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 13. And leaving 〈◊〉〈◊〉]

Where he had had his con∣ception and education; and did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a speciall manner af∣fect them, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their good, but they would not. For when 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim broke our, as the leprosie in their fore-heads, Hos 7. 1. they refused to be reformed, they hated to be healed. Some few sick folk he heal∣ed there, and that was all he could doe for them, more then mar∣vell at their unbelief. He could doe there no mighty work, saith S^t Mark; and therefore left them, saith S^t Matthew; then the* 1.1 which he could hardly have done them a greater 〈◊〉〈◊〉; For, woe be unto you, if I depart from you, Hos. 9. 12. In the 9, 10, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, God makes divers removes: And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as he goes out, some judgement 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in, till at length he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gone out of the City, Chap. 11. 23. And then followed 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 calamity in the ruine 〈◊〉〈◊〉. O pray that the Sunne of that dismall day may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 arise, wherein it shall be said, That our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stick is removed, that our Sunne is eclipsed, that the* 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from our English Israel, that Christ hath turned his back upon this our Nazareth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preces & lacrymas,

cordis logatos, saith Cyprian. Currat poenitentia ne praecurrat sententia, saith Chrysologus. Wish we for our Church, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did for the Romish Synagogue, that we had some Moses to take away the evils and abuses therein. Nam non unum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vitulum, sed multos habemus. And then sing as ano∣ther did,

Ah, ne diem illum posteri Vivant mei, qiso pristinum Vertantur in lutum aurea Quae nos beârunt saecula!

He came and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Capernaum]

Happy town in so sweet and precious an Inhabitant! and is therefore said to be lifted up to Heaven, Matth. 11. 23. as Revel. 7. among those that were sealed of the severall Tribes Judah is first reckon'd of all Leahs children, because our Lord sprang out of Judah: and Nepthali (of all those of Rachels side) because at Capernaum, in that Tribe, he* 1.3 dwelt, Ut utrobi{que} superemineat Christi praerogativa, saith an Interpreter, That Christ may be all, and in all. Here he dwelt* 1.4 in an house, either let or lent him: for of his own he had not where to rest his head, Matth. 8. Here he paid tribute as an in∣habitant:* 1.5 and hither he resorted and retired himself, when he was tired at any time with preaching and journeying, and was willing to take rest; which yet hardly he could doe, thorow the conti∣nuall concourse, but was glad to get into a ship or desert to pray, eat or sleep.

Which is upon the sea-coast.]

That is, hard by the lake of Ge∣nesaret in Galilee of the Gentiles. Josephus cals it a Town, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.6 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it was without wals (belike.) For Strabo writeth that Pompey had commanded the wals of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cities in those* 1.7 parts, to be pulled down. S^t Hierom also saith it was a Town,* 1.8 and that it so continued till his times. But S^t Matthew, and S^t Luke name it a City, wherein there was a Synagogue of the Jews, and a Garison of Herods souldiers, because it bordered up∣on Arabia. It had fifteen thousand inhabitants at least, there be∣ing no Town in Galilee that had fewer, saith Josophus. The in∣habitants* 1.9 might be of the same minde with those of the Hage in Holland, who will not wall their Town, though it hath 2000. housholds in it, as desiring to have it counted rather the principall village of Europe, then a lesser City.

In the borders of Zebulon and Nepthali.]

In the former

whereof is Galilee, in the later this Galilee of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, where stands the Town of Capernaum, and near unto it is a well of the same name, and of apt signification. For Capernaum (saith* 1.10 S^t Hierom) is by interpretation, the Town of consolation. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was situate on this side Jordan, over against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saida (other∣wise called Julias) not farre from Tiberias, and Tarichaea, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 places, lying like wise upon the lake.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. 5, 6.
• * 1.2

  Revel. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Medes in Apo∣calyps.
• * 1.4

  Sie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 par. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 40. art 3.
• * 1.5

  juxta Hieron. in Mat. 8.
• * 1.6

  Joseph. in vita sua.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 l. 16.
• * 1.8

  Hieron in nom 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  De bello Iu∣daico. l. 3. c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in nom. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.