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…

S. Paul knew not any such state of the Church of Rome, or any especial grant made unto it, in such forte, that it should never err: for unto the church of Rome he writeth, Boast ⟨p. 277⟩¹not thy self. Be not high minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches: take heed least he also spare not thee. Through unbelief they are broken off, & thou standest by faith. Behold therefore the bountifulness and severity of God. Towards them which have fallen, severity: but, towards thee, bountifulness, if thou continue in his bountifulness: or else thou shalt also be cut off. That is, if he spared not the Jews his own people, how will he spare thee that art but a stranger? If thou continue not, thou shalt be cut off. It may be thou shalt also depart from the faith, as the Jews have done: then shalt thou be as a withered branch, & shalt not draw any moisture from the root: then will God also forsake thee: and thy end shall be worse than the beginning. I trow in saying thus: he said not, Thou shalt not err. If the Church of Rome cannot err, what need have they of that church, either of the Scriptures, or of the fathers, or councils? Perhaps through this pride, they grew first to despise the holy Scriptures, & would not direct their ways by them. They are high minded, and boast themselves, that they are as mount Zion, which shall not be moved. Yet our Saviour likeneth the Church sometimes to sheep, as in the 15. of S. Matthew, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of Israel. Sometimes to children, which are ⟨p. 278⟩simple, and soon beguiled. Sometimes to a Vine, which is weak, & easily thrown down: sometimes to the moon, which waxeth and is also in wane, and many times giveth no light. The ancient fathers compare the church of god to no one thing so usually, as to a ship. And who knoweth not how a ship is tossed hither & thither? how it is in danger of sands & of rocks, and of pirates, & in danger of drowning by leaking? If the sheep were not a straying kind of cattle, what should they need a shepherd? If little children could guide themselves, what need had they of a guider? If the vine did not hang down, and lie on the ground, what need were there of props or of one to set it up? If there were no fear for the passage of a ship, if it could not miscarry, what should it need a Pilot? Let no man therefore say: