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.

Are the poor in spirit.]

Beggars in spirit: such as have nothing* 1.1 at all of their own to support them, but being nittily needy, and not having (as we say) a crosse wherewith to blesse themselves,* 1.2 get their living by begging, and subsist merrily upon alms. Such beggars God hath alwaies about him, Matth. 26. 11. And this the Poets hammered at, when they feigned that Litae or praiers were the daughters of Jupiter, and stood alwaies in his presence.* 1.3 Lord, I am hell, but thou art heaven, said Hooper, I am a most hy∣pocriticall* 1.4 wretch, not worthy that the earth should bear me, said* 1.5 Bradford. I am the unmeetest man for this high office of suffering for Christ, that ever was appointed to it, said sincere Saunders. Oh that my life, and a thousand such wretches lives more (saith John Carelesse, Martyr, in a letter to M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉) might go for yours! Oh! Why doth God suffer me and such other Cater-pil∣lars to live, that can doe nothing but consume the alms of the Church, and take away you so worthy a work-man, and labourer* 1.6 in the Lords vineyard? But woe be to our sins, and great unthank∣fulnesse, &c. These were excellent paterns of this spirituall po∣verty, which our Saviour here maketh the first; and is indeed the first, second and third of Christianity, as that which teacheth men to finde out the best in God, and the worst in them∣selves.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & alij.
• * 1.2

  Qui suarum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agnolcunt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pauperes spiritu Homer.
• * 1.3

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1508.
• * 1.5

  Ibid.
• * 1.6

  Ibid. 1744.