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 9. And Ozias begat Joatham.]

A pious Prince, but not very prosperous. Grace is not given to any, as a target against out∣ward affliction.

And Joatham begat Ahaz]

A sturdy stigmatick, a branded re∣bell. The more he was distressed, the more he trespassed. This* 1.1 is that Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28. 22. How many (now adaies) are hum∣bled, yet not humble? Low, but not lowly? Qui nec fractis cervicibus inclinantur, as Hieron complaineth: quos multo fa∣cilius* 1.2 fregeris, quam flexeris, as another hath it. These are like* 1.3 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called Monoceros, who may be kild, but not caught. Plectimur a Deo, saith Salvian, nec flectimur tamen: corripimur, sed non corrigimur. But if men harden their hearts against cor∣rection: God will harden his hand, and hasten their destru∣ction.

Ahaz begat Hezekiah]

Who stands betwixt his father Ahaz, and his sonne Manasseh, as a lily between two thornes, or as a Fuller between two 〈◊〉〈◊〉: or, as that wretched Cardinall of Toledo in his preface before the Bible, printed at Complutum in Spain, said; that he set the Vulgar Latine betwixt the Hebrew and Greek, as Christ was set betwixt two theeves. Here observe (by the way) that Judah had some enterchange of good Princes; Israel, none: and that, under religious Princes the people were ever religious: as under wicked Princes, wicked. Most people will* 1.4 be of the Kings religion, be it what it will be, as the Melchites were of old, and the Papists still, if M. Rogers (our Protomartyr in Q. Maries daies) may be beleeved. The Papists, saith he, ap∣ply themselves to the present state: yea, if the state should change ten times in the year, they would ever be ready at hand to change with it, and so follow the cry, and rather utterly forsake God, and be of no Religion, then that they would forgoe lust or living,* 1.5 for God or Religion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Humiliantar, & humiles non sunt, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 34.
• * 1.2

  In Epist.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, capi non 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Plin.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. and Mon.