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 32. And he said unto them, Go]

1. To shew his so∣veraignty over the creatures: He is the great proprietary of all, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do, with his own as he listeth. 2. To punish their sensu∣ality in feeding upon swines flesh, against the expresse letter of the law. Ex uno sue quinquaginta propè sapores excogitantur, saith Pliny. And there was a jolly Pope (some kin, belike, to Pope* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sirnamed Os porci) that being, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his gout, forbidden* 1.2 swines-flesh by his Phyfitian, cryed out to his steward, bring me my pork, al dispito di dio in despite of God. 3. To try whether was dearer to these filthy Gergesites, their swine, or their soules. They shewd themselves to be of Cardinall Burbons minde, who would not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his part in Paris, for his part in Paradise.

They went into the herd of swine]

That thereby Satan might win upon the soules of the Citizens (wedded and wedg'd to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 substance) and he failed not of his purpose. A cunning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of an old Quadruplator. Be not ignorant of his wiles. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the world from the devil, and he can doe us no hurt.

Ran violently down a steep place into the sea]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Magician, being at point of death, called unto him a dog (a familiar devil) that went about with him, and said Get

thee gon thou cursed creature, that hast undone me. Whereupon* 1.3 the dog presently departed, and cast himself headlong into the water.

And perished in the waters]

So will detestable drunkards in the bottomles pit; those that, as swine their bellies, so they break their heads with filthy quaffing. These shall have a cup of fire and brimstone powred down their throats, Psal. 11. 6. and not ob∣tain one drop of water to coole their flaming tongues. For why? 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (saith one) is a vice so vile, so base, so beastly, as that it transformes the soul, deformes the body, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the brain,* 1.4 betrayes the strength, defiles the affection, and metamorphoseth the whole man: making the understanding ignorant, the strong staggering, the trusty trothlesse, the vertuous vicious, and the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 a pandar to the profanest sin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 3.
• * 1.2

  Act and Mon. sol. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 me per∣dita bestia quae me perdid 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Joh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. loc. com. pag. 136.
• * 1.4

  Hugo. de San∣cto Vict