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 18. Thou art Peter]

i. e. Thou art a living stone in the spirituall Temple, like as `Peter saith all other Christians are, 1 Pet. 2. 5. And here Christ tels Peter why at first he gave him that name.

Upon this Rock]

That is, upon this thy Rocky, thy solid and substantiall confession of me. Austin saith, the rock is Christ, not* 1.1 Peter, But this, saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉, is, humanus lapsus in Augustino.* 1.2 So the Schoolmen say, that S^t Austin stood so much for grace, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeelded too little to free-will. But it was a true saying of learned D. Whitakers in his answer to Campian, Patres in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sunt nostri, in multis 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in minimis vestri.

I will build my Church]

Christ cals not the Church 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or* 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is properly a convention of Lords and Statesmen, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is an Assembly of the common people, even those of the lower rank and condition according to that 1 Cor. 1. 26. and Luk. 1. 48. he hath regarded the low estate of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉-〈◊〉〈◊〉.

And the gates of hell, &c.]

That is, all the power and policy of hell combined. The devil lendeth his instruments, the Church∣es 〈◊〉〈◊〉, his seven heads to plot, and his ten horns to push. Craft and cruelty go together in them, as the Asp never wanders alone: and as the Scripture speaks of those birds of prey, Isa. 34. 16. None of them wants his mate. But yet all this shall not pre∣vail: the devil may shake his chain at the Saints, not set his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in them. For why? they stand upon a rock that is higher then they, so that the floods of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and oppositions cannot come so much as at their feet: or if they reach to the heel, yet they come not at the head, or if they should dash higher upon them, yet they break themselves.

Shall not prevail against it]

No, though the devil should dis∣charge at the Church his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ordinance: say they were as big* 1.4 as those two cast by Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara, the one whereof he called the earthquake, and the other Grandiabolo, or the great devil.

Whether may the Catholike Church erre in fundamentals?* 1.5

It is answered, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church of Christ,* 1.6 taken for his mysticall to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon earth, and complete number of h select, cannot erre in matters fundamentall, yet the externall* 1.7 visible part of the Church may erre, because the truth of God may be locked up within the hearts of such a company, as in competi∣tion

of suffrages, cannot make a greater part in a generall Coun∣cel: so that the sentence decreed therein, may be a fundamentall errour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 verb. Dem. Serm 13.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. c. 3.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 populo age. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 vally of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 127.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Ans.
• * 1.7

  D. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.