John Trapp on Matthew 16:26

Verse 26. For what is a man profited] If there could (saith a reverend Divine) be such a bargain made, that he might have theM Ley his Monitour [illegible: 2 words]. whole world for the sale of his soul, he should (for all that) be a looser by it. For he might (notwithstanding) be a bankrupt, a beggar, begging in vain, though but for a drop of cold water to cool his tongue. Is it nothing then to loose an immortall soul? to purchase an everliving death? The losse of the soul is in this verse set forth to be: 1. Incomparable. 2. Irreparable. If therefore to loose the life for money be a [illegible: 1 word], what then the soul? What wise man would fetch gold out of a fiery crucible? hazard himself to [illegible: 2 words] for a few waterish pleasures? give his soul to the devil, as some Popes did for the short enjoyment of the Papall dignity? What was this but to win Venice, and then toNon magis [illegible: 1 word], quam qui [illegible: 2 words], ipse vero [illegible: 1 word] ad Portam, ut est in prover bio. Par in [illegible: 1 word]. be hanged at the gates thereof, as the Proverb is. In great fires men look first to their jewels, then to their lumber: fo should these, see first to their [illegible: 1 word], to secure them: and then take care of the outward man. The souldier cares not how his buckler speeds, so his body be kept thereby from deadly thrusts. The Pope perswading Maximilian (King of Bohemia, afterwards Emperour) to be a good Catholike, with many promises of profits and [illegible: 1 word], was answered by the King that he thanked his Holinesse: but that his souls health was more dear to him then all the things in the world. Which answer they said in Rome was a Lutheran form of speech, and signified an alienation from the obedienceHist. of the Coun [illegible: 1 word] Tren. fol. 419. of that Sea: and they began to discourse what would happen after the old Emperours death. Or what shall a man give in exchange] He would give any thing in the world, yea 10000 worlds if he had them, to be delivered. But out of hell there's no redemption. Hath the extortioner pilled, or the robber spoiled thy goods? By labour and leisure thou maist recover thy self again. But the soul once lost is irrecoverable. Which when the guilty soul at death thinks of, oh what a dreadfull shreek gives it, to see it self lanching into an infinite Ocean of scalding lead, and must swim naked in it for ever! How doth it trembling warble out that dolefull ditty of dying Adrian the Emperour. [illegible: 1 word], vagula, blandula, Hospes comes que corporis, Qua nunc abibis in loca Horridula, sordida, tristia, [illegible: 1 word], ut soles, [illegible: 2 words]?