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.

Thy Father, which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly]

He is the rewarder of all that diligently seek him in this soul fatting 〈◊〉〈◊〉:* 1.1 which as it was seen and allowed by the Lord Christ, Luk. 5. 33. so it was never rightly used without effect: It is called the day of Reconciliation or Attonement, and hath most rich and precious promises, Ioel 2. 13. to the 21. Its sure, God will pardon our sins, and that carries meat in the mouth of it, Psal. 42, 1, 2. Its pro∣bable, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leave a blessing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him (and the rather, that we may therewith chearfully serve him) even a meat-offering and a drink-offering to the Lord our God: according to that of

the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; There is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared, i. e. served. Fullnesse of bread was Sodoms sin, and in those sa∣crificing Sodomites, Isa. 1. 10. it was noted for an inexpiable evil, Isa. 22. 14. They that fast not on earth, when God calls to it, shall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with gall and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in hell: they that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not among men, shall howle among devils: whereas those that sow in* 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall reap in joy, they that mourn in time of sinning, shall be* 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in time of punishing: and as they have sought the Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fasting, so shall he yet again be sought and found of such with* 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 feasting; as he hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and performed to his people in* 1.5 all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Church, not an instance can be alledged to the con∣trary.* 1.6* 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉 three great fasters met gloriously upon mount Tabor.* 1.8 The Israelites fasting (and not till then) were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Iudg. 20.* 1.9 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was delivered, Esther and her people reprived, Da∣niel* 1.10 〈◊〉〈◊〉 visions from heaven, Ezra help from heaven. And surely if with fasting and prayer we can wrestle with God, as Iacob, we need not fear Duke Esau, with his 600 cut-throats comming a∣gainst us. Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos. Numa being told* 1.11 that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacri∣fices, thought it sufficient for his safety, that he could say, At ego* 1.12 rem divinam facio, but I am about the service of my God. When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had once established a preaching Ministery in all the Cities of Iudah, then, and not till then, the fear of the Lord fell up∣on* 1.13 the neighbour Nations, and they made no warre; albeit he had* 1.14 before that placed forces in all the fenced Cities. Leotine Prince* 1.15 of Wales, when he was moved by some about him to make warre 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Henry the third, replied thus; I am much more afraid of his alms then of his Armies. Frederike the Electour of Saxony, intending warre against the Archbishop of Magdeburg, sent a spy to search out his preparations, and to hearken out his designes. But understanding, that the Archbishop did nothing more then com∣mit* 1.16 his cause to God, and give himself to fasting and prayer, Alius, inquit insaniat, &c. Let him fight, said he, that hath a minde to it: I am not so mad as to fight against him, that trusts to have God his defender and deliverer. It is reported, that at the siege of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the people of God, using daily humiliation, as their service would permit, did sing a Psalm after, and immediatly before their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forth; with which practice the enemy coming acquaint∣ed, ever upon the singing of the Psalme (after which they expe∣cted a sally) they would so quake and tremble, crying, They come,

they come, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 though the wrath of God had been breaking out up∣on* 1.17 them. The souldiers that went against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (where God was sincerely serv'd amidst a whole Kingdom of Papists) told their Captains they were so astonished, they could not strike. Some others said, that the Ministers, with their 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.18 and praier, conjured and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, that they could not fight. It was the custome of this poor people, so soon as they saw the enemy to approach, to cry all together for aid and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Lord, &c. while the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fought, the rest of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with their Ministers, made their hearty praier to God, with sighes and tears, and that from the morning to the evening: when night was come, they assembled again together. They which had fought, rehearsed Gods wonderfull aid and succour, and so all together rendered thanks. Alway he turned their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into joy. In the morning, trouble and affliction appear∣ed before them, with great terrour on all sides: but by the evening they were delivered, and had great cause of 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.19 and comfort.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb 10. 6.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 126. 5.
• * 1.3

  Ez 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8 10.
• * 1.5

  Judg. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 8 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 26.
• * 1.10

  Acts 10. 30.
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.13

  2 Chron. 17.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 8. 9.
• * 1.15

  Ego, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for∣mido 〈◊〉〈◊〉 elee∣mosynas 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 quam ejus co∣pias. D Povvel, in sua Camb. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.16

  Alius insaniat ut 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inse∣rat ei qui 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. Bu∣cholc.
• * 1.17

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.18

  Act. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.19

  Ibid. 885.