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 17. Tell it unto the Church]

That is, unto the Church∣Governours, the Church representative, as some think. Not the Pope, whom Papists make the Church 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and who, like a wasp, is no sooner angry but out comes a sting; which being out, is like a fools dagger, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and snapping withoutan edge. Hence in the year 833. when Pope Gregory the fourth offered to* 1.1 excommunicate Ludivicus Pius the Emperour with his follow∣ers, the Bishops that stood for the Emperour affirmed, that they would by no means yeeld to the Pops pleasure therein, sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉

communicaturus venirit, excommunic atus abiret cum alitèr se habeat antiquorum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 authorit as, And in the year 1260. Leonard an English Doctor answered the Popes Legat, who plea∣ded* 1.2 that all Churches were the Popes, that they were his indeed (so it went then for currant, but) tuitione non fruitione, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, non 〈◊〉〈◊〉. If he should cast out Jonas and keep Cham in the Ark, they would decline and disclaim his censures.

Let him be unto thee as an Heathen and a publican]

i.e. Nei∣ther* 1.3 meddle, nor make with him: have thou neither sacred nor ci∣vil society with him. The Jews hated the presence, the fire, the fashion, the books of an Heathen: As now a Papist may not joyn* 1.4 with a Protestant in any holy action, no not in saying over the Lords prayer, or saying Grace at table. Howbeit of old a Jew might eat at the same table with an Heathen, Levit. 8: and come to the same Temple with Publicans, so they were Proselytes, Luk: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But they might do neither of these to an obstinate excommu∣nicate, no more may we. Rebellion is as witchcraft, and obsti∣nacy as bad as idolatry, 1: Sam. 15. 23.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. 〈◊〉〈◊〉: de 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ec l. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & suc. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 p. 3.
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Hist. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag. 278.
• * 1.3

  B Hall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Matth. 5. 20.
• * 1.4

  Sands his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Europae.