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…

We read of Pharaoh a cruel tyrant, that he did persecute the people of God in Egypt. And, of Nabuchodonoser that he oppressed them, and brought them captives into Babylon. And of Antiochus, that he likewise fought against them, and did overcome them, and led them captives into Macedonia. They all were mighty and cruel tyrants. Yet one other shall come, whose cruelty shall be heavier, and whose continuance shall be longer than was the cruelty or continuance of any of these. Who shall work his purpose not in Egypt, nor in Babylon, nor in Macedonia, But in the holy place, even in the Church of Christ, and in the house of God. And this state, and continuance of persecution in the church, is the state of Antichrist.

We reade of Pharao a cruel tyrant, that he did persecute the people of God in Egypt. And, of Nabuchodonoser that hee oppressed them, and brought them captiues into Babylon. And of Antiochus, that he likewise fought against them, and did ouercome them, and ledde them captiues into Macedonia. They al were mighty and cruel tyrants. Yet one other shal come, whose crueltie shal be heauier, and whose continuaunce shal bée longer than was the cruelty or continuaunce of any of these. Who shal worke his purpose not in Aegypt, nor in Babylon, nor in Macedonia, But in the holie place, euen in the Church of Christ, and in the house of God. And this state, and continuance of persecution in the church, is the state of Antichrist.

But what shall he do whereby he may be known? Paul sayeth, Which is an adversary. This shall be the mark whereby you may know him, he shall set himself against God, and against Christ, for he is an enemy of the Cross of Christ. Why then (say you) are not the Jews, and Mahomet, and the Turk either all, or the most wicked ⟨p. 284⟩of them so called, seeing they utterly refuse all Christian religion? because none of these sit in the temple of God: which is the place, where Antichrist shall advance himself: and because Antichrist shall not in open show set himself against Christ as doeth Mahomet, and the Turks: but subtly and craftily like an evil and ungracious servant. He will not openly speak his blasphemies, or spit at the Gospel of God, or defy the name of Christ: but he will call himself, The servant of God: perhaps the Vicar of Christ, and perhaps the servant of Gods servants: or perhaps the head, or the chief member of the Church. He shall say, he is led with the zeal of Gods house, and shall do nothing less: for, he shall seek himself. He shall say, he seeketh the glory of God, when all that he doth is for the enriching and ambitious enlarging of his own worldly pomp and vanity.