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. XIX.

Verse 5. Zacheus, make haste]

CHrist is that good Shepheard, that knoweth all his sheep, and calleth them by name.

Make haste and come downe]

Heaven is a matter of greatest 〈◊〉〈◊〉: We must not adjourne as he did once, In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seria, more weighty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 till to morrow.

To day I must abide at thy house]

Christ not only invites, but e∣ven obtrudes himself, as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉, upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Its happy having 〈◊〉〈◊〉 guests. He doth the same to us, when he sends unto us his poor servants to presse upon our charity. Unworthy we are sure∣ly to give an almes to poor Christ, &c.

Verse 8. The half of my goods]

See the like in Tyrus conver∣ted, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 23. 17, 18 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉

I restore him four fold]

Which was the law for things stollen. Fraud is no better then theft. Restitution 〈◊〉〈◊〉 necessary to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. God hates 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ex rapina, as Sultan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 could tell his Councellour Pyrrhus, who perswaded him to bestow* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great wealth he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taken from the Persian Merchants, upon some notable Hospitall for releif of the poor: The dying Turk commanded it rather to be restored to the right owners, which was done accordingly; to the great shame of many Christians, who mind nothing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then restitution, &c. When Henry the Third of England had sent the Frier Minors a load of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, they returned the same with this message; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he ought not to give almes of what he had rent from the poor, nei∣ther* 1.2 would they accept of that abhominable gift. Master 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith, If ye make no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of goods 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ye shall cough in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

Verse 9. He also is a son of Abraham]

That is, freely elect∣ed, Romans. 9. 1. a. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faith, Rom. 4. 12. and a doer of his works, Job. 8. 39. Who then can say but he is his son, and shall rest in his bosome?

Verse 14. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉]

〈◊〉〈◊〉 [of sending a lamb to this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the earth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉 with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of their lips, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14. 3. Such 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 are 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 where; such dust-heapes are found in every corner.

Verse 15. And whon he was returned]

He went, at his As∣cention; and returns at the generall Resurrection: At what time he will first reckon with his servants, and then with his ene∣mies. Judgement shall then also begin at Gods own house.

Verse 16. Thy pound hath gained]

Not my paines, but thy pound hath done it. By the grace of God I am that I am, saith Paul that constantissimus gratiae Praedicator, as Austin calleth him.

Verse 23. Into the bank]

Gr. Unto the table, or (according* 1.3 to some coppies) unto the Usurers, whom Beza here rightly calleth humani certè gener is perniciosissimas pestes, the most pernicious pests of mankind.

Verse 27. Slay them before me]

Howbeit the Beast and the false Prophet, that is, the Pope and his Janizaries, shal not have the favour to be flain as the common sort of Christs enemies are, but shall be cast alive into the burning lake, tormented more exquisitly, Revela∣tions 19. 20, 21.

Verse 28. He went before]

To meet death in the face: this was true magnanimity. Herein he shewed himself the captain of our salvation, though perfected by sufferings.

Verse 29. Bethphage and Bethany]

Bethphage was one mile out of Jerusalem, Bethany two.

Verse 30. Go ye into the village]

Into Bethphage, that was in their veiw as they went from Bethany.

Verse 41. He beheld the City]

That common slaughter-house of the Prophets. Our Lord is said to have been slain at Rome, Revelations 11. 8. because crucified at Jerusalem by the Roman authority.

And wept over it]

Shall not we weep over the ruines of so ma∣ny fair and flourishing Churches, that now lie in the dirt? Christ wept in this day of his solemne Inauguration. It shall be in our last triumph only that all teares shall be wiped from our eyes; till then our passions must be mixed, according to the occa∣sions.

Verse 42. Oh, if thou hadst known]

They had cognitionem hi∣storicam non mysticam, speculativam non affectivam, apprehensionis, non approbationis, discursivam, non experimentalem.

At least in this thy day]

The time of grace is fitly called a Day in regard of 1 Revelation. 2 Adornation. 3 Consolation. 4 Di∣stinction. 5 Speedy preterition. Amend before the draw-bridge be taken up. No man can say, he shall have 12 hours to his day.

But now they are hid from thine eyes:]

Yet they lived under the Ministry long after, and no outward change to be discerned. As Plutarch writes of Hannibal, that when he could have taken Rome, he would not; when he would, he could not; so the Procrasti∣nators.

Verse 43. For the dayes shall come]

God hath his dayes for vengeance, as man hath his day for repentance. There is a Prime of every mans life, and of every mans. Ministry. The Levite lingered so long, that he lost his Concubine; she came short home: so doth many a mans soul for like reason.

Shall cast a trench about thee]

Because like the wild-asse, thou wouldst not otherwise be tamed, and kept within compasse of Gods Commandements.* 1.4

Verse 48. Were very attentive to heare him]

Gr. Hanged on him, as the Bee doth on the flower, the babe on the breast, or the little bird on the bill of her Damme. Christ drew the people after him, as it were, by the golden chain of his heavenly eloquence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hist. sol. 567.
• * 1.2

  Daniels hist. of Engl. 109.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

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