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 18. Lamentation, weeping and great mourning]

How

impatient was Iacob in the losse of Ioseph, David of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c? Grief for sin (then which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more deep and soaking) is set forth by this unparalleld lamentation. Zech. 12. 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are they that mourn, as men do at the death of their dear∣est* 1.1 children. But let such say to God, as S^t 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adviseth a friend of his in like case, Tulisti liberos, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ipse 〈◊〉〈◊〉: non con∣tristor* 1.2 quod recepisti: ago 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Thou hast taken away whom thou hadst given me: I grieve not that thou hast taken them, but praise thee, Lord, that was pleased to give them.

Rachel weeping]

That is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in the way whereto Ra∣chel died in child-birth, and was buried, Give me children, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I die: Give her children, and yet she dies.

For her children]

Those dear pledges and pieces of our selves;* 1.3 called Chari by the Latins, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by the Greeks, darlings, in whom is all our delight, Ezek〈◊〉〈◊〉 24. 25. yet are they certain cares, but uncertain comforts.* 1.4

And would not be comforted]

This confutes him in Plautus, that said, Mulier nulla 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cordicitus ex animo. These mourned* 1.5 beyound measure, utterly refusing to be comforted by any fair words of the murtherers, excusing the matter (likely) to the mi∣serable mothers, and promising amends from the King by some other means, or by any other way. But immoderate sorrow, for los∣ses past hope of recovery, is more sullen then usefull: our stomack* 1.6 may be bewrayed by it, not our wisedom: and although something* 1.7 we may yeeld to nature, in these cases, yet nothing to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Because they were not]

A just judgement of God upon them for their unnaturallnesse to the Son of God, whom they shut our into a stable. The dullnesse and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 required thus to be raised and rowsed up, as by the sound of a* 1.8 Trumpet, or report of a Musket. Happy for them, if they had hearts* 1.9 to hear the rod, and who had appointed it. But we many times mi∣stake the cause of our misery, groping in the darke as the Sodomites, crying out upon the instrument, seldom reflecting; our mindes be∣ing as ill set as our eyes, we turn neither of them inwards.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  Ad Julian.
• * 1.3

  Lambin. in Menech. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Act. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  1. 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 cum charis 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Filius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Mic. 6. 9.
• * 1.7

  Lento 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Ipsa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 verenda 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.8

  Ant. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 17.
• * 1.9

  Sylla 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it a ut 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. In 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.