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.

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub]

That is* 1.1 Master-fly, such as Pliny calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The men of Elis sacri∣ficed* 1.2 to Iupiter Muscarius. He is otherwise called Iupiter ster∣corar* 1.3 us, this Beelzebub: as the Scripture cals all the vanities of* 1.4 the Heathen Gelulim, excrements, dunghill-Deityes: A name too good for them. David would not do them so much honour, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 once to name them. And Absit (saith Hierom) ut de ore Chri∣stiano* 1.5 sonet Iupiter omnipotens, & Meherculè, & Mecastor, &* 1.6 catera magis portenta quam numina. Beelzehub was the god of Ekron, that is the devil of hell (for of Ekron comes Acheron.) How prodigiously blasphemous then were these Miscreants, that called Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉? Wonder it was, that at the hearing thereof, the heaven sweat not, the earth shook not, the sea swelled not above all her book.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  lib. 10. cap. 28.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Clem. Alexan.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.