Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 18:24

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespasses that he hath trespassed, and in the sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

After the stating the Equity of God's waies in his dealings with Parents and Children, and his mercy in dealing with Sinners, that return according to his own promise, he proceeds to vindicate the equity of his waies in another case.

Or it, should it so happen at any time.

One who really had observed the commands of the Law, not done the Abominations the wicked do, but done the good which the Righteous doth, and in the sight of man appears as righteous, and as good as any one; whose Apostacy is first full proof of his unsoundness and hypocrisie,

Changeth his course into sinful practices, like the wicked.

There is a Righteousness which is of God, and there is a Righteousness which is a Man's own, such as doe's arise from a Man's own Reason and Will, improved by common Grace, or Education, or awed by fears, or swayed by interest, or maintained by some failing spring which may easily dry up; these Righteous ones easily fall away, and of such, the Prophet speaks

Makes sin his work and business, Iohn 8.34. 1 Iohn 3.8, 9.

Forgets all better rules, derides his own former preciseness, and shakes off all restraints that he may run to the excess of sin.

Recounted ver. 10, 11, 12, 13.

See ver. 21.

Do you think I will be so partial as to acquit him from real wickedness committed with his whole heart, from his last works which are abominable? Do you think his first heartless, partial, temporary Righteousness will counter-ballance his last and final Apostacy? I tell you nay, but he shall dye in it.

Though he could produce his own Righteousness (as Heb.) and these multiplyed to many; All, and that they were really done, yet these should not avail before a just Judge, who by a Law that requires Man should ever be and do what he was and did at best is to determine his rewards or punishments according to what the man is at last, not according to what he was or seemed to be at first.

The parable tells us Mat. 25.44, 45. some will plead that they did what they had opportunity of doing, and others, Mat. 7.22. will mention what they have done. But, though they may mention these, the just Judge will not, nor the Law by which they are to be judged, will not allow it for a good and sufficient plea: See the phrase, ver. 22.

This expression shews that this mans heart was on his sin: in his transgression he transgressed with full bent of mind, with delight, and consent he did what he did, and could not say I do what I would not; or, so then 'tis no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me; as Rom. 7.17. lest any stumble at sight of infirmities in all, or needlesly disquiet themselves with fears of wrath at last, because they cannot be sinless, yet they do not fall under the character of such as here are threatned.

In these great, willful, continued, and multiplyed sins.

Every such obdurate, and final Apostate shall be condemned and punished temporally, and eternally, and therefore look to it ye wicked Jews, and consider ye sinful Christians.

Marginal references: chap. 3[illegible: 1 letter] and 33.[illegible: 2 letters]