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.

CHAP. XIII.

Verse 1. Told him of the Galileans]

SO called from Judas Gaulonites or Galilaeus their Captaine: to whose faction also belonged those foure thousand murderers Act. 21. 38. For Pilate had not authority over the Galileans properly so called. See Ioseph. lib. 18. cap. 2.

Verse 2. because they suffered such things]

None out of hell ever suffered more then those worthyes Heb. 11. Shall any therefore condemne that generation of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 children Psal. 73. 15? See 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 6. Dan. 9. 12.

Verse 3. Except 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉]

〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 aut pereundum. Men must either turne from sinne, or burne in hell.

Verse 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 except 〈◊〉〈◊〉 repent]

Except the best of you all repent more and more, when yee see the examples of Gods wrath, &c. God would not have the wounds of godly sorrow so healed up in his owne children, but that they should bleed afresh upon every good occasion, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 plagis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 medicamenta 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Make best use of others miseries.

Verse. 7. Cut it 〈◊〉〈◊〉]

Trees that are not for fruit are for the fire. God will lay downe his basket, and take up his axe. He will not alwayes serve men for a sinning-stock.

Verse 8. Lord, let it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this yeare.]

Happy that people, that have praying vine-dressers to intercede for them! God will yeeld somewhat to prayer, when he is bitterly bent against a people or person.

Till I shall dig, &c.]

Donec eam ablaqueavero & stercot 〈◊〉〈◊〉.* 1.1 Ministers must try their utmost to fulfill their ministery that they have received of the Lord. Colos. 4. 17.

Verse 15. Thou hypocrite.]

The Syriaek rendreth it Assumens vultum, Thou that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a good face upon it, thou that personatest a better man then thou art; thou picture of piety, &c.

Verse 23. Are there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &c.]

Few received Christ in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wondred at one good 〈◊〉〈◊〉. They are 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 that look 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 in 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. The most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on that old popish rule, to follow 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.

Verse 24. strive to 〈◊〉〈◊〉]

Strive even to an agony; or as they* 1.2 did for the garland in the Olympick games, to the which the word here used seemeth to allude. All would come to heaven, but all like not the way; they would not per angusta ad augusta per∣venire: they like well of Abrahams bosome, but not of Dives his doore. But let none think to live in Dalilahs lap, and then to rest in Abraham; bosome, to dance with the Devill all day, and then to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Christ at night; to fly to heaven with pleasant wings, to passe a deliciis ad delicias, e coeno ad coelum, &c. to goe to heaven in a feather-bed.

Verse 26. We have eat and drunk, &c.]

These pretenders to Christ perish by catching at their owne catch, hanging on their owne fancy, making a bridge of their owne shadow, &c. they verily beleeve that Christ is their sweet Saviour, &c. when it's no such matter: they trust to Christ, as the Apricock tree that leanes against the wall, but is fast rooted in the earth, so are these in the world, &c.

Verse 29. And shall sit down]

As at a sumptuous supper. When therefore we are invited to a full feast, think of heaven: As Ful∣gentius beholding at Rome the Majesty of the Emperour, the glory of the Senate, the lustre of the Nobility, cryed out, How beautifull is Jerusalem the Caelestiall, sith Rome the Terrestriall appeareth with such splendor? So Master Esty when he sate and heard a* 1.3 sweet consort of Musick, seemed upon this occasion carried up for the time before-hand to the place of his rest, saying very passio∣nately, What Musick may we think there is in heaven?

Verse 32. To day and to morrow]

i. e. As long as I list, without his leave. Faith makes a man walk about the world as a conquerour.

I shall be perfected]

Or, I shall be sacrificed, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ren∣dreth* 1.4 it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  D. Hall's Art of div. Medit.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.