The V. Chapter.
BVt of ye tymes and seasons (brethrē) it is no nede to wryte vnto you. For ye youreselues knowe perfectly, that the daye of the LORDE shal come euen as a thefe in the nighte. For whan they shal saye▪ Tush, It is peace, there is no daunger, then shall soden destruccion come vpō thē, euen as the payne of a woman trauaylinge with childe, and they shal not escape. But ye brethren are not in darknes, that that daye shulde come on you as a thefe. Ye are alltogether children of lighte, and children of the daye. We are not of the night, nether of darknesse.
Therfore let vs not slepe as do other, but let vs watch, and be sober. For they that slepe, slepe in the nighte: and they that be dronken, are dronken in the nighte. But let vs which are of the daye, be sober, armed wt the brestplate of faith and loue, and with ye helmet of hope to saluacion.
[ B] For God hath not appoynted vs vnto wrath, but to optayne saluacion by ye mea∣nes of oure LORDE Iesu Christ▪ which dyed for vs: that whether we wake or slepe, we shulde lyue together with him. Wherfore comforte youre selues together, and edifye one another, euen as ye do.
We beseke you brethren, that ye knowe them which laboure amonge you, and haue the ouersighte of you in the LORDE, and ge¦ue you exhortacion, that ye haue thē the mo¦re in loue for their workes sake, and be at pea¦ce with them. We desyre you brethrē, warne them that are vnruly, cōforte the feble myn¦ded, forbeare the weake, be pacient towarde all men.* So that none recompence euell for euell vnto eny man: but euer folowe that which is good, both amōge youre selues and to all men.
Reioyse alwaye, praye contynually, in all thinges be thankfull: for this is the wyll of God in Christ Iesu towarde you. Quēch not ye sprete: despyse not propheciēges: pro∣ue all thīges, & kepe yt which is good. Abstay¦ne frō all suspicious thinges. The very God ••f peace sanctifye you thorow out. And I ••raye God, that youre whole sprete, soule & ••ody be kepte blameles vnto ye cōmynge of ••ure LORDE Iesus Christ. Faithfull is he which hath called you, which wil also do it. Brethren, praye for vs. Grete all the brethrē with an holy kysse. I charge you by ye LOR¦DE, that this epistle be red vnto all ye holy brethren. The grace of oure LORDE Ie∣sus Christ be with you, Amen.
The first Epistle to the Tessaloni¦ans, sent from Athens.