John Trapp on Luke 18

CHAP. XVIII.

Verse 1. Alwaies to pray and not to faint] GRaece, Not shrink back, as Sluggards in work, or Cowards [non-Latin text not transcribed]. in Warre. Prayer should be redoubled and reinforced, as those Arrowes of deliverance, 2. Kings 13. 19. The woman of Canaan prayes on when denyed: And Jacob holds with his hands, when his thigh is lamed. He wrestled with slight and might, [illegible: 1 word] post nau fragium tentantur [illegible: 1 word]. he raised dust, as the word signifies, and would not away without a blessing. James surnamed the Just, (Christs Kinsman) had his knees made as hard as Camels knees with much praying, as [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. Epist. 81. [illegible: 1 word]. Father Latimer during his imprisonment, wasAct. & Mon. sol. 1579. [illegible: 1 word] constant and instant in prayer, that oftt-[illegible: 1 word] he was not able to [illegible: 1 word] off his knees, without help. Yea Paulus Emilius, being to [illegible: 1 word]. fight with Perses King of Macedony, would not give over [illegible: 1 word] to his God Hercules, till he saw certain arguments of a victory. As loathing of meat (saith a Divine) and painfulnesse of speaking are two symptomes of a sick body: so irksomnesse of [illegible: 1 word], and carelesnesse of hearing, of a sick soule.

Verse 2. Which feared not God, nor regarded man] These two, [illegible: 1 word] of God and shame of the world, God hath given to men as [illegible: 1 word] to restraine them from outrage. But sinne hath oaded such [illegible: 1 word] impudency in some mens faces, that they dare do any thing.

Verse 3. Avenge me of mine adversary] A downright request, without either Logick or Rhetorick to set it forth, or inforce it: to each us that though our prayers be but blunt or broken language if importunate, they shall prevaile neverthelesse.

Verse 4. And he would not for a while] There is a passive injustice. Non [illegible: 1 word] nocens, sed [illegible: 1 word] fuit, saith Ausonius of Claudius. Not to do justice is injustice.

Verse 5. She weary me] Gr. She buffet me, or club me down. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. God must be pressed in prayer, till we put him (as you would say)Obtundat. Vota fundimus [illegible: 1 word] tundimus Deum tangimus misericordiam [illegible: 1 word]. to the blush, or leave a blot in his face, unlesse we may be masters of our requests.

Verse 6. 7. Heare what the unjust Judge saith] Hic paria non inter se conferuntur, sed minus cum majore, saith Beza.

Verse 7. Though he bare long with them] When they are at theTertul. Apol. [illegible: 1 word] most under. When their enemies are above feare, and they below hope; when there is not faith in Earth to beleeve, then are there bowels in Heaven to releive and restore them.

Verse 8. Shall he finde faith upon earth] God oft staies so long, till the Saints have done looking for him, when they have forgot their prayers; &c. he comes, as it were out of an engine.

Verse 9. That they were righteous, and despised others] Pray to be preserved from this perillous pinacle of self exaltation.

Verse 10. The one a Pharisee] A Doeg may set his foot as far and further within the Sanctuary, as a David. The Pharisee and Publican went both of them up to private prayer.

Verse 11. God, I thank thee] Non vulnera sed muner a [illegible: 1 word], [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Basil. he shewes not his want but his worth: and stands not only upon his comparisons, but upon his disparisons, I am not as this Publican. No, for thou art worse: yea for this, because thou thinkest [illegible: 5 words]. thee better. But of Pharisees it might be said as Arnobius did of the Gentiles, Apud vos optimi censentur, quos [illegible: 1 word] pessimorum [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] facit. They are very good that are not very bad. [illegible: 5 words]] Pride wears a triple crown with this motio, Tra. [illegible: 1 word], Non obedio, [illegible: 1 word]. This Pharisee held himself [illegible: 3 words], and all others a [illegible: 1 word] only, as Basil of [illegible: 1 word] hath it: He takes his poor counter and sets it down for a Thousand pounds; he prizeth himself above the market.

Verse 12. I fast twice a week] Cardinall Bellarmine did more: for he fasted thrice a week, saith he that writes his life. John ArchBishop [illegible: 2 words]. D. [illegible: 1 word]. of [illegible: 1 word], he who first affected the stile of Universall Bishop, was sirnamed Nesteutes, from his frequent fasting. Munday and Thursday were the Pharisees fasting-dayes: because Moses went up to the Mount on a Thursday, and came down on a Munday, saith [illegible: 1 word].

Verse 13. [illegible: 1 word] upon his breast] In token of indignation, and that he would have smitten his sin so hard, if he could have come at it. God be mercifull, &c.] Here was much in few. The Publican [illegible: 1 word] much: though he spake little. As a body without a soul, much wood without fire, a bullet in a gun without powder, so are words in prayer without spirit. Oratio brevis penetrat caelum. The hottest springs send forth their waters by ebullitions.

Verse 14. Justified rather then the other] The Pharisee was not at all justified: Neither is there More or Lesse in justification. But our Saviour here useth a popular kind of expression.

Verse 18. And a certain Ruler] Saint Mark saith that thisMark 10. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 2 words]. Ruler came running, which argues his earnestnesse; and in a man of quality was [illegible: 1 word]: for such walk softly for most part, and in state.

Verse 22. Yet lackest thou one thing] Yea all things. But our Saviour speaketh thus by an holy irony.

Verse 25. It is [illegible: 1 word] for a [illegible: 1 word] ] Caveant ergi divites (saith an Interpreter) & solicitè; mane, vesperi, interdiù, noctu, secum de periculosa vitae suae, atione commententur. Let rich men therefore weigh their danger, and beware.

Verse 34. And they understood none, &c.] Prejudicate opinions of Christs earthly kingdom hung as so many bullets at their eye lids, that they could not perceive so plain a truth.