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.

And he will thorowly purge his floor]

That is, his Church, cal∣led* 1.1 Gods threshing floor in Isaias, because usually thresht by God with the flail of affliction. That is one way, whereby the Lord Christ doth purge his people, and separate between the Sonne that he loves, and the sin that he hates. This he doth also by his Word and Spirit: Sanctifying them by his truth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Word is truth, Joh. 17. And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are justified, but* 1.2 ye are sanctified in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. Thus Christ purgeth his floor here incoatively and in part, hereafter thorowly and in all perfection. In all which we may observe (saith a Divine) this difference between Christ and the tempter. Christ hath his fan in his hand, and he fanneth us: the devil hath a sive in his hand, and he sifteth us. Now a fan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out the worst, and keepeth in the best: a sive keepeth in the worst, and casteth out the best. Right so Christ (and his trials) purgeth chaff and corruption out of us, and rourisheth and increaseth his graces in us. Contrariwise, the devil, what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soever is in us, he confirmeth it; what faith or other good thing soever, he weakneth it. But Christ hath praid for his* 1.3 (though never so hard laid at) that their faith fail not, and gi∣veth* 1.4 them in time of fanning, to fall low at his feet, as wheat, when the wicked, as light chaff, are ready to flee in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as murmuring at their hard measure, with those miscreants in the wildernesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isa. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. 6. 11.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22. 31.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.