A plain and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Proverbs…A plaine and familiar exposition of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the Prouerbs…

Verse. 22. A good man shall leave inheritance to his children's children: but the riches of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Verse. 22. A good man shall leaue inheritance to his childrens children: but the riches of the sinner is laid vp for the iust.

The meaning is, that the godly person not only himself enjoyeth his goods whilst he liveth, but when he dyeth, leaveth the same to his children, in such sort as that also their children through Gods mercy inherit the same. Again, the wicked man is so far off from leaving his goods to his posterity, as that by Gods providence they oftentimes are rolled from him upon the righteous person, who is as it were his heir against his will. Yet this is not so to be taken, as though it held universally and perpetually in every person. Many good men have no children at all; many good men have no children surviving them: many good mens posterity endeth in their immediate issue: many good men leave their children poor, and in mean estate. Soon the contrary side, divers wicked men leave their lands and riches to their own children, though impious also like their parents, and they convey them to their seed after them, which in like manner possess them, as the Prophet saith in the Psalm: Thou fillest their bellies with thine hid treasure: their children have enough, and leave the rest of their substance for their children. But he speaketh of that which cometh often to pass▪ though not always, & which are the readiest means for such effects. He that would provide well for his posterity, cannot find out any way so good for his children's estate, as to be godly himself. And if the Lord withhold that blessing from him, he may recompense it by making his children inheritors of grace & salvation: and if either he give him no children, or children of no piety and goodness, he will undoubtedly countervail it with increase of heavenly gifts, & glory for his own ⟨p. 66⟩soul. And he that giveth himself to iniquity and sin, doth as much as in him lieth to subvert both his estate and family, and if that both stand, notwithstanding the course he taketh, to bring them to ruin, then as David said in the forerecited Psalm, his portion is only in this life, and his punishment reserved to be the larger in the world to come.