A04472:736
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 3
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.
Christ cried out woe upon Corazin and Bethsaida: upon the Scribes and Pharisees: yet when he came nigh to Jerusalem, he wept over it, saying: Oh if thou haddest even now 1at the least in this thy day known those things, which belong unto thy peace: but now are they hid from thee. Thine enemies shall make thee even with the ground, they shall ⟨p. 421⟩not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation. Even such a sorrow also had Saint Paul for those that offended God, Who is weak, and 2I am not weak, who is offended and I burn not? My body is shaken, my heart is wounded for them, such a care have I for the church of God.
Christ cried out woe vppon Corazin and Bethsaida: vppon the Scribes and Pharises: yet when he came nigh to Ierusalem, he wept ouer it, saying: Oh if thou haddest euen nowe 1at the least in this thy daie known those things, which belong vnto thy peace: but nowe are they hidde from thee. Thine enimies shall make thee euen with the grounde, they shall ⟨p. 421⟩not leaue in thee a stone vpon a stone, because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation. Euen such a sorrowe also had Saint Paule for those that offended God, Who is weake, and 2I am not weake, who is offended and I burne not? My bodie is shaken, my heart is wounded for them, such a care haue I for the church of God.
It is reported of John the Evangelist, that 1he commended a young man to the education of a certain Bishop nigh to Ephesus: and when he heard that he was fled and followed the company of such as were dissolute, riotous, and given over to all manner lew•sse: he was careful for him, and sought him out. And came to the place where he and ill company were. When the young man knew him, he was astonied, and •ed away from him. But the old man followed him, and cried, Oh my child turn again, turn unto me, I am thy father, I have begotten thee in Christ Jesus. I come not to hurt thee, there is yet hope of salvation, I will make answer unto Christ for thee. Fall to the ground, hold up thy hands, ask mercy of God, he is merciful and will receive thee. At these words the young man cast down his weapons, and trembled, and wept bitterly, and was converted.
It is reported of Iohn the Euangelist, that 1hée commended a yongman to the education of a certaine Bishop nigh to Ephesus: and when he heard that he was fledde and followed the companie of such as were dissolute, riotous, and giuen ouer to al manner lew•sse: hée was carefull for him, and sought him out. And came to the place where he and ill companie were. When the yongman knew him, he was astonied, and •ed awaie from him. But the olde man followed him, and cried, Oh my child turne againe, turne vnto me, I am thy father, I haue begotten thée in Christ Iesus. I come not to hurt thée, there is yet hope of saluation, I will make answere vnto Christ for thée. Fall to the ground, holde vp thy hands, aske mercie of God, he is mercifull and will receiue thée. At these wordes the yongman cast downe his weapons, and trembled, and wept bitterly, and was conuerted.
- 1Eus lib. 3. cap. 23.
When David heard of the destruction of ⟨p. 422⟩that wicked wight Absalom, he wrong his 1hands and wept saying, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, would God I had died for thee, oh Absalom, my son, my son. Such a care, such a love, and zeal hath a godly minister over his people, if he be a true pastor, which hath taken his calling from God, and hath due consideration of his charge.
When Dauid heard of the destruction of ⟨p. 422⟩that wicked wight Absalon, he wrong his 1hands and wept saying, O my sonne Absalon, my sonne, my sonne Absalon, woulde God I had died for thee, oh Absolon, my sonne, my sonne. Such a care, such a loue, and zeale hath a godlie minister ouer his people, if he be a true pastor, which hath taken his calling from God, and hath due consideration of his charge.
He weepeth for the sins of the people, as did Jeremiah, he gusheth out into tears, and consumeth away as David, because of the ungodly: he is wounded at heart, and trembleth, as Paul, to see them perish. He seeketh for them, calleth after them, that they may return, to him as did John the Cuangelist: and is willing to die for their sake, if so be he might redeem them, as David was for Absalom. The people are his children, he is their father. Albeit they be wicked, and filthy: yet he presenteth himself before God for them, and poureth forth his prayers, and saith sanctify them, oh Lord, sanctify them with thy trueth, thy word is truth. Let their hearts see the wrath to come, and thy heavy displeasure, which they have deserved, and hangeth over their heads. They are thine, save them, and let not satan prevail against them. Turn them oh Lord, and they shall be turned. Give them a new heart, and renew a clean spirit in ⟨p. 423⟩them, that they may fear thee all the days of their life. Turn away the captivity of their souls. Bring them to the fellowship of the Gospel: make them lively stones meet for thy building, build up the walls of Jerusalem. So careful is a good minister for the people of his charge, be they never so ungodly. Yea the more they lack the comfortable grace of God, the more must be the care for them. This is that Saint Paul saith, have no company with such, to encourage him: yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
He wéepeth for the sinnes of the people, as did Ieremie, he gusheth out into teares, and consumeth awaie as Dauid, bicause of the vngodlie: he is wounded at heart, and trembleth, as Paul, to sée them perish. He séeketh for them, calleth after them, that they maie returne, to him as did Iohn the Cuangelist: and is willing to die for their sake, if so be he might redéeme them, as Dauid was for Absalon. The people are his children, he is their father. Albeit they be wicked, and filthie: yet he presenteth himselfe before God for them, and poureth foorth his praiers, and saith sanctifie them, oh Lorde, sanctifie them with thy trueth, thy word is truth. Let their hearts sée the wrath to come, and thy heauie displeasure, which they haue deserued, and hangeth ouer their heads. They are thine, saue them, and let not satan preuaile against them. Turne them oh Lorde, and they shall be turned. Giue them a newe heart, and renew a cleane spirite in ⟨p. 423⟩them, that they may feare thée al the dayes of their life. Turne away the captiuitie of their soules. Bring them to the fellowshippe of the Gospel: make them liuely stones méete for thy building, builde vp the walles of Hierusalem. So careful is a good minister for the people of his charge, be they neuer so vngodly. Yea the more they lack the comfortable grace of God, the more must be the care for them. This is that Saint Paule sayth, haue no companie with such, to encourage him: yet count him not as an enemie, but admonish him as a brother.
V. 16. Now the Lord of peace, give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
V. 16. Now the Lorde of peace, giue you peace alwaies by al meanes. The Lord be with you al.
17. The salutation of me Paul, with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
17. The salutation of me Paule, with mine owne hande, which is the token in euerie epistle: so I write.
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
18. The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you al.
I need not commend peace unto you. It is the guard and strength of mighty Princes: it is the nurse and fosterer of the Church of God: it is the wealth and prosperity of the world: it is the comfort and quietness of our conscience: it is truce taken with God and man, and our own selves. I need not to tell you who is the worker of peace. You know God is the God of peace. Worldly ⟨p. 424⟩peace seemeth to be made by the will and liking of men: but God moveth their hearts, and establisheth it. But the peace of the heart, and quietness of mind passeth all understanding. The power, and wisdom, and strength, and riches of all the world are not able to make it. It is the glory of God, that he alone is the God of peace.
I neede not commende peace vnto you. It is the garde and strength of mighty Princes: it is the nurse and fosterer of the Church of God: it is the wealth and prosperitie of the worlde: it is the comfort and quietnesse of our conscience: it is truce taken with God and man, and our owne selues. I néede not to tel you who is the worker of peace. You knowe God is the God of peace. Worldlie ⟨p. 424⟩peace séemeth to be made by the wil and liking of men: but God moueth their heartes, and establisheth it. But the peace of the heart, and quietnesse of minde passeth al vnderstanding. The power, and wisedome, and strength, and riches of al the world are not able to make it. It is the glorie of God, that hee alone is the God of peace.
I pray for you, that nothing may be done among you, to the hinderance of peace: but that it abide with you always, not for a while, not in prosperity only: but in persecution, in your death, and for ever. If God be with you, you shall have peace. And if you love one an other and keep his word: God will come to you, and love you, and abide with you, and give you the comfort of his peace.
I pray for you, that nothing may be doone among you, to the hinderaunce of peace: but that it abide with you alwaies, not for a while, not in prosperitie onely: but in persecution, in your death, and for euer. If God be with you, you shal haue peace. And if you loue one an other and kéepe his word: God wil come to you, and loue you, and abide with you, and giue you the comfort of his peace.
The salutation of me Paul: he gave them warning before of false Apostles, who came in his name, and pretended his word or his letter. Therefore now telleth them, how they shall know certainly, whether such Epistles as they receive be his, written, or sent by him. In every Epistle, that I send, saith he, to the Churches, or to any the brethren, I write mine own name, and send this greeting written with mine own hand, which now I send to you all, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The salutation of me Paule: hee gaue them warning before of false Apostles, who came in his name, and pretended his worde or his letter. Therfore now telleth them, how they shal know certainly, whether such Epistles as they receiue be his, written, or sent by him. In euerie Epistle, that I sende, saith he, to the Churches, or to any the brethren, I write mine owne name, and sende this gréeting written with mine owne hande, which nowe I send to you al, The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with you al.
AMEN.
FINIS.