John Trapp on Matthew 8:4

Verse 4. See thou tell no man.] Christ despised popular [illegible: 1 word], accounting it no other then a little stinking breath. Some doe all for a name: But we have not so learned Christ. His treasures were hid, Col. 2. 3. He sought not himself, but to set up him that sent him, Joh. 8. 50. Shew thy self to the Priest] That they may see that I am He that should come, that Iehovah the Physitian, that Sun of righteousnesse with health under his wings, &c. that I came not to destroy the Law, as they slanderously give out, but to fulfill it, that God may be glorified, and the mouth of malice stopped. Offer the gift, &c.] This is that pepper-corn we pay to God, who is content that we have the benefit of his favours, so He may have the glory of them. Not lepers onely, but all sorts, after sicknesse, were bound to offer to God the ransom of their lives, Exod. 31. Hezekiah made a song, and left it to posterity, for a seal of his thankfulnesse. Heathens in this case, would consecrate something to their gods, to their Teraphim. The very word in Greek that [illegible: 1 word] to heal, (framed from Teraephim) [non-Latin text not transcribed]. signifies first to worship and serve God: So shewing us what they were wont to doe in case of cure. But now-adaies sciopato il morbo, fraudato il Santo, as the Italian proverb hath it. Sick men recovered, deal as ship-wrackt men escaped: they promise God, as he in Erasmus his Naufragium did the Virgin, a pictureEras. [illegible: 1 word]. of wax as big as S. Christopher: but when he came to shore, would not give a tallow-candle. This is a cursed kinde of cousenage, Mal. 1. 14.