, and in their heartes condemned him of vniustice, because the punishment of their fathers offences should light vpon them. And to note this their Meaning, they vsed this common prouerbe: The fathers haue eaten sower grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge. By Sower grapes they vnderstood Idolatrie, sinne and wickednesse, as appeareth Esay.* 1.2 5. which their fathers had com∣mitted, and by Teeth on edge, the griefe and paine of the punishment. So that, as I haue sayd, their

meaning was, that God Iniuriously spared their sinfull fathers, and punished the Innocent chil∣dren.* 1.3 In Hieremie also Cap. 31. it may appeare they vsed the same prouerbe. Wherefore the Prophete Ezechiel in this place defendeth the Iustice of God agaynst their blasphemous Obloquie, & sheweth y^t as the wisdom of God might haue other respects in their punishments, then they were hable to con∣ceyue: so they could not Rightly quarrel with God in that poynt, because beside their fathers Wicked∣nesse, Euery man had his Owne sinnes, for which in Iustice he might be Condemned and punished. And the Prophet to this purpose vseth fiue eauses.

1 The first is, that the Iust man continuing in his Iustice, and doing in all thinges rightly shall prosper and not be punished. This doth he in the 5.* 1.4 6. 7. 8. and. 9. verses. Wherein also by particular properties he describeth a Iust man.

2 The second is, if that Iust father beget a Wic∣ked sonne,* 1.5 his fathers Iustice shall not helpe him, but he shal be punished for his Owne naughtines.

3 The thirde,* 1.6 if the Wicked man be getet a Iust sonne, who seeing his fathers euill doings feareth God, and liueth Vprightly, he shall not die in his Fathers sinnes, but liue & be in y^• fauour of God.

4 The fourth, if the vngodly man will Turne from his wicked wayes,* 1.7 and keepe the lawes and statutes of God, his sinnes that he did before shall not be Mentioned vnto him nor he punished for them. 5 If the righteous turne from his righte∣ousnesse and fall to Iuiquitie,* 1.8 his righteousnesse

shall not be remembred, but he shall be plagued for his Transgression wherein he continueth. For somuch as there are sundrie places of the Scrip∣tures that in words seeme contrarie to the sayings of Ezechiel, there may iustly seeme some Doubt to rise thereof.* 1.9 I will (sayth God) requite the sinnes of the fathers vpon the sonnes to the thirde and fourth generation.* 1.10 And againe. If thou wilt not heare the voice of the Lorde, &c. cursed shall be the fruite of thy wombe, and thy sonnes and thy daughters shal be de∣liuered to strangers.* 1.11 The like we haue.* 1.12 Exo. 34. and Hier. 23. and in many other places. For Chams of∣fence towarde his father, the Curse and punish∣ment lighteth vpon Chanaan.* 1.13 Many thousandes perished for Dauids sinne.* 1.14 At Sodome and in all ge∣neral plagues,* 1.15 the yong children that neuer in Act offended, were partakers of the punishment. &c. These things may seeme repugnant to Gods iu∣stice here defended by Ezechiel. And this was it that the Israelites and Ievves did finde themselues Grieued withall,* 1.16 Ieroboam sayd they, did set vp the golden Calues,* 1.17 and Manasses mainteyned Idola∣trie and corrupted the law of God, but the punish∣ment falleth vpon vs. To this we haue to answere that, when God sayd, Exod. 20. That he vvoulde pu∣nishe the sinnes of the fathers. &c. vnto the thirde and fourth generation, he added, of them that hate me. If the children hate God, and Followe theyr fathers Idolatrie and sinfulnesse, although God of his mercie Spare their fathers in Wordly pu∣nishment: he will plague them, and so muche the

more, Because they would not beware by their fa∣thers offences, and consider Gods goodnesse to∣warde them in graunting them Time and Space to repent. But some will aske whie God sayth, he will punish The sinnes of the fathers vpon their chil∣dren, seeing the children haue their owne sinnes, for which they are iustly punished? It may be an∣swered, Because if their Fathers had not so grie∣uously offended, their Punishment might haue bene longer Deferred. As God is mercifull, so he is Iust, and forsomuch as his pacience and mercie hath Long borne with their wickednesse, and loo∣ked in vaine for their repentance, his Iustice must needes take place and at Length light vpon them, with due punishment. So that they are the Soo∣ner and more Grieuously punished for their wic∣ked Parents, and yet not without their Owne iust desertes and euill doings. Wherefore to conclude with Ezechiel, the Iewes in their lewde Prouerbe, did blasphemously depraue Gods Iustice, seeyng their owne vniust doinges in Following the foote steppes of their sinfull Fathers did pull his iust wrath vpon them. And yet it cannot be denied but that God Sometimes doth punishe some for the cause,* 1.18 or by the occasion of other. Abraham and Ia∣cob felt the smart of famine and hunger, euen as Sinfull men did,* 1.19 and they of the house of Pharao, and Abimeleck, were plagued for their Princes cause. But beside that which is sayde before, that no man is so Righteous in the sight of God, but that he Iustly deserueth punishement: we must

moreouer consider, that Gods Scourges are not alway, nor to all persons of One sort, Towarde the wicked they are Plagues of his Iustice, to∣warde the Godly they are Exercises and Medi∣cines by which he healeth their corruptions,* 1.20 practi∣seth their fayth, and Stirreth them vp the more earnestly to call vpon him. So that he maketh it to them as a Schoole of discipline to retaine them in more Feare of his name,* 1.21 that they be not caried a∣way with the wicked Allurements of the worlde, as the vngodly are. We may not therefore thinke God to deale vniustly, when sometimes we see him to wrappe good men in those plagues, wherewith he punisheth the Vngodly.

In those Properties of a Iust man which are recyted and sundrie times repeated in this Chap∣ter, the Prophete may seeme to omit and leaue out many workes of Iustice, but in one general clause he comprehendeth all other. As when he sayth: And hath walked in my statutes and kept my iudge∣ments.* 1.22 If there had beene any such Iust man a∣mong the Iewes, he might with some countenance haue quarreled with GOD,* 1.23 punishing him being Innocent, for his fathers offences: But there was neuer yet any that * perfectly fulfilled the Statutes and lawes of God. Therefore all mens mouthes are in that case stopped. There hath beene many good men, whose vnperfite obedience, it hath plea∣sed God in respect of the Promised seede and Sa∣uiour of the worlde to accept as Iust, and so to ac∣count them before him. But otherwise neyther

the childe this day borne, nor the Angels in hea∣uen are pure in his sight.

The Prophete vndoubtedly reciteth these Pro∣perties and workes of Iustice especially, because men in them most commonly and Notoriously in those dayes offended: so that he choked them from their blasphemous Obloquie by the testimonie of their owne Consciences, which tolde them, that in these poyntes they were not innocent, but iustly susteyned Gods Plague euen for their Owne sin∣nes, and not for their Fathers onely.

And hath not eaten vpon the hilles,* 1.24 he hath not lift vp his eyes to the Idole, &c.

He meaneth Sacrifycing and keeping of their holy Feastes,* 1.25 in the highe Places so often menti∣oned in the bookes of Kings and the Chronicles. For as the Gentiles and Heathens were wont on Hilles to haue Chappels and aulters for their False Gods: euen so the Iewes and Israelites after their Temple buylded, & appointed place chosen, did make Aulters on high places, and therin wor∣shypped sometime the lyuing God, but disorderly, sometyme Idoles and false Gods by the imitati∣on of the Gentiles.

Neyther hath come neere a woman re∣mooued,* 1.26 &c.

He meaneth a woman hauing hir naturall and Monthly Disease, because to seeke the companie of a woman at that time is lothsome to nature,

and a token of immoderate lust and affection.

But hath restored the detter his pledge,* 1.27 he that hath not spoyled any, &c.

The Prophet meaneth the Pledge or gage of a Poore man, which hath borowed any thing of him. The Lawe is,* 1.28 Exod. 22. If thou haue taken the gar∣ment of thy neighbour to pledge, before the sonne go dovvn thou shalt restore it to him, and he addeth, Because hee hath nothing else to couer hym, &c. Whereby it maye appeare, he speaketh of a Poore man.* 1.29 And Deut. 24. the matter is made more plaine: For after a larger declaring of this lawe of Charitie, he sayth, If he be a pore man, thou shalt not sleepe vvith his pledge in thy house.

If this man get a sonne,* 1.30 that seeth all his fathers sinnes, &c, and doth not, &c.

Our fathers are to be folowed, but only in those things that be good, but if they shall eyther giue vs example of that which is Contrarie to the wyll of God, yea eyther commaunde vs to doe it, surely they are not to be obeied. And yet in these days we haue manye, that wyll Tye themselues verye streightly to Follow their Parents Religion, but if there were any Example in them of vertuous and Honest lyfe, that they neuer remember. Such persons imbrace in their Fathers that is euill, and neglect that is good.

If the vngodly will turne awaye from all his sinnes that he hath done,* 1.31 &c.

Of this place maye be taken a singular Com∣fort for all them that are tormented in their consci∣ences,* 1.32 for the heauie burden of their sinnes. For God here * proclaymed Mercie and forgiuenesse to all that Repent them of their former wickednesse, and sayth it shall not be Mentioned vnto them be it neuer so great. It is a great craft of the Deuill, first by all Flattering allurements of the worlde to cause men grieuously to offende, and when they haue done, to Laye their sinnes before their eyes, that he may driue them to Desperation. But here God sayth. If the vngodlye wyll turne from their sinnes, they shall neuer be mentioned vnto them.

If the righteous turne from his righteous∣nesse,* 1.33 and doe the thing, &c.

It is not sufficient for a man to beginne well in godlynesse and vertue, and after to reuolte from it to wickednesse again: But he must continue in his well doing.* 1.34 Happie is he, sayth Christ, that conty∣nueth to the ende. He that setteth his hande to the Plough and looketh backe, is not meete for the king∣dome of God. It was not sufficient for Loths wife to depart out of Sodome,* 1.35 her looking backe againe did turne her into a salt stone.* 1.36 Be faithful vnto death sayth God, and I wyll giue thee the crowne of lyfe.

Out of this Chapiter we may obserue these ne∣cessarie pointes.

First, that God is Iuste and doth iniurie to no man: And as the sonnes of the children shall not hurt the father, onlesse they grewe by the fathers occasion, so shall not the sinnes of the father hurt the sonne, if he doe not followe the fathers steps.

Secondly, we see that there were in those dayes many which carped and cauilled at the preaching of the Prophets, and made matter of scoffing and iesting at it. No meruaile therfore if we see the like in these dayes, but their iesting tauntes will in the ende fall vpon their owne heades.

Thirdly, we may learne the corruption of our owne nature. For as these Iewes would seeme innocent & in no wayes acknowledge their offen∣ces. So doe we eyther denie our sinnes, or wyth fayre pretences extenuate them, and cast the fault vpon other. Many that cannot be perswaded that God gouerneth all things, yet when they sinne, to excuse themselfe, they impute the blame to the prouidence of God. Oh say they, it was my deste∣nie, I thinke God did worke me this shame to doe it. So Adam at the begynning layde the fault to the woman which God had ioyned to hym, and the Woman turneth ouer the blame to the Serpent But neyther did wyth humble harts acknowledge their disobedience. Thys Propertie sticketh in the Nature of all the children of Adam.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  Esay. 5. b. 7.
• * 1.3

  Iere. 31. e. 29.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 5. &c.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 10. &c.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 14. &c.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 21. &c.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 25.
• * 1.9

  Exod. 20. a. 5.
• * 1.10

  Deut. 28. b. 15.
• * 1.11

  Exod. 34. b. 7.
• * 1.12

  Iere. 23. b. 10.
• * 1.13

  Gene. 9. d. 25. 2.
• * 1.14

  Reg. 24. c. 15
• * 1.15

  Ge. 19. a. 1. &c
• * 1.16

  3. Reg. 21. a. 3.
• * 1.17

  4. Reg. 21. a. 3.
• * 1.18

  Gen. 12. c. 10.
• * 1.19

  Gen. 20. d. 17.
• * 1.20

  Iudith. 8. d. 22
• * 1.21

  Heb. 12. d. 11.
• * 1.22

  Vers. 9. 17.
• * 1.23

  Iob. 15. a. 15. Iob. 14. a. 4. Psal. 13. a. 4. Ro. 3. b. 10. 19. Psal. 142 a. 2. Luc. 17. c. 10. Psal. 50. b. 6.
• * 1.24

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.25

  3. Reg. 3. a. ••. 3. Reg. 12. g. 31. 2. Par. 21. b. 11 2. Par. 33. c. 17
• * 1.26

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.27

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.28

  Exod. 22. d. 26
• * 1.29

  Deut. 24. c. 12
• * 1.30

  Vers. 14.
• * 1.31

  Vers. 21.
• * 1.32

  Ierem. 3. a. 1. Ier. 18. a. 8. 2. Par. 6. g. 36. Sap. 11. d. 24 2. Par. 24. c. 19 Luc. 5 f. 32. Luc. 15. b. 7 1. Iohn. 2. a. 2. Math. 11. d. 28 Rom. 2. a. 4. Mich. 7. d. 19. Esay. 49. d. 15. Psal. 102. c. 12. Eccle. a. b. 11. 2. Pet. 3. b. 9 Rom. 11. d. 32.
• * 1.33

  Vers. 24.
• * 1.34

  Math. 10. c. 22 Luc. 9. g. 62.
• * 1.35

  Gen. 19. e. 26.
• * 1.36

  Apoc. 2. c. 10.