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.

Take it by force]

Make a prey or a prize of it. Diripiunt as Hi∣lary rendreth it, making it a metaphor, from a tower or town sackt and ransackt by the enemy. Cyprus is an Island so fruitfull and pleasant, that it was anciently called Macaria, that is, bles∣sed. And of it Sextus Rufus writeth, that being famous for ri∣ches,* 1.1 it thereby sollicited the poverty of the people of Rome, to seise upon it. This may be more fitly said of heaven, that habi∣bitation of the happy ones, so eagerly and earnestly sought for by the Saints, that nothing else will satisfy them. Valdè prote∣status sum me nolle sic a Deo satiari, said Luther, when great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were sent unto him, and a Cardinalship offered him by the Pope: God, he said, should not put him off with those petty things, he breathed after better. Heaven is had by the violent, earth in∣herited by those that are meek, Matth. 5. 6. Where, though God would have his servants content with the least mercies, (as being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then the very least) yet not satisfied with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatest things in the world for their portion, sith they are born to better. If they be, as most are, slothfull in seeking to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves of Heaven: He chides them, as Ioshuah did the seven tribes, for their negligence, Iosh. 18. 2.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cyprus 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 populi 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.