A04472:633
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.
The people worship a creature in stead of the creator, who is GOD over all blessed for ever. They see they do amiss: yet continue in it, and find no fault. They see, wherein their Fathers were deceived, yet they sa•, they could not be deceived. They see many and foul abuses, yet seek not to redress them. For they say, we will walk in the ways of our forefathers: we will believe, as they believed, howsoever they believed. We will do as they did, whatsoever they did; they will not hear the word of the ⟨p. 358⟩Lord. Thus shall they delight in darkness, and loath the light: they will be deceived, and will not see the trueth. So mighty and so terrible is the power of error.
The people worshippe a creature in stéede of the creator, who is GOD ouer all blessed for euer. They sée they doe amisse: yet continue in it, and finde no faulte. They sée, wherein their Fathers were deceiued, yet they sa•, they coulde not be deceiued. They sée manie and fowle abuses, yet séeke not to redresse them. For they saie, wée will walke in the waies of our forefathers: wée will belieue, as they beléeued, howsoeuer they belieued. Wée will doe as they did, whatsoeuer they did; they will not heare the worde of the ⟨p. 358⟩Lord. Thus shall they delight in darkenesse, and loath the light: they wil be deceiued, and will not sée the trueth. So mightie and so terrible is the power of errour.
They be learned in Philosophy and in the tongues: they be learned in the laws: they be learned in Physic: learned in the Doctors: and learned in stories. They are skilful to buy and sell, to purchase land, to enrich themselves, and to provide for their children. They have knowledge in all things else. But themselves, and the trueth of God, and the way to salvation they have not known. A thieves, when he is taken, blusheth. A harlot is ashamed of her filthiness, and a drunkard of his beastliness. But they that are such, have hardened their faces, they cannot blush. Whatsoever they have said, or done, either openly, or in secret, by hypocrisy, or cruelty, by raven or treachery in offering pardons to sale, in deceiving the people of God, in accusing the righteous, and condemning the innocent: they cannot repent, they know no shame. So great is the power of error. Christ saith unto them. The Publicans, and the harlots