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…

Here mark, he doeth not say, Because they received not the trueth, but, he saith, because they received not the love of the trueth. Many in our days can speak thus, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is ¹the power of God unto salvation to every one ²that believeth: for it is the savour of life unto life. They can say, There is given none other ³name under heaven, whereby we must be saved, neither is there salvation in any other than by Jesus Christ, whom we have learned by the Gospel: many will confess, there ⟨p. 351⟩was never more, nor better teaching since the time of the Apostles. They seem to receive the trueth. But they are like the horse and mule in whom is no understanding. They receive it, because the Prince receiveth it, and because the politic laws of countries establish it. They are carried away with the sway of the world. They hear it with their cares: (Nay, I would GOD they would lend their ears to the hearing of it) but with their hearts they do not hear. They have no feeling of the word of GOD, and of the trueth. They weigh it not, they love it not. They consider not what it is, nor from whom it is sent. They know not that it is the water of life, and the bread which is sent from heaven. They have no taste, no savour, nor pleasure in it.

Here marke, he doeth not saye, Because they receiued not the trueth, but, he sayth, because they receiued not the loue of the trueth. Manie in our dayes can speake thus, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is ¹the power of God vnto saluation to euery one ²that beleeueth: for it is the sauour of life vnto life. They can say, There is giuen none other ³name vnder heauen, whereby wee must bee saued, neither is there saluation in anie other than by Iesus Christ, whome we haue learned by the Gospel: manie wil confesse, there