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 19. He saith unto them, Follow me.]

And together* 1.1 with his Word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 went forth a power inclining them to fol∣low: whereby it appears, that they were not only of the many that are called, but of those few that are chosen. The Lord know∣eth who are his, saith S^t Paul. But this knowing of his is carried secret, as a river under ground, till by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 calling he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them from the rest; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they can call upon the Name of the* 1.2 Lord, and depart from evil. This, when they are once 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Christ, they must be acting; when he hath tuned and touched us, we must make musick; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 embreaths us, we must turn about as the Mill: and* 1.3 follow the Lambe wheresoever he 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did.* 1.4

And I will make you fishers of men,]

Of live men, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 desire to catch fish alive, because they are more vendible. An apt

metaphor, wherein, 1. The world is compared to the sea, for it's unsetlednesse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the oppression that is in it (the lesser fish being devoured of the greater) the sway that Leviathan the devil bears there, Psal. 104. 26. 2. The Church is compared to a boat, because it is continually tossed with the waves of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as Noah, Ionah, the Disciples, Paul and those 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.6 men, Psal. 107. 27. That stagger like a drunken man, and all* 1.7 their cunning is gone. 3. The fish to be caught out of this sea, and to be brought into this ship, are men. Nature hath (as it were) spawned us forth into this worldly sea; where we drink iniquity like water, wandering confusedly up and down; till caught and cast into the fish-pool, for the masters use and service. Unwittingly we are caught, and unwillingly we are kept, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 labour to get out of the net, and would fain leap back out of the boat into the water. 4. Ministers are fishers. A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 profes∣sion, a toilsome calling; no idle mans occupation, as the vulgar conceits it, nor needlesse trade, taken up alate, to pick a living* 1.8 out of. Let Gods fisher men busie themselves as they must, some∣times in preparing, sometimes in mending, sometimes in casting abroad, sometimes in drawing in the net, That they may separate* 1.9 the precious from the vile, &c. And no man shall have just cause* 1.10 to twit them with idlenesse, or to say they have an easie life, and that it is neither sin nor pity to defraud them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 17.
• * 1.2

  2 Tim. 2. 19.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14 4.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  Ion. 1. 4.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8 24.
• * 1.8

  Hirons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fishing.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15 19.
• * 1.10

  Mat. 13. 48.