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 2. And behold there came a Leper.]

This leprosy was* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rife in our Saviours time: God so ordering, that Judea was sickest, when her Physitian was nearest. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are still a na∣sty people: And this kinde of leprosy seems to have been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to them, as Plica Polonica, Morbus Gallicus, Sudor Anglicus. No stranger in England was touched with this disease, and yet the English were chased therewith, not in England onely, but* 1.2 in other Countreys abroad: which made them like tyran's, both feared and avoided, where ever they came. So were these Jew∣ish

lepers. Hence that fable in Tacitus, that the Israelites were* 1.3 driven out of Egypt for that lothsome disease. This, said one Malevolent Heathen, is the cause why they rest every seventh day. Bodinus observes it for a speciall providence of God, that in A∣rabia (which bordereth upon Judea,) there are no swine to be* 1.4 found, lest that most leprous creature, saith he, should more and more infest and infect that people, who are naturally subject to the leprosy. And another good Authour is of opinion, that God did therefore forbid the Iews to eat either swines-flesh, or hares∣flesh: Quòd ista caro facilè in malè 〈◊〉〈◊〉 corporibus putrescat, be∣cause in diseased bodies it easily 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and turns to ill hu∣mours.

And worshipped him.]

Which he would hardly ever have done haply, had he not been a leper. Diseases, saith S. Ambrose, are the shop of vertues. King Alfred found himself ever best, when he was worst: and therefore praied God, to send him al∣waies some sicknesse: Gehezies leprosy cured him, his white fore∣head made him a white soul.

If thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thou canst, &c.]

So Another came with, If thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doe any thing, help us: We never doubt of Christs will to doe us good, (saith a great Divine) but, in some degree, we* 1.5 doubt also of his power. True faith doubts of neither: but be∣lieves against sense in things invisible, and against reason in things incredible. Sense corrects imagination, Reason corrects sense, but Faith corrects both.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Life of Sejanus by P. M.
• * 1.2

  Life of K. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Turk. Hist. lib 5.
• * 1.4

  Summâ Dei bonitate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sa∣ctum est, ne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 magis, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 magis 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. p. 354. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jo. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. loc. com. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉. Ambr.
• * 1.5

  D. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.