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.

Diseases and torments]

As of those that are put upon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Pharaoh was so when God extorted from him that confes∣sion, I have sinned: which (being gotten off) he soon bit in a∣gain. The word here used in the Originall, properly signifieth the* 1.1 Test or Touch-stone, where with gold is tried: and, by a borrow∣ed kinde of speech, is applied to all kinde of examination, and (peculiarly) to inquisition by torture, so to any pain or painfull dis∣eases, as of the palsey, lunacy, &c. in this text, and Chap. 8. 6. As also to the torments of hell, Luk. 16. 23. whereof sicknesses are but a beginning, a fore-taste, a very typicall hell to those that have not the fruits of their sicknesse. And this is all the fruits, 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.2 the taking away of their sinne, Isa. 27. I blush not to confesse (saith a great Divine of Scotland) that I have gained more sound knowledge of God and of my self, in this sicknesse, then e∣ver* 1.3 I had before. Happy 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that draws the sick matter out of the soul. Physicians hold, that in every two years, there is such* 1.4 store of ill humours and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ingendred in the body, that a vessel of one hundred ounces will scarce contain them. Certain it* 1.5 is, ther's a world of wickednesse and superfluity of naughtinesse (that bed of spirituall diseases) daily gathered and got together in the sinne-sick-soul: which therefore we must labour to purge out* 1.6 by the practice of mortification; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God purge and whiten us to

our sorrow, by some sharp sicknes: as he did Gehezi, whose white fore-head had made him a white soul, his disease cured him, as some are of opinion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Morbos 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Non 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, p. 23.
• * 1.6

  Dan. 11. 35. & 12. 10.