A04472:456
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.
London: printed by Ralfe Newberie, 1584
¶ The Second Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. › Chapter 1
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.
This is the salutation of Paul, in all his Epistles: to say, I wish that the blessing, and favour, and love of God may light upon you. But for the better consideration hereof, & that we may know how earnestly we ought to pray unto God for this grace and peace, which the Apostle wisheth to the Churches: let us look into our selves, and see how miserable we are, if we be left void of this grace, and if God take his holy spirit away from us. By nature ⟨p. 238⟩what are we other, than the bond slaves of sin? We are not able to lift up our eyes into heaven, nor to believe in GOD, nor to praise him, nor to call upon his name. We are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves. Unless he open our lips, we cannot show forth his praise: Unless he heal our deafness, we cannot give care to his word: Unless he give us understanding hearts, we cannot take •owledge of his will. Destruction, and unhappiness, saith the Prophet David, are in 1their ways, and the way of peace have they not known there is no fear of God before their eyes, speaking of such as had not received the favour and grace of God to guide and direct them. And by the Prophet Malachi God uttereth his displeasure against them, saying, I have no pleasure in you, sayeth the 2Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hands.
This is the salutation of Paule, in al his Epistles: to say, I wish that the blessing, and fanour, and loue of God may light vppon you. But for the better consideration hereof, & that we may know how earnestly we ought to pray vnto God for this grace and peace, which the Apostle wisheth to the Churches: let vs looke into our selues, and sée how miserable we are, if wee be left voyde of this grace, and if God take his holy spirite away from vs. By nature ⟨p. 238⟩what are we other, than the bonde slaues of sinne? We are not able to lift vp our eyes into heauen, nor to beléeue in GOD, nor to praise him, nor to cal vppon his name. We are not sufficient of our selues to thinke anie thing as of our selues. Vnlesse hee open our lippes, wee cannot shewe foorth his prayse: Vnlesse hée heale our deafenesse, we cannot giue care to his worde: Vnlesse he giue vs vnderstanding heartes, wee cannot take owledge of his wil. Destruction, and vnhappinesse, sayth the Prophet Dauid, are in