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 6. Give not that which is holy to dogs, &c.]

Having* 1.1 shew'd How, here our Saviour shews Whom we should 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Give not holy things, wholsome counsels or rebukes (called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where reproofs of life, precious balms, excellent ointments, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a wound, but make none) to dogs, that will not 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; or swine, that if they light upon such a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, will only 〈◊〉〈◊〉. and go their waies. Beware of dogs, beware of* 1.2 evil workers, such especially 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 wrought so hard, walked so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that now they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set down to rest in the seat of* 1.3 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Beware of such botches; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no good to be* 1.4 done upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or to be gotten by them, but a great deal of danger. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 admonished all they met; if men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they connted it an easie losse, to cast away a few words upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But our Saviour prescribeth us prudence and caution. He will not have holy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spent and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, his pearls trampled on by swinish 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Mourn we* 1.5 may, with Jeremy for such mad dogs, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 flee in the face of them that fairly tell them of their faults. Pray we must and* 1.6 pity such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 swine, such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and scurrilous wretches, as grunt against goodnesse, and feed insatiably upon the garbage of carnall contentments. As dogs and swine were unclean creatures and unfit for 〈◊〉〈◊〉; so are those for admonition, that would entertain it with cruelty 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Speak not in the ears of 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉, saith Solomon, for he will despise the wisdome of thy words. And again, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not a scorner, lest he hate thee, rebuke a wise man, and he will love 〈◊〉〈◊〉. David praies for a friendly reprover, Psal. 141.* 1.8 5. Job 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Make me to know my transgression, and my sinne He∣zekiah 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 at that sharp and sad message. Jonah, though tetchy enough, laies his hand upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mouth, and seals up his prophecy with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 li∣cet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perstricta. The Virgin Mary held her peace, Joh. 2. 5. when her sonne took her up so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for her 〈◊〉〈◊〉, afore 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 company: So did S. Peter, when S. Paul took him up for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Gal. 2. 14. and commendeth that Epistle, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Paul had witnessed that reproof, among the rest, 2 Pet. 3. 16. The two Disciples going to Emaus constrained that* 1.9

stranger, that had chidden them for their unbelief, to abide and eat with them. And luke warm Laodicea, so roundly reproved, and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 with shamefull spewing out, repented, and was reformed; as some ground and gather from that title our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 assumes in the Preface to the Epistle, The beginning of the Creation of God. Eusebius also testifieth, that there was a 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.10 Church there in his daies. Next to the not deserving of a reproof, is the well taking of it. No suggar can bereave a pill of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. None but the gracious can say, Let the righte∣ous smite me. Bees only passe by Roses and violets, and sit upon Thyme, which is hot and biting. Most men, when we seek to fetch them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their sins, to awaken them out of the snare of the devil, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and snarl, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that are wakened out of sleep are apt to do. They snuf and take scorn, are as horse and mule, untameable, untractable, the more you rub their galled backs, the more they kick. These stray-asses will not be brought home, Exod 23. 45. These old bottles will break with such new wine: The more you touch these toads, the more they swell: the more you meddle with these serpents, the more they gather poison to spit at you. Go about to cool them, you shall but adde to their heat, as the Smiths forgefries, when cold water is cast upon it; and as hot water, if stirred, casteth up the more fume. Joseph 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for his good will in this kinde, hated of his brethren: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Saul, who cast a javelin at him: Micaiah of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Amos of Amaziah, Jeremy of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Countrey-men, Christ of the Jews, Paul of the Galathians, Iohn Baptist of Herod. If 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 his white sin (and who will stand still to have his eyes pickt 〈◊〉〈◊〉) Iohn must to prison. In other things he will dance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iohns pipe; but if his incest be medled with, Iohn must hop 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Say to wrest that string in tune, and it will snap, and break upon you. Now for such scoffing Ishmaels and furious 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that refuse to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, hate to be healed, let them read their doom, Psal. 50. 21, 22. and see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their destiny. Every good man is 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 to passe by them as incorrigible, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them so much as a pull out of the fire, so much as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to prevent those curses 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are comming upon them. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he that is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, muse be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 still; he must wallow as 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 in his own corruptions; he must rage 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mad dog, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 run on to the pit of hell, no body must offer to stop 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 him in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Jer. 9 1.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 So 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 9. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 13. 23. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
• * 1.10

  Post tam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 haud 〈◊〉〈◊〉 resipuit. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.