HE praiseth and rejoiceth at the Thessalonians, & giveth thanks unto God for their constancy and increase of virtue. Of the which we may first learn, that if we do any thing ⟨image 4⟩well we should give the thanks unto God, and not ascribe it unto our virtue, but to attribute unto him the principal effects of all things, and in no wise wax proud for any thing that we do well, nor yet think our selves straight way perfect, if we seem our selves somewhat to have profited in virtue and goodness: but rather let us think to go forward every day, and study to pass our own selves in all kind of virtues. Secondly we may learn hereof that we should not inveigh at other mens virtues, but rather rejoice with them, ye and to give thanks for the going forward & good example of our brethren. Here are also recited the chief points of our religion, faith, charity and suffering far other manner of things, then those which the Bishop of Rome, and a many of monks have rehearsed unto us. And in that he calleth the churches, not his but God's, it cometh of humility and faith. For they are false deceivers which being but the seruaū • of God and ministers of the churches, do require to be called Lords, and to usurp unto them selves, any preeminence over other mens servants. This place also ⟨p. 4⟩doth teach, that saints or holy men are appointed to persecution, and to be exercised with continual afflictions: and that those tribulations are a token or demonstration of the righteous judgement of God, that is, that wicked men perish justly, but the godly are counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for the which they have suffered much adversity. For after this manner doth he comfort and lift up the saints, setting the pains & rewards before their eyes.1 But if any man through the help of this place, will contend, that salvation is dew unto our afflictions, and not unto the passion and blood of Christ only, let him mark this also, that the very same man said unto to the Romans, that we are justified by the benefit of faith, & not by the merit of our works. It is therefore of the fatherly liberality & good will of God, that it is here said, that eternal life is given us by right, and we made worthy of the kingdom of God through afflictions:
HE prayseth and reioyceth at the Thessalonians, & geueth thankes vnto God for theyr constancye and encrease of vertue. Of the which we may fyrste learne, yt yf we do any thynge ⟨image 4⟩well we shuld geue the thākes vnto God, and not ascrybe it vnto our vertue, but to attrybute vnto hym the pryncipall effectes of all thynges, and in no wyse waxe prowde for any thynge that we do well, nor yet thynke our selues strayghte waye perfayt, yf we seme oure selues somwhat to haue profyted in vertue and goodnes: but rather let vs thynke to go forwarde euery daye, and study to passe oure owne selues in all kynde of vertues. Secondlye we maye lerne hereof that we shuld not enuey at other mens vertues, but rather reioyce with them, yee and to geue thankes for the goynge forward & good example of oure brethren. Here are also recyted the chefe poyntes of oure relygiō, fayth, charyte and sufferynge farre other maner of thynges, then those whiche the Byshop of Rome, and a many of monkes haue rehersed vnto vs. And in that he calleth the churches, not hys but Goddes, it cōmeth of humylite and fayth. For they are false deceauers whiche beyng but the seruaū • of God and mynisters of the churches, do requyre to be called Lordes, and to vsurpe vnto them selues, any preemynence ouer other mens seruauntes. Thys place also ⟨p. 4⟩doth teach, that sayntes or holy men are appoynted to persecucion, and to be exercysed wyth contynuall affliccions: and that those trybulacions are a token or demonstracion of the ryghteouse iudgemēt of God, that is, that wycked men peryshe iustlye, but the godly are counted worthy of the kyngdome of God, for the whiche they haue suffred muche aduersytye. For after thys maner dothe he comforte and lyft vp the sayntes, settynge the paynes & rewardes before theyr eyes.1 But yf ony man thorow the helpe of thys place, wyll contende, that saluacion is dewe vnto oure affliccyons, and not vnto the passion and bloude of Christe onely, let hym marke thys also, that the very same man sayde vnto to the Romayns, that we are iustifyed by the benefyte of faythe, & not by the meryte of oure workes. It is therfore of the fatherly liberalyte & good wyll of God, that it is here sayd, that eternall lyfe is geuen vs by ryghte, and we made worthye of the kyngdome of God thorow affliccyons:
- 1The afflictions of this life, are not worthy of the glory which shall be s••wed upon us. •o. viii.The affliccions of thys lyfe, are not worthye of the glorye which shall be s••wed vpō vs. •o. viii.
