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…

What may we think, he would say of the church that hath been of later years, if he had lived to see the deformity and abuses thereof? where, besides that they are not of one mind and of one heart, they suffer not the people altogether to sing the praises of God: where they have not only emptie• such boxes or hutches, wherein Christ left great treasures unto his church, but have made light account of them, and have cast away the very patterns and images of true godliness. They drive away the people from reading the scriptures, and reckon that as unlawful, as to cast the bread of the children unto dogs, or pearls before Swine. They lead men from trust in the blood of Christ, and teach them to believe such things, and to put confidence in those creatures, which cannot profit, or help them at all. You may remember what prayers they used. But bless your ears: for they are words full of horrible blasphemy. They said to the holy and blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of our redeemer & saviour. In te virgo Maria confidimus, ⟨p. 272⟩in te speramus, nos defendas in aeternum. Our trust and hope we put in thee. O Virgin Mary, defend us everlastingly. They say, O faelix puerpera nostra pians scelera. O happy mother which doest purge us from our sins. And, Sanctae Mariae merita ducant nos ad regna coelestia. The merits of holy Mary bring us to the heavenly kingdom. Again, Tu mediatrix dei & hominum, aduocata pauperum, refugiū peccatorum. Thou art the mediator between God and man, the advocate for the poor, the refuge of all sinners. O merciful Christ, what is become of thy passion? where is the price of thy blood: how are we lead away from thee to seek redemption in a creature? Again they say unto her. Thou art the Lady of Angels: thou art the Queen of heaven. Command thy son: show thy self to be a mother. He is thy son, thou art his mother: the mother may command, the child must obey. Again, they turn all that is spoken in the whole book of the Psalms of the prophet David, either of God, or of Christ, and apply it to the Virgin Mary, & call that Psalter, Psalterium beatae Mariae, the Psalter of blessed Mary. Who will take the pains to peruse it, shall find that comfortable speech of our saviour, Come unto me all ye ¹that are weary and laden, and I will ease you, ²thus blasphemously abused in the second psalm.