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 3. Blessed.]

The word signifieth such as are set out of* 1.1 the reach of evil, in a most joyous condition, having just cause to be everlastingly merry, as being, beati re & spe, blessed in hand and in hope, and such as shall shortly transire à spe ad speciem, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. They are already 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it, as by turff and twig. There were eighty opinions among Heathens about mans blessednesse. These did but beat the bush: God hath given us the bird in this golden Sermon.

Are the poor in spirit.]

Beggars in spirit: such as have nothing* 1.2 at all of their own to support them, but being nittily needy, and not having (as we say) a crosse wherewith to blesse themselves,* 1.3 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.* 1.4 Lord, I am hell, but thou art heaven, said Hooper, I am a most hy∣pocriticall* 1.5 wretch, not worthy that the earth should bear me, said* 1.6 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* 1.7 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.

For their's is the kingdome of heaven.]

Heaven is that true Macaria, or the blessed Kingdom: So the Island of Cyprus was anciently called, for the abundance of commodities that it sendeth forth to other Countries, of whom it craveth no help again. Mar∣cellinus, to shew the fertility thereof, saith, That Cyprus abound∣eth with such plenty of all things, that, without the help of any

other forraign countrey, it is of it self able to build a tall ship, from the keel to the top-sail, and so put it to sea, furnisht of all things needfull. And Sextus Rufus writing thereof, saith, Cy∣prus famosa divitijs, paupertatem populi Rom: ut occuparetur; sollicitavit. Cyprus, famous for riches, tempted the poor peo∣ple of Rome to ceize upon it. What marvell then if this King∣dome of heaven sollicite these poor in spirit, to offer violence to it, and to take it by force, sith it is all made of gold? Revel. 21. yea search is made there thorow all the bowels of the earth, to finde out all the precious treasure that could be had, gold, pearls, and pre∣cious stones of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And what can these serve to? only to shi∣dow out the glory of the wals of the new Jerusalem, and the gates, and to pave the streets of that City.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ot.
• * 1.2

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & alij.
• * 1.3

  Qui suarum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agnolcunt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pauperes spiritu Homer.
• * 1.4

  Act. and Mon.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1508.
• * 1.6

  Ibid.
• * 1.7

  Ibid. 1744.