Vers. 27. Thy first father hath sin∣ned, and thy teachers haue trangressed a∣gainst me.
* 1.1THe expositors for the most part vnder∣stand this place of the first Father Adam:* 1.2 others rather refer it to Abraham. As if the Prophet should say; You haue not onely sin∣ned, but your father Abraham* 1.3 also: notwith∣standing all the holinesse wherewith he was indued. By teachers, they vnderstand Moses* 1.4 and Aron,* 1.5 which sinned: albeit they were ador∣ned with singular graces. And if the case stood so with your father and teachers, how much more are you sinners, who are their in∣feriours?* 1.6 And thus according to their sense, it should bee an argument taken from the greater to the lesse.
But I vnderstand it otherwise; for vnder this word father, he comprehends not onely one or two of their predecessors, but many; and that by a change of the number. A thing vsuall among the Hebrewes. And this manner of reprehen∣sion is often found both in the Prophets, as also in the booke of Psalmes: for they know∣ing themselues to be the holy nation, they swelled in pride against the Lord; as if this honour had been due vnto them, either in regard of the excellencie or merits of their fathers: and thus the right of inheritance made them swell. The Prophets therefore were carefull from time to time, to discouer the iniquities of their fathers: for which cause Saint Stephen,* 1.7 who succeeded them, is bold to pronounce, that they had alwaies resisted the holy Ghost: Acts 7.51. As if he should say; You haue not begun this day to be thus wicked; your fathers were as bad long agoe.* 1.8 Of an euill Crowe, there is issued forth a naughtie egge. But you, saith our Prophet, are growne vvorse then your fathers, and far surpasse the wic∣kednesse of your predecessors: so as if the Lord had onely respected you as you are in your selues, hee might iustly haue consumed you long since.
In the next place he addes their teachers; to shew that the fault rested not onely in the people: for euen those which ought to haue been their guides and leaders, to wit, the Priests and Prophets, were first in the trans∣gression, and plunged them into error which followed them. And thus (to bee short) hee shewes that there was no estate nor condi∣tion free from vices nor corruptions. As if the Lord should haue said; Let them goe now and brag of their merits, & let them alleadge any way but the least shew of reason why I should be bound to succour them, and they shall find there is nothing but my free mercy.
If any shall obiect, [Obiect.] that it is iniustice to re∣proch the children vvith the offences of their fore∣fathers, because it is written, The soule that sin∣neth shall die: and, The sonne shall not beare the iniquitie of his father: Ezech. 18.20. [Ans.] * 1.9 The answer is easie, for the Lord punisheth the sinnes of the fathers vpon their children which succee∣ded them: and yet they are not punished for the faults of another, seeing themselues stand guiltie of the same crimes. And when it so falles out that the Lord smites the whole body of a people, hee couples the fathers vvith the children, that he may wrap them all in the same condemnation.