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…

18 Therefore we would have come unto you, (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Satan hindered us.

18 Therefore wee would haue come vnto you, (I Paul, at least once or twice) but Sathan hindred vs.

He told them before how dearly and tenderly he loved them, exhorting, comforting, and be seeching every of them, as a father his children. He taketh care, least by any means they should doubt of his great good will to ward ⟨p. 85⟩them. And therefore doeth both witness the same, and show them through what cause he hath stayed from them. Such a zeal and care had he over the people. O in what case then are they, that are careless and make no regard of the people of God: which hunt after many livings, and bend not themselves to do good? which serve their own belly, and seek to be rich, and eat up the people of God, as if they were bread? They cannot say they have a desire to see the face of their flock, and that their heart is with them. Howsoever they find time for other matters, they can never take time to know their sheep, and to do the work of their ministry among them. They care not for them, they think not of them. They plant not, they water not, they watch not, they give no warning of the dangers at hand: they teach them not to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world.

He tolde them before how dearely and tenderly he loued them, exhorting, comforting, and be séeching euerie of them, as a father his children. He taketh care, least by anie meanes they should doubt of his great good wil to ward ⟨p. 85⟩them. And therefore doeth both witnesse the same, and shew them through what cause hée hath staied from them. Such a zeale and care had he ouer the people. O in what case then are they, that are carlesse and make no regard of the people of God: which hunt after manie liuings, and bend not themselues to do good? which serue their owne bellie, and séeke to be rich, and eate vp the people of God, as if they were breade? They cannot say they haue a desire to sée the face of their flocke, and that their heart is with them. Howsoeuer they finde time for other matters, they can neuer take time to know their shéepe, and to doe the worke of their ministerie among them. They care not for them, they thinke not of them. They plant not, they water not, they watch not, they giue no warning of the daungers at hand: they teach them not to denie ungodlinesse and worldlie lusts, and to liue soberly, and righteously, and godlie in this present world.