Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
who wish to charge God instead of themselves, as if they are innocent; and so, when they cannot escape punishment, they are anxious to transfer the fault elsewhere --- first upon others, and then upon God himself.
PRAYER.
Grant, Almighty God, since you have not only created us out of nothing, but have deigned to create us again in your only-begotten Son, and have taken us from the lowest depths, and deigned to raise us to the hope of thy heavenly kingdom:-Grant, I say, that we may not be proud or puffed up with vainglory; but may we embrace this favor with becoming humility, and modestly submit ourselves to thee, until we become at length partakers of that glory which your only-begotten Son has acquired for us. --- Amen.
Lecture Fifty-Fourth.
Ezekiel 18:5-9
5. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
5. Et vir si fuerit justus, et fecerit judicium et justitiam,
6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
6. Super montes non comederit, et oculos suos non extulerit ad idola 476 domus Israel, et uxorem socii sui 477 non polluerit, et ad mulierem menstruatam non accesserit,
7. And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
7. Et neminem afflixerit, 478 pignus suum reddiderit debitori, praedam non rapuerit, 479 panem suum famelico dederit, et nudum texerit vestimentis;
8. He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
8. Cum usura non dederit et incrementum 480 non acceperit, ab iniquitate retraxerit manum suam, judicium fideliter fecerit inter virum et virum,
9. Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
9. In statutis meis ambulaverit, et judicia mea custodierit ad faciendum veritatem, 481 justus est, vivendo vivet, dicit Dominator Iehovah.
Here the Prophet confirms his former teaching by examples. For he first says, if any one faithfully keep the law, he shall prosper, since God will repay the reward of justice: afterwards he adds, if the just man beget a son unlike himself, the justice of the father shall not profit the degenerate son, but he shall receive the reward
476Properly, "to the filthiness." — Calvin. 477Or, "of his neighbor." — Calvin. 478Or, "oppressed." — Calvin. 479Verbally, "has not seized booty." — Calvin. 480Or, "reward, gain." — Calvin. 481That is, "to conduct himself faithfully." — Calvin.