Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Object. Whereas he by and by adds, that the iniquity of the fathers shall be punished by means hereof: it may at the first seem over severe, to couple the children with the fathers, as touching the punishment which the fathers have deserved, and ought to bear. And yet seems it to be more hard, that the punishment due to the fathers should be extended to the children, and their children's children. But this absurdity may easily be avoided,¹ if we interpret the Hebrew word Aon. Misery: because it signifies as well the punishment of the sin, as the sin it self. But because such sentences are found in many places of the Scripture; to wit, that God will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children: we need seek no such evasion. Neither doth the place in Ezekiel; The son shall not bear the iniquity of his father: Ezech. 18.20. cross this. For God punisheth not the innocent: neither must we so understand this place, as if the punishment due to the ancestors, were conveyed over by God unto the children, altogether guiltless: for the fault of the children is forth-with coupled therewithal.

Obiect. Whereas he by and by addes, that the iniquitie of the fathers shal be punished by meanes hereof: it may at the first seeme ouer seuere, to couple the children with the fathers, as touching the punishment which the fathers haue deserued, and ought to beare. And yet seemes it to be more hard, that the punishment due to the fathers should be extended to the children, and their childrens children. But this absurditie may easily bee auoided,¹ if we interpret the Hebrew word Aon. Miserie: because it signifies as well the punishment of the sinne, as the sinne it selfe. But because such sentences are found in many places of the Scripture; to wit, that God will visit the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children: we need seeke no such euasion. Neither doth the place in Ezechiel; The sonne shall not beare the iniquity of his father: Ezech. 18.20. crosse this. For God punisheth not the innocent: neither must we so vnderstand this place, as if the punishment due to the ancestors, were conueied ouer by God vnto the children, altogether guiltlesse: for the fault of the children is forth-with coupled therewithall.