Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Title page – Synopsis
A BRIEFE EXPOSITION WITH NOTES, VPONUPON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.
By WILLIAM SCLATER Doctor of Diuinitie, and Miniſter of Pitmiſter in Summerſet.
1. CORINTH. 10.12.
Let him that thinkes he ſtands, take heed leaſt he fall.
LONDON, Printed by George Miller, for George Vincent, and are to be ſold at the Croſſe Keyes at Pauls gate. 1627.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL IOHN POVVLET Eſquire, my very Honourable good Patron, and to the truely Religious, and right vertuous ELIZABETH his wife, my much honoured Patroneſſe, Grace and Peace bee multiplied.
WOrthies, loe to you at laſt; Saint Pauls Antichriſt in ſuch lineaments as that Apelles his pencell, or coale rather was pleaſed to ſhadow him in. Luſted I ſay not, vnuailed onelyonly, and made more barefaced, to yeeld his vgly viſage to view of Gods people. How vexeth it to ſee Iſrael ſtill halting twixt the two opinions? After demoliſhing the Idoll ſo long fore done, a freſh pleading for Baal? Were it not hee ſeemes in his conſumption, neere his abolition, I ſhould ſuſpect ſome boding of his new erection. Auertat omen Deus. How much better had it beene neuer to hauehave knowne, then knowing to turne backe from the holy Commandement? The latter end of ſuch men, will prooue worſe then their beginning.
I promiſe, and perſwade my ſelfe better things of you, and ſuch as accompany ſaluation: ſo hereditary ſeemes right Religion to your Honourable family; hauing continued therein, deſcents more then Paul mentions of Timothie. If to your eſtabliſhment in the preſent trueth, and furtherance of Faith, in times ſo wauering, this poore paines may be auaile-ſome, I hauehave my deſire: and ſhall thinke (thorough your fauourable acception) ſome ſmall part of my great debt of thankefull obſeruance, wherein I acknowledge my ſelfe to ſtand obliged to you, and yours, tolerably at leaſt, diſcharged. Faxit Deus.
Withall you hauehave ſuch as this Scripture afforded, doctrinall concluſions many for information of iudgement: exhortations frequent, to excite languiſhing affections; comforts not a few, for ſupport of the trembling conſcience, rules to examine our Spirituall eſtate; characters of gracious vertues; directions for morall practiſe. In the cloſe, perſwaſions to the louelove and ſtudy of peace, more largely preſſed, perhaps of purpoſe, to worke towards vnion the diuiſions of Ruhen occaſioned by great thoughts of heart. Sirs, ſaid Moſes, yee are brethren; why ſtriue yee? de lana Caprina, for the breath of the people, ſo long, ſo eagerly, till Religion be neglected; Prayers interrupted; Charitie violated; care of Countrey forſaken; Iniquitie growne impudent, ſo as to dare giuegive affront to Authoritie. Oh that our Sauiours aduiſe might preuaile, to keepe our ſalt within our ſelues, ſo ſhould we ſoone hauehave peace one with another.
For your part, worthy Sir, I hauehave neuer obſerued your temper auerſe, much leſſe abhorrent from tearmes of peace. Deſire onelyonly you ſhould aduance aboue the ordinary of peaceable or patient, to become Pacificus; a peace-maker in Iſrael. The worke were more then generous; truely Honourable; no leſſe then Princely. The ſtile ſuch hauehave, in our Sauiours language, is no leſſe then Sonnes of God; Hoc agamus. And the God of peace ſhall be with vsus.
Now for the great kindneſſe wherewith you hauehave refreſhed my bowels, I muſt pray as beggers; the Lord reward it you. As Paul for Oneſiphorus, the Lord grant you, and yours, to finde mercy with the Lord at that day. I reſt
Pitmiſter, Nouember 4. 1626. Your thankfull, and moſt obſeruant Beneficiary WILLIAM SCLATER.
The occaſion of the Epiſtle, together with the ſcope.
1 NOiſe of continued preſſures, and perſecutions of this Church for the Goſpel, whereto hee deſires to afford ſolace.
2 Reports alſo of falſe teachers crept in amongſt them, labouring, on faireſt pretenſes, to inſinuate errour about the time of Chriſts ſecond comming: plauſibly perhaps by miſinference from that (Nos qui viuimus of the Apoſtle. 1 Theſ. 4.17.) Againſt which he would make them cautionate.
3 Information of exorbitancy in ſome particulars of the Church, notwithſtanding his formonition againſt idleneſſe, and ſleeping of Church diſcipline in that behalfe. This he excites; that he corrects.
Parts of the Epiſtle, beſides thoſe vſuall, inſcription, ſalutation, valediction; you may thus number: 1 Proaeme inſinuatiue. cap. 1. ad ver. 5.2 Conſolation, inde ad finem. 3 Redargution of errour. 1 In iudgement. cap. 2. 2 In manners. cap. 3. Other paſſages there are occaſionally, yet aptly and ſeaſonably interlaced.