John Trapp on Matthew 21:23

Verse 23. And when he was come into the Temple] Not into the Inne or victualing-house, though he had been so hungry by the way. He forgat that; the zeal of Gods house had eaten him up: it was his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly father: this he preferred before his necessary food. And truly a man would wonder what a deal of work he did up in these three-[illegible: 1 word], before his apprehension. All those Sermons and discourses set down by Matthew from this place to chap. 26. by Mark from chap. 11. to chap. 14. by Luke from chap. 20. to chap. 22. and by Iohn, from the 12. to 18. chap. were delivered by him in these three last daies of his liberty. He dispatched them with speed, as if he had been loth to have been taken with his task undone. To teach us to get up our work, and to work out our salvation: Not work at it only; Lazy spirits [illegible: 1 word] not to immortality. The twelve tribes served God instantly day and night, and found all they could do little enough, Act. 26. 7. Came unto him as he was teaching] Otiosum vel [illegible: 1 word] facilè tulissent, saith an Interpreter. [illegible: 1 word] he would have been quiet or silent, they would never have questioned him. A wolf flies not upon a painted sheep; we can look upon a painted [illegible: 1 word] with delight. It is your active Christian that is most spited and persecuted. Luther was offered to be made a Cardinall, if he would be quiet. He answered, no, not if [illegible: 1 word] might be Pope; And defends himself thus against those that thought him (happly) a proud fool Inveniar sanè superbus, &c. modò impij silentij non [illegible: 1 word]. Epist. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. for his refusall. Let me be counted fool or any thing, said he, so I be not found guilty of cowardly silence. The Papists, when they could not rule him, railed at him, and [illegible: 1 word] him an Apostate: He confesseth the action, and saith, I am indeed an Apostate, but a blessed and holy Apostate; one that had fallen off from the devil.Consitetur se esse Apostaram, led beatum & [illegible: 1 word], qui [illegible: 1 word] diabolo [illegible: 1 word] non servavit. They called him devil. But what said he? Prorsùs Satan est Lutherus, sed Christus vivit & [illegible: 1 word]: Amen. Luther is a devil: Be it so; but Christ liveth and raigneth: that's enough for Luther: So be it. By what authority doest thou these things?] They saw that their kingdom would down, their trade decay, if Christ should be Epist ad [illegible: 1 word]. suffered thus to teach and take upon him in the Temple as a Reformer. Ventres & [illegible: 3 words]. [illegible: 1 word] coronam Papae, & Monachorum [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. When Erasmus was asked by the Electour of Saxony, why the Pope and his Clergy could so little abide Luther, he answered. For two great offences, viz he had medled with the Popes tripple crown, and with the Monks fat paunches: [illegible: 1 word] illae lachrymae. Hence all that hatred: And hence now-adaies those Popish questions to the Professours of the truth. By what authority do [illegible: 1 word] these things? where had you your calling, your ordination? Where was your Religion before Luther? Where unto it was well answered by one once, in the Bible, where yours never was.