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…

Thessalonica was beautiful in the sight of God, the Lord of hosts had pitched his tents round about her, the name of the most bolie was placed in the middest of her, she enjoyed like spiritual peace and prosperity, as did the Jerusalem of the almighty: she was as a City fenced within it self: but the Lord hath taken away the light of his countenance from her, she hath forsaken the ways of righteousness, she hath left off to serve the Lord, and is become the place which the Lord hath forsaken: there is scarce any remnant left there of those which call upon the name of our salvation, and love the Lord Jesus with an unfeigned heart. This is the ⟨p. 237⟩Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. And is his hand shortened, that he cannot, or is his zeal abated that he will not, in like severity deal with such as forsake him? If he spared not the natural branches, if Jerusalem were overthrown because of her iniquities, it cannot be that he will spare other places, that do the like, but that they shall also be cut off. This is it that our Saviour hath said in the Gospel by S. Matthew, Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation, which shall bring forth the fruits thereof. Such terrible, & dreadful examples hath God laid before our eyes, to keep us in his fear, and in a•e of his judgements.

Thessalonica was beautiful in the sight of God, the Lorde of hostes had pitched his tentes rounde about her, the name of the most bolie was placed in the middest of her, shée enioyed like spirituall peace and prosperitie, as did the Ierusalem of the almightie: she was as a Citie fenced within it selfe: but the Lord hath taken away the light of his countenaunce from her, shée hath forsaken the waies of righteousnesse, she hath left off to serue the Lorde, and is become the place which the Lorde hath forsaken: there is scarce anie remnant left there of those which call vppon the name of our saluation, and loue the Lorde Iesus with an vnfained heart. This is the ⟨p. 237⟩Lordes doing, and it is marueilous in our eyes. And is his hande shortned, that he cannot, or is his zeale abated that he wil not, in like seueritie deale with such as forsake him? If he spared not the natural braunches, if Ierusalem were ouerthrowne because of her iniquities, it cannot be that hee wil spare other places, that doe the like, but that they shal also be cut off. This is it that our Sauiour hath saide in the Gospel by S. Mathewe, Therefore say I vnto you, the kingdome of God shal be taken from you, and shal be giuen to a nation, which shal bring foorth the fruites thereof. Such terrible, & dreadful examples hath God layde before our eyes, to kéepe vs in his feare, and in ae of his iudgements.