A04472:586
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.
Now the Emperor hath the rule over the world. Let him keep it. There shall a time come when he shall loose his possessions: then Antichrist shall appear. When the Empire shall be dismembered, and the kingdoms belonging to him shall depart from him, then shall be the coming of Antichrist. Who will look into the story of things and times past, shall perceive the meaning of the Apostle: and how the empire of Rome, being so great, is consumed and brought to nothing: and in what sort Antichrist, which was once so poor and simple, so little regarded and obscure, might grow to be so great, and advance himself above Kings and Princes. The impoverishing of the one, was the enriching of the other.
Nowe the Emperour hath the rule ouer the worlde. Let him kéepe it. There shall a time come when he shall loose his possessions: then Antichrist shall appeare. When the Empire shall be dismembred, and the kingdomes belonging to him shall departe from him, then shall be the comming of Antichrist. Who will looke into the storie of things and times past, shall perceiue the meaning of the Apostle: and how the empire of Rome, being so great, is consumed and brought to nothing: and in what sorte Antichrist, which was once so poore and simple, so little regarded and obscure, might growe to be so great, and auaunee himselfe aboue Kings and Princes. The empouerishing of the one, was the enriching of the other.
I told you, that the empire of Rome contained sometimes a great part of the world, as England, France, Spain, Germany, &c. Where is England now? It is divided from, and is no part of the Empire. Where ⟨p. 328⟩is France, Spain, Italy, Illyricum? where is Rome it self? They are taken away from it, and are now no part of the Empire. Where is Macedonia, Thracia, Graecia, Asia, Armenia, &c. We can not think of them, but with heaviness. They be now under the Turk: they are taken away, and are no part of the Empire. What is become of the great countenance which the Emperor had in all the world? He is now in comparison no body. What part of all the Empire is left unto him? Not one. He hath not left him one City, or town. What is become of all which did belong to him? They are dissolved, taken from him, and his estate is brought to nothing.