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 29. Take my yoak upon you]

q. d. Though freed by me from the damning and domineering power of sinne, you must not* 1.1 think to live as you list. To argue from mercy to liberty is the de∣vils logick: from mercy to duty is the right reasoning as, Rom. 12. 1. Christians must not be yoaklesse, lawlesse, masterlesse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that wander at will as wild asses, or canes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but they must yeeld the obedience of faith, and be adding to their faith 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and to vertue knowledge, &c. linking the graces hand in* 1.2 hand as in a dance (so the word signifies) so shall they have an* 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ministred unto them further and further into Christs glorious kingdome.

And learn of me]

The archprophet, the Counsellour, that ex∣cellent* 1.4 speaker, as he is called in Daniel, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out of the fa∣thers bosome, and hath his fathers will at his fingers ends. Be∣sides what he taught us by himself and his servants, he hath writ∣ten for us those excellent things of his law, those lively oracles. He 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also left us, as here, his own practice for a pattern of the* 1.5 rule, and for a compleat copy (as S^t Peter calleth it) to write* 1.6 after. Pindarus saith of Hiero Siracusanus that he had cropt off* 1.7 the tops of all vertues. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of Friderick the Electour of Saxony, that he had pickt out the flower of all noble abilities and* 1.8 endowments. The same author proposeth George Prince of Anhalt for an example 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 piety worthy of all mens imitation. Machiavel sets forth Cesar Borgia (a far worse man) as the only pattern for a prince to expresse. S^t Hierom ha∣ving* 1.9 read the religious life and death of Hilarion, folding up the book 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Well; Hilarion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be the champion whom I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉. How much rather should we say 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Christ: every of whose actions whether morall or mediatory, were for our imita∣tion. In his morall actions we should learn of him by doing as he did, 1 Pet. 2. 23, In his mediatory, by translating that he did, to our spirituall life, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to die to sin, live to righteousnesse, &c.

For I am weak and lowly in heart]

Loe here is a peece of Christs yoak, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therefore so calleth, because as the yoak* 1.10 maketh the heifer hang down his head, and frame to hard labour, so doth humility (the mother of meeknesse) work in our hearts,* 1.11 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was a heifer used to dance and delight in soft straw, and could not abide to plow: but the Lord will make him (and all his) both bear and draw, and that from their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up, Lam, 3. And whereas meeknes and lowli-mindednesse go coupled here together, we must know that they are virtutes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as Bernard 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, a pair of twin-〈◊〉〈◊〉, never 〈◊〉〈◊〉.* 1.12 Remember, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 M^r Tindall to M^r Frith, that as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of minde shall make you high with God, even so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of words shall make you sink into the hearts of men.

And ye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 finde rest unto your soules]

These Christian ver∣tues* 1.13 have virtutem pacativam, they lodge a sweet calm in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it from perturbations and distempers. An 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who am I but I may be despised, abused, injured? And that which will break a passionate mans heart. Will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 break a 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 sleep.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 5 11
• * 1.4

  Dan 8. 13.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 21.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

  Frider. selegit florem ex om∣nib 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag 372.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. de Prin∣cipe.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  Humilitas ab: bumo.
• * 1.12

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.13

  Socrates cum in 〈7 words〉〈7 words〉 at 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉