24 Therefore Joshua, &c.) For two causes he is carried out of the host: first least they should be defiled with his blood (as God would always have some show of humanity to appear, even in lawful executions:) and secondly, that no infection of the cursed things should remain among the people. Therefore it was an usual thing, to do execution upon offenders without the host: that they might more abhor from shedding of blood. But now, a rotten member was cut off from the body, and the host purged of filthiness. And by this we may know, that it was a notable example, that the place received the name thereby. If the extremity of the punishment trouble or offend any man: we must always remember, that though our reason come short of the judgements of God, yet our boldness must be restrained with the bridle of godly modesty and soberness, that we take not upon us to disallow that which pleaseth God. It seemeth in deed an hard thing, yea, a cruel and barbarous thing, that young children, which were without fault, should be drawn to so extreme punishment, to be stoned and burned. But that the like extremity was showed upon the brute beasts, it was not so much marvel: for as they were created for mans cause, so they do justly follow their owners. Therefore, whatsoever Achan possessed, perished with him, as accessory. But that the children should be stoned and burned for their fathers offence, it was an extreme kind of execution. 1And here God did openly take punishment of the children for their parents crime, contrary to that which he pronounceth by Ezekiel. But after what manner he destroyeth no innocent, and yet casteth ⟨p. 39⟩the sins of the fathers upon the children, I have briefly declared, when I spake of the common destruction of the city, and the slaughter of all sorts of people. We lament the infants and children, which were then slain with the sword, as murdered unjustly, because there appeareth no fault in them. But if we do consider, how much deeper the knowledge of God pierceth, than the understanding of our mind, we will rather stay in his decree, than by advancing our selves with rashness, and mad pride and presumption, cast our selves headlong into destruction. Doubtless, God was not moved with unadvised hatred, to kill the children of Achan so unmercifully.
24 Therfore Iosue, &c.) For two causes he is carried out of the host: first least they should be defiled with his bloud (as God would alwayes haue some shewe of humanitie to appeare, euen in lawfull executions:) and secondly, that no infection of the cursed thinges should remaine among the people. Therefore it was an vsuall thing, to doe execution vpon offenders without the host: that they might more abhorre from shedding of bloud. But now, a rotten member was cut off from the body, and the host purged of filthinesse. And by this we may knowe, that it was a notable example, that the place receiued the name thereby. If the extremitie of the punishment trouble or offend any man: we must alwayes remember, that though our reason come short of the iudgements of God, yet our boldenesse must be restrained with the bridle of godly modestie and sobernes, that we take not vpon vs to disallowe that which pleaseth God. It semeth in deed an hard thing, yea, a cruell and barbarous thing, that young children, which were without fault, should be drawen to so extreme punishment, to be stoned and burned. But that the like extremitie was shewed vpon the brute beastes, it was not so much meruell: for as they were created for mans cause, so they do iustly followe their owners. Therfore, whatsoeuer Achan possessed, perished with him, as accessarie. But that the children should bee stoned and burned for their fathers offence, it was an extreme kind of execution. 1And here God did openly take punishment of the children for their parents crime, contrarie to that which he pronounceth by Ezechiel. But after what manner he destroyeth no innocent, and yet casteth ⟨p. 39⟩the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children, I haue breefely declared, when I spake of the common destruction of the citie, and the slaughter of all sortes of people. We lament the infantes and children, which were then slaine with the sword, as murthered vniustly, because there appeareth no fault in them. But if we do consider, how much deeper the knowledge of God pearceth, than the vnderstanding of our mind, we will rather stay in his decree, than by aduancing our selues with rashnesse, and mad pride and presumption, cast our selues headlong into destruction. Doubtlesse, God was not moued with vnaduised hatred, to kill the children of Achan so vnmercifully.
- 1Ezech. 18.
