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 2. And when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had fasted 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, &c.]

All 〈◊〉〈◊〉 actions are for our instruction; not all for our imitation. We may not imitate the works miraculous of Christ, and proper to him as 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The ignorance of this caused some to counterfeit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christs: as one Moor in K. Edward the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, and one

Hacket in Q. Elizabeths time, David George and sundry others, according to Mat. 24 24. Neither need we seek to imitate him in his infirmities, which (though they were not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but only na∣turall, and therefore unblameable) yet import a weaknesse (as that he was hungry, weary, sleepy, &c.) and so, though they be in us, yet we need not strive the attainment of them. But we must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lord Christ in all his imitable graces and actions: shewing forth the praises or vertues of him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called us out of dark∣nesse* 1.1 into his marvellous light. The word signifies to preach them* 1.2 abroad: for we should practise those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that our* 1.3 lives may be as so many Sermons upon the life of Christ. It is a di∣shonour to a dear friend, to hang his picture in a dark hole, and not in a conspicuous place, that it may appear we rejoice in it, as an or∣nament to us: Thinke the same of Christs image and graces, shew them forth we must, and expresse them to the world; walking in Christ, Col. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yea, as Christ, 1 Joh. 2. 6. who therefore left us a* 1.4 copy that we might write after it, a sampler that we might worke* 1.5 by it, a patern that we should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2. 21. And although we cannot follow him passibus aequis, yet we must shew* 1.6 our good-wills, stretching and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our utmost, as S^t Paul did:* 1.7 striving what we can to resemble him, not as a picture doth a man in outward lineaments only, but as a son doth his father (for he is the father of eternity, Esa. 9. 6,) in nature and disposition: and as servants, labouring to do as our Lord, Ioh. 13. 15. Who therefore washed his Disciples 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to give us an example of humility; as he did likewise of meeknesse, Mat. 11. 29. patience, 1 Pet. 2. 21. obe∣dience, Heb. 12. 2. diligence and fidelity in his function, Heb. 3. 1, 2. fewnesse of words, yet boldnesse of speech, going about and do∣ing all possible good, beneficence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the poor Saints, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cor. 8. 9. constancy in profession, 1 Tim. 6. 13. forgivenesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 others, and love to the brethren, Eph. 5. 2. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 therefore followers herein of Christ as dear children, not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, which hath called 〈◊〉〈◊〉, is holy, so be ye 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 14, 15.

He was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉〈◊〉.]

Our Saviour was tempted all* 1.8 that fourty dayes space, saith S^t Luke: but these three worst as∣saults were reserved to the last. So deals the devil with the Church (which is Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉:) He never 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tempting, though* 1.9 never so 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉; and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉〈◊〉

will have it, the Lord of flyes, because the fly is noted for an impu∣dent* 1.10 creature, that will soon return to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, though beaten away but erewhile. Hence those many bickerings and buffetings we meet with all our life long: and hence those sharpest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and terrible conflicts many times at the hour of death. The Is∣raelites met with many tryals and troubles in the wildernesse: Amalec and the Amorites, sore thirst, and fiery serpents, &c.* 1.11 but were never so put too't, as when they came to take possession of the promised land, for then all the Kings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 combined to keep them out. So the devil, furious enough at all times, most of all bestirrs him at last cast, because he knows his time is but* 1.12 short, Apoc. 12. 12. For death sets a Saint out of his gun-shot. Sa∣tan may compasse the earth, but not enter the lists of heaven. He tempted Adam in the earthly Paradise, he cannot tempt in the heavenly. Hence his malice whiles he may. Morientium nempè 〈◊〉〈◊〉 violentiores sunt morsus, (〈◊〉〈◊〉 ille olim de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Car∣thagine:) Beasts that have their deaths-wound bite cruelly, sprunt exceedingly.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 o 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13.
• * 1.8

  Luk. 4. 2.
• * 1.9

  1 Cor. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apud Ho∣merum pro val∣de impudente: quia 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pervicaces sunt, &c.
• * 1.11

  Coel. lib. 9 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 52.
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.