Sermons upon the Book of Job

for that were too do him very small honour, and to make no further account §40of his justice, than we see it in execution. But when the wicked men are in their bravery, and are proud of their good fortune, as they term it: then let us take scorn of them and abhor them, and let us hold them for accursed whatsoever come of it. Specially we ought to mark well that which Eliphas addeth: which is, That the children of them that despise God, shall fall down in the Gate, and shall be set far from salvation, and no man shall succour them. He doth us too understand, that if God accomplish not his judgements here, he can well work them §50upon the offspring of such as shall seem too have escaped his hand. Howe is that? There may be some that shall give themselves wholly unto evil, so long as they live, and God shall suffer them too gather goods, and too increase continually, and to heap up riches anew, even till their dying day: and yet notwithstanding for all this they be cursed, and their riches and revenues are cursed as well as they. Not that the curse is perceived in the person of the father, but because it shall show itself in his children. Hereby we be admonished, that God hath divers §60manners of executing his vengeance, and therefore let us learn too walk in fear and advisedness. Verily at the first sight it may seem strange, why God should punish children for their fathers sakes: but yet this doctrine is rife enough in the Scripture. And besides this, it is meant here of such as are like their fathers. For God doth well show himself to be the Saviour of such as are borne and descended of evil ancestors, as we see examples of it in holy Scripture. But yet for all that, it falleth out most commonly, that the issue of the wicked sort is accursed, according also as God avoucheth, that he will pursue his vengeance to the third and fourth generation, upon those that despise him, and lift up themselves against him. And there is a double manner of punishing the wickedness of the fathers upon their children. For sometimes God showeth mercy too the children, and yet notwithstanding ceaseth not to chastise the unrighteousness of their fathers in the persons of their children. As for example: we see a father that hath gotten much goods, how be it by wicked bargaining, by subtlety, by craft, and by cruelty:

for that were too doo him verie small honour, and to make no further account