Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 18:21

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

So far is God from punishing the sins of nocent Parents on innocent Children, as in the last instance, ver. 14. to the end of ver. 20. appears, that he doth not punish the guilty for their own sins, which they repent of, and forsake. Our God who mercifully pardoneth the Penitent all their own sins, will not, cannot be supposed to charge innocent ones with the sins are not their own.

Or a wicked man, any wicked man among you O Iews! Who charge me with such severity, if the most notorious sinner.

i. e. Repent, for 'tis exprest by that word, which implies Repentance, and by the subsequent fruits of Repentance.

It must be a total renouncing of sin.

The Penitent are most afflicted with the remembrance of their own sin, that which they committed, and watcht most against it for the future.

Resolve to endeavour seriously and diligently, for in God's merciful Judgment, a gracious penitent Soul keeps what he would keep, keeps all his statutes in that he would transgress none of them.

He shall be pardoned, escape punishments, it shall be well with him, and this is the constant method of God's proceedings with his people; he calls them to himself by promises of pardon, he never frights them from him by threatning to punish others faults on their backs. Leave your own, and you shall never suffer for others sins.

Marginal references: chap. 33.12.