John Trapp on Matthew 4:23

Verse 23. And Jesus went about all [illegible: 1 word] ] Not (as the Circumcelliones of old) to make shew of their holinesse; nor as the Jesuites (into whom the Pharisees have fled and hid themselves) to gain proselytes and passengers, That goe right on their waies, Prov. 9. 15. but he went about doing good, saith S. Peter. Act. 10. 38. The chiefest goods are most active: the best good a meer act. And the more good we doe, the more God-like we be, and the more we draw nigh to the heavenly patern. Religion is not a name, goodnesse a word: but as the life of things stands in goodnesse: So the life of goodnesse, in action. So much we live, as we [illegible: 1 word].Isa. 38. 16. O Lord, by these things men live, saith [illegible: 1 word], and in all these things is the life of my spirit. And he that keepeth my Commandments shall live in them, as the lamp lives in the oil, the flower in the earth, the creature by food. Nos non eloquimur magna, sed vivimus, said the ancient Christians. And holy Bradford [illegible: 1 word] that hour lost, wherein he had not done some good, with tongue, pen or hand. God hath set us our time, and our task, Job 14. 5, 6, David is said to serve out his time; and John Baptist, to finish his course, Act. 13. Up therefore and be doing, that ye beDies brevis est, & opus [illegible: 1 word], & operarij pauci, & pater-samilias urget. not taken with your task undone. Fruitlesse trees shall be cut down: short shooting loseth many a game. The master is an austeer man, and looketh for his own with usury. It is an easie thing when the candle is out, and all still without din, to fall a napping: which will prove to your cost, when God shall send forthRab. [illegible: 1 word]. summons for sleepers. Teaching in their Synagogues,] Houses dedicated to the worship of God, wherein it was lawfull (and usuall) to pray, preach, and dispute, but not to sacrifice, Act. 15. 21. The Temple at Ierusalem was the Cathedrall Church: The Synagogues, as petty Parish-Churches, belonging thereunto. There were 480. of them in Ierusalem, as Manahen the Jew Apud Genebr. in [illegible: 1 word]. reporteth. And preaching] Which is a further matter then teaching, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and is therefore set after it here, as an addition. It signifieth to publish, and (as a Herald) to deliver a matter in the hearing [non-Latin text not transcribed]. of a multitude with greatest majesty, constancy, fidelity,2 Cor. 2. 17. and liberty of speech: not budging or balking any part ofCorrupting, as men doe by their false wares, or mixt wines. the truth: not huckstering the Word of God, or handling it deceitfully; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speaking in Christ. And healing all manner of sicknesse and disease,] Both acute [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 word] significat [illegible: 2 words]. and chronicall. None came amisse to this Iehovah Rophe, the Lord that healeth, as he stileth himself; This Sun of righteousnesse, that hath healing under his wings. To an Almighty Physician [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 2 words] & [illegible: 1 word]. (saith Isidore) no disease can seem incurable. He healed with a wet finger (as we say) such patients as all the Physicians in the Countrey cast their caps at, and could not tell what toExod [illegible: 1 word]. 26. [illegible: 1 word] to.Mal. 4. 2.