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 24. If any man will come after me]

Not step before me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to me, as Peter attempted to do, whose fault herein is purposely recorded, that be might not be (as by the Papists, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.1 respects, he is) over-much magnified, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as is a∣bove observed, and made collaterall, a very copesmate to Christ himself.

Let him deny himself]

Abdicet seipsum, Let him abrenounce himself flatly, peremptorily, again and again (as the word im∣porteth) with a stout and stiff deniall to so unreasonable a request, as self will be sure to make to a man, his whole 〈◊〉〈◊〉 throughout. Every one hath many a self within himself to say nay to, though never so dear to him. Levi said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor knew 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own children, that he might observe Gods Word, and keep his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Deut. 33 9. This was much. But he that will be Christs Disciple, must do more then this. He must deny himself, his own reason, will, affections, appetite, aims, ends, acts, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. He must utterly renounce himself, as much as if he had nothing at all to do with himself. Yea, he must condemn

and cast away himself, as God doth those reprobates, whom he denieth, disowneth and disavoweth for ever. Horreo quicquid de meo est ut sim meus, saith Bernard. Ita cave tibi ut caveas 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saith another. So take heed to your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that you take heed of your self. Oh misery! saith a third; we could not suffer a Lord,* 1.2 and yet we sustain to serve our fellow-servant, self. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Emperour dying, affirmed, that he was proud of one of his victories only, viz. That he had overcome his own flesh, that worst of enemies. Of all slaveries none so grievous to a good heart, as to be slave to himself. And this yoke of slavery, it is an easie matter to shake off, saith Seneca; but he is fouly deceived. For a man will sooner say nay to all the world, then to himself. This made Robert Smith the Martyr write thus to his wife, Be al∣waies* 1.3 an enemy to the devil and the world, but specially to your own flesh. There are some diseases that will not be cured, till we be let bloud ad deliquium animae, till the patient 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and such is sin: it is corruptio totius substantiae, the sinner must be unmade, ta∣ken all asunder, ere the new creature can be made up in him: he must be stark dead to sin 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he can live to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as S. Pe∣ter* 1.4 hath it: and the word he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there implieth, that the old frame must be utterly 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the whole man done to death, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for a whole burnt-offering. Instead of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saith Origen, we must kill our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 passions: in stead of a Goat, our unclean affections: in stead of slying fowls, our idle thoughts and evil imaginations. Loe this is that evangelicall sa∣crifice, that rationall service so much commended and called for, Rom. 12. 1. Do this, and thou shale live: leave it 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and thou art undone for ever. Pray therefore with him, Domine, li∣bera me à malo homine, meipso, Lord, free 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from an ill man, my self.

And take up his crosse]

Where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is renounced, the crosse is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 born. It is self (saith one) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the crosse pinch. Things puft up with winde, break when they come to the fire: so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that are puffed up, and filled with self, will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nothing. Pri∣vation is one of the principles of naturall generation, so is self-de∣niall of holy 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Pain would this flesh make strange of that which the Spirit doth embrace (said M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Martyr, in a letter written to his wife out of the prison.) O Lord, how loth is this loitering 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forth in Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉! It fan∣cieth,* 1.5 forsooth, much fear of fray-bugs, &c. Take up the

crosse, and follow me thorow thick and thin, thorow fire and wa∣ter; Oh this is an hard saying, saith another Martyr. But if there* 1.6 be any way on horse-back to heaven, surely this is the way. On∣ly we must take up our crosse, be active in it, and not stay till it be laid upon us, whether we will or no. And then bear it pati∣ently, not grin under the burden of it, as antick pictures 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to do under the weight of the house-side, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they are fasten∣ed. Drink 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods cup willingly, and at the first (saith M. Brad∣ford)* 1.7 and when it is full: lest peradventure if we linger, we drink at length of the dregs with the wicked, if at the beginning we drink not with his children. We must take up our crosses (saith another) and when God bids us yoke, he is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man that* 1.8 yeelds his neck most willingly.

And follow me]

Without sciscitation; let him go blinde-fold* 1.9 whether I lead him, as Abraham did. Neither may he leap over the hedge of the command, for avoiding the foul way of affliction, Sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quocun{que} Christus vocârit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in ea loca migrandum 〈◊〉〈◊〉

—Pigris ubi nulla campis* 1.10 Arbor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 â recreatur aurâ; Quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mundi nebulae, malus{que} Jupiter urget.

God hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us to be conformed to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 image of his Sonne, in sufferings also, Rom. 8. 29. Crux pendentis, Cathedra docentis. Plato was crook-backt, and his scholars counted it an ornament to go crooked like him. Aristotle 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and his scholars thought it honour to lisp. Shall not we hold our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honoured that may suffer with Christ, and then be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fied also with him?

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  O 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 non 〈◊〉〈◊〉, conservo 〈◊〉〈◊〉. mus. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib 12.
• * 1.3

  Act. and Mon. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1545.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 24.
• * 1.5

  Act and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Ibid 1494.
• * 1.7

  Ibid. 1483.
• * 1.8

  M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 `〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 lib. 1 Od. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.