John Trapp on Matthew 4:9

Verse 9. And he saith unto him, All these things will I give thee.] A great catch sure: even just nothing: for he shewed out Saviour only shews and shadows, apparitions and resemblances [illegible: 1 word]. of things. The word also used in the former verse for (glory) [illegible: 2 words] [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 2 words]. [illegible: 1 word] an opinion or imagination. So St Luke stiles all Agrippa's [illegible: 1 word], but a fantasie. David tels us, that man walketh in a vain shadow. Now a shadow is something in appearance, nothing in [illegible: 1 word]: So the Apostle calleth all these things, that the devil [illegible: 1 word] our Saviour, [non-Latin text not transcribed], an accidentall mathematicall figure,1 [illegible: 1 word] 7. 31. without solidity or substance. And further tels us, that this figure [illegible: 1 word] away, is ever in transitu, like the streams of a river, [illegible: 1 word]. that [illegible: 1 word] by the sides of a City, no man can stop: or if we could retain the things of this life, yet not the world only passeth away (saith the Apostle) but the lusts thereof. So that a man [illegible: 2 words] 17. [illegible: 1 word] make his heart delight in the same thing still. [illegible: 3 words] fastidio sunt. We loath after a while what we lusted [illegible: 1 word] [non-Latin text not transcribed] (as Amnon did Tamar) and quickly finde a satiety, yea an unsatisfy ingnesse in the creature. For he that loveth silver shall not [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 10. be satisfied with silver, nor though he could heap up his hoards to the stars, and ingrosse a monopoly of all the wealth in the world. Non [illegible: 1 word] satiatur cor [illegible: 1 word], quàm corpus aurâ. You may assoon [illegible: 1 word] a bag with wisdome, a chest with [illegible: 1 word], or a circle with a triangle, as the heart of man with any thing here below. All that earth can afford, is, fumus [illegible: 1 word] (saith one) [illegible: 1 word] & [non-Latin text not transcribed], [illegible: 1 word]. saith another: Vanity and vexation, saith Solomon the [illegible: 1 word]. wise: To whose impartiall verdict (grounded upon so good [illegible: 1 word]) [illegible: 1 word]. 1. 2. we shall doe well to subscribe, without believing the [illegible: 1 word] crakes, or trying any further conclusions. The Centurists [illegible: 1 word], All these things will I give thee, thus; I will make thee Pope. And indeed many Popes were advanced to that Sea [illegible: 1 word] by the devil, as Histories relate. Who, had they but [illegible: 1 word] what is usually done at their inthronization, would D [illegible: 2 words] [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 2 words] [illegible: 1 word]. never have been so hasty. For before the Pope is set in his Chair, and puts on his tripple Crown, a peece of row, or wad of straw is set on fire [illegible: 1 word] him, and one appointed to say, Sic transit [illegible: 1 word], The glory of this world is but a [illegible: 1 word]. This is only [illegible: 1 word] of form and Ceremony: As is also that, that one day in the year the [illegible: 1 word] Almoner rideth before him, casting abroad to the [illegible: 1 word] certain peeces of brasse and lead, saying, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give you, Whereas that [illegible: 2 words] holds a golden cup in her hand, and her merchants that trade with her, are the Grandees of the earth, Revel. 18. and are [illegible: 1 word] in Apo. 18. [illegible: 1 word] rich by her, vers. 15. The Cardinall of Toledo hath a hundred thousand pound a year comming in; The Arch-bishops of Germany are [illegible: 1 word]-[illegible: 1 word] (many of them) and have revenues accordingly. Petrarch reporteth, that in the treasury of Pope [illegible: 1 word]. John the 22. were found after his death 250. tuns of gold. AndSphinx. Philos. p. [illegible: 1 word]. of Boniface the eighth it is storied, that when he was taken by Philip the fair, King of France, and his palace rifled, there was more treasure found, then all the Kings of the earth were able to [illegible: 1 word]. shew again. Otto, one of the Popes Mice-catchers (as the storyIt was [illegible: 1 word] and trimly [illegible: 1 word] by [illegible: 1 word] Innocent [illegible: 1 word]. Verè [illegible: 1 word] deliciarum Papis suit tun Anglia & [illegible: 1 word] inexhausius. [illegible: 1 word] them) sent hither by Gregory 9. after three years raking [illegible: 1 word] of money by most [illegible: 1 word] arts, at last departing [illegible: 1 word], he left not so much money in the whole Kingdom, as he either [illegible: 1 word] with him, or sent before him. Judge by this, what they did thorowout all Christendom. The Pope, saith one, could never want money so long as he could hold a pen in his hand. Thus it was then; but how now? Bellarmine complains, that since by us the Pope was cried down for Antichrist, his Kingdom [illegible: 1 word] not Non [illegible: 1 word], non crevit [illegible: 2 words], sed [illegible: 1 word] magis ac [illegible: 2 words] evit, [illegible: 1 word]. de Pap. [illegible: 1 word] c. 21. only not encreased, but every day more and more decreased. And Cotton the [illegible: 2 words], That the authority of the Pope of Rome is incomparably lesse then it was: And that now the Christian Church is but a diminutive. Hereupon also the Cardinals (who [illegible: 1 word] wont to meet oftener) meet but once a week, because the [illegible: 1 word] of the Court of Rome grow [illegible: 1 word]. And albeit the [illegible: 1 word] Concla. ex Synta [illegible: 1 word] l. 15. c 4. [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] good, and [illegible: 1 word] bloud, his honours and manners rose together; yet abates he as little of his former pomp and pride, as the [illegible: 1 word] doth since his fall, in taking upon him here to dispose of all the Kingdoms of the earth, as his: and requiring our Saviour (the Os [illegible: 1 word] & [illegible: 2 words], in eodem sunt [illegible: 1 word] to. Sphinx Phil. 601. true Lord of all) to [illegible: 1 word] down and worship him. The Cardinals he still createth with these words, Estote fratres nostri & principes mundi. And, as another [illegible: 1 word] (who was the first that [illegible: 1 word] that honour) he holdeth forth his feet to be kissed, having the sign of the [illegible: 1 word] shining with pearls and [illegible: 1 word] stones [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 2 words], [illegible: 2 words] crucem Christi derideat, saith mine [illegible: 2 words]. In [illegible: 1 word] word, with his pomp and primacy, gain and [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] and riches, fat Bishopricks and Cardinalships, as he [illegible: 3 words] Luther, and gain him to his side: so he gets and [illegible: 2 words] a [illegible: 2 words] to that rotten religion. Pauper Lutherus [illegible: 3 words], said Erasmus; it being then the ready way to [illegible: 1 word] to write and rail against Luther, as Eccius, [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] others found it. But Christ will one day whip such [illegible: 2 words], and their customers out of his house, as he did [illegible: 2 words] the Gospel; chase them out of his presence, as Nehemiah did [illegible: 1 word] son in Law; Curse them with a curse, that runne [illegible: 1 word] after the errour of [illegible: 1 word] for [illegible: 1 word]. Let the Romish [illegible: 1 line] [illegible: 1 word] offer as large as the devil doth here, every one that hath any thing of Christ in him, will answer with that noble Italian [illegible: 1 word] (Galeacius Caracciolus Marquesse of Vico in [illegible: 1 word] ) who being tempted by a Jesuite to revolt for money, [illegible: 1 word] out, Let their money perish with them, who esteem all the gold in the world worth one daies society with [illegible: 1 word] Christ, and his holy Spirit. And cursed be that Religion for ever, &c. If thou wilt fall down and worship me.] Luke saith, Worship before me. So that to worship before an Idol is to worship the Idol, whatever the Romanist pretend and plead to the contrary. And not only so, but to fall down, as the devil would have had our Saviour here (though it be not come to worshipping) is a grievous [illegible: 1 word]. 2. 8. sinne. St John had not yet worshipped the Angel, but only fallen down, as desirous to worship, and is taken up by the Angel, for that idolatrous gesture. Woe then to those Rimmonites, that plead for an upright soul in a protrate body; and alleadge for their warrant, that of Apocryphall Baruc, Chap. 6. Wherefore when ye see the multitude of people worshipping them behinde and before, say ye in your hearts, O Lord, it is thou that [illegible: 1 word] test only to be worshipped. Serve we God with our bodies also; and say with David and Christ, Lord, a body hast thou [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] 8. Loe, I come to doe thy will therewith. But what a [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. and detestable boldnesse was it in the devil, to move speech [illegible: 2 words] a sin as this, to our Saviour Christ? It was extreme sawcinesse in Satan to adjure our Saviour (whom he there cals, The Sonne of the most high God) not to torment him, it was horribleMark 5. 6, 7. impudency. But nothing comparable to this in the Text, to worship the devil in person: then which, what can be imagined more odious? We see then to what execrable sins the best may be tempted. Capell of Ten. A man is to expect (saith one) if he live out his daies, to be urged to all sinnes, to the breach of every branch of the ten Commandments: and to be put to it in respect of every Article of our Creed. Have you not been tempted (saith another) in [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. this or that kinde? It is because God in mercy would not lead you into temptation. Yea this is, in some sort, more to be acknowledged [illegible: 1 word] victory, when ye were tempted. For not to be tempted is more immediately from God, and [illegible: 1 word] in mans power, then to prevail against temptation. For nothing doth overcome us without our will: but without our will doth God lead us into triall: for he knoweth we would taste little of these, if we might [illegible: 2 words]. [illegible: 1 word]. be our own carvers. Simon, Simon (saith our Saviour) Satan [non-Latin text not transcribed] [illegible: 1 word]. hath desired to have you to winnow you (that is, [illegible: 1 word] trouble and hurt you, saith a Father) as a challenger desireth to have one of the other side to combat with: as Goliah called for a man to match him. Now either God denies him, or delivers us, so that that evil one toucheth us not, viz. Tactu qualitativo, with1 [illegible: 1 word]. 5. 18. a mortall touch, as Cajetan glosseth that Text, I have praid for thee, saith our Saviour, that thy faith fail not. He praid for all, but especially for Peter, because more violently tempted. As, [illegible: 1 word]. 4. [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 10 7. because more shamefully foiled, therefore, Go tell my Disciples and Peter, that I am risen; and that thereby he is justified. I have praid; so that the remedy was ready made before the disease, the salve before the sore, or else it might have come too late: As those that are stung by a scorpion, if they be not presently anointed with oil of scorpions, die for it: and as those that have drunk poison, if they take not an antidote immediately, ere it get to the vitals, perish infallibly. God in Christ hath all plaisters and pardons ready made and sealed. Else, we might die in our sins, whiles the pardon is providing.