Wesley Corpus

Chapter XVIII God reproves a corrupt proverb, ver. 1 - 4. It shall be well with the righteous, ver. 5 - 9. but ill with the wicked man, tho' he had a good father, ver. 10 - 13. It shall be well with a good man, tho' he had a wicked father, ver. 14 - 18. Therefore God is righteous, ver. 19 - 20. It shall be well with penitents, but ill with apostates, ver. 21 - 29. An exhortation to repentance, ver. 30 - 32. The land of Israel - The two tribes, not the ten. The fathers - Our fore - fathers. Have eaten - Have sinned. The childrens - We their children, who were unborn, suffer for their sins. Behold - There can be no colour of partial judgment in the proceedings of God, who is equally God to all. All souls - All persons. The soul - The person, whether father or son, shall die, shall bear his own punishment. Hath not eaten - Hath not committed idolatry, offering sacrifice, and eating of the things sacrificed to idols; whose temples and altars were on mountains, chap. 20. & 28. Hos 4:13. Increase - Illegal interest. Iniquity - Injustice of every kind. Shall live - Shall be delivered from famine, pestilence, and sword, and shall see good days. His blood - Heb. 'Tis plural, bloods; both the blood of the innocent which he murdered, and his own blood which thereby he forfeited; the blood of his own soul and life: that is the whole blame of his misery in time and eternity, shall lie upon himself. Hath taken off - Withdrawn his hand from hurting or wronging the poor, tho' he had power to do it securely.