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 28. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.]

Contemplate 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.1 saith Luther: Understand them well, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Erasmus: Learn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they grow, saith Beza: Hang upon these fair flowers, with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bee, till 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have suckt some sweet meditation out of them.* 1.2 God is to be seen and admired in all his wondrous works. A skil∣fall Artificer takes it ill, that he sets forth a curious piece, and no man looks at it. There is not a slower in the whole field (the* 1.3 word here rendred Lillies, signifieth all sorts of flowers) but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sorth God to us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lively colours. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, is to incur the* 1.4 curse he hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against such, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 regard not the work of the Lord, that is, the first making, Neither consider the operation of his hands, that is, the wise disposing of his creatures, for our 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 and benefit. A godly Ancient being asked by a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Phi∣losopher,

how he could contemplate high things, sith he had no* 1.6 books? Wisely answered, That he had the whole world for his book, ready open at all times, and in all places, and that therein he could read things divine and heavenly. A Bee can suck honey out of a flower, that a flie cannot do. Our Saviour could have pointed us to our first parents clothed, and Elias fed, the Israel∣ites both fed and clothed extraordinarily by God in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Never Prince was so served in his greatest pomp; not So∣lomon in all his royalty, as they. But because all men have not faith to believe that miracles shall be wrought for them, he send∣eth us to these more ordinary, and more easie instances of Gods bountifull and provident care of birds and lillies; that in them (as in so many optick glasses) we may see Gods infinite goodnes, and be confident.

They toil not, neither do they spin.]

This is the sluggards posie.* 1.7 How much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Emperour who took for his Motto, 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Let us be doing. God made not man to play, as he hath done Leviathan, but commandeth him to sweat out his li∣ving. This was at first Gods ordinance in paradise, that his store-house should be his work-house, his pleasure, his task. Af∣ter* 1.8 the fall, it was enjoyned as a punishment. So that now man* 1.9 is born to travel, and must labour with his own hands, neither eating* 1.10 the bread of idlenesse, nor drinking the wine of violence. That Monk* 1.11 that laboureth not with his hands, is a thief, saith an Ancient:* 1.12 Is a body-louse, sucking the bloud of others, saith a Neoterick:* 1.13 he shall die in his iniquity, saith God, because he hath not done good* 1.14 among his people, He buried himself alive, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vacia in Seneca, he shall be buried with the buriall of an Asse, when he is dead:* 1.15 he shall hear, O thou wicked and slothfull servant, when he riseth a∣gain* 1.16 at the last day. God puts no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 between 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Nequaquam, an idle, and an evil servant. This made M. Cal∣vin answer his friends with some indignation, when they ad∣monished him, for his healths-sake, to forbear studying so 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Quid? Vultis ut Dominus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 me otiosum inveniret?* 1.17 What? Would you that Christ when he commeth should finde me idle?

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 quomo. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c.
• * 1.3

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.4

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. explained.
• * 1.6

  Anton. Erem. upud de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Clrist. l b 1. &〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib 8. c. 40.
• * 1.7

  Ne{que} laborant, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Imp.
• * 1.8

  Gen. 2. 15.
• * 1.9

  Gen. 3. 19.
• * 1.10

  Job 5. 7.
• * 1.11

  Ephes. 4. 28.
• * 1.12

  Hist. Tripart.
• * 1.13

  Ezek. 18. 18.
• * 1.14

  Hic 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est Vacia.
• * 1.15

  Jer 22 19.
• * 1.16

  Mat. 25. 26.
• * 1.17

  Beza in vita Calvin.