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 3. He answered and said unto them]

He shapes them an answer by way of Recrimination: which is a singular means of conviction to the adversary, but hard to be done by us without some mixture of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, such as was that in David to Michal, 2 Sam. 6. 21.

Transgresse the Commandment of God by your tradition?]

Gods commands should be kept as the apple of the eye, Prov. 7. 2. They are broken by omissions, commissions and failings in the manner: like as a man may miss: the mark by shooting short, or beyond, or wide. These Pharisees, as those Athenians of old (whereas they had most excellent Laws, but most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 na∣tures) chose rather to live by their lusts, then by their laws. They had many traditions, and unwritten verities, pretend∣ed to be invented and prescribed them by their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof they might be the better 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to keep Gods Commandments. These traditions they stiled, Mashlamnathoth, Completions or Perfections: because thereby they conceited, that the written law was made more complete and perfect. And say not the Papists as much of their traditions?

Notes

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