A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 20. But while he thought on these things]

And was not so well advised upon his course, God, who reserveth his holy hand for a dead lift, expedites him. The Athenians had a con∣ceit, that Minerva (their goddesse) drove all their ill counsels to* 1.1 a happy issue. The superstitious Romanes thought that an Idol,* 1.2 which they called Vibilia, kept them from erring out of their way. The divine providence is our Vibilia, that will not suffer us to misearry, so long as we have an eye to the paterne that was* 1.3 shewed us in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Exod. 25. 40. In the Mount will the* 1.4 Lord be seen.* 1.5

Behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him]

As of old* 1.6 he had done to Daniel, being caused to flee swiftly or with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of flight (as the Hebrew hath it) with so good a will he did it, as thinking he could never come soon enough.* 1.7

Joseph, thou sonne of David]

Albeit a poore Carpenter. A man may be as high in Gods favour, and as happy in russet, as in Tissue. I know thy poverty (saith Christ to that Church,) but, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nothing, thou art rich.* 1.8

Feare not to take unto thee) viz. From the hands of her pa∣rents,* 1.9 who have, by all right, the dispose of their children, as a cheif part of their goods: Therefore when Satan obtained leave to vex Job, and to touch him in his possessions, he dealt with his* 1.10 children also.

For that which is conceived in her]

That holy thing, Luk. 1. 35. that Holy of Holies wherein the Godhead dwelleth bodily, that is, personally; and is called the Sonne of God, saith the Angel there. Yet not in respect of his humane nature, for then there should be in the person of Christ two sonnes, viz. one of the Fa∣ther, and another of the holy Ghost. Besides, Heb. 7. 3. he is with∣out father, as Man, and without mother, as God. All that can be gathered out of that place in Luke, is, that he, that was so concei∣ved of the holy Ghost, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the naturall Son of God. The union of three Persons into one nature, and of two natures into one Per∣son,* 1.11 these are the great mysteries of Godlines. The well is deep,* 1.12 as she said, and we want wherewith to draw.

Is of the Holy Ghost.]

As the Efficient, not as the Materiall cause. The virtus formatrix, the formative faculty which the Vir∣gin had not, is ascribed to the power of the Holy Ghost, framing and fashioning Christ of the substance of the Virgin sanctified mi∣raculously,

and without mans help. But if no mother knows the manner of her naturall Conception; what presumption shall it be for flesh and bloud, to search how the Sonne of God took flesh of his creature? It is enough for us to know, that he was conceived of the holy Ghost, not spermatically, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yet secretly and mystically, the Virgin her selfe knew not how. Fearfully and wonderfully he was made, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Psal. 139. 14, 15. with Ephes. 4. 9.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jun Emblem.
• * 1.2

  Ab erroribus viarum Dea Vibilia liberat.
• * 1.3

  Arnob. adver. Gentes.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 22. 14.
• * 1.5

  Prov. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 26.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 (ait Rab. Solo∣mon ex Talmud.
• * 1.7

  Hierosol.) i e. in rebus in qui∣bus es slultus, aderit tamen tibi Dominus.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 9. 21.
• * 1.9

  Rev. 2. 9.
• * 1.10

  Job. 1.
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.12

  Joh. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.