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 42. Give to him that asketh thee.]

Yet with discretion, and choice of a sit object. Which having met with, be not wea∣ry* 1.1 of well-doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.* 1.2 Giving is compared to sowing, which, in good ground, is usually* 1.3 with increase. Therefore a worthy Minister, upon occasion, ask∣ing his wife, whether there were any money in the house, she an∣swered, that she knew but of one three-pence; well (saith he) we must go sowe, that is, give something to the poor, knowing that to be the way of bringing in, Prov. 11. 24, 25. Deut. 15. 10. The mercy of God crowns our beneficence with the blessing of store. Happy was the Sareptan that she was no niggard of her last handfull. The more we give, the more we have: it increaseth in the giving, as the loaves in our Saviours hands did. Never did a charitable act go away without the retribution of a blessing. How improvident therefore are we, that will not offer a Sacrifice of* 1.4 alms, when God sets up an altar before us? It were an excellent course, surely, if Christians now, as they of old at Corinth, would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up weekly a part of their gettings for pious and charita∣ble uses; and that men would abound in this work of the Lord, as knowing that their labour is not in vain in the Lord (I speak of

them that are able, for we may not stretch beyond our staple, and* 1.5 so spoil all.) We read of a Bishop of Lincoln, that never thought he had that thing, that he did not give. And of one Bishop of Rome (though that's a rare thing) that was so liberall to the poor, that when he was asked by certain Embassadours, whether he had any hunting-dogs to shew them, he answered, Yes. And bringing them to a great sort of poor people, whom he daily relie∣ved at his table, These are the dogs (saith he) wherewith I hunt* 1.6 after heaven. Bishop Hooper also, had his board of beggers. Twice I was (saith M. Fox) in his house in Worcester: where in his common-hall, I saw a table spread with good store of meat, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 full of beggers and poor folk. And this was his daily custom. And when they were served and catechised, then he him∣self* 1.7 sate down to dinner, and not before. Queen Anne Bullin carried ever about her a certain little purse, out of which she was wont daily to scatter some alms to the needy: thinking no day well spent, wherein some man had not fared the better by some benefit at her hands. The Savoy, Bride-well, and another Ho∣spitall, founded by King Edward the sixt, upon a Sermon of B. Ridleys, doe speak and testifie both 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tender heart, and his bountifull hand. Bonfinius relateth of Stephen King of Hungary (and the same thing is reported of Oswald King of England) that* 1.8 his right-hand rotted not for a long time after he was dead. And well it might be so (saith he) that that hand should be kept* 1.9 from corruption, that never suffered any to beg, to hunger, to lie in captivity, or any other misery. But these, alas, are the last and worst daies, wherein love is waxen cold: Mens hearts are* 1.10 frozen, and their hands wither'd up. A great deal of mouth∣mercy there is, as in S. James his time, Goe thy waies and be fed, clothed, warmed: but with what? with a messe of words, a sute of words, a fire of words: these are good cheap: but a little handfull were better then a great many such mouth-fuls. We may now a daies wait for some good Samaritan to come and prove himself a neighbour: And after all complain, There is no mercy in the land. Mercifull men are taken away, the liberall* 1.11 man faileth from among the children of men. Elias lacketh his* 1.12 * 1.13 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Sarepta, and Elisha the Shunamite. Paul cannot finde the Purpurisse, nor Peter the Currier. Abraham we have not, and Job we finde not. Captain Cornelius is a black-swan in this generation, that gave to him that asked, and from him that

would borrow of him, turned not away, &c.

And from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away.]

Some are ashamed to beg and take alms, who yet, being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with great necessity, could be glad to borrow. And a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kindenesse it might be, to lend them a bigger summe, then to give them a lesser. Here therefore a good man is mercifull and* 1.14 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he will lend, looking for nothing again: not looking that a poor neighbour should earn it out, or doe as much for him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other way. Nay, we ought not in this case so to look for our own again, as that that be the chief thing we aim at, but to obey Christ, and to doe a poor man a pleasure. And what if the wicked bor∣roweth,* 1.15 and paieth not again: let not others fare the worse for their fault. The godly make great conscience of paying that they owe, as the sonne of the Prophets that was so sorry for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.16 of the axe, Alas, master, it was but borrowed. And Elisha 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the widow first pay her debts with her oil, and then live of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Now from such borrowers turn not away: plead not excuse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when it is in thy hand to help them presently. He 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.17 hideth his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (in this case) shall have many a curse. Not 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.18 doe good (in this kinde) is to doe hurt; not to save a life, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a poor mans declining estate, is to destroy it. Carnall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will here stand up and plead, as Nabal did, Shall I take my 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.19 and my fl sh, that I have provided for my shearers, and give it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strangers? So, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I take my money or my means, which I have provided for my children, and give it or lend it to such and such? Here then you must silence your reason and exalt your faith. Con∣sider how great an honour it is to be Almoner to the King of hea∣ven; that by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out upon such, you lay hold upon eternall life;* 1.20 that the Apostle, 2 Cor. 8. 2. setteth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liberality by a word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 signifieth simplicity, in opposition to that crafty wilinesse, that is in the covetous, to defend themselves from the danger (as they think) of liberality: that, the liberall man deviseth 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.21 things, and by liberall things he shall stand: When a man would thinke he should fall rather, he takes a right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to stand and thrive: He laies up for himself a sure foun∣dation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug
• * 1.2

  Rogers of love, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Christi est 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 est, se vel tum 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉-〈◊〉〈◊〉 aliquo munere prose∣queretur. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉?
• * 1.4

  Nunquan 〈8 words〉〈8 words〉.
• * 1.5

  In Basiliensi Concilio anno 1440 Amadeus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dux uxoratus, & duos 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 ad pontifi∣catum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Hi sunt canes quos alo quoti∣die, quibus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 glorian vena∣turum.
• * 1.7

  I am verò longè 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Pauperi∣bus sua dat gra∣tis, nec munera curat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 papalis, quod modo 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hic 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 le∣gendo percipi∣mus modo, &c.
• * 1.8

  Act. and Mon. 1368 & 1534
• * 1.9

  See his life by Sir Iohn Heyw. p. 170.
• * 1.10

  Meritò manus illa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 expers esse de∣buit, quae nemi∣nem mendicare, esurire, & in captivitate, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 miseria jacere, perpessa est.
• * 1.11

  Hos. 4. 1.
• * 1.12

  Isa. 57. 1.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 12. 1.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 112.
• * 1.15

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 37. 21.
• * 1.16

  2 King. 6. 5.
• * 1.17

  Prov. 28. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.18

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 6. 9. with Mark 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25 11.
• * 1.20

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.21

  1 Cor. 6. 18.