IT is not without a great cause (most godly Lady) that y• holy Apostle saint Paul desired the Thessalonians to hold fast y• doctrine,1 that he had taught them afore, and not suddenly to be moved from their knowledge & understanding, nor to be troubled ⟨image 3⟩neither by spirit, neither by words, nor yet by letter. For he undoubtedly did afore see by the revelation of Gods spirit,2 that there should arise false anointed and false preachers, which should work great miracles and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, the very elect & chosen people of God should be brought into error, which also should say, behold here is Christ, or there is Christ, bringing in damnable sects, & utterly denying the Lord that bought them,3 as Peter sayeth. He considered the imbecility, weakness and childish hearts of men, which, except they be corroborated & fortified with y• strength of Gods spirit,4 are soon carried about with divers and strange learnings, embracing no less greedily that that is to ⟨image 3⟩them selves noisome and pestiferous, than that which is good and profitable, as we at this present time see daily before our eyes, both in the Papists and Anabaptists, with such other damnable sectaries. Therefore this most excellent Apostle desired the Thessalonians, yea, & so many of us,5 as profess Christ unfeignedly, to persevere & abide in the word of trueth even unto the end, that we may be saved, & not lightly to be moved with the subtle and crafty persuasions of them, that teach weak and beggarly traditions with humane constitutions,6 which give heed to fables and mens commandments that turn away the followers of them from 7the trueth, which profess that they know God, but with their deeds they deny him, inasmuch ⟨image 4⟩as they are abominable & disobedient, yea,8 and unmeet to all good works, which love their own pleasures more than God, having an utter appearance of godly living, but denying the power thereof, which run from house to house and bring into bondage both men and women laden with sin, which are led with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come unto the knowledge of the truth which are enemies of the cross of Christ,9 which call that is evil good, and y• is good,10 evil & ce.11 In few, which are ravening wolfs, not sparing the flock. Doth the world want these enemies of Gods glory?
IT is not without a greate cause (moste godly Lady) that y• holy Apostle sainct Paule desired the Thessalonians to holde faste y• doctrine,1 that he had taught thē afore, and not sodenli to be moued from their knowlege & vnderstanding, nor to be troubled ⟨image 3⟩neyther by spirite, neyther by wordes, nor yet by letter. For he vndoubtedly did afore se by the reuelacion of Gods spirit,2 that there should aryse false anoynted and false preachers, whiche shoulde worke great miracles and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, the very elect & chosen people of God shoulde be brought into errour, whiche also shoulde saye, beholde here is Christe, or there is Christe, bringing in damnable sectes, & vtterly denyenge the Lord that bought them,3 as Peter sayeth. He considered the imbecillitie, weakenes and chyldishe hertes of men, whiche, excepte they be corroborated & fortefied with y• strēgth of Gods spirit,4 are sone caried aboute with diuers and straūge learninges, embrasing no lesse gredely that that is to ⟨image 3⟩them selfs noysome and pestiferous, than that whiche is good and profitable, as we at thys present time se dayly before our eyes, both in the Papistes and Anabaptistes, with suche other damnable sectaries. Therfore this moste excellent Apostle desired the Thessalonians, yea, & so many of vs,5 as professe Christ vnfaynedly, to perseuer & abide in the worde of trueth euē vnto the ende, that we may be saued, & not lightly to be moued with the subtile and crafty persuasions of them, that teache weake and beggarly tradicions with humayne constitucions,6 which gyue hede to fables and mens commaundementes that turne away the folowers of them frō 7the trueth, whiche professe that they know God, but with their dedes they deny him, inasmoch
- 1ii. Thes. ii.
- 2Mat. xxiiii.
- 3i. Pet. ii.
- 4Heb. x••i.
- 5Math. x.
- 6Galat. iiii.
- 7Tit. i.
- 8•. Timo. iii.
- 9Phil. iii.
- 10Esa. v.
- 11Act. xx.
