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.

Be not as the hypocrites]

For they fast not to God, Zech. 7. 5, 11, 12. but to themselves, they pine the body, but pamper the flesh,* 1.1they hang down their heads, Isa. 58. 5. but their hearts stand bolt

〈◊〉〈◊〉 within them. Their fasting is either superstitious or secure; whiles they rest in the work done, or with opinion of merit; whereas the Kingdom of heaven is not in meat and drink. And whether we eat or eat not, we are neither the more nor the lesse* 1.2 accepted of God, They fast for strife and debate, and to make* 1.3 their voices to be heard on high: Whereas secrecy in this duty, is* 1.4 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 argument of sincerity. They loose not the bands of wic∣kednesse, nor break off their sinnes by repentance: therefore God regards not (which they repine at) but rejects their considence, and answers them according to the idols of their hearts. When they fast, saith he, I will not hear their cry, Jer. 14. 1, 2. they are not* 1.5 a button the better for all they can doe. Displeasing service proves a double dishonour; their outsidenesse is an utter abomination: they present the Great King with an empty cask, with a heartlesse sacrifice, with a bare carcasse of Religion, as the Poets feign of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Quid 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 absti. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 super. bia? 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 17.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 58. 4.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 san. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as duplex iniquit as,