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 21. He saw other two brethren, Iames, &c.]

Three pair of brethren, at least, our Saviour called to the Apostleship; to shew what brotherly love should be found amongst Ministers; what agreement in judgement and affection. There the Lord commands the blessing, and life for ever more. As where envying* 1.1 and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work, Jam. 3. 16. Hence the devil laboureth (all he can) to set Ministers at variance, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dissension amongst them (as betwixt Paul and 〈◊〉〈◊〉) that the work may be hindered. Divide & impera, Make division, and so get dominion, was a maxime of Machiavil, which he learnt of the devil. What woefull tragedies hath he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alate betwixt the Lutherans and Zuinglians? What 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have the Papists composed out of the Churches tragedies? To foster the faction, they joyned themselves to the Lutherans in* 1.2 that sacramentary quarrell: they commended them, made much of them, and almost pardoned them all that losse they had sustained by them. This, that holy man of God Oecolampadius bitterly bewaileth, in a letter to the Lutherans of Suevia. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉

saith he, may be pardoned through faith in Christ, but the discord we cannot expiate with the dearest and warmest bloud in our* 1.3 hearts. They on the other side (in their syngrame or answer) handled that most innocent man so coursely, Ut non objurgatione, sed execratione dignum sit, saith Zuinglius, that they deserved not to be confuted, but to be abhorred of all men. This was as good sport to the Papists, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betwixt Abraham and Lot were to the Amorites. But that one consideration (that we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉) should conjure down all disagreements (as betwixt them) and make us unite against a common advesary. The 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the English (Anno 1587.) stamped money with two earthern pots, swimming in the sea (according to the* 1.4 old fable) and wittily inscribed, Si collidimur, frangimur, If we clash, we are broken. The Thracians, had they been all of* 1.5 one minde, they had been invincible, saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And Corne∣lius Tacitus (who had been here in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his father-in-law Agricola) reporteth of our fore-fathers, that they fell into the hands of the Romans, by nothing so much as by their dissensions amongst themselves. Pliny telleth of the stone Thyrroeus, that though never so big while it is whole, it floteth upon the waters:* 1.6 but being broken, it sinketh. And who hath not read of Silurus his bundle of arrows? To break unity, is to cut asunder the very veins and sinews of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mysticall body of Christ, as the Apostle intima∣teth,* 1.7 1 Cor. 1. 10. to hinder all true growth in godlinesse, Eph. 4. 16.* 1.8 and inward 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Phil. 2. 1. to drive away God, who appear∣ed not to Abraham till the difference was made up, Gen. 13. 14, &c. and to undoe our selves. As the dragon sucketh out the bloud of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and the weight of the falling elephant 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.9 the dragon, and so both perish together. To prevent all which, and to compose all quarrels in this AEgypt of the world, let it be remembred, as Moses told the two striving Israelites, that we are 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And oh how good, and how pleasant it is for bre∣thren* 1.10 (in the Ministery especially) to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 together in unity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 133. ult.
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tantum 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, &c, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 255.
• * 1.3

  Error condona∣ri potest, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fides adsit in christum: dis∣cordiam, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 si sanguinem 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  Camd Elis. 356
• * 1.5

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 conven∣tus. It a dum singuli 〈◊〉〈◊〉, universi vincuntur.
• * 1.6

  Tac.
• * 1.7

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

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contentione, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 non appa∣ruit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 l. 8. c. 12.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 133. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.