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 21. And she shall bring forth a Sonne]

Shiloh the Son of her secundines: that Son, that Eve made account she had got, when she had got Cain: For, said she, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Or as others read it (and the Original rather favours it) I have gotten the man, the Lord. But how farre she was deceived, the issue proved. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 spes bona 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suo. Hope comes halting home many times.

And thou shalt call his name Iesus]

Not of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to heale, as some Hellenists would have it: Although it be true that he is Ie∣hovah Rophe, the Lord the Physician, by whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we are heal∣ed:* 1.1 But of Iashang, whence 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Iesus. Two in the old Te∣stament had this name. The first when he was sent as a spy into Canaan, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 16. had his name changed from Oshea, Let God save, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, God shall save. Under the Law (which brings us as it were into the wildernes of SIN) we may wish there were a Saviour: but under the Gospel we are sure of salva∣tion, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Iehoshuah hath bound himself to fulfill all righteouf∣nes, and had therefore this name imposed upon him at his circum∣cision. For he assumed it not to himself (though knowing the end of his coming, and the fullnesse of his sufficiency, he might have done it) nor received it from men, but from God; and that with great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by the ministery of an Angel, who talked with a woman about our salvation, as Satan sometime bad done about our destruction.

For he shall save his people from their sinnes]

This is the no∣tation and Etymon, or reason of his name, Jesus, A name above all names, Phil 2. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith the Heathen Oratour, is a word so* 1.2 emphaticall, that other tongues can hardly finde a word fit to ex∣presse it. Salvation properly notes the negative part of a Chri∣stians happinesse: viz. preservation from evil; chiefly from the evil of sin, (which is the mother of all our misery:) from the dam∣ning and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 power thereof, by his merit and Spirit, by

his value and vertue. Jesus therefore is a short Gospel, and should worke in us strongest affections, and egressions of soul after him, who hath saved us from the wrath to come. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being* 1.3 set free but from bodily servitude, called their deliverer a Saviour* 1.4 to them: and rang it out, Saviour, Saviour, so that the fowls in the aire fell down dead with the cry. Yea they so pressed to come neer him, and touch his hand, that, if he had not timely withdrawn himself, he might have beseemed to have lost his life. The Egyp∣tians preserved by Joseph, called him Abrech, or Tender-Father.* 1.5 The daughters of Ierusalem met David returning from the slaugh∣ter of the Philistims with singing and dancing. When the Lord turned again the captivity of his people, they were like them that dream, Psal. 126 1. And Peter enlarged, could scarce beleeve his own eyes; with such an extasie of admiration was he rapt, upon that deliverance. Oh then how should our hearts rejoice, and our tongues be glad, Act. 2. 26? and how should we be vext at the vile dullnesse and deadnesse of our naughty natures, that can be no more affected with these indelible ravishments? Iacob wept for joy at the good news, that Ioseph was yet alive. Ioannes Mollius, when∣soever* 1.6 he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Name of Jesus, his eyes dropt. And another Reverend Divine amongst us, being in a deep muse, after some dis∣course* 1.7 that passed of Jesus, and tears trickling abundantly from his eyes, before he was aware, being urged for the cause thereof, con∣fessed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, it was because he could not draw his dull heart to prize Christ aright. M^r Fox never denied begger that asked in* 1.8 that Name: And good Bucer never disregarded any (though dif∣ferent in opinion from him) in whom he could discern aliquid Christi: None but Christ, said that blessed Martyr at the stake.* 1.9 And another in the flames, when judg'd already dead, suddenly, as* 1.10 waked out of sleep, moved his tongue and jaws, and was heard to* 1.11 pronounce this word, Jesus.

Here also we have an excellent argument of our Saviours divi∣nity* 1.12 and omnipotency; forasmuch as the Angel ascribeth unto* 1.13 him, that which the Psalmist affirmeth of Jehovah, that he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities, Psal. 130. 8. with Hos. 13. 4.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 15. 26.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  1 Thes. 1 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in vita Flamin.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Annotat.
• * 1.6

  Fox 〈◊〉〈◊〉 f. 855.
• * 1.7

  M. Welse.
• * 1.8

  Wards Serm.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lambert.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Palmer.
• * 1.11

  Act. and Mon. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.13

  C hristus au∣tem non Pater, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.