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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.
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.
Such a thorne, such a beare, such a serpent is Antichrist. At the first he shall séeme soft and gentle, and pretie and innocent. After hée shal growe fierce, and arme himselfe with sting and poison. But a thorne though it be soft, is a thorne: a beare though he be little is a beare: a serpent though it be pretie is a serpent. Euen so Antichrist, though he séeme gentle, milde, and simple, yet is he Antichrist. He groweth by degrées, he wil be like his sire, his pawes wil be dreadfull, his mouth wil be deadly.
Whosoever know the nature and working of an earthquake, how it groweth and how it worketh, know, that at the first it is some little wind, gathered and kept in some hollow places of the earth: there it lieth closely sometimes for many years, without giving forth any noise, without stirring or shaking. One may walk over it and perceive nothing. After it groweth strong and violent, it seeketh a may out, it forceth it self, it gathereth Strength and cometh abroad, it will stay no longer. Out it breaketh, and teareth the earth, and renteth rocks, overthroweth mountains, shaketh down towns and cities, swalloweth by whole rivers: it inflameth the air, ⟨p. 310⟩raiseth thunder, roareth up into Heaven, and astonieth the world. Such is the working of an earthquake: so great and mighty at the end, so little and simple at the first. Such shall be the mystery and coming of Antichrist. At the beginning he shall be like a little wind, and shall enter into the hollowness and darkness of the Church, but after, he shall shake the whole world. He shall show forth himself at the first with countenance of devotion and holiness, that he may closely and privily, and secretly wreath in himself. Few shall be able to understand the mystery of his dealing. After, he shall be opened, and appear as he is.