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 2. Behold, thy Disciples do that which is not lawfull]

This was as the proverb is, Sus Minervam, when blinde Phari∣sees will be teaching Christ, how the Sabbath is to be sanctified. Not Hebrews only, but also Greeks and Barbarians rested from work on the seventh day: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iosephus, Clemens Alexand. and Eusebius. Howbeit, to the Hobrews at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sina, God for a speciall favour, made known his holy Sabbath, Nehem. 9. 14. commanding them to do no servile work therein, Lev. 23. 7 8.* 1.1 This excludes not works of Piety, Charity, and Necessity, such* 1.2 as was this of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the text. The Iews in their supersti∣tion, would not fight on the Sabbath, and therefore lost their cheif City to the Romanes, under the command of Pompey, who took

the advantage of the day, to do his utmost then against them. In after-times they grew more rigid in this point: for on the Sabbath they would not spet, ease nature, get out of a jakes, if by mishap they had fallen into it, as that Jew of Tewksbury. This ever was, and is the guise of hypocrites, to strain at gnats and swallow camels. Witnesse our modern Pharisees the Monks and Jesuites, who stumble at straws, and leap over mount∣ains.* 1.3 Their Schoolmen determined that it was a less: crime to kill a thousand men, then for a poor man to mend his shoe on the Sab∣bath-day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dio
• * 1.2

  〈7 words〉〈7 words〉:
• * 1.3

  Levius esse cri∣men mille 〈◊〉〈◊〉 jugulare, quam 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉. Pareus in loc.