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…

The words of the Apostle are plain, to show that there shall be a departing. But, as we see it is not agreed upon, what manner of departing this shall be, nor by whom it shall be wrought. Our adversaries lay it unto us, saying, you have wrought this departing: you have departed from the Church of Rome, you are they of whom S. Paul hath spoken: you are the founders of Antichrist: so say they. But would to God, they and their fathers, and the Church of Rome had not wrought this departure. Bernard beheld the state, and pride, and disorders of the Church of Rome in his time, therefore said, Superest ut reveletur homo ¹pe•cati, filius perditionis: non modo demonium di•, sed & meridianum: quod non solum transfiguratur in angelum lucis: sed extollitur supra umne quod dicitur Deus, aut quod colitur. It remaineth, that the man of sin, that is, the ⟨p. 266⟩son of perdition, be revealed: even the devil which flieth not only in the day, but destroyeth in the noon day: which is not only changed into an angel of light, but is exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. And Gregory did see who they were that should work this departing, and make way for Antichrist: therefore said, Ego fidenter deco, ²&c. I speak it boldly: Whosoever calleth himself the universal priest, or desireth so to be called (as doth the Pope) in the pride of his heart, he is the forerunner of Antichrist.

The wordes of the Apostle are plaine, to shew that there shal be a departing. But, as we sée it is not agréed vppon, what maner of departing this shal be, nor by whome it shall be wrought. Our aduersaries lay it vnto vs, saying, you haue wrought this departing: you haue departed from the Church of Rome, you are they of whome S. Paule hath spoken: you are the founders of Antichrist: so say they. But would to God, they and their fathers, and the Church of Rome had not wrought this departure. Bernard behelde the state, and pride, and disorders of the Church of Rome in his time, therefore saide, Superest vt reueletur homo ¹pe•cati, filius perditionis: non modo demonium di, sed & meridianum: quod non solum transfiguratur in angelum lucis: sed extollitur supra umne quod dicitur Deus, aut quod colitur. It remaineth, that the man of sinne, that is, the