John Trapp on Ezra 10:18

Verſe 18. And among the ſons of the Prieſts, &c.] What a ſhame was this, and a ſtain to their cloth? Theſe mens white ephods covered foul ſinnes: whereas they ſhould have been carefull to have kept all clean: as that Eleazer was of whom it is ſtoried, that he would not do any thing that might ſeem to be ſinful, becauſe be would not ſpot his white head.

Of the ſons of Joſhua the ſon of Jozadak] This good High-prieſt had ſons none of the beſt. White Halcyons hatch black young ones. Caligula fuit optimi Viri Germanici filius. Eli his ſons were ſons of Belial. Samuels were little better: and yet it is not likely that he was faulty in that indulgence, for which his own mouth had denounced Gods judgements againſt Eli. When Ceſar Borgia Duke of Valence invited his Nobility to a Feaſt, and after Dinner cut off their heads, Pope Alexander (who was his Father) hearing of it ſmiled and ſaid, his Son had ſerved them a Spaniſh trick. When Petro Alingi Farneſis had committed an unſpeakable Violence on the perſon of Coſmus Chaerius, Biſhop of Fanum, and then poyſoned him, he received no other Chaſtiſement of his Father Pope Paul the third, then Haec vitia me non commonſtratore didicit, he never learned theſe faults of his Father. Good Joſhua had better bred his children, then thus to break out into an open violation of that Law, which they could not but know, and ſhould have obſerved. But God will ſhew, that grace is by gift, not inheritance: and men will ſhew, that though nourture may ſomewhat amend nature, yet it is grace alone that can keep us within the bounds of obedience.