Exposition Upon the Two Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians

PAVLE and SYLVANVS, and Timotheus, vnto the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in GOD the father, and in the Lord Iesus Christ: Grace be with you and peace, from GOD our father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

THe Apostle Paule preached the Gospell of our Sauiour Iesus Christ vnto the Thessalonians, as hée did also in other places from Ierusalem, rounde about to Illyricum. But his trauaile had not like successe in al places. For, in Damascus the gouernor of the people p. 2vnder King Aretas, laide watch in the citie [〈◊〉 . Cor. 11.] of the Damascenes, and woulde haue caught him. At Lystra they stoned Paul, and drew him [Act. 14.] out of the citie, supposing he had béene dead. At [Act. 16.] Philippi, he and Sylas were drawne into the market place vnto the magistrates, and accused, that they troubled their Citie, they were beaten with roddes, and cast into prison. The Corinthians receiued the doctrine of the gospel, and made much of the professors thereof. But, they fel soone from their good beginning. They walked like men in enuying, in strife, in diuisions. Some called themselues after Paul, some after Apollo, some after Cephas, and some after Ghrist. They stirred contention about meates: they abused the Lordes supper: and they were doubtfull of the resurrection of the dead. In like maner the Church of God which was gathered at Rome grew proude and high minded, & boasted themselues ouer the Iewes. The Galathians forsooke the good waie of the gospel, whereunto they were called, and wherin they did walke. They gaue eare to false prophets. Therefore the Apostle telleth them, I am in feare of you, least I haue bestowed on [Galat. 4.] you my labour in vaine.

But, the Thessalonians, after they had heard the glad tydings of the Gospell, they receiued it gréedily, and laid it vp close and safe in their p. 3harts. Albeit the Iews withstood them and beted them fore, albeit false brethren vsed diuers secret meanes to drawe them from the loue of the truth: yet they kept still their stedfastnesse: and could not be driuen from their faith, neither by crueltie of persecution, nor by subtiltie of craftie persuasion. Paul being at Athens, a place far distant from thence, sendeth Timothie to knowe in what case they stoode. So carefull was he for that house which he had built: for, the fire which he had kindled: for the graffes which he had planted: and, for the children which he begot among them. When Timothie made report of their constancie, that they continued stedfast in those things which they had learned: he writeth this Epistle, to commend them, and to exhort them to abide stedfast in their faith: that they become not like the foolish Israelites, which longed after the flesh pottes of Aegypt, and were vnmindfull of their deliuerance from bondage vnder Pharao: that they returne not like filthy dogges to their vomite, and like vncleane swine to their puddles of-mire: that they looke not backe againe after they haue put their hāds to the Lords plough, and so make themselues vnworthie the kingdome of God.

p. 3He giueth many lessons and instructions to godlinesse: that they would walke worthie of p. 4God, and bring foorth the fruits of the gospell. There were among them that liued idlely, and did trouble the church without a cause: whom he reprooueth, willing them to be quiet, and to meddle with their owne matters, and works with their handes. Others mourned ouer the dead without measure, euen as if they had no hope: whom he instructeth in the resurrection, and comforteth with the spéech of the blessed comming of our Lord, when we which liue shall be caught vp to méete him, and so we shall euer be with the Lord. Others reasoned fondly of the later daie, when it should be, when the sonne of God shoulde appeare, and when the worlde should haue an ende: as if man might reach to the knowledge hereof. But them also he reprooueth, and warneth that they take care rather to watch, and looke for the Lordes comming, that they may be founde readie, hauing their loines girded, and their lampes burning.

Manie are desirous to sée the countenance of Saint Paule, to sée his sword, or the reliques of his bloud, which was shed at his death, or of his vpper garment, or of his coate, or of the haire of his head: and for purpose to sée such things, manie take painefull pilgrimage to farre places, where they are dereiued. Howe much better maie they be satisfied by reading p. 5the storie of his life set do◊ne in the Scriptures? In these his Epistles written to the Churches of God, he is to be séene in more excellent shewe, than when he was yet in bodie. For here is to be séene his heart filled with the holie Ghost, and the care which he had for all Saints: howe he did trauell in birth of them againe, that Christ might be formed in them, and howe he did wish himselfe separate from Christ for their sake. The matter of this Epistle is plaine, and treateth not of déepe and profound mysteries. The maner of vtterance which the Apostle vseth, is open and cuident. So that the whole Epistle is ful of swéete and wholsome doctrine, wherein the simplest may find great comfort.

p. 5Paul, and Syluanus, and Timotheus. These two were companions vnto Paul in his iournets, and in the work of his ministerie. Whom here he ioineth in his letter to the congregation at Thessalonica, to witnesse their consent and agréement with him, that they al with one mouth, and with one hand and heart set foorth the glorious Gospell of our Sauiour Christ. And, that therefore they also which are called to the felowshippe of the Gospel, should be like minded, being one bodie and one spirite in Christ Iesus: and the children of one father in whome there is no dissention, but al p. 6peace and consent, and vnitie.