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…
An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians by the reverend Father John Jewel ... ; whereunto is adjoined a very necessary table of the principal matters contained in this exposition.An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians by the reuerend Father Iohn Ievvel ... ; vvhereunto is adioined a very necessarie table of the principal matters contained in this exposition.
John Jewel 1522–1571London: printed by Ralfe Newberie, 1584
[16], 424 [i.e. 422] p. · 99k words · STC 14604 · ESTC S1254
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Try all things. God hath given you the spirit of discretion, and of judgement. Be wise, and know what is that good and acceptable will of God. He not deceived with words of mans wisdom. Let not the baseness or simplicity of any, cause you to refuse the message which he bringeth: and carry not your selves to liking of all that whatsoever shall be told you of such as bear great show and countenance. This was it that deceived the people of GOD, they gave ear to false teachers, which lead them to worship the works of their own hands. Therefore, they said unto the stone, thou art our father, thou hast delivered us: they sell down before it, worshipped it, believed in it: they slew the Prophets of God, and stoned to death such as were sent unto them.
Trie al things. God hath giuen you the spirite of discretion, and of iudgement. Be wise, and knowe what is that good and acceptable will of God. He not deceiued with wordes of mans wisedome. Let not the basenesse or simplicitie of anie, cause you to refuse the message which he bringeth: and carrie not your selues to liking of al that whatsoeuer shall be told you of such as beare great shew and countenance. This was it that deceiued the people of GOD, they gaue eare to false teachers, which lead them to worshippe the workes of their owne hands. Therefore, they saide vnto the stone, thou art our father, thou hast deliuered vs: they sell downe before it, worshipped it, beléeued in it: they slewe the Prophets of God, and stoned to death such as were sent vnto them.
The Scribes and Pharisees seemed so grave and wise, that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed. They were altogether appliable to believe, to do, to speak,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: for many false prophets are gone out into the world. And further directeth us, how we should try them, hereby shall ye know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Again, hereby may you try them, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not to house, neither bid him God speed. Hereby S. Paul required the Galatians to try between him, and the false Apostles. If any man preach unto you otherwise
than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For now do I preach mans doctrine or Gods? the Sadducees erred touching the resurrection, because they searched not the scriptures. God teacheth us by the prophet Isaiah, to make trial of teachers and doctrines. When
they shall say unto you, enquire of them that have a spirit of divination, and at the soothsayers,
⟨p. 213⟩
which whisper and murmur, should not a people enquire at their God? from the living to the dead? to the law, and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Paul putteth Timothy in mind wherefore he left him at Ephesus,
to command some, that they teach none other doctrine: And to warn both the teachers and the hearers, that they give no heed to fables and genealogies, which are endless, which breed questions, rather than godly edifying, which is by faith. Thus are the people of God called to try the truth, to judge between good and il, between light and darkness. God hath made them the promise of his spirit, and hath left unto them his word. They of Berea, when they heard the preaching of Paul, searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so, as he taught them, and many of them believed. So do you:
The Scribes and Pharises séemed so grane and wise, that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed. They were altogether appliable to beléeue, to do, to speake, ⟨p. 212⟩and to thinke, whatsoeuer the Pharises willed them. Christ saith vnto them, Beware of 1false Prophets, which come to you in sheepes clothing, but inwardly they are rauening wolues. S. Iohn therefore saith, Dearely beloued, 2beleeue not euerie spirite, but trie the spirites whether they are of God: for manie false prophets are gone out into the world. And further directeth vs, howe we should trie them, hereby shal ye know the spirit of God: euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Againe, hereby may you trie them, Whosoeuer transgresseth, and abideth 3not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. Hee that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the sonne. If there come anie vnto you and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to house, neither bid him God speede. Hereby S. Paul required the Galathians to trie betwéene him, and the false Apostles. If anie man preach vnto you otherwise 4than that yee haue receiued, let him bee accursed. For now do I preach mans doctrine or Gods? the Saduces erred touching the resurrection, because they searched not the scriptures. God teacheth vs by the prophet Esay, to make triall of teachers and doctrines. When 5they shall saie vnto you, enquire of them that haue a spirite of diuination, and at the soothsaiers, ⟨p. 213⟩which whisper and murmur, shoulde not a people enquire at their God? from the liuing to the dead? to the law, and to the testimonie, if they speake not according to this word, it is bicause there is no light in them. Paule putteth Timothie in mind wherefore he left him at Ephesus, 6to commaund some, that they teach none other doctrine: And to warne both the teachers and the hearers, that they giue no heede to fables and genealogies, which are endlesse, which breede questions, rather than godlie edifying, which is by faith. Thus are the people of God called to trie the truth, to iudge betwéene good and il, betwéene light and darknesse. God hath made them the promise of his spirit, and hath left vnto them his word. They of Berea, when they heard the preaching of Paule, searched the scriptures dailie, whether those things were so, as he taught them, and manie of them beléeued. So do you:
give heed to instruction, and yet receive not all things, without proof and trial, that they are not contrary to the wholesome doctrine of the word of God.
giue héed to instruction, and yet receiue not al things, without proofe and trial, that they are not contrarie to the wholesome doctrine of the word of God.
When you have tried, and found out the truth, be constant and settled in it. A wavering minded man is unstable in all his ways. Follow ⟨p. 214⟩the truth, and be not carried about with every wind of doctrine. The devil will come in the name of God, and change himself into an Angel of light. Let him not take the love of the trueth from you: let him not remove you from faith and a good conscience: return not like swine unto your mire. God hath purged your hearts, and made them clean. Except they be preserved and kept occupied, the unclean spirit will return, and enter in, and dwell in you: so the last state of you shall be worse than the first.
When you haue tried, and found out the truth, be constant and setled in it. A wauering minded man is vnstable in al his waies. Follow ⟨p. 214⟩the truth, and be not carried about with euerie wind of doctrine. The diuel wil come in the name of God, and change himselfe into an Angel of light. Let him not take the loue of the trueth from you: let him not remooue you from faith and a good conscience: returne not like swine vnto your mire. God hath purged your hearts, and made them cleane. Except they be preserued and kept occupied, the vncleane spirite wil returne, and enter in, and dwell in you: so the last state of you shall be worse than the first.
We have great cause to hearken diligently to the Apostle, to keep that is good. We see this day great confusion in all places. Satan would fain entangle us again with the error of the wicked, and seeketh to draw us from our steadfastness. Now is the time wherein God maketh some trial of his servants: now iniquity seeketh to have the upper hand. They seduce the people, & say, here is Christ, there is Christ: here is the Church, there is the Church. God give us his holy spirit to guide us in judgement, that we may discern the truth from falsehood, and know the blessed and gracious will of GOD: that we may walk in his ways, and serve him in reverence and fear all the days of our life.
We haue great cause to harken diligently to the Apostle, to keepe that is good. We see this daie great confusion in al places. Sathan woulde faine entangle vs againe with the errour of the wicked, and séeketh to drawe vs from our stedfastnesse. Now is the time wherin God maketh some triall of his seruauntes: now iniquitie séeketh to haue the vpper hand. They seduce the people, & saie, here is Christ, there is Christ: here is the Church, there is the Church. God giue vs his holie spirite to guide vs in iudgement, that we maie discerne the truth from falshoode, and knowe the blessed and gratious will of GOD: that wee maie walke in his waies, and serue him in reuerence and feare al the daies of our life.
In this world, as there is a Jacob, so is there an Esau: as there are many that love Christ with an unfeigned hart, so are there many that serve Antichrist: and as there be many true professors of the trueth of God, so are there many despisers of the same. This we may see here at home within this realm. We may see it, and mourn and lament for it in our hearts.
In this worlde, as there is a Iacob, so is there an Esau: as there are manie that loue Christ with an vnfained hart, so are there manie that serue Antichrist: and as there be many true professors of the trueth of God, so are there manie despisers of the same. This wée maie sée here at home within this realme. We maie sée it, and mourne and lament for it in our hearts.
Their practises are opened: they have broken out into open rebellion, to the breach of the peace both of GOD and man. They say with their lips, GOD save Queen Elizabeth: yet they hold up their sword against her. Alas, what hath she deserved at their hands? she hath always dealt mercifully, without cruelty, without shedding of blood. God preserve her that she may long reign over us, and bring all her enemies to confusion.
Their practises are opened: they haue broken out into open rebellion, to the breach of the peace both of GOD and man. They saie with their lippes, GOD saue Quéene Elizabeth: yet they holde vppe their sword against her. Alas, what hath she deserued at their handes? she hath alwaies dealt mercifully, without crueltie, without shedding of bloud. God preserue her that she maie long raigne ouer vs, and bring al her enimies to confusion.
What pretence make they for this their doing, that hereby they seek to have religion reformed? Thanks be to GOD: religion is reformed far better than our fathers knew it these many hundred years. If those which lived before us, might have seen and heard as we see & hear, they would have rejoiced, and thought themselves happy.
What pretence make they for this their doing, that hereby they séeke to haue religion refourmed? Thankes be to GOD: religion is refourmed farre better than our fathers knewe it these many hundred yeares. If those which liued before vs, might haue séene and heard as we sée & heare, they would haue reioiced, and thought themselues happie.
But they would have the Mass. What find they or see they in it, wherefore they should so desire it? Try things saith Paul. Therefore examine and try the mass. What do we learn by it? what doctrine, what godliness in life, what comfort for salvation? It is a dumb and deadly service. The people are forced to be at it, it is the very key of their religion: the people are bound to be present at mass: yet they neither receive any thing, nor eat, nor hear, nor understand any thing. You are wise, you have reason, you are the children of GOD: be you judges herein, and judge uprightly, for it is Gods cause. Will they call this the Lords supper? Is this the sacrament of our redemption? Is this that which Paul received of the Lord, and delivered unto the Church? Is this the showing forth of the Lords death until he come?
But they would haue the Masse. What find they or sée they in it, wherfore they should so desire it? Trie things saith Paul. Therefore examine and trie the masse. What do we learne by it? what doctrine, what godlinesse in life, what comforte for saluation? It is a dumb and deadly seruice. The people are forced to be at it, it is the verie kay of their religion: the people are bound to be present at masse: yet they neither receiue anie thing, nor eate, nor heare, nor vnderstand anie thing. You are wise, you haue reason, you are the children of GOD: be you iudges herein, and iudge vprightly, for it is Gods cause. Will they call this the Lordes supper? Is this the sacrament of our redemption? Is this that which Paule receiued of the Lord, and deliuered vnto the Church? Is this the shewing foorth of the Lordes death vntill hée come?
They would have the Popes authority restored. What is the Pope? they say he is the successor of Peter. What doth the Pope as Peter did? or what did Peter as the Pope doth? He is a mortal man. And cursed are they of God, that put their trust in man. He feedeth not the flock, he teacheth not the simple, he strengtheneth not the weak: I will say no more. GOD make him a servant of ⟨p. 217⟩Christ, and a faithful disposer of the mysteries of God.
They woulde haue the Popes auctoritie restored. What is the Pope? they saie hée is the successour of Peter. What doth the Pope as Peter did? or what did Peter as the Pope doth? He is a mortall man. And cursed are they of God, that put their trust in man. He feedeth not the flocke, he teacheth not the simple, hée strengtheneth not the weake: I wil saie no more. GOD make him a seruant of ⟨p. 217⟩Christ, and a faithful disposer of the mysteries of God.
They are offended at the marriage of the ministers of the Church. Yet Gratian their great master sayeth, Copula sacerdotalis, nec legali, 1nec Evangelica, nec Apostolica authoritate prohibetur. The marriage of Priests is not forbidden by any authority, either of the law, or of the Gospel, or of the Apostles. The holy fathers that lived in the Apostles time, and shortly after, report that Peter, and all the other Apostles excepting only John, were married, and had wives: the Prophet Isaiah was married, and yet he saw the Lord sitting upon an high throne. Moses was married, and yet saw God face to face. Will they reform the Prophets, and the Apostles? Will they account that to be unholy, which the Apostle calleth honourable in all men? Ignatius the scholar of Saint 2John said, I wish to be found meet for God, as was Peter and Paul, and the other Apostles that were married.
They are offended at the mariage of the ministers of the Church. Yet Gratian their great maister sayeth, Copula sacerdotalis, nec legali, 1nec Euangelica, nec Apostolica authoritate prohibetur. The marriage of Priestes is not forbidden by any authoritie, either of the lawe, or of the Gospel, or of the Apostles. The holie fathers that liued in the Apostles time, and shortly after, report that Peter, and al the other Apostles excepting only Iohn, were maried, and had wiues: the Prophet Esay was married, and yet he sawe the Lord sitting vpon an high throne. Moses was marryed, and yet saw God face to face. Wil they reforme the Prophetes, and the Apostles? Wil they account that to be vnholie, which the Apostle calleth honorable in al men? Ignatius the scholer of Saint 2Iohn saide, I wish to be found meete for God, as was Peter and Paule, and the other Apostles that were married.
They paint their banner with the Cross, and five wounds. Why bring they those arms against us? Do not we believe the cross of Christ? do not we rejoice and comfort our hearts by the remembrance of his wounds? do not we read, and she we forth to the people the story of his passion? GOD ⟨p. 218⟩knoweth it, and you can bear us witness, and they can not deny it, that we make this work of our redemption, wrought by the passion of our saviour Christ, the chief and principal rock and foundation of our faith. Therefore say we with the Apostle, GOD forbid that we should rejoice in any thing, but in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nay rather, they are become our enemies because we believe in Jesus Christ crucified. Because we say, as Gods word teacheth, that Jesus Christ is the only advocate to the Father for our sins: and that he hath with one offering consecrated 1for ever them that are sanctified: and that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us 2from all sin. For this cause are they become our enemies.
They paint their banner with the Crosse, and fiue woundes. Why bring they those armes against vs? Doe not we beleeue the crosse of Christ? doe not wée reioyce and comforte our heartes by the remembraunce of his woundes? doe not wée reade, and she we foorth to the people the storie of his passion? GOD ⟨p. 218⟩knoweth it, and you can beare vs witnesse, and they can not denie it, that we make this worke of our redemption, wrought by the passion of our sauiour Christ, the chiefe and principall rocke and foundation of our faith. Therefore say wee with the Apostle, GOD forbidde that we should reioyce in anie thing, but in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Nay rather, they are become our enemies because wée beléeue in Iesus Christ crucified. Because we say, as Gods worde teacheth, that Iesus Christ is the onely aduocate to the Father for our sinnes: and that hee hath with one offering consecrated 1for euer them that are sanctified: and that the bloud of Iesus Christ his sonne cleanseth vs 2from al sinne. For this cause are they become our enemies.
Let us nothing fear their treacheries and attempts: let us keep that is good: and hold it fast until death. Now we have tasted the word of God, and have received the comfort of the Gospel, let us not despise it, nor be weary of it. Let us pray unto God, that he establish the love of his trueth in us: and that he will open the eyes of their hearts, and bring them to be partakers of those mercies which yet through ignorance, they have despised.
Let vs nothing feare their treacheries and attemptes: let vs kéepe that is good: and holde it fast vntil death. Nowe we haue tasted the word of God, and haue receiued the comfort of the Gospel, let vs not despise it, nor be wearie of it. Let vs pray vnto God, that he establish the loue of his trueth in vs: and that he wil open the eyes of their heartes, and bring them to bee partakers of those mercies which yet through ignoran•ce, they haue despised.
