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 23. Get thee behinde me, Satan]

Come behinde as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ciple, go not before me as a teacher: understand thy distance, and hold thee to thy duty, by moving in thine own sphear; that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be not thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eccentrick, another Satan, who sets thee a work thus to tempt me, as he once did Eve to seduce Adam: here Maldonat is hard put to't, to save 〈◊〉〈◊〉 blamelesse, and saith, that, Get thee behinde me is an Hebrew phrase, and imports no more then Follow me. But when he comes to consider that Christ calls him Satan, and that it would not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Christ should bid Satan follow him, he is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to confesse that it is the speech of one that bids another be packing out of his presence with indignation, like that of Christ to the tempter, Mat. 4. Get thee hence, Satan. Prosit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sternutatio 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Maldonate.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 art an offence unto me]

Thou doest thy good will to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me in the course of my calling, as Mediatour, wherein, say some, he sinned more grievously then afterwards he did in deny∣ing his Master, and was therefore so sharply rebuked. So when* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was sollicited by Criton to break prison, and save his life by flight; Friend Criton, said he, thine earnestnesse herein were much worth, if it were consistent with uprightnesse: but being not so, the greater it is, the more trouble 〈◊〉〈◊〉. I know not (said that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Martyr) by what reason they so called them my friends, which so greatly laboured to convert (pervert) me. Neither will I more esteem them then the Midianites, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 times past called the children of Israel to do sacrifice to their Idols.

But the things that be of men]

Erewhile it was of Satan, now of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. How 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is it to descry a devil in our best friends sometimes, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the French Martyr did in his parents? Satan suborns such as may do much with us, and works in them effectually for our hurt, as a Smith doth in his forge, Ephes. 2. 2. They were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and thereby tormented, saith the Apostle of those 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Heb. 11. 37. Satan speaks to us sometimes by our friends, as thorow* 1.2 trunks and canes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Act 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mon. fol. 1153.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.