Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

Now let us expound the words of the law. I (sayeth he) am a Jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation, of them that hate me.¹ These last words Jerome upon Ezekiel the .18. chapter diligently noteth. And Augustine upon Joshua in the question before alleged. Of those, sayeth GOD, which hate me: as though he should have said, I will not touch the innocents, but will take vengeance of their iniquity, which imitate evil Fathers, and hath me. After the same manner he promiseth to do good unto children, and children's children, even unto a thousand generations. But to what children? Even to those, (sayeth he) that love me. Wherefore though the Father be ungodly, and the son good, the iniquity of the father shall nothing hurt him. But if the father be good, and the son wicked, the godliness of the father shall nothing profit him. And therefore Jerome sayeth: He avengeth the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children, not because they had evil parents, but because they imitate their parents. The words themselves do sufficiently declare, that the law is not to be understand of Original sin, but of that sin which they call actual. For then shall the son bear the iniquity of the Father, when he likewise sinneth as did the Father. Also the words of Ezekiel can not be understand of Original sin, as that which followeth easily declareth. Although this sentence, that the soul which sinneth, it shall dye, may be understand of Original sin.² For every man hath in himself a corrupt nature, and a proneness unto evil. Wherefore every man beareth his own sin. For although that vice were by original drawn of the parents: yet now is it made ours.

Nowe lette vs expounde the woordes of the lawe. I (sayeth he) am a Ielous God, visityng the iniquity of the Fathers vpon the chyldren, vnto the third and fourth generation, of them that hate me.¹ These last woords Ierome vppon Ezechiel the .18. chapter diligently noteth. And Augustine vpon Iosua in the question before alledged. Of those, sayeth GOD, which hate me: as though he should haue sayd, I wyll not touch the innocents, but will take vengeaunce of their iniquity, which imitate euill Fathers, and hath me. After the same manner he promiseth to doo good vnto children, and chyldrens chyldren, euen vnto a thousande generations. But to what chyldren? Euen to those, (sayeth he) that loue me. Wherefore thoughe the Father bee vngodly, and the sonne good, the iniquitye of the father shall nothyng hurte hym. But if the father bee good, and the sonne wicked, the godlynes of the father shall nothyng profyte hym. And therefore Ierome sayeth: He auengeth the iniquitye of the Fathers vpon the children, not bycause they had euyll parentes, but bycause they imitate theyr parentes. The woordes themselues doo sufficiently declare, that the lawe is not to bee vnderstande of Originall synne, but of that synne whiche they call actuall. For then shall the sonne beare the iniquitye of the Father, when he lykewyse synneth as dyd the Father. Also the wordes of Ezechiel can not bee vnderstande of Originall synne, as that whiche followeth easely declareth. Although thys sentence, that the soule whiche sinneth, it shal dye, maye bee vnderstande of Originall synne.