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…

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.

But what shall he do whereby he may bee knowen? Paul sayeth, Which is an aduersarie. This shal bee the marke whereby you may knowe him, he shal set himselfe against God, and against Christ, for hee is an enemie of the Crosse of Christ. Why then (saye you) are not the Iewes, and Mahomet, and the Turke eyther al, or the most wicked ⟨p. 284⟩of them so called, séeing they vtterly refuse al Christian religion? because none of these sit in the temple of God: which is the place, where Antichrist shal aduance himselfe: and because Antichrist shal not in open shewe set himselfe against Christ as doeth Mahomet, and the Turkes: but suttlelie and craftily like an euil and vngracious seruant. He wil not openly speake his blasphemies, or spit at the Gospel of God, or defie the name of Christ: but he wil cal himselfe, The seruaunt of God: perhaps the Vicar of Christ, and perhaps the seruaunt of Gods seruantes: or perhaps the heade, or the chiefe member of the Church. He shal say, he is ledde with the zeale of Gods house, and shal do nothing lesse: for, he shal séeke himself. He shal say, he séeketh the glorie of God, when al that he doth is for the enriching and ambitious enlarging of his owne worldly pompe and vanitie.