A brief commentary upon the CIII Psalme with the severall axiomes or doctrines therein conteined [sic], and uses thereupon inferred.

3 Doctrine. The righteousnesse of God is unto chil∣drens children, who keep His covenant.

1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His righteousnesse.] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 often signifies justice; either particular justice, whereby we give every man his own, or uni∣versall justice, whereby we carry our selves generally conformable to the rule of religion. Sometimes it is taken for mercy, or benefi∣cence, (See Vers. 6. Doctr. 1. Expl. 2.) as which is an eminent part of universall justice. And so it is taken in this place, and is all one with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the former part of the verse.

2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Childrens children.] This phrase in the strict sense signifies grandchil∣dren, or the posterity of the second genera∣tion,

as Prov. 17.6. But sometimes it is ta∣ken more largely, for the third and fourth generation also. Exod. 34.7. And yet more largely, for posterity unto all generations for ever. Ezek. 37.25. And so here.

[Quest.] But why is the righteousnesse of God pro∣mised to the posterity of them that feare God, as if it were peculiar to them onely? whereas it shall most certainly be to the children even of the most wicked men, if they keep Gods covenant, Ezek. 18.

[Answ.] I answer 1 For temporalls, the posterity of them that feare God doe often for their pa∣rents or progenitours sakes enjoy the righ∣teousnesse or mercy of God, both in obtei∣ning of good things, and in preservation or deliverance from evil. Yea righteous men are the charets and horsemen of whole na∣tions. 2 Kings 2.12. Tenne righteous men had saved Sodom, Gen. 18.32. One Moses stood in the gap, Psalm. 106.23. So Jer. 5.1. How much more then shall righteous parents obtein Gods mercy for their chil∣dren? See 1 Kings 11. vers. 13, 32, 34, 36. 2 For eternalls indeed the children of righteous men shall not obtein Gods mercy, unlesse they also be righteous themselves, Ezek. 18. But yet they have farre greater sufficiency of meanes to obtein it then other

men. For they are borne in the covenant, and therefore as soon as they are borne, have right (by Gods gracious promise, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed) to the good things of the covenant. To the obser∣vation thereof also they have more and grea∣ter helps then others: namely, in generall the prayers and examples of their godly pa∣rents, and the publique exercises of religion, with which their parents acquaint and accu∣stome them; in speciall, to eschew evil, they have their parents seasonable admonitions, and (if need be) corrections; to follow that which is good, their most loving and ear∣nest exhortations.

For proof of the Doctrine see Exod. 20.6. Deut. 7.9.

The Reason is 1 From the mercy of God, promising this to them that keep His cove∣nant, and that they may keep it, working in them the will and the deed.

2 From His justice also, requiring the per∣formance of His promise, though most free∣ly and graciously made.

Uses.

Here 1 See how greatly God loves those that feare Him; seeing He cannot satisfy Himself in doing good to them onely in their own persons, but doth it also to their chil∣dren

and posterity for their sakes, 2 Sam. 7.19.

2 See how good a thing it is to be borne of good parents.

3 See the best way of providing for thy chil∣dren: which consists not in heaping up wealth, honour &c. for them, but in being thy self such an one as feares God, and tea∣ching them also to keep His covenant.

4 The mercy of God, at least in bestowing eternall happinesse, is not promiscuously to all the posterity of those that feare Him.

Here are reproved 1 Parents who feare not God; such stopping the way to Gods mercy from descending upon their children and posterity, or at least not opening or ma∣king way for it.

2 Children, 1 Relying too much upon the piety of their parents, as if for their sakes it should be well with them, though they fol∣low not their stepps but work iniquity. And it may be so indeed in temporalls, but not so in eternalls; as was sayd before. Yea they shall be so much the more grievously tor∣mented in hell, by how much the greater temporall mercy God hath for their fathers sakes bestowed upon them for to winne them, and by how much the greater meanes their parents have used to bring them to salvation; which notwithstanding, they

have gone on in their wickednesse. See what Christ answered to the Jewes boasting of their father Abraham Joh. 8. and Abraham to the rich man Luk. 16. 2 Who hate or contemne their parents for this very thing, because they feare God. Such an one seems Cham to have been Gen. 9.22. For that his deriding his fa∣ther in his drunkennesse seemes to have pro∣ceeded from his hatred of him for his piety.

3 Any, who so hate them that feare God, that for their sakes they extend their hatred to their children also.

Here also is comfort for them that are poore, and have litle or nothing to leave to their children. If they feare God, they shall leave them for an inheritance Gods first love; and a greater measure of it, together with His second love also unto eternity, if they teach them to keep Gods covenant.

Lastly, this should exhort 1 Parents to feare God, as for Gods sake and their own, so here for their childrens sake also.

2 Children to keep Gods covenant, that upon them may come the blessing promised to their parents. Gen. 18.19. 1 King. 2.3, 4. & 8.25. 1 Chron. 28.7, 9. Psal. 132.12.

Notes

• Expl.
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• Instr.
• Repr.
• Consol.
• Exhort.