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…

And the patience of your hope. How many are the troubles which the children of God suffer in this life? let us behold the times which were before us. Abel was innocent and just, yet was he slain by the hands of his brother, and without a cause. The Prophet ¹David sayeth of the Prophets, and holy men of God: and the same words saith the Apostle of the Church of Christ under the Gospel, For ²thy sake are we killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Jeremiah sayeth, Thy word is unto them as a reproach, ⟨p. 14⟩³and again, For thy sake I have suffered rebuke. ⁴What villainies were wrought against our saviour Christ? They reproached him in speeches, brought false accusations, and false witness against him, and killed the innocent in whose mouth there was found no guile. When S. Paul ⁵appealed to the witness of Timothy who did fully know his doctrine, manner of living, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, and patience: and that he knew also the persecutions and afflictions, which came unto him, and which he suffered at Antiochia, Iconium, and at Lystra, after he had thus remembered his persecutions, & his own innocency, he saith, Al that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

And the patience of your hope. How many are the troubles which the children of God suffer in this life? let vs beholde the times which were before vs. Abel was innocent and iust, yet was he slaine by the hands of his brother, and without a cause. The Prophet ¹Dauid saieth of the Prophetes, and holy men of God: and the same words saith the Apostle of the Church of Christ vnder the Gospel, For ²thy sake are we killed al the day long: we are counted as sheepe for the slaughter. Ieremie sayeth, Thy worde is vnto them as a reproch,