John Trapp on Matthew 2:23

Verse 23. And [illegible: 1 word] came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth] Hence an opinion among the people, that he was borne there, and so could not be the Messias, as the Pharisees on that ground perswaded:Joh 7. 42. for can any good come out of Nazareth? The devils also, though they confest him the Holy One of God, Mark. 1. 24. 25. Yet they cunningly call him Iesus of Nazareth, to nourish the [illegible: 1 word] of the multitude, that thought he was borne there, and so not the Christ. When one commended the Popes legate at the Councill of Basil, Sigismund the Emperour answered, Tamen Satan aliguando verax, saepius mendax, semper [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] est. So let the devil speake true or false, fair or foul; yet he is a devill still: beware of him. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets] For the book of Judges was written by [illegible: 1 word] Prophets, in severall ages. And there be very grave Authors of opinion, that Ezra (that skilfull scribe,) either himself alone, or with the helpe of his colleagues godly and learned men like himself, inspired by the holy Ghost, compiled and composed those books of [illegible: 1 word], Iudges, [illegible: 1 word], and Kings, out of diverse Annals, preserved by the Churches of those ages, wherein those things were acted. He shall be called a Nazaren] That great Victory, whereof [illegible: 1 word] and the rest of his order were but [illegible: 1 word] and shadowes. The very name signifieth one separate and set apart from others, as [illegible: 1 word] was separate from his brethren, Gen. 49. 26. And it is [illegible: 1 word] to three sorts of men, usually set above others, (as Divines have well observed.) 1. To such as are set apart to [illegible: 1 word] sanctimony, as the high-Priest, whose crown is called Nezer, Exo. 29. 6. 2. To such as in dignity and authority are set above others, as Kings, whose diadem is called Nezer, 2 Sam. 1. 10. 3. To such as were separated by some religious vow, as to the order of the Nazarites, whose hair encreasing on their heads, as an externall sign of their vow, was called Nezer, [illegible: 1 word]. 6. 18. As for our Saviour, it is not likely that he [illegible: 1 word] his hair; [illegible: 1 word] the [illegible: 1 word] saith (in1 Cor. 11. 14. that age) it was uncomely for men to [illegible: 1 word] long hair. It was enough for him, that he was a [illegible: 1 word], in the truth and substance of that Law; and a singular comfort it is to us, that although we have brokenGen. 28 20, &c. our vows, and so deeply gashed our consciences, as Jacob did,with chap. 31. 17. yet so long as it is of infirmity and forgetfulnesse, not of obstinacy and maliciousnesse, this famous Nazarite, this arch-votary, hath expiated our defaults in this kinde; [illegible: 1 word] through him we are in Gods sight, as Ierusalms Nazarites, Lam. 4 7. Purer then the snow, and whiter then the milk. And therefore sith God thinks not the worse of us, let not us think the worse of our selves, for the involuntary violation of our vows.