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…

IN the former Epistle, he wrote somewhat touching the latter day and the coming of our Lord to judgement, and said, that that day shall come as a thief in the night: and therefore exhorted them to watch, and pray, and to prepare themselves to be in a readiness. ⟨p. 232⟩The false Apostles did fondly and maliciously mistake his words: and devised means thereby to disquiet the minds of the faithful, and to trouble the Church of God. Thus could the Prince of darkness, the old Serpent, and deceiving spirit, turn the truth of God into occasion of slander. In the mean while the Apostle was far off from them at Athens. But when he heard of their case, he sent unto them this other Epistle, wherein he declareth more plainly that matter which before seemed doubtful, and seeketh to satisfy their hearts, and to remove them from that error, which they had conceived.

IN the former Epistle, hée wrote somewhat touching the latter day and the comming of our Lord to iudgement, and saide, that that daie shall come as a théefe in the night: and therefore arborted them to watch, and praie, and to prepare themselues to be in a readinesse. ⟨p. 232⟩The false Apostles did fondly and malitiously mistake his wordes: and deuised meanes thereby to disquiet the mindes of the faithfull, and to trouble the Church of God. Thus could the Prince of darkenesse, the olde Serpent, and deceiuing spirite, turne the truth of God into occasion of slander. In the meane while the Apostle was farre off from them at Athens. But when he heard of their case, hée sent vnto them this other Epistle, wherein hée declareth more plainely that matter which before séemed doubtfull, and séeketh to satisfie their hearts, and to remooue them from that errour, which they had conceiued.

In discourse hereof, he taketh occasion to speak of Antichrist, of whom we hear much, and have had warning often. He telleth us, that he shall come in working of signs, and wonders: that he is the man of sin which shall thrust himself into the place of Christ. He showeth who is Antichrist, and how we may know him, what things he shall do, what credit he shall have in the world: and by what power he shall be overthrown and confounded. After this he speaketh of idleness, and of bodily labour, and requireth every man to live in the sweat of their brows, and in painful travel, as God