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 your heavenly father knoweth what things ye need &c.]

And therefore answereth many times before we aske: as he did

David, Psal. 32. He prevents us with many mercies we never sought him for; that our praises may exceed our prayers. I am found of them that sought me not, saith God: but yet in the same place it is said, I am sought of them that asked not for me. Im∣porting, that we never seek to him for grace, till effectually called by his grace. Howbeit no sooner is any truly called, but he pre∣sently prayeth. Say not then, if God know our needs, what need we open them to him? The truth is, we doe it not to inform him of that he knows not, or to stir up mercy in him, who is all bow∣els, and perfectly pitieth us: but 1. Hereby we acknowledge him as a childe doth his father, when he runs to him for food. 2. We run that course of getting good things, that he hath pre∣scribed us, Jer. 29. 11, 12. Which Moses and Elias knew, and therefore the former turned Gods predictions, the later his pro∣mises into prayers. 3. Hereby we prepare our selves holily to en∣joy the things we crave: for prayer both sanctifieth the creature, and encreaseth our love and thankfullnesse, Psal. 116 1. 4. Pray∣er prepareth us, either to go without that we beg, if God see fit, as David, when he prayed for the childes life, and was fitted thereby to bear the losse of it; or else to part with that we have got by prayer, for the glory of God the giver of it. Those that make their requests known to God with thanksgiving, shall have (at least) the peace of God that passeth all understanding, to guard their hearts and mindes in Christ Iesus. They shall have strength in their souls, the joy of the Lord shall be their strength, the glory of the Lord shall be their rereward. In their marching in the wil∣dernesse, at the fourth Alarm, arose the standard of Dan, Asher and Nepthali; these were the rereward of the Lords host; and to these were committed the care of gathering together the lame, feeble and sick, and to look that nothing was left behinde. Unto this the Prophet Isaiah seems (in that text) to allude, and so doth David, Psal. 27. 10. When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will gather me, And this comfortable assurance was the fruit of his prayer.

Notes

• Isa. 65. 24.
• Isa. 65. 1.
• Non sanè ut Deus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sed ut mens nostra 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• Luk. 11. 13.
• Exod. 9.
• 1 King. 18.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Phil 4 6, 7.
• Psal 138. 3.
• Nehe, 8. 10.
• Isa. 58. 8.
• As the just must live by his own faith, so must he get his living by his own pray∣ers. 1 Pet. 3. 7.