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…

If any therefore be excommunicate from the Church, and removed from the fellowship of the Gospel, and from the hope of the life to come: let him humble himself, and pray unto God, that he will open his eyes, and that he may see in what case he standeth. Let him lay forth his heart in the sight of God, and consider his fault, and behold his misery, & think thus with himself: I was sometimes the child of God, and a member of his body: I was a •raunch of the vine, which God hath planted: and a sheep of his pasture. But now alas I am divided from the pastures of life. I am fruitless and withered, and cut off from that blessed vine: I receive no moisture from that ⟨p. 417⟩heavenly root: I am no more a member of the body of Christ. I am out of Paradise, and have no joy, or pleasure: I am out of the temple and cannot offer any sacrifice: I am fallen from that heavenly Jerusalem, from the City of God, from the fellowship of the Saints, and can not kneel down, nor lift up my hands, nor make my prayers. God will not hear me, I am none of his: I am as a heathen & a publican, I can not think of those things which are on high above.

If anie therefore be excommunicate from the Church, and remoued from the fellowship of the Gospel, and from the hope of the life to come: let him humble himselfe, and pray vnto God, that he wil open his eyes, and that hée may see in what case he standeth. Let him lay foorth his heart in the sight of God, and consider his fault, and behold his miserie, & thinke thus with himself: I was sometimes the child of God, and a member of his bodie: I was a •raunch of the vine, which God hath planted: and a shéepe of his pasture. But now alas I am diuided from the pastures of life. I am fruitelesse and withered, and cut off from that blessed vine: I receiue no moysture from that ⟨p. 417⟩heauenly roote: I am no more a member of the bodie of Christ. I am out of Paradise, and haue no ioy, or pleasure: I am out of the temple and cannot offer any sacrifice: I am fallen from that heauenly Hierusalem, from the Citie of God, from the fellowship of the Saints, and can not knéele downe, nor lift vp my handes, nor make my prayers. God wil not heare me, I am none of his: I am as a heathen & a publicane, I can not thinke of those things which are on high aboue.