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 29. Shall receive an hundred sold]

In reference to Isaacks hundred-fold increase of his seed. Gen. 26. 12. or that best of. grounds. Mat. 13, Those that do pillage us they do but husband us, sow for us, when they make long forrowes on our backs Psal. 126. and ride over our heads. Psal. 66, 12, Gordius the Mattyr said; It is to my losse, if you bate me any thing in my suffrings. Crudelitas vestra nostra gloria, said they in Tertullian, your cruelty is our glory: and the harder we are put to it, the greater shall be* 1.1 our reward in heaven. Nay on earth too; the Saints shall have their losses for Christ recompensed, either in mony or monies-worth either in the same, or a better thing. Iob had all doubled to him, Valentinian, for his tribuneship, the Empire cast upon him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Apostate, who had put him out of office, for his re∣ligion.* 1.2 Q. Elizabeth (whose life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a long while had been like a ship in the midst of an Irish sea) after long restraint was exalted from misery to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, from a prisoner to a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Optanda nimirum est jactura quae lucro majore pensatur, saith Agricola. It is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a lovely losse, that is made up with so great gain. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Q. Elizabeth forknown, whiles she was in prison, what a glorious raign she should have had for 44 years, she would never have wished her self a milk maid. So, did but the Saints under∣stand what great things abide them both here and hereafter, they would bear any thing chearfully. An hundred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here, and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 life hereafter: On who would not then turn spirituall pur∣chaser? Well might S^t Paul say, godlines is profitable to all things. Well might the Psalmist say, In doing (in suffering) thy will, there is great reward. Not for doing it only, but in doing it: for Righteousnes is its own reward. S^t Mark hath it thus, He that leaveth house, brethren, sisters, father, &c. shall receive the same in kinde: house, brethren, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, father, &c. That is, 1. He shall have communion with God and his consolations, which are* 1.3 better then them all; as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Italian Marquesse that left all for Christ avowed them: and as 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, when his City was taken by the Barbarians, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 us to God, Lord let me not be troubled at the losse of my gold and silver, for thou art all in all unto me. 2. He many times gives his suffering servants

here such supplies of their outward losses, in raising them up other friends and means, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abundantly countervail what they have parted with. Thus, though David was driven from his wife, and she was given to another, God gave him a friend Jonathan,* 1.4 whose love was beyond the love of women. So though Naomi lost her husband and children; Boaz, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Obed became to her instead of all. The Apostles left their houses, and houshold∣stuffe to follow Christ: but then they had the houses of all godly people open to them and free for them: and happy was that Lydia, that could entertain them: so that having nothing, they* 1.5 yet possessed all things. They left a few friends, but they found 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more where ever they came. Wherefore it was a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sarcasme of Iulian the Apostate, when reading this text, he jear∣ingly demanded, whether they should have an hundred wives also, for that one they had parted with? 3. God commonly exalts his people to the contrary good to that evil they suffer for him: as Ioseph of a slave became a ruler: as Christ that was judged by men, is Judge of all men. The first thing that Caius did, after he came to the Empire, was to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Agrippa, who had been imprison∣ed for wishing him Emperour. Constantine embraced Paphnu∣tius, and kissed his lost eye. The King of Poland sent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his enerall, who had lost his hand in his warres, a golden hand instead thereof. God is far more liberall to those that serve him, suffer for him. Can any son of Iesse doe for us as he can?

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Qu pro Christi 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉 accepit 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Ne 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.4

  2 Sam. 1.
• * 1.5

  2 Cor. 6. 10.