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.

To be tempted of the devil]

No sooner was Christ out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 water of Baptisme, then in the fire of Temptation. So David, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his anointing, was hunted as a partridge upon the mountains. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is no sooner out of Egypt, then Pharaoh pursues them: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no sooner had kept that solemn 〈◊〉〈◊〉, then Sennacherib comes up against him. S^t Paul is assaulted with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 temptations after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his revelations: And Christ teacheth us, after for∣givenesse* 1.1 of sins obtained, to look for temptations, and to pray a∣gainst* 1.2 them. Whiles Iacob would be Labans drudge and pack∣horse, all was well; but when once he began to flee, he makes after him with all his might. All was jolly quiet at Ephesus before* 1.3 S. Paul came 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but then, there arose no small stir about 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. All the while our Saviour lay in his fathers shop, and medled only with Carpenters chipps, the devil troubled him not. But now, that he is to enter more publikely upon his office of Mediatour∣ship,* 1.4 the tempter pierceth his tender soul with many sorrows, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to sin. And dealt he so with the green tree, what will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do with the dry? Temptations (besides those that come from God, which are only probationis, not perditionis, as the other) are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two sorts: for either they are of seducement, Iam. 1. 15. or of* 1.5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and grievance, 2 Cor. 12. 7. either of allurement or af∣frightment. In the former we are pressed with some darling cor∣ruption, whereto our appetites by nature or most propense: In the later, we are dogged with foulest lusts of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Idolatry, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, murther, &c. that Nature startles at: In these the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tempts alone, and that so grossely, that the very flesh is ashamed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it. But in the former, that came more immediatly from the flesh, the devil only interposeth himself, and speaks his good word for them: whence they are called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Satan, 2 Cor. 12. and Eph. 4. 26. we are said in anger to give place to the devil: and in resisting of lusts, we resist the devil, Jam. 4. 7.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Cor. 12.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 6. 13.
• * 1.3

  Acts 19. 23.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pierce thorow.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, vel 〈◊〉〈◊〉.