A04472:459
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.
4. So that we our selves rejoice of you in the church of God, because of your patience, and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations, that ye suffer.
4. So that we our selues reioice of you in the church of God, because of your patience, and fayth in al your persecutions, and tribulations, that ye suffer.
God hath wrought this good work of faith, and love, and patience in your hearts: he will make it prosper, and increase. It is he which hath put this fire in you, and he will make it burn. He hath laid his leaven in the dough or meal of your heart, and will make it heavy, and work, until all be leavened. He will make you abound more and more, and will bring to a good end the thing he hath begun.
God hath wrought this good worke of faith, and loue, and pacience in your hearts: he wil make it prosper, and encrease. It is he which hath put this fire in you, and he wil make it burne. Hee hath layde his leauine in the dough or meale of your heart, and wil make it heauie, and worke, vntill al be leauined. Hée wil make you abounde more and more, and wil bring to a good ende the thing he hath begonne.
Your faith groweth exceedingly. This is the will of God, that we ware and increase in all holiness. Hereby we know, whether we be of God or no. We may not stand at a stay, but must be renewed. One saith, in via virtutis qui nō proficit, deficit. Whosoever mendeth not him self in the practise of virtue, he groweth worse. God hath placed us in a race to run: we must so run that we may attain the price. We are grafts of the Lords planting, we must grow to ⟨p. 240⟩the high and breadth of a tree, and bring forth fruit. We are pilgrims and strangers, and pass by the wilderness of this world, into our heavenly resting place: we may not stay by the way, but must remove our tents, and continually march on forward, until that day come, when we shall enter into the land of promise.