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 39. But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil.]

For here to resist, is to be overcome, saith S. Paul, Rom. 12. 21. And in a* 1.1 matter of strife or disagreement, he hath the worst that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, saith S. Basil. Yea Aristotle himself he yeeldeth, that of the twain* 1.2 it is better to suffer the greatest wrong, then to doe the least. And it was a heavy challenge and charge upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 carnall Co∣rinthians,* 1.3 that had strife, divisions, and law-suits amongst them; Why doe ye not rather take wrong? why doe ye not suffer your selves to* 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 defrauded? Nay, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be not deceived, saith he, to wit, with vain hope of impunity, for* 1.5 God is the avenger of all such, as like the angry Bee, care not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another, though it be to the losse of their own lives. Besides that, in resisting evil, we give place to the devil, whom if by patience and forbearance we could resist, he would sly from us. We wrestle* 1.6 not against flesh and bloud (as we thinke we doe, when we conflict* 1.7 with men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our selves, that have done us injury) but against 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and powers, &c. q. d. whiles we are basie in breaking those darts, that men shoot from afarre against us; we are oppres∣sed by the devil nearer-hand us, Ephes. 4. 26. Here by the way, Magistrates must be admonished to take heed how they aggravate punishment upon a malefactour, out of private 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Parents also and Masters, how they correct in a rage and fury. For al∣though they be publike persons, yet to give correction in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mood, is to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their heart, by way of revenge, it is a de∣gree of resisting evil. The tyrant saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it is in my power to doe it; the good Governour saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it concerneth me to doe it, in point of duty, quoth a Philosopher.

But whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek]

Socrates a Heathen, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had received a box on the ear, answered, What* 1.8 an ill thing is it, that men cannot fore-〈◊〉〈◊〉 when they should put on a helmet, before they go abroad? And when he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by another, If an Asse should kick me, said he, should I spurn him again? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we have 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lest they should seem to be Anabaptists, in taking two blows for one, will give two blows for one, yea for none, sometimes; it is but a word and a blow with them, as it was with Cain, Lamech, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who said, The daies of mourning for my father are at hand, then I will* 1.9 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my brother Iacob. In which words he either threatneth his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (as Luther thinketh) for blessing his brother, q. d. I will be the death of my brother, and so cause my father to 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Or else

he threatneth his brother (as most Interpreters sense it) after his fathers head is once laid, without any respect at all to his mother, whom he not so much as mentioneth. He took no great care, how she would take it: and his deferring till his fathers death, was more out of fear of a curse, then conscience of a duty. There are that read the words by way of a wish, Let the dayes of mourn∣ing for my father draw nigh, &c. And then it is a double 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Sure we are, that as concerning his brother, he comforted himself,* 1.10 purposing to kill him. He threatned him, saith the Septuagint, q. d.* 1.11 I will sit upon his skirts, and be even with him. The nature of* 1.12 ungodly men is vindictive, and rejoicing in other mens 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (which is the devils disease) especially if provoked by any in∣jury or indignity, as smiting on the cheek: But God will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them on the cheek bone so hard, as that he will break the teeth of the ungodly; smite them in the hinder parts, where we use to whip* 1.13 froward children, and so put them to a perpetuall reproach. Nei∣ther only will he smite upon their loyns, but thorow them, yea he will crack their crowns, cleave their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wound their hairy* 1.14 scalps, be their locks 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so bushy, their looks never so 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.15 and terrible, that count it courage to turn again, and revenge,* 1.16 which every Turk and Heathen, nay every bull and boar can doe. The Lamb of God gave his cheeks to the smiters, so did 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.17 the meek, Iob the just, and Paul the patient; yet not so patient,* 1.18 but he could set forth his priviledge, when he was to be scourged,* 1.19 and clear his innocency 〈◊〉〈◊〉 meeknesse of wisedom: and so* 1.20 may we; yea, we may safely decline a likely danger, in some ca∣ses* 1.21 * 1.22 especially, as our Saviour did.* 1.23

Notes

• * 1.1

  In rixa, is infe∣rior est, qui vi∣ctor est.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Arist. Ethic.
• * 1.4

  1 Cor. 6. 7, 8.
• * 1.5

  Non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ma∣li est referre in∣juriam, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inserre 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Ephes 6. 12.
• * 1.7

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 infirmissi∣morum bomi∣num injurijs? Dum haec 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eminas project a frangamus, a diabolo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Roloc. in locum.
• * 1.8

  Quam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉〈◊〉 homi∣nes quando pro∣dire debeant cum galea?
• * 1.9

  〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 42.
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.13

  Dixit 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 cum ab 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3 7.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6.
• * 1.15

  Deut. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• * 1.16

  Lacones 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 ad 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.17

  Psal. 68. 21.
• * 1.18

  Isa. 50. 6.
• * 1.19

  Joh. 18. 23.
• * 1.20

  1 King. 22. 24.
• * 1.21

  Acts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2, 3.
• * 1.22

  Job 16 10.
• * 1.23

  Apud 〈◊〉〈◊〉 serunt paucas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tites esse, qued temere li 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉.