John Trapp on Matthew 23:13

Verse 13. [illegible: 1 word] unto you Scribes, &c.] By these eight dreadfull woes, as by so many links of an adamantine chain, our Saviour draws these hypocrites down to hell their place, and there leaves them to be reserved unto judgement. St Hierom was called Fulmen [illegible: 1 word], the Churches thunderbolt. How much more might this be attributed to Christ? How terribly doth he here thunderstrike these stupid Pharisees though he saw well (with Father Latimer) that whosoever will be busie with [illegible: 1 word] Act. and Mon. sol. [illegible: 1 word]. vobis, shall shortly after come coram nobis. Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven] By hiding heavenly truths, teaching damnable errours, excommunicating the well affected, or corrupting them by evil counsell and example: and all this, [non-Latin text not transcribed] cor àm & in os, before men, and to their faces, making fools of them, even whiles they look on, casting a mist before their eyes, as those Egyptian juglers did, Exod. 7. and keeping from them that collyrium, that should cure, and clear up their eye-sight, Revel. 3. 18. Thus did Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury, Quod verbum Dei [illegible: 1 word], ne [illegible: 3 words] Tho [illegible: 1 word]. in [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. who bound up the word of God, that it might not be preached in his time (as the Historians words are,) and was therefore (according to this woe here denounced) so smitten in his tongue, that he could neither swallow, nor speak for certain daies afore he died. Steven Gardiner was plagued in like manner, for like reason. And generally, the Popish Clergy are vexed with that grievous and noisome sore of develish spite against the Reformation, Revel. 16. 2. which they therefore oppose with might and main, till wrath come upon them to the [illegible: 1 word]. And albeit many of them escape the visible vengeance of God, yet this terrible Woe, as a moth, doth secretly [illegible: 1 word] them up like a garment, and as a worm, eateth them up like wood, Isa 51. 8. as it did these Pharisees; on whose outside nothing could be discerned, all was as before, but their soules were blasted, seared, and sealed up to destruction. He that hath drunk poison, falles not down dead presently in the place, but he hath his death about him, as we say. Saul lived and reigned long after he was cast off by God: and the very devils are respited in regard of their full torment, but the more is behinde.