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 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.]

See vers. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. where the self-same words are used. Lest any, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pre∣tence

of danger in hearing false prophets, should refuse to hear any though they come with never so much evidence of truth: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Saviour wills and commands here, that examination and discretion go before both rejection of errours, and receiving of truths. Try all things, hold fast that which is good. As the mouth tasteth meat, so the ear must try and taste words, Iob. 12. 11. & 34 3. He is a fool that beleeveth every thing, nay any thing, that tends to the* 1.1 cherishing of corruption and carnall liberty, or the advancing 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.2 corrupt nature, which is nothing else but a piece of proud flesh, and must be abased to the utmost. Christians should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in know∣ledge* 1.3 and in every sense, so as readily to discern things that dif∣fer:* 1.4 and not to be wherried and whirled about with every winde 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 doctrine, as children, nor to be carried away as they are led, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gentiles, 1 Cor. 12. 2. He that will take for true and trusty what∣soever any Impostor puts upon him, shall be as fouly deceived, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iacob was by Laban. Search and see whereto they tend, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they drive at. If they would drive us from God, as Moses expres∣seth it, and draw us from the doctrine of godlines, that is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the word, to the truth whereof we have found Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perswading our hearts, and yeelding us comfort in it. Ioh. 6. 45. 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Abstain (or stand off) from all appearance of any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 evil. Shun the familiarity of seducers, that discredit the truth: hear them not, their mouthes should be stopped, Tit. 1. 11. & 3. 10. See how exceeding earnest the Apostle is in this argument, 2 Thes. 2. 1, 2, 3. he knew well the danger: So Rom. 16. 17. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and false Apostles would only have brought in a Jewish rite or two; yet are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to subvert the Gospel, Gal. 1. 7. and the Apostle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they were even cut off for it. Hymeneus and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 denied not the Resurrection, but affirmed it only to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 already, and yet they are said to overthrow the faith of some, 2 Tim. 2. 18. And although we are wont to wonder at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a contrary religion, and think a simple man may easily answer them: yet it is certain, the grossest adversaries of the truth, are able to urge such reasons, and use such perswasions, as have in them great probability of truth, and may deceive the simple. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware* 1.6 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye also, being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from* 1.7* 1.8 your own stedfastnesse. Which to prevent, Grow, saith the same Apostle there, in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ. Exact of your selves a groth in every grace, in humility,

howsoever growing downward at least, if you cannot finde so comfortable a groth upward. Humility is both a grace and a* 1.9 vessel to receive grace: for God will give grace to the humble, and teach the lowly-minded. Grow also in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ: proving by experience in your selves, what that good, that holy and acceptable will of God is. Let your know∣ledge and practice run parallell, and be of equall extent. Study to live rather then to dispute, to act rather then to contemplate: learn and labour to feel in your selves the sweetnesse and good∣nesse, the life and power of that you know. The devil confessed Christ as well as Peter, Mark. 5. 7. Mat. 16. 17. but the devil with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowledge, swimming in the brain, Peter with a saving knowledge soaking to the heart root, and working upon the affe∣ctions, those immediate springs of action. This is that knowledge, not apprehensive only but affective too, that makes the minde good, full of incitations to good, glad of all occasions to doe good, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the stain and raign of former lusts, inclinable to serve God and our brethren by love, fearing the Gospel more then the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Gods goodnesse more then his justice. Now to grow in these graces and in this knowledge, is the ready way to secure our selves from seducers, to approve our selves to have been conscio∣nable hearers of a sound Ministry, such as are founded upon a rock, and are therefore unmoveable, such as have gotten a knowledge so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and certain as no haeretick can draw from us: And lastly, to save our selves from that untoward generation, our Saviour speak∣eth* 1.10 next of, in the subsequent verses, that have no more to shew or say for themselves then Lord, Lord, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 27.
• * 1.2

  Sub 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Aug.
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14 5.
• * 1.5

  Ephes. 4 14.
• * 1.6

  2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3 17, 〈◊〉〈◊〉,
• * 1.7

  1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 5.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25. 9.
• * 1.9

  Nos 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 mag∣na, sed vivi∣mus.
• * 1.10

  Acts 〈◊〉〈◊〉.