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.

If thou wilt fall down and worship me.]

Luke saith, Worship before me. So that to worship before an Idol is to worship the Idol, whatever the Romanist pretend and plead to the contrary. And not only so, but to fall down, as the devil would have had our Saviour here (though it be not come to worshipping) is a grie∣vous* 1.1 sinne. S^t John had not yet worshipped the Angel, but only fallen down, as desirous to worship, and is taken up by the Angel, for that idolatrous gesture. Woe then to those Rim∣monites, that plead for an upright soul in a protrate body; and alleadge for their warrant, that of Apocryphall Baruc, Chap. 6. Wherefore when ye see the multitude of people worshipping them behinde and before, say ye in your hearts, O Lord, it is thou that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 test only to be worshipped. Serve we God with our bodies also; and say with David and Christ, Lord, a body hast thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.2 Loe, I come to doe thy will therewith. But what a 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 and detestable boldnesse was it in the devil, to move speech 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a sin as this, to our Saviour Christ? It was extreme sawci∣nesse in Satan to adjure our Saviour (whom he there cals, The Sonne of the most high God) not to torment him, it was horrible* 1.4 impudency. But nothing comparable to this in the Text, to wor∣ship

the devil in person: then which, what can be imagined more odious? We see then to what execrable sins the best may be tem∣pted.* 1.5 A man is to expect (saith one) if he live out his daies, to be urged to all sinnes, to the breach of every branch of the ten Commandments: and to be put to it in respect of every Article of our Creed. Have you not been tempted (saith another) in* 1.6 this or that kinde? It is because God in mercy would not lead you into temptation. Yea this is, in some sort, more to be acknow∣ledged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 victory, when ye were tempted. For not to be tem∣pted is more immediately from God, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in mans power, then to prevail against temptation. For nothing doth overcome us without our will: but without our will doth God lead us into triall: for he knoweth we would taste little of these, if we might* 1.7 be our own carvers. Simon, Simon (saith our Saviour) Satan* 1.8 hath desired to have you to winnow you (that is, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 trouble and hurt you, saith a Father) as a challenger desireth to have one of the other side to combat with: as Goliah called for a man to match him. Now either God denies him, or delivers us, so that that evil one toucheth us not, viz. Tactu qualitativo, with* 1.9 a mortall touch, as Cajetan glosseth that Text, I have praid for thee, saith our Saviour, that thy faith fail not. He praid for all, but especially for Peter, because more violently tempted. As,* 1.10 because more shamefully foiled, therefore, Go tell my Disciples and Peter, that I am risen; and that thereby he is justified. I have praid; so that the remedy was ready made before the disease, the salve before the sore, or else it might have come too late: As those that are stung by a scorpion, if they be not presently anointed with oil of scorpions, die for it: and as those that have drunk poison, if they take not an antidote immediately, ere it get to the vitals, pe∣rish infallibly. God in Christ hath all plaisters and pardons ready made and sealed. Else, we might die in our sins, whiles the pardon is providing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 8.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 8.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  Mark 5. 6, 7.
• * 1.5

  Capell of Ten.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 18.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10 7.