THE second to the Thessalonians hath in the title as the first: Paul and Siluanus and
Timothee, &c. And therfore it seemeth to haue bene vvritten in the same place, to vvitte, at
Corinth, vvhere they remained* 1.1 a yere and sixe moneths, & straight vpon their answer to
the first epistle.
First he thanketh God for their increase, and perseuêrance (comforting them againe in those
persecutions) and praieth for their accomplisment. Secondly he assureth them tht the day of
Iudgement is not at hand, putting them in rememberāce vvhat he told them thereof by vvord of
mouth▪ vvhen he vvas present (as therfore he biddeth them aftervvard* 1.2 to hold his
Traditions vnvvritten, no lesse then the vvritten,) to vvitte, that all those persecutions and
heresies, raised then, and aftervvard against the Catholike Church, vvere but the mysterie of
Antichrist, and not Antichrist himself. but that there should come at length a plaine
Apostasie, & thē (the vvhole fore running mysterie being once perfitly vvrought) should folovv
the reuelation of Antichrist himself in person (as after all the mysteries of the old
Testament, Christ IESVS our Lord came him self in the fulnes of time.) And then at length
after all this the day of Iudgement and second comming of Christ shal be as hand, and not
before, vvhatsoeuer pretense of vision, or of some speach of mine (saith S. Paul) any make to
seduce you vvithal, or of my former epistle, or any other. For vvhich cause also in the end of
this epistle, he biddeth them to knovv his hand, vvhich is a signe in euery epistle.
Lastly he requesteth their praiers, and requireth them to keepe his commaundements and
Traditions, namely that the poore vvhich are able get their ovvne liuing vvith vvorking, as he
also gaue them example, though he vvere not bound thereto.