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 8. This people draweth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto me, &c.]

And they are no changelings: For at this day, although they know better, and can 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the walls of their Synagogues this sentence, Te∣phillah 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 cheguph belo neshamah, that is, Praier with∣out* 1.1 the intention of the minde, is but as a body without a soul; yet shall not a man any where see lesse intention then in their ori∣sons. The reverence they shew (saith S^r Edwin Sands, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it) is in standing up at times, and the gesture of adoration, in the bowing forward of their bodies. For kneeling they use none (no more do the Grecians) neither stir they their bonnets in their Sy∣nagogues to any man: but remain still covered. They come to* 1.2 it with washen hands, and in it they burn lamps to the honour of God: but for any shew of devotion or elevation of spirit, that yet* 1.3 in Jews could I never discern: but they are as reverend in their Synagogues, as Grammer-boyes are at school, when their master is absent. In summe, their holinesse is the very out∣ward work it self, being a brainlesse head, and soullesse body. Thus he.

And honoureth me with their lips]

But prayer is not the labour of the lips, but the travel of the heart: the power of a petition is not in the roof of the mouth, but root of the heart. To give way to wilfull distractions, is to commit spirituall whoredom in Gods presence. Is it fit to present the King with an empty cask? or to tell him a tale with our backs towards him? Behold, I am a

great King, saith God, and they that stand before him, must look* 1.4 to their feet, saith Solomon, that they stand upright, and that they offer not an heartlesse sacrifice, for that is the sacrifice of fools, and ever held ominous.

But their heart is farre from me]

And so, all they do is puted hypocrisie. God loves truth in the inward parts, Psal. 41. 6. and calls for the heart in all services, as Joseph did for Benjamin, as David did for Michal, Thou shalt not see my face, unlesse thou bring it. In all spirituall Sacrifices we must bring him the fat and the inwards. The deeper and hollower the belly of the lute or viol is, the pleasanter is the sound; the fleeter, the more grating and harsh in our ears. The voice which is made in the mouth is no∣thing so sweet, as that which cometh from the depth of the brest, Eph. 6. 5. Do the will of God from the heart. But woe be to all care∣lesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to all loose and ungirt Christians: the Lord will make all the Churches to know that he searcheth the hearts and* 1.5 reyns, and that he will kill with death all such as had rather seem to be good, then seek to be so.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Abbre∣viat. p. 186.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Euro∣pe.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 posset 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 pro 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 quam pro 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 S 〈◊〉〈◊〉 epist. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1.
• * 1.4

  Eccles. 7. 1.
• * 1.5

  Revel. 1. 23.