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 14. Ye are the light of the world.]

And must therefore lead convincing lives, though ye incur never so much harred of those 〈◊〉〈◊〉, those Tenebriones of the world, that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apaid so much light should be diffused. But be ye blamelesse and harm∣lesse, the sonnes of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (as the Baptist was) among whom ye shine as lights in the world; as those great lights, the Sun and Moon (so* 1.1 the word signifieth) so that they that speak evil of you may be* 1.2 * 1.3 judged as 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as those Atlantes, that curse the rising Sun, be∣cause* 1.4 it scorcheth them. Be as thestarres, at least; which are said to affect these inferiour bodies, by their influence, motion, and light. So good Ministers (as fixed starres in the Churches firmament) by the influence of their lips, feed; by the regular motion of their lives, confirm; and by the light of both, inlighten many. And with such orient starres this Church of ours (blessed be God,) like a bright skie in a clear evening, sparkleth and is bespangled, though not in every part, yet in every zone and quarter of it.* 1.5

A City that is set on a hill cannot be hid]

As that City that's* 1.6 mounted on seven hills, Roma Radix Omnium Malorum: and

cannot be hid, but is apparently discerned and discried to be that* 1.7 great City Babylon: So Augustine and other writers call it; so Bellarmine and Ribera the Jesuites yeeld it. Joannes de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Mare historiarum telleth us, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Emperour was once in a minde, to make Rome the seat of his Empire, as of old it had been. And having built a stately Palace there, where formerly had stood the Palace of Julian the Apostate, (the Ro∣manes being much against it) he gave over the worke. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Zonaras and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 report the like of Constans, nephew to* 1.8 Heraclius, 340 years before Otho. Now that these and the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 took not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Genebrard saith it was a speciall pru∣vidence of God, to the end that the kingdom of the Church fore∣told by Daniel, might have Rome for its seat. If he had said, the kingdom of Antichrist foretold by S^t Paul, and likewise by John the Divine, he had divined aright. (But to return from whence we are digressed,) A Minister, whiles he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a private person, stood in the croud, as it were: but no sooner entred into his office, then he is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the stage; 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 are upon him, as they were upon Saul, who was higher by head and shoulders then the rest of the people. Now therefore as the tree of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was sweet to the taste, and fair to the eye; and as in Absolom there was no 〈◊〉〈◊〉, from head to foot: so should it be with Gods Ministers. Singular holinesse is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of such; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those that quarter armes with the Lord Christ, whom they serve 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Gospel. The Priests of the Law were to be neither 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nor defective. And the Ministers of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (for the word, Priest, is never used for such, by the Apostles, no nor by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ancient Fathers, as Bellarmine 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉) must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.9 stamps and paterns to the beleevers in word and conversation: every thing in them is eminent and exemplary. The world (though unjustly) looks for Angelicall perfection in them: and as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deviation in a starre is soon noted, so is it in such. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 happy he, that, (with Samuel, Daniel, Paul and others) can be acquitted and approved by himself, in private; in publike, by others; in both, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God: That can by his spotlesse conversation slaughter 〈◊〉〈◊〉, stop 〈◊〉〈◊〉 open mouth, and draw 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if not from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. M^r Bradford the Martyr was had in so great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with all good men, that a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉* 1.10 knew him but by fame, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 his death: yea 〈◊〉〈◊〉

number also of Papists themselves wished heartily his life: And of M^r Bucer it is reported, that he brought all men into such admi∣ration of him, that neither his friends could sufficiently praise him, nor his enemies in any point finde fault with his singular life, and* 1.11 sincere doctrine. Bishop Hoopers life was so good, that no kinde of slander (although divers went about to reprove it) could fasten* 1.12 * 1.13 any fault upon him. And the mans life (saith Erasmus, concerning Luther, whom he greatly loved not) is approved of all men; nei∣ther is this any small prejudice to his enemies, that they can tax him for nothing.

Notes

• * 1.1

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

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 2. 15.
• * 1.4

  Plin.
• * 1.5

  Rev. 17. 9.
• * 1.6

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Rev. 18. 2.
• * 1.8

  In Annal b.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 de 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  Ibid.
• * 1.12

  Ibid. 1366.
• * 1.13

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 morum 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ut nec bostes 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.