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 loe, the Angels came and ministred unto him.]

Perhaps* 1.1 food to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 body, as once to Elias; but certainly comfort to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soul, as to Jacob, Hagar, Daniel, Zecharias, Joseph, Corne∣l us, Paul, &c. Socrates and Theodoret tell us of one Theado∣rus, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, put to extream torments by Julian the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by him, when he saw him unconquerable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tels us, that he met with this Martyr, a long time after this triall, and asked him, Whether the pain he felt were not 〈◊〉〈◊〉? He 〈◊〉〈◊〉, That at first it was somewhat 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 after a while, there seemed to stand by him a young man in 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

who with a soft and comfortable handkerchief, wiped off the sweat of his body (which through extream pain and anguish was little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then bloud) and bad him, Be of good chear. Inso∣much as that it was rather a punishment then a pleasure to him to be taken off the rack, sith, when the tormentours had done, the Angel was gone. And how many unspeakable comforts mini∣stred the good Angels to the modern Martyrs in their prisons, at the stake, and in the fire? Christ indeed was not comforted by them, till the temptation was over; but to us they minister, ma∣ny times, in the hour of temptation. They have power over the devils, to restrain them: and (though invisibly and insensibly) are as ready to help and comfort us, as the evil Angels to tempt and trouble us: else were not our protection equall to our danger, and we could neither stand nor rise. An Angel stood at Zecharies right hand, Luk. 1. 11. (as the devil did at Jehoshuahs (Zech. 3. 1.) to shew how ready and handy they are to defend and support the Saints. It was as he was burning incense. The Angels are busiest about us, when we are in Gods work: which to set forth, the hangings of the Tabernacle of old were full of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 within and without. He said unto him, Fear not, Zechary. The blessed spirits (though they doe not often vocally expresse it, doe pity our humane frailties, and secretly suggest comfort to us, when we perceive it not. Alway they stand looking on the face of God to receive commandments, for the accomplishment of all designs for our good; which they have no sooner received, then they readily dispatch, even with wearinesse of flight, as Dan. 9. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. with so much swiftnesse, as if they had wearied themselves with fleeing. I read of a Frier that undertook to shew to the people a feather of the wing of the Angel Gabriel. A plume of whose fea∣thers it might better have become the Pope to send to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Irish Rebell, then that plume of Phoenix-feathers he sent to ho∣nour* 1.2 and encourage him; had his holinesse such command over Angels, as they say he hath, or did he not rather collude in one thing, as that Frier did in another.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 King. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 9. & 10 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Luk 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Act. 0 4. & 27 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  B. 〈◊〉〈◊〉: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. of Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉, p 174.