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 3. For this is he which was spoken of.]

Whether these be the words of the Baptist, or of the Evangelist, it appears not, skils not. The most say, of the Evangelist concerning the Baptist.

By the Prophet Isaias.]

Thus one Testament infolds another, as those wheels in Ezekiel: And the Law preacheth faith in Christ, as well as the Gospel, Rom. 10. 6. 7.

The voice of one crying]

Loudly and lustily; lifting up his voice* 1.1 as a trumpet, or as the sound of many waters. Semblably S. Paul was ordained to be a crier, 1 Tim. 1. ••1. and so is every faithfull Preacher, 2 Tim. 4. 2. He must cry, and be instant, stand to the* 1.2 work, and stand over it; Sta cum diligentia, saith the Syriack there, clangite, clamate, Jer. 4. 5. Ye have to doe with deaf men, dead men, living carcases, walking sepulchres of them∣selves.* 1.3 Now therefore as our Saviour lifted up his voice, when* 1.4 he said, Lazarus, come forth: So must Christs Ministers (when

they speak to such as lie rotting and stinking in the graves of their corruptions) cry aloud, Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up* 1.5 from the dead, that Christ may give thee light. Ecclesia (the Church) is a word in use among the Athenians, and signifies an Assembly of Citizens, called out of the multitude (as it were) by name, or in their ranks, by the voice of the publike Crier, to hear some speech or sentence of the Senate. The Church in like sort is a company called out of the kingdome of Satan, by the voice of Gods Ministers, as it were criers, to hear the doctrine of the Gospel revealed from heaven. There are that observe, that John* 1.6 Baptist entered upon his calling in the year of Jubilee, which used to be proclaimed by a Crier with the sound of a trumpet, and that in allusion thereunto, he is called, The voice of a crier.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord.]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the terrours of the Lord to seize upon your souls: take not up bucklers against the stroaks of Gods Law: bring not your buckets to quench the motions of his Spirit, knocking at your hearts by the hammer of his Word: Make much of the least beginnings of grace, even those they call repressing; since they prepare the heart for conversion. Open the everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. As Esther leaned upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two maids, when she came before the King: So let the soul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon attrition of the Law, and contrition of the Gospel: so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the King of glory stretch out the golden Scepter of his grace, and we shall live. As Iohn Baptist was Christs fore-runner into the world: so must repentance be his fore-runner into our hearts: for he that repenteth not, the Kingdom of God is far from him: he cannot see it, for his lusts that hang in his light.

Make his paths straight.]

Walk exactly, precisely, accurately,* 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉 line and by rule; walk as in a frame, make straight steps to* 1.8 your feet, or else there is no passing the strait gate: so strait, that as few can walk in it, so none can halt in it, but must needs goe upright. Plain things will joyn in every point one with a∣nother; not so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and rugged things. In like sort, plain spirits* 1.9 close with Gods truths, not those that are swoln, &c. The old heart will never hold out the hardship of holines.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Boa••••••, Vociferant••••. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Isa. ••8. 1.
• * 1.4

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.5

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

  Rolloc. in Joh. 1. 15.
• * 1.7

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

  Heb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Isa. 40. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 & oculis 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.9

  Obstant enim offect 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, &c. Erasm. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.