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…

In the old law, the Priests went on, and carried the Ark before, and the people came after: In token that they should give good example, and the people should follow them. The Priest was appointed to be a shrill trumpet sounding in the ears of the people: and the people were commanded to prepare them selves for the battle of the Lord of hosts. Therefore, sayeth S. Paul, so have I followed the Lord, and so have you followed me: and received ⟨p. 23⟩the word (not in affliction only) but in much Affliction. Where he much describeth the unmerciful hearts, and tyrannous hate of the wicked against all those that follow the lamb, and receive the word of God with gladness. No torment so cruel, no devise so strange, no manner of death so horrible, which hath not been, or which is not laid upon them. Their babies be cast into prisons: they are stripped out of their houses, and spoiled of their goods. Thus do the enemies of God work tyranny and much affliction unto the godly. They consume their bodies in fire, shed their blood without measure, throw out their bones and scatter them upon the face of the earth, and this do they, not as against murderers, robbers, adulterers, or such like, but only because they receive the word, and bear a love to the trueth, and cannot deny the power thereof.

In the olde lawe, the Priests went on, and carried the Arke before, and the people came after: In token that they should giue good example, and the people shoulde follow them. The Priest was appointed to be a shril trumpet sounding in the eares of the people: and the people were commanded to prepare them selues for the battel of the Lord of hostes. Therefore, saieth S. Paul, so haue I followed the Lord, and so haue you folowed me: and receiued ⟨p. 23⟩the word (not in affliction onelie) but in much Affliction. Where he much describeth the vnmercifull hearts, and tyrannous hate of the wicked against al those that followe the lamb, and receiue the word of God with gladnes. No torment so cruel, no deuise so strange, no maner of death so horrible, which hath not beene, or which is not laide vpon them. Their babies be cast into prisons: they are stript out of their houses, and spoiled of their goodes. Thus doe the enimies of God worke tyrannie and much affliction vnto the godlie. They consume their bodies in fire, shed their bloud without measure, throw out their bones and scatter them vppon the face of the earth, and this doe they, not as against murtherers, robbers, adulterers, or such like, but nelie because they receiue the word, and beare a loue to the trueth, and cannot denie the power thereof.