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 16. With the 〈◊〉〈◊〉]

i. e. Such as were of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 re∣ligion, as the Melchites, a kinde of mongrel-Christians in the* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉: so called of Melech, as one would say, Of the Kings 〈◊〉〈◊〉, because they followed the decrees and examples of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Some thinke these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were the same with the Publicans, or toll-takers (so Origen and Cyril) whom the Pharisees took with them to our Saviour, as if the one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tribute, the other refused to pay, and both came to our Saviour, as to an impartiall Judge, to end the quarrell, and decide the controversie.

Master, we know that thou art true, &c.]

Here's a fair glove, drawn upon a foul hand. Burning lips and a wicked heart 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like a potsheard covered with silver drosse, Prov. 26. 23: There are those that will smile in your face, and at same time cut your throat. Squier, sent out of Spain to poison Q. Elizabeth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉

the pummell of the Queens saddle with poison covertly, and as it* 1.2 were, doing something 〈◊〉〈◊〉, praying with a loud voice, God: save the Queen, &c.

That thou art true, and teachest the way of God]

These all are high commendations and necessary qualifications of a teacher and instructer of others. These Cony-catchers tell the truth of Christ (for he was all this that they say of him and more) and yet they tell a lie, because they thought him not so, but spoke against their consciences. They thought, belike, to have tickled and taken our Saviour with their flatteries (as every winde will blow up a bubble,) and so to have had what they would of him: But Christ was not for their turn. He was inadulabilis, unflat∣terable, and might better say then Politian did, Assentati∣unculis quorundam, ant etiam obtrectationibus non magis attollor* 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deprimor, quàm umbra mei corporis. I am no more lift∣ed up, nor cast down with mens 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or slanders, then with the shadow of mine own body. For I think not my self 〈◊〉〈◊〉 longer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shorter at morning, or at noon, because my sha∣dow is so, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nicephorus.
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 1598.
• * 1.3

  Ang. Polit. epist. l. 3. ep. 24.