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1. Thes. 2. 18.
The text.
For what is our hope, or ioy, or crowne of glorie, ∴ Are not you before our Lord Iesus in his comming?
The note.
If the Apostle without iniurie to God, in right good sence called his schoolers the Thessalonians, his hope, ioy, and glorie, why blaspheme the protestants the catholike church and her children for terming our bles∣sed ladie and other saints, their hope for the speciall confidence they haue in their praiers?
The answer.
The prosperous successe, that God gaue to his Apostle Paule amongst the Thessalonians, did much comfort, and encourage the said Apostle in his hope, and expectation, not onlie of their saluation, but also of the crowne of righteousnes laid vp for him∣selfe, in which respect as he might well, bicause it was grounded vpon the promises of God, he calleth the Thessalonians his hope. How can this excuse you, when the ground of your dealing, is voide of all warrant of the worde? For what warrant can you shew for your confidence in the praiers of saints? But let vs go a little farther with you, what haue you left to God & his Christ, that you haue not giuen our ladie, and other saints (what said I to saints) nay to knaues, and traitors? who taught men to séeke to come to heauen by the blood of Thomas, you can tell well enough. It is not the catholike church and her children, whom we charge with this, it is the Romish Babylon, and her vphol∣ders, the sinke of sinne, and the mother of all abominations, that séeketh to rob, and spoile God of his honor, and glory, and to giue it to creatures. But our God is in heauen, he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him: he will not giue his glorie to an other.