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…

These be the works of Antichrist, which he shall bring to pass. This shall he work in all deceivableness of unrighteousness. He shall come with all kinds and shifts of deceit. He shall come with show of praying, with visor of fasting, with companies of Monks, Fryers, Canons, and all kind, and colour of holiness. He shall seek to prevail by threatening, and by flattering, by fair means, and by foul: he shall excommunicate, ⟨p. 349⟩and release from excommunication: he shall promise forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. He shall make boast of the Fathers, and ancient doctors: he shall make boast of the universal consent: he shall boast of general councils: he shall boast of Christs Apostles, and of the Gospel of Christ, and of the word of GOD. So shall he falsely, and deceitfully work himself credit, and beguile the world, in abusing the holy name of God. No kind of deceitfulness or subtlety, but he shall use it. So shall he make the people seek upon him, and kings, and emperors to fall down before him, and to say, who is like unto the beast? who is so wise, so learned, so holy, so wealthy, so mighty, and so catholic? without him no man is to be reckoned holy or learned. Without him no man may traffic, buy, nor sell. Without him no man may read publicly in Universities: no man may preach to the people: no man may be accounted a Christian, no man may hope to be saved without him, without his leave and liking. Such wonders, such miracles shall he work, so shall he conquer and subdue the world.

These be the workes of Antichrist, which hée shal bring to passe. This shall hée worke in al deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse. He shal come with al kindes and shiftes of deceite. He shal come with shewe of praying, with vizarde of fasting, with companies of Monkes, Fryers, Chanons, and al kinde, and colour of holinesse. He shal séeke to preuaile by threatning, and by flattering, by fayre meanes, and by foule: hee shal excommunicate, ⟨p. 349⟩and release from excommunication: hée shal promise forgiuenesse of sinnes and life euerlasting. He shal make boast of the Fathers, and auncient doctours: hée shal make boast of the vniuersal consent: he shall boast of general councels: he shal boast of Christes Apostles, and of the Gospel of Christ, and of the worde of GOD. So shal he falsely, and deceitefully worke himselfe credite, and beguile the worlde, in abusing the holy name of God. No kinde of deceitefolnesse or suttletie, but he shal vse it. So shal he make the people séeke vpon him, and kings, and emperours to fal downe before him, and to say, who is like vnto the beast? who is so wise, so learned, so holie, so wealthie, so mightie, and so catholike? without him no man is to be rekoned holie or learned. Without him no man may traffique, buie, nor sel. Without him no man may reade publiquely in Uniuersities: no man may preach to the people: no man may be accounted a Christian, no man may hope to bee saued without him, without his leaue and liking. Such wonders, such myracles shal he worke, so shal he conquere and subdue the worlde.