John Trapp on Matthew 18:3

Verse 3. Except ye be converted] i.e. [illegible: 2 words] turn over a new leaf, and cast away these fond conceits and crotchets, these golden dreams of an earthly Kingdom, and your high [illegible: 1 word] therein, which, like bullets of lead fastened to the eye-lids of your mindes, make you that you cannot look upwards. And become as little children] In simplicity, humility, innocency, [illegible: 5 words] ignoscency, &c. not in [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word], open [illegible: 1 word], &c. How [illegible: 1 word] was that Anabaptist Aurifaber, who understanding this text Nicodemically, as one saith, stirred up people where ever he came [illegible: 1 word] carry themselves [illegible: 1 word], if ever they would have heaven. Upon whose perswasion you might have seen ridiculous [illegible: 1 word] of boyes and girls; women especially, skipping up and down, clapping their hands together, sitting naked on the ground, ticking, [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. toying, apishly imitating one while Christ, another while Antichrist, &c. pretending this text for their authority. So did Massaeus the Franciscan, who is famous amongst his fellow-friers, for that, at the command of his superiour St Francis, he wallowedScdul lib. 3. c 1. on the ground, as a little one, and shew'd all, in obedience to this [illegible: 1 word], as Sedulius testifieth. Ridiculum caput! Many such like examples may be met with in the Legends of the Fathers, of [illegible: 1 word] 2. 18. such as were voluntaries in humility (as the Apostle stiles them) [non-Latin text not transcribed]. or rather in hypocrisie. For, hujus virtutis postea [illegible: 1 word] Christiani [illegible: 1 word] studiosi & aemuli [illegible: 1 word], ut tota in hypocrisin verè abierit, saith [illegible: 1 word], here. Humility in many of the [illegible: 1 word] degenerated into [illegible: 1 word]. Ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven] One sin allowed excludes the kingdom, be it but ambition, or some such inward [illegible: 1 word], such as the world takes no notice of, makes no matter of. Inward bleeding killeth many times, and God by killing Jezabels childrenRevel. 2. [illegible: 1 word]. with death (i. throwing them to hell) will make all the Churches know that he searcheth the inwards.