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 46. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have you?]

The Greek and Latine word (say the Rhemists) signifieth* 1.1 very wages or hire due for worke; and so presupposeth a merito∣rious deed. But what will they say to S. Luke, who calleth that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or grace, which S. Matthew here called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a reward? It is a reward, but of meer grace (see Rom. 4) that God will give to* 1.2 them that love their enemies. If thine enemy be hungry, feed him, &c. For thou shalt heap coales of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee, saith Solomon, Prov. 25. 21, 22. A 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, and all little enough; 1. Thou shalt heap coals on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 head, those coales are (as Austin interprets it) urentes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gemitus, the scorching sighs of true repentance: q. d. Thou shalt melt these hardest metals, (as many of the Martyrs did their per∣secutours) thou shalt meeken their rancour, overcome their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, cause them to turn short again upon themselves, and, upon sight of their sin, shame themselves, and justifie thee, as Saul did David. 2. The Lord shall reward thee. (And all his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are more then bountifull) yet not of merit (for what propor∣tion betwixt the work and wages? but first of mercy. Reward and mercy are joyned together in the second Commandment, and Psal. 62. 12. Secondly, of promise, for our encouragement,) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our labour is not in vain in the Lord. Briefly, it is called a reward,

not properly, but by similitude, because it is given after the worke done. Next, it is a reward, not legall, but evangelicall; promised in mercy, and in like mercy performed. Whence it is also called the reward of inheritance. Now an inheritance is not merited, but* 1.3 freely descendeth on sonnes, because they are sonnes. Let no sonne say, with profane Esau, What is this birth-right to me? or with the prodigall in the Gospel, Give me here the portion that belongeth unto me (such are those that love their friends only, here they have love for love, and that's all they are to look for) but look up to the recompence of reward, with Moses; and answer as Naboth, God forbid that I should so farre gratifie the devil and mine own evil heart, as to part with my patrimony, my hope of reward, for a little revenge or whatsoever coyn, bearing Satans superscription.

Notes

• * 1.1

  On Mat. 5. 12.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Mat. 6.
• * 1.3

  Col. 3. 24.