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…

S. Augustine saith, Antichrist shall not only sit in the church of god, but also shall show himself in outward appearance, as if he himself were the Church it selfe. Non in templo Dei, ¹sed, in templum dei sedeat: tanquam ipse sit templum dei, quod est ecclesia. Not, that he sitteth in the temple of God, but he sitteth as the temple of God, as if he himself were the temple of God, which is the Church. Let us remember what shall let his coming, even the safety of the Emperor, & his continuance in that full power and estate wherein he then was. The decay of the Empire shall make way for Antichrist. If therefore it be weakened and hath ⟨p. 334⟩been weakened any time sithence, if the kingdoms of the world be divided from it: that is an evident token that the coming of Antichrist is not stopped, but he hath come and showed himself, and by little and little ever since such decay of the Empire, hath enlarged himself and established his power over all countries and nations, as Chrysostom saith: Donec illius ²imperij timor fuerit. &c. As long as the Empire shall be had in awe, no man, shall straightway submit himself to Antichrist: but after that the Empire shall be dissolved, Antichrist shall invade the state of the Empire standing void: and shall labour to pull unto himself the empire both of man and God.

S. Augustine sayth, Antichrist shal not only sit in the church of god, but also shal shew himselfe in outward appearaunce, as if he himself were the Church it selfe. Non in templo Dei, ¹sed, in templum dei sedeat: tanquam ipse sit templum dei, quod est ecclesia. Not, that he sitteth in the temple of God, but he sitteth as the temple of God, as if he himselfe were the temple of God, which is the Church. Let vs remember what shal let his comming, euen the safetie of the Emperour, & his continuaunce in that ful power and estate wherein he then was. The decaie of the Empire shal make way for Antichrist. If therefore it be weakened and hath ⟨p. 334⟩béene weakened any time sithence, if the kingdoms of the world be diuided from it: that is an euident token that the cōming of Antichrist is not stopped, but he hath come and shewed himselfe, and by little and little euer since such decay of the Empire, hath enlarged himselfe and established his power ouer al countries and nations, as Chrysostome sayth: Donec illius