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 11. And when they were come into the house]

Not a* 1.1 Palace prepared for the purpose, as the Porphyrogeniti in Constan∣tinople had, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in an Inne was Christ born, as ready to receive all* 1.2 that come unto him, and in a hole of the earth, an under-ground* 1.3 den, as Iustin Martyr, Epiphanius, Eusebius and Origen 〈◊〉〈◊〉. In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 terrae foramine (saith S^t Hierom, ad Marcill. tom. 1.)* 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conditor natus est, hic involutus pannis, hic visus a pa∣storibus,* 1.5 hic adoratus a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hic circumcisus, &c. In this cell or* 1.6 hole was the worlds Creatour born, swathed, visited, adored, cir∣cumcised.

They saw the young childe]

For this Ancient of daies, by joyn∣ing his Majesty to our vilenes, his power to our 〈◊〉〈◊〉, su∣spended and laid aside his own glory, wherewith he was glorified with the Father before the world began, and voluntarily abased himself to the shape and state of a poor, feeble, helplesse infant, that we might come to the fullnesse of the age in Christ.* 1.7

With Mary his Mother]

Without any other assistance or at∣tendance. Ioseph haply was at work, or otherwise absent, lest the wise men should mistake him for the true father of the childe.

Ana when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts]

No great matters to make him rich: for then, what needed the holy Virgin, at her Purification, to have offered two young Pigeons, as a token of her penury, that could not reach to a Lamb? Yet something it was; gold, frankincense and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (sent them in by a speciall providence of God) to helpe to bear their charges into Egypt, whither they were now to flee.

Gold, frankincense and myrrhe]

The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commodities of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, doubtlesse: thereby (as by a Pepper-corn, in way of ho∣mage or chief-rent) they acknowledged Christ to be the true

Proprietary and Lord of all. Of the Elephant it is reported, that coming to feed, the first sprig he breaks, he turns it toward Hea∣ven. Of the Stork Pliny tells us, that she offers the first-fruits of* 1.8 her young ones to God, by casting one of them out of the nest. God is content we have the benefit of his creatures, so he may have the glory of them: this is all the loan he looketh for: and for this as he indents with us, Psal. 50. 15. so the Saints restipulate, Gen. 28. 22. But he cannot abide that we pay this rent to a wrong Landlord, whether to our selves, as Deut. 8. 17. or to our fellow∣creatures,* 1.9 as they to their sweet hearts, Hos. 2. 5.

Gold, frankincense and myrrhe]

Aurum, thus, myrrham, regique, hominique, Deoque. A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of each, as Gen. 43. 11. Lycurgus made a law that no man should be over-costly or 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.10 in his offering of sacrifice, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he should grow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the charge, and give God over. Ought we not (saith one) often in soul to goe with the wise men to Bethlehem, being directed by the starre of grace, and there fall down and worship the little King: there offer the gold of charity, the frankincense of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the myrrhe of pae 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and then return, not by cru∣ell* 1.11 Herod, or troubled Jerusalem, but another way, a better way, unto our long and happy home?

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. contra Tryph.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 51. Euseb.
• * 1.4

  de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Orig. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Celsum.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  Lib. 10 cap. 23. Hinc 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cultrix á Lati∣nis 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 ab 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  Suttons Disce vivere.