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 6. And thou Bethlehem, in the Land of Iudah, art not the least.]

Thou art the least, saith Micah, viz. in comparison of* 1.1 greater Cities, yet not the least, saith Matthew; because out of thee shall come a Governeur, &c. In Scripture, the place of holy mens birth is remembred and registred: God loves the very ground his servants tread on. The Lord shall count, when he numbreth up* 1.2 the people, that this man was born there: how much more the man Christ Jesus? Any interest or relation to him, ennobleth whatso∣ever place or person; and may justly comfort us against whatsoever troubles. The Prophet Micah, whose words are here cited, oppo∣seth the birth of this babe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to all the troops and trou∣bles* 1.3 of Assyria.

For out of thee shall come a Governour]

No sooner is this childe* 1.4 born, this Son given to us, but the government is laid upon his shoul∣ders; as the key of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of David was upon Eliakims, Isa. 22. 22. send ye therefore a Lamb to this Ruler of the Land, Isa. 16. 1. do him all hearty homage and fealty.

That shall rule my people]

Or feed them; for the art of feed∣ing* 1.5 and ruling are sisters. David was taken from following the* 1.6 ews, to feed Gods people; so was Moses, in whose absence, how* 1.7 soon was Israel, as silly sheep, gone out of the way? Christ is the Arch 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that feeds his people daily, daintily, plentifully,* 1.8 pleasantly, among the lilies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2 16. yea, in his garden of spi∣ces,* 1.9 in green pastures of his word, and by the still waters of his Sa∣craments,* 1.10 where we go in and out, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pasture, Joh. 10. 8. such as breeds 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and life in more abundance, ver. 10. We lie down in peace, Ier. 23. 4. and need not fear the spirituall Assyrian, Micah 5. 5. Whiles we keep us within the hedge, and run to the foddering places; submitting to the Ministers, those under-shep∣herds, Cant. 1. 7, 8. who are charged to feed Christs sheep, his

sheep with golden fleeces; yea to do it (〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the Syriack hath it)* 1.11 for me, for my sake (saith our Saviour) to whom Peter cannot* 1.12 better seal up his love, then by taking care of his Cure. I know how Bellarmine glosseth that text, Feed my sheep, that is, Regio more impera, Rule like an Emperour: Supremum in Ecclesia 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tibi assere, saith Baronius; Domineer over the Church: because the word here used (and so in John) signifieth as well to go∣vern* 1.13 as to feed. But what will they say to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the other word there twice used by our Saviour; which alwaies signifieth to feed, and not at all to govern? But these men catch at government, let go seeding: although the Fathers took the text only of feeding by doctrine, and that they beat upon, and urged altogether.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mic. 5. 2.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 87. 6, 7.
• * 1.3

  Mic 5. 1, 2.
• * 1.4

  Isa. 9. 6.
• * 1.5

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

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hom.
• * 1.8

  1 Pet. 5. 4.
• * 1.9

  Cant. 8. 14.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 23. 8, 3.
• * 1.11

  Joh. 21 16.
• * 1.12

  exp unded.
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉