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 1. Then came to Jesus.

THen, when the men of Genne sareth favoured and observed him. Satan stomacketh the prosperity of Gods Kingdom in any place, and stirreth up his to oppose it. Esau began with Iacob in the womb, that no time might be lost. As soon as ever the Churches childe was borne, the devil sought to drown him, Rev. 12.

Scribes and Pharisees]

Learned and lewd; these are Christs greatest enemies, hypocrites especially, those night-birds, that cannot bear the light of true religion, but, as bats, beat a∣gainst it.

Which were of Ierusalem]

That faithfull City was now be∣come* 1.1 an harlot, her silver was degenerate into drosse, her wine mixt with water. The sweetest wine turns into the sowrest vineger, the whitest ivory burnt, into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coal. So about the year 1414 Theodoricus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Germany, an Augustine Frier com∣plained, not without cause, Ecclesiam Romanam ex aureâ fa∣ctam* 1.2 argenteam, ex argenteâ 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ex ferreâ terream, superesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in stercus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Machiavil observed, that there was no where* 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 piety, then in those that dwelt nearest to Rome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isa. 1. 22, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Joh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉: 6
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de rep. lib. 1. cap 〈◊〉〈◊〉.