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.

For they shall obtain mercy.]

Misericordiam, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mercodem, Mercy, not wages: it being a mercy (and not a duty) in God, to render unto every man according to his works, Psal. 62. 12. how much more according to his own works in us? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mercy he shall be sure of, that sheweth mercy to those in misery. His soul* 1.1 shall be like a watered garden. The liberall soul shall be made fat,* 1.2 saith Solomon, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Or (as Kimchi expounds it) He shall be a sweet and seasonable showre to himself and others. His body also shall be fat and fair∣liking. Thy health shall spring forth speedily, and thy bones shall* 1.3 be made fat, Isa. 58. 10, 11. Or if he be sick, the Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; he will make all his bed in his sicknes. As he did for that faithfull and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Preacher of Gods Word (while he lived) M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Whately, Pastour of Banbury (whom for honours sake I here name) the most* 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Minister to the poor, I thinke (saith a learned Gentle∣man, that knew him thorowly) in England, of his means. He* 1.5 abounded in works of mercy (saith another grave Divine, that wrote his life) he set apart, and expended, for the space of ma∣ny years, for good uses, the tenth part of his yearly commings in, both out of his temporall and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 means of mainte∣nance. A rare example: And God was not behinde hand with him: for in his sicknesse, he could comfort himself with that pre∣cious promise, Psal. 41. 1, 3. Blessed is he that considereth the* 1.6 poor, Qui praeoccupat vocem petituri, saith Austin, that pre∣vents the poor mans cry; as he did, for he devised liberall things, seeking out to finde objects of his mercy, and not staying, many times, till they were offered. Therefore by liberall things 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stood, as God had promised; his estate (as himself often testified) prospered the better after he took that course above-mentioned. For (in the next place) not getting, but giving is the way to wealth, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found it, whose barrell had no bottome: and as Solomon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, Eccles. 11. 1. The mercy of God crowneth our beneficence with the blessing of store. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉* 1.7 shall be exalted with honour, and thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Say not* 1.8 * 1.9 then, How shall our own doe hereafter? Is not mercy as sure a grain as vanity? Is God like to break? Is not your Creatour your Creditour? Hath not he undertaken for you and yours? How sped Mephibosheth and Chimham for the kindenesse their fathers shewed to distressed David? Were they not plentifully provided

for? And did not the Kenites, that were born many ages after 〈◊〉〈◊〉's death, receive life from his dust, and favour from his hospi∣tality? 1 Sam. 15. 6.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prov 11. 25.
• * 1.2

  Etiam ipse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 erit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kimchi. Insig∣nis hyperbole, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 41. 3.
• * 1.4

  M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  M. Hen. Scud der.
• * 1.6

  Aug. in Psal. 103.
• * 1.7

  Isa. 58. 11.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 112. 9.
• * 1.9

  Prov. 28. 27.