A04472:554
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…
An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians by the reverend Father John Jewel ... ; whereunto is adjoined a very necessary table of the principal matters contained in this exposition.An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians by the reuerend Father Iohn Ievvel ... ; vvhereunto is adioined a very necessarie table of the principal matters contained in this exposition.
London: printed by Ralfe Newberie, 1584
¶ The Second Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. › Chapter 2
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This mystery, saith S. Paul, doth already work, it shall increase and go forward and grow to a perfection. A thorn when it is young is soft and gentle, ye may thrust at it with your finger, it will not hurt you: but after, it waxeth and groweth hard & stubborn, it will pierce to the flesh and draw blood. A Bear when he is young is harmless and innocent, ye may dandle it, and dally with it, as with a whelp, it hath not chambers to gripe, no teeth to bite, nor paws to tear: but after it will grow, and become fierce and cruel like the sire. A serpent when it is young, is little and pretty: it hath no sting nor poison. You may take it in your hand and lay it in your lap, it will not burt you. After, it will increase in benime, and grow in mischief, and be like it ⟨p. 309⟩self: then it will shake the sting, and cast poison, and prove dangerous.
This mysterie, saith S. Paul, doth alreadie worke, it shall increase and goe forward and growe to a perfection. A thorne when it is yong is soft and gentle, ye may thrust at it with your finger, it wil not hurt you: but after, it waxeth and groweth hard & stubborne, it will pierce to the flesh and drawe bloud. A Beare when he is yong is harmlesse and innocent, yée may dandle it, and dallie with it, as with a whelp, it hath not chambers to gripe, no téeth to bite, nor pawes to teare: but after it wil growe, and become fierce and cruel like the sire. A serpent when it is yong, is litle and pretie: it hath no sting nor poison. You maie take it in your hand and laie it in your lap, it will not burt you. After, it will encrease in benime, and grow in mischiefe, and be like it ⟨p. 309⟩selfe: then it wil shake the sting, and cast poison, and prooue dangerous.
Such a thorn, such a bear, such a serpent is Antichrist. At the first he shall seem soft and gentle, and pretty and innocent. After he shall grow fierce, and arm himself with sting and poison. But a thorn though it be soft, is a thorn: a bear though he be little is a bear: a serpent though it be pretty is a serpent. Even so Antichrist, though he seem gentle, mild, and simple, yet is he Antichrist. He groweth by degrees, he will be like his sire, his paws will be dreadful, his mouth will be deadly.