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 30. And if thy right hand offend thee &c.]

By wanton* 1.1 touches, by unclean dalliance; a farther degree of this sin, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greater incentive to lust; as we see in Josephs mistresse: when she not only cast her eyes, but proceeded to lay hand upon him, she be∣came* 1.2 much more inflamed towards him: and had not his heart been seasoned with the true fear of God, there was so much the greater danger of his being drawn thereby to commit, not that

trick of youth, as the world excuseth it, but that great wicked∣nesse,* 1.3 as he there counts and cals it. Visus, colloquium, contactus, osculum, concubitus, are the whoremongers five descents into the chambers of death. Off therefore with such a hand by all means: cry out of it, as Cranmer did of his unworthy right-hand, wherewith he had subscribed: And as John Stubbes of Lincolns∣Inne,* 1.4 having his right-hand cut off, in Queen Elizabeths time, with a cleaver driven thorow the wrist with the force of a beetle (for writing a book against the marriage with the Duke of Anion, entituled, The gulf wherein England will be swallowed by the* 1.5 French match, &c.) he put off his hat with his left-hand, and said with a loud voice, God save the Queen: So when God strikes a parting blow between us, and our dilecta delicta, our right∣hand sinnes, let us see a mercy in it, and be thankfull: let us say to* 1.6 these Idols, Get thee hence, What have I to doe any more with I∣dols?* 1.7 that God may say, as there, I have heard him and observed him, I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found; when he shall see thee pollute those Idols, that thou wast wont to perfume, Isa. 30. 22.

And not that thy whole body be cast into hell.]

Our Saviour is* 1.8 much in speaking of hell. And it were much to be wished (saith S. Chrysostom) that mens thoughts and tongues would run much upon this subject: there being no likelier way of escaping hell, then by taking ever and anon a turn or two in hell by our meditations. A certain Hermite is said to have learned three leaves, a black, red and white one: that is, he daily meditated upon the horrour of hell,* 1.9 the passion of Christ, the happines of heaven.* 1.10

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉
• * 1.3

  The archers shot at Ioseph, but his bovv a∣bade in strength, Gen. ••9. 24.
• * 1.4

  Castus erat, non solum continens, ut Bellerophon, Scipio, alij.
• * 1.5

  Camd Elizab. fol. 239.
• * 1.6

  Isa. 30 22.
• * 1.7

  Hos. 14. 8.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 abi{que} de 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Non enim 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in gehennam inci∣dere gehennae meminisse.
• * 1.9

  Chrysost.
• * 1.10

  Mors tua, mors Christi, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mundi, gloria coeli, & dolor 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 tibi.