¶ The Prologe to the seconde epist¦le of S. Paul to the Tessalonyans.
BEcause in the forepistle he had sayde that the last daye shuld come sodenly / the Thessaloni∣ans thought that it shuld ha∣ue come shortlye. Wherfore in this epistle he declareth him selfe.
And in the fyrst Chapter he cōforteth them with the euerlastinge rewarde of their fayth & pacyence in sofferinge for the gospell / & with the punyshement of their persecutours in euer¦lastinge payne.
In the seconde he sheweth that the last daye shuld not come / tyll there were fyrst a departin¦ge (as some men thynke) from vnder the obedy¦ence of the Emperour of Rome / and that Anti¦christ shuld set vp him selfe in the same place / as God: and deceaue the vnthankfull worlde with false doctrine / and with false & syenge my¦racles wrought by the workinge of Satan / vn¦till Christ shuld come & ••lee him with his glo∣rious commynge and spirituall preachinge of the worde of God.
In the thyrde he geueth them exhortacion & warneth thē to rebuke the ydle that wolde not laboure with their handes / and auoyde their cō¦panie / yf they wolde not mende.