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…

Let us look into the church of Rome, and behold the usage & behaviour thereof. Where shall we find that heavenly comeliness which S. Paul requireth? Where is the comfortable reading of scriptures? Where is the people taught their salvation in Christ Jesus? where is the brotherly meeting of all the congregation at the communion of the Lords supper? May we say of Rome that it holdeth fast the form and fashion of that church which Christ and his Apostles left unto us, and which the holy ancient fathers continued? nay, rather, we may say of them with Chrysostom: they may have the chests and coffers wherein the treasure was sometimes kept, but the treasures they have not. We may say, it is not ⟨p. 269⟩now a house of prayer but a den of thieves. We may say, it shall no more be called Bethel, the house of God, but Bethaven, the house of vanity, or of lying.

Let vs looke into the church of Rome, and behold the vsage & behauiour thereof. Where shal we find that heauenly comelinesse which S. Paule requireth? Where is the comfortable reading of scriptures? Where is the people taught their saluation in Christ Iesus? where is the brotherly méeting of al the congregation at the communion of the Lordes supper? May we say of Rome that it holdeth fast the forme and fashion of that church which Christ and his Apostles left vnto vs, and which the holy ancient fathers continued? nay, rather, we may say of them with Chrisostome: they may haue the chestes and cofers wherein the treasure was sometimes kept, but the treasures they haue not. We may say, it is not ⟨p. 269⟩nowe a house of prayer but a denne of théeues. We may say, it shal no more be called Bethel, the house of God, but Bethauen, the house of vanitie, or of lying.

Jupiter and Bacchus, and the Idols of the heathen, were not so dishonoured of their worshippers, as the almighty and everlasting, and only true God is dishonoured in that synagogue. I speak of it, as it is now, and as it hath been these many years. For in the time of our elder fathers, it had great testimony of true holiness. Ignatius called it castissimam, most chaste. Tertullian said, it was a happy Church, because the Apostles of Christ suffered martyrdom in it, and left their whole doctrine unto it. And in like sort did others give unto Rome, as it was in those times reverent and worthy commendation. But now, saith he, O Roma, à Roma, quantum mutata vetusta es? nunc caput es scelerum, quae caput orbis eras. O Rome, how much art thou changed from the old Rome? thou, which hast been the chief in all the world, art now the chief in all naughtiness. They have forsaken the trade of life, and the love of the Gospel, which they of old time had in Rome, and therefore cannot be inheritors of their commendation.