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 28. And fear not them which kill the body]

That cru∣elly kill it (as the word signifies) that wittily tortute it, as those* 1.1 Primitive Persecutors, with all the most exquisite torments that the wit of malice could devise: that kill men so, that they may feel themselves to be killed, as Tiberius bad. Odull Gemmet suffered a strange and cruel death in France for Religion. For when they had bound him, they took a kinde of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which live in horse∣dung,* 1.2 called in French Escarbots, and put them unto his navell,* 1.3 covering them with a dish, the which, within short space, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into his belly, and killed him. The tragicall story of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 handling of William Gardner Martyr in Portugall may be read in M^r Foxes Martyrologie, fol. 1242. At th elosse of Heydelberg, Monsieur Millius an ancient Minister and man of God, was taken

by the bloudy Spaniards, who having first abused his daughter be∣fore* 1.4 him, tied a small cord about his head, which with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they wreathed about, till they squeezed out his brains. So they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 roasted then burnt many of our Martyrs, as B. Ridley and o∣thers: neither would they let the dead rest in their graves, as 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, whose bones they digd up and burnt: so they raged ex∣ceedingly upon the dead body of Zuinglius, after they had slain* 1.5 him in battle, &c. Now these that cruelly kill the body we must not 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Our Saviour saith not that can kill the body, at their plea∣sure, for that they cannot: but that do kill it, when God permits them to do it. And then too, occidere possunt, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non possunt, as he told the tyrant: they may kill the Saints but cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.6 them, because their souls are out of gunshot. S^t Pauls sufferings reached no further then to his flesh, Col 1. 25. his soul was un∣touched, he possessed that in patience amidst all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 per∣turbations.

But are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 able to kill the soul]

As they would do fain, if it were in their power. David oft complains that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soul, that they 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, &c. Now we commit thy soul to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, said the Persecutors to Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Popish Priests perswaded the people here at the burning of the Martyrs, that when the gunpowder (that was put under their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a readier dispatch of them) gave a burst, then the devil fetcht away their souls. When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 often cryed in the fire Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 receive 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spirit, a Spanish Monk ran to a Noble-man then* 1.7 present, and would have perswaded him that those were words of despair, and that he was now entring into hell. Vpon the patient and pious death of 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, many of the people said, he died a Martyr, which caused the Bishop shortly after to make a Sermon in the Cathedrall, and therein he affirmed, that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Marsh* 1.8 was an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, burnt like an heretick, and a fire-brand in hell. Of Nicolas Burton Martyr in Spain, because he embraced death for Christ with all gladnesse and patience, the Papists gave out that the devil had his soul, before he came to the fire, and therefore they said his senses of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were past already.* 1.9

But rather fear him]

As one fire, so on fear drives out another. Therefore, in the second Commandment, lest the fear of mens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should keep us from worshipping of God, great pun∣nishment is threatned, to them that worship him not. If I for∣sake my profession, I am sure of a worse death then Judge Hales

had, said that Martyr. There is martiall law for those that forsake their captain, or else (under a colour of discretion) fall back into the rereward. They that draw back, do it to perdition, Heb. 10. 39. And is it nothing to lose an immortall soul? to purchase an ever∣living death? Should servants fear their masters, because they have power over the flesh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 23. and should not we fear him that can destroy both body and soul in hell? Biron Marshall of France 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Earl of Essex his piety at his death, as more befitting a silly Minister then a stout warrier: as if the fear of hell were not* 1.10 a Christian mans fortitude; as if it were not valour but madnesse to fight with a flaming fire, that is out of our power to suppresse. This Biron, within few moneths after, underwent the same death that Essex did, and then if he feared not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he was sure to feel it.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.3

  fol. 878.
• * 1.4

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 corpus 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉 &c. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apud 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 1866.
• * 1.10

  Camd. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. fol. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.