John Trapp on Matthew 24:20

Verse 20. But pray ye] Christ saith not, Fight ye, but pray ye. To fight it boots not: for God hath resolved the lands ruine: But praiers are Bombardae & instrumenta [illegible: 1 word] Christianorum, as Luther hath it, the great guns and artillery of Christians, whereby they may batter heaven, and make a breach upon God himself. Flectitur [illegible: 1 word] voce rogante Deus. Something God will yeeld to the praiers of his people, even when he seems most bitterly bent, and unchangeably resolved against them. Christ here bids them pray, that their flight fell not out in the winter, when the daies [non-Latin text not transcribed] Hyems. are short, [illegible: 1 word] foul, and all lesse fit for such a purpose. Nor on [non-Latin text not transcribed]. the Sabbath; when though it were lawfull enough, yet it would [illegible: 1 word], [non-Latin text not transcribed], i. e [non-Latin text not transcribed]. [illegible: 1 word]. be so much the more uncomfortable. This they were bid to pray above thirty years before the City was besieged. And they had what they praid for. Their flight was not in winter, for the siege began about Easter, and the City was taken in September. Neither was it on the Sabbath-day, as we have cause to believe: for when Christ bids us pray for any thing, it's sure he means to bestow [illegible: 1 word]. As when we bid our children ask us this or that, it is because we mean to give it them.