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. And said unto his servants]

So seeking a diversion* 1.1 of his inward terrours and torments. Perplexed he was and could finde no way out, as S. Lukes word importeth. Conscience will hamper a guilty person, and fill him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with unquestionable con∣viction and horrour. As those that were condemned to be cru∣cified, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their crosse, that should soon after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them: So God hath laid upon evil-doers the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their own consciences, that thereon they may suffer afore they suffer: and their greatest ene∣mier, need not wish them a greater mischief. For assuredly, a body is not so torn with stripes, as a minde with the remembrance of wicked actions. And here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 runs to building of Cities, Saul* 1.2 to the delight of musick, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to quaffing and carrousing, Herod to his minions and Catamites; so to put by, if possible, their melancholly dumps and heart-qualmes, as they count and call 〈◊〉〈◊〉 terrours. But conscience will not be pacified by these sor∣ry Anodynes of the devil. Wicked men may skip and leap up and* 1.3 down for a while, as the wounded dear doth: sed haeret lateri le∣thalis arundo, the deadly dart sticks fast in their sides, and will doe, without true repentance, till it hath brought them, as it did Herod, to desparation and destruction, so that he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 violent hands upon himself at Lions in France, whether he and his curtizan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ba∣nished by Augustus.

This is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Baptist]

Herod had thought to have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Herodias without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when once the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was behead∣ed: but it proved somewhat otherwise. Indeed so long as he plaid alone, he was sure to win all. But now conscience 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in to play her part, Herod is in a worse case then ever: for he imagined 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he saw and heard that holy head 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and crying out against him, staring him also in the face at every turne; as that Ty∣rant thought he saw the head of Symmachus, whom he had 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, in the mouth of the fish that was set before him on the table. And as Judge Morgan, who gave the sentence of condemnation against the Lady Iane Gray, shortly after he had condemned her,* 1.4 fell mad, and in his raving cryed out continually to have the Lady Iane taken away from him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ended his life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luk 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 De ijs d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 qui it a perplexi, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 q. in luto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non inve∣niant. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, which haply were his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 loves.
• * 1.3

  Namnon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 post 〈◊〉〈◊〉, se∣cutum est 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 & exitium. Joseph. lib. 18. cap 9.
• * 1.4

  Act. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. sol. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.