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 31. Is like to a grain of mustard-seed]

Which soon pierceth the nostrils and brain, as Pliny noteth, and hurteth the eyes, as the very name in Greek importeth. But that which our* 1.1 Saviour here observeth and applieth in it is, the smallnesse of the seed, the greatnesse of the stalk or tree that comes of it, and the use of the branches, for birds to build in. This grain of mustard-seed sowed, is the word preached: which though it seem small and contemptible, proves quick and powerfull: Hitherto flee the birds of the ayr, Gods elect for shade in prosperity, for shelter in adver∣sity. Yea as the trees of America, but especially of Brasile, are so huge, that severall families are reported to have lived in severall* 1.2

〈◊〉〈◊〉 of one tree, to such a number as are in some petty village,* 1.3 or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here: So is the growth of the Gospel, it runs and is glo∣rified, 2 Thess, 3. 1. as the Jerusalem-Artichoke overruns the* 1.4 ground, wheresoever it is planted. It was a just wonder how it was carried, as on Angels wings, over all the world by the preach∣ing of the Apostles at first, and now again, in the late Reformation, by Luther and some few other men of mean rank, but of rare suc∣cesse. These were those Angels that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 flying with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gospel (no new doctrin as the Adversaries slander it) in the middest of heaven, or betwixt heaven and earth; because their doctrine at first was not so clearly confirmed to others, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so fully 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by themselves. Melancthon confesseth, Quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 habemus, sc. 〈◊〉〈◊〉: quos 〈◊〉〈◊〉, non 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And Cardinall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (saith the same Melancthon) reading the Ansborough-Confession, saith, that our cause concern∣ing* 1.5 the righteousnesse of faith, was stronger in the confirmation,* 1.6 then in the confutation of the contrary opinion. Quod verum est, as he there yeeldeth, quia facilius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in sophisticis quam* 1.7 destruere: In Physicis contra. But our John Wickliffe, long be∣fore Luther, wrote more then two hundred volumes against the the Pope. The Lady Anne, wife to K. Richard the second, sister to Wence slaus K. of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by living here was made acquaint∣ed* 1.8 with the Gospel. Whence also many Bohemians coming hither, conveyed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 book into Bohemia; whereby a good founda∣tion was laid for a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Reformation. After this, were stirred up there by God, John Husse and Hierom of Prague; who so pro∣pagated the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in that Kingdom, that in the year of Christ 1451. the Church of God at Constantinople, congratulated to the University of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 happy 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and exhorted them to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For before the Hussites, by the mediation of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sophia, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, had obtained of the King the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exercise of their Religion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bohemia. Howbeit, soon after this, they 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 persecution by the Popish party, who yet could say no worse of them then this; In their lives they are modest, in their 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one towards another servent; but their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and stark naught, saith* 1.9 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And why stark naught? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another of 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 shall tell you: Their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saith he, is 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 1. Because of so long standing.* 1.10 2. Because so far 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their shew of purity, &c. This* 1.11

paved a way for the great work which Luther began in Germany, the last of October 1617. And it was strangely carried on; 1. By diligent preaching. 2. Printing good books. 3. Translating the holy Scriptures into vulgar tongues. 4. Catechising of youth.* 1.12 5. Offering publike disputation. 6. Martyrologies. Here in England was a great door opened at the same time, but many 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The establishing of that Reformation, how unpersit so∣ever; to be done by so weak and simple means, yea by casuall and crosse means (saith one) against the force of so puissant and politick an enemy, is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 miracle, which we are in these times to look for. It is such a thing (saith another) as the former age had even de∣spaired of, the present age admireth, and the future shall stand a∣mazed at. K. Henry the eighth, whom God used as an Instru∣ment in the work, had first written against Luther, and afterwards* 1.13 established those six sacrilegious Articles. And sitting in Parlia∣ment, he thus complained of the stirs that were made about reli∣gion. There are many, saith he, that are too busie with their new Sumpsimus, and others that dote too much upon their old Mump∣simus. The new religion though true, he and they all, for most* 1.14 part, envyed: the old, though their own, they despised. John Frith withstood the violence of three of the most obstinate amongst them, Rochester, Moor and Rastall: Whereof the one by the helpe of the doctours, the other by wresting the Scriptures, and the third by the help of naturall Philosophy had conspired against him. But he, as another Hercules (saith M^r Fox) fighting with all three at once, did so overthrow and confound them, that he converted Ra∣stall to his part: Rochester and Moor were afterwards both be∣headed for denying the Kings supremacy. Reformation hath ever met with opposition, and never more then now, men fighting for their lusts, which they love as their lives, and are loth to part with. But Christ shall raigne when all's done: and those golden times are now at hand, that the new 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which signifies the state of the Church in this world, when it hath passed the furnace of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, presently upon it, shall be all of fine gold. Let us contribute thereunto our earnest prayers and utmost pains; not abiding a∣mong the sheepfolds with Reuben, nor remaining in ships with Dan, &c. Judg. 5. 16, 17. not standing off, and casting perils, as the Priests and Levites in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 daies; but beginning the Re∣formation* 1.15 as Gideon did at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own hearts and houses, lest with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in stead of making up the breach, we prove makers of

breaches. Were our dangers greater, thy single reformation may doe much to prevent them, Ier. 5. 1. As, were our hopes greater, thy sin and security may unravell them and undo all, Eccles. 9. 18. One sianer destroyeth much good: Be moving therefore in thine own orb, and bestir thee as Nehemiah did, trading every ta∣lent wherewith divine providence hath entrusted thee for Ieru∣salems welfare: giving no rest either to thy self or to God, as his re∣membrancer untill he have established, and made her a praise in the whole earth, Isa. 62. 6, 7.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sublimis fer∣tur, quando non aliud magis in nares & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 penetrat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 l. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 22. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  Heb. 4.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Geog. pag. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.5

  Rev. 146, 7.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Joh. Manl. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. com. pag. 75.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 plus quam 200 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Apoc. 146 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pag 375. In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.9

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.10

  2 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.11

  3 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Revius de 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Pont. pag. 151.
• * 1.12

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.13

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 dec 2 ep 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cat.
• * 1.14

  Act. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. sol. 943.
• * 1.15

  2 Chro. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12.