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.

Whose shoes I am not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to bear.]

Christ thought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wor∣thy to lay his hand on his holy head in baptisme, who thinks not himself worthy to lay his hand under Christs feet. The more fit any man is for whatsoever vocation, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he thinks himself.* 1.1 Who am I? said Moses, when he was to be sent to Egypt: where∣as none in all the world was comparably fit for that embassage. Not only in innumerable other things am I utterly unskilfull, faith S. Augustine, but even in the holy Scriptures themselves (my proper profession) the greatest part of my knowledge is the* 1.2 least part of mine ignorance. I, in my little cell, saith Hierom, with the rest of the Monks my fellow-sinners, dare not deter∣mine of great matters. This is all I know, that I know nothing, said Socrates: and Anaxarchus went further, and said, that he knew not that neither, that it was nothing, that he knew. This is the utmost of my wisdom (said David Chytraeus) that I see my self to be without all wisdome. And if I would at any time* 1.3 delight my self in a fool, saith Seneca, I need not seek farre, I have my self to turn to. Thus the heaviest ears of corn stoop most to∣ward the ground: Boughes the more laden they 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the more low they hang: and the more direct the Sunne is over us, the less: is our shadow: So the more true worth is in any man, the lesse* 1.4 self conceitednesse; and the lower a man is in his own eyes, the higher he is in Gods. Surely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Baptist lost nothing by his hu∣mility and modesty here: for our Saviour extols him to the mul∣titude, Math. 11. and there are that doubt not to affirm (where they have it I know not) that for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on earth, he is dignified with that place in heaven, from whence Lucifer fell. Sure it is, That he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. If men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us as we set selves, God values us according to our a∣basements. The Church was black in her own eyes, fair in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Cant. 1. 5—15.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in aliis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rebus multa me latēt. &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 119. cap. 21.
• * 1.2

  Ego in parvo tuguriolo, cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, i. e. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 meis, de 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 non au∣deo Epist. ad August.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 se 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, quod nihil sciret. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. Melch. Adam. 694.
• * 1.4

  Siquando 〈◊〉〈◊〉 delectari volo, non longè mihi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est, me video. Sen. Quod 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex par∣te 〈◊〉〈◊〉 didi∣cerim, tamen in 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 in∣tellexisse 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Baldus 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Tanti 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, quanti tibi 〈◊〉〈◊〉.