An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…

Let such as are fathers, and have children, know in what sort they must be careful. Your children are a good blessing of God, they be members of the body of Christ, & the sons of God. The kingdom of heaven belongeth to them. God hath appointed his Angels to guide and lead them, and to •ield them from ⟨p. 61⟩evil: and their Angels be in the presence of God and do behold the face of their father which is in heaven. They be fresh plants of the Church. Who knoweth what necessary instruments they may be in the common wealth, and in the house of God? It is not enough to feed them, and to nourish their bodies, with necessary sustenance. For this do the heathen that know not God: and the savage and brute beasts, and the birds which have no understanding. They breed up their young ones, and are tender and painful to provide for them. The ass though she be dull, the Bear, and Lion, though they be wild and cruel, yet seek they far and near to get wherewith to help their young. Therefore if there be any, or can be any which doeth forsake and leave his own, he is more beastly than the foolish Ass, and more unnatural than most cruel Bears, and Lions, and Tigres.

Let such as are fathers, and haue children, knowe in what sort they must be careful. Your children are a good blessing of God, they bée members of the bodie of Christ, & the sonnes of God. The kingdome of heauen belongeth to them. God hath appointed his Angels to guide and leade them, and to •ield them from ⟨p. 61⟩euil: and their Angels be in the presence of God and doe beholde the face of their father which is in heauen. They be fresh plantes of the Church. Who knoweth what necessarie instruments they may be in the common wealth, and in the house of God? It is not ynough to féede them, and to nourish theyr bodies, with necessarie sustenaunce. For this do the heathen that knowe not God: and the sauage and brute beastes, and the birdes which haue no vnderstanding. They bréede vp their young ones, and are tender and paineful to prouide for them. The asse though she be dul, the Beare, and Lion, though they be wilde and cruel, yet séeke they farre and néere to get wherewith to helpe their young. Therefore if there be anie, or can bee any which doeth forsake and leaue his owne, he is more beastly than the foolish Asse, and more vnnatural than most cruel Beares, and Lions, and Tigres.