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.

Esrom begat Aram]

While they sojourned in the Land of E∣gypt; a miserable home, where was nothing but bondage and tyranny. And yet, in reference to it, Moses (who was likewise born there) calls his son, Gershom, or a stranger there, because born in Midian. The sons of Ephraim, about the birth of Moses, sought to break prison before Gods goal-delivery: but this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great mischief to themselves, and no small heart-break to their aged father, 1 Chron. 7. 21, 22. Psal. 78. 9. Besides that, it gave occasion, likely, to that cruell edict of Pharaoh; Let us deal wisely (S^t Stephen saith, sophistically, subtilly) lest they multiply* 1.1 and join also to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enemies, and fight against us (as now they* 1.2 have fought against the Gittites, their own enemies, who detain∣ed from them the promised Land, till their sins were full) and so get them up out of the Land, as lately they had assayed to do. Therefore they d d set over them taskmasters, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them with their burdens, and to keep them from spawning so fast, after the* 1.3 manner of fishes (as the word imports) which multiply beyond measure. But God turned their wisedom into folly; they took a wrong course. For who knows not that your labouring men have the most and the strongest children? And notwithstanding this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pharaohs craft and cruelty.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Acts 7. 19.
• * 1.3

  Exod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.