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…

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.

Iupiter and Bacchus, and the Idols of the heathen, were not so dishonored of their worshippers, as the almightie and euerlasting, and onely true God is dishonoured in that sinagogue. I speake of it, as it is nowe, and as it hath béene these many yeares. For in the time of our elder fathers, it had great testimonie of true holinesse. Ignatius called it castissimam, most chaste. Tertullian saide, it was a happie Church, because the Apostles of Christ suffered martyrdome in it, and left their whole doctrine vnto it. And in like sort did others giue vnto Rome, as it was in those times reuerent and worthie commendation. But now, saith he, O Roma, à Roma, quantum mutata vetusta es? nunc caput es scelerum, quae caput orbis eras. O Rome, howe much art thou channged from the olde Rome? thou, which hast beene the chiefe in al the worlde, art nowe the chiefe in al naughtinesse. They haue forsaken the trade of life, and the loue of the Gospel, which they of olde time had in Rome, and therefore cannot be inheritours of their commendation.

When Chrysostom considered the state of ⟨p. 270⟩the Church as the Apostle speaketh of it unt the Corinthians, & did see how far the church in his time swerved from that: he sayd, Nunc