John Trapp on Matthew 15:1

CHAP. XV.

Verse 1. Then came to Jesus. THen, when the men of Genne sareth favoured and observed him. Satan stomacketh the prosperity of Gods Kingdom in any place, and stirreth up his to oppose it. Esau began with Iacob in the womb, that no time might be lost. As soon as ever the Churches childe was borne, the devil sought to drown him, Rev. 12. Scribes and Pharisees] Learned and lewd; these are Christs greatest enemies, hypocrites especially, those night-birds, that cannot bear the light of true religion, but, as bats, beat against it. Which were of Ierusalem] That faithfull City was now becomeIsa. 1. 22, [illegible: 1 word]. an harlot, her silver was degenerate into drosse, her wine mixt with water. The sweetest wine turns into the sowrest vineger, the whitest ivory burnt, into the [illegible: 1 word] coal. So about the year 1414 Theodoricus [illegible: 1 word] in Germany, an Augustine Frier complained, not without cause, Ecclesiam Romanam ex aureâ factam Joh. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]: 6 argenteam, ex argenteâ [illegible: 1 word], ex ferreâ terream, superesse [illegible: 1 word] in stercus [illegible: 1 word]. Machiavil observed, that there was no where [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] de rep. lib. 1. cap [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] piety, then in those that dwelt nearest to Rome.