A Plain and Pithy Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, To the reader
To the Christian Reader.
YOur Fathers (saith aZach. 1.5, 6.GOD by the Prophet Zacharie to the Iewish people;) where are they? and the Prophets, do they liue for euer? But did not my words, which I gaue my seruants the Prophets in charge, take hold of your Fathers, and they returned? &c. Thereby intimating, that the word of God may hauehave his effect & efficacie euen after the deceasse of those that somtime deliuered it. As the Apostle saith, that though the Ministers of Gods word be laid in irons, (as himselfe also then was,) yet bforeign. 2. Tim. 2.9.the word of God is not bound with them: so though the Ministers of it may be taken away by death, yet the word of God doth not dye with them, but may remaine still (for the force and efficacie of it, or for the fruit and benefit of it) to those that partaked of it with them while they liued: they may cSuo sibi suce… v…uont, ros si n… cadit. Plaut. Capt. scen. 1.like shell-fish drawne out of the Sea, feede on that moysture on dry land, which they gathered and tooke in, while they were yet in the water. This, as it is true of all, that hauehave bin able and painfull in their places; so more specially of those, that by writing afford vntounto publike view and generall vse, the fruits of their learned and religious labors. Others benefit those only, that are within reach of their voice; these those also, that are without the report of their speech, that abide many miles and leagues of them, that are by land and sea also seuered and disioyned from them. They profit those that liue with them; these those also that liue after them. As dSira. 46.20.Siracks Son saith of Samuel, (that which eH. Northāpt of Prophecies. Chytraeus, Sir…gel. in Sirac. & alij.some also so expound, to salue that Authors credit) they prophecie after their deceasse; and, as fHebr. 11.4.the Apostle saith of ABEL, being dead they yet speake. As g2. King. 13.21.the reliques of Elisha (his corps, I meane, though not superstitiously reserued,) raised him againe to life, that was occasionally tumbled into his Tombe: so may their remainders helpe to revive, and put spirituall life into many, that shall light on them, after that themselues hauehave left this naturall life, euen while their corps lye laid vp in their graues. h2. Chr. 21.12.There came a writing, saith the Holy Ghost, from the Prophet Elias to King Ioram, who yet had i2 King. 2.11.departed this world in the dayes of Iehosaphat, before euer that Ioram came to the Crowne. And k2. Pet. 1 15.the Apostle Peter, by his writings, made account, that the faithfull might reap benefit, euen after himselfe was dead and gone. This considered, I deeme them not vnworthy due commendation, that preserue from perishing, and publish for the vse of posteritie, the works and writings of those, that either in Diuinitie, or other vsefull learning, hauehave taken paines to some good purpose. As on the other side, I hold them iniurious, both to the present age, and to future times, that enuie or denie such things the publike, and either feather their owne priuate nests onelyonly with them, or let them lye idle, by them, for wormes and mothes to make meat of. Hauing therefore committed to me, to pervse, and review, some part of the writings of that godly, learned, and iudicious Diuine (now with the Lord) Mr W. Bradshaw, and finding them to be, not vnlike their Author, full fraught with true piety, sound iudgment, and good schollership; his obseruations naturall, not coact or far-fetched; his inuention rare and not ordinarie; his phrase, though not swelling, yet emphaticall, full of spirit and life; his discourse not extrauagant, but keeping close to the point, and tending mainly to the improuement of piety and godlines: in regard whereof, they seemed neither vnworthy to see further light, nor vnable well to endure the light; I was not vnwilling (notwithstanding mine owne occasions and distractions otherwise) out of my louelove to the deceassed, and desire of aduancing the common good, to take some paines about the transcribing and perfecting some of them, and so fitting them for the Presse, And, among the rest, perceiuing these his Meditations on that Second to the Thessalonians, to be both pithy and compendious, handling an entire parcell of Scripture, that in our language few hauehave formerly delt with; as also that himselfe had begun to write them out more fairely and largely, then ordinarie, as intending some such thing, I thought good to breake the ice with them: And so beginning at the entrance into the Second Chapter, where he had left transcribing, out of other his owne notes containing a continued Commentarie to the end of the Epistle (some defects onelyonly supplied) hauehave I made vp the whole worke. Which if it shall finde such good acceptance, as my desire is it should, and as the worke it selfe (I doubt not) will deserue, I may receiue thereby incouragement to take further paines, about the finishing and fitting for publike view, some other of his labors, that as yet remaine with me, for the good of Gods Church, and the benefit of his poore Wife, and foure fatherles Orphans. Had he himselfe, while he liued, put the last hand to the two latter Chapters, as he had done to the first, the whole worke had bin more consummate and exact then now it is. Yet as it is, though not altogither so artificially compact and put togither, and so wanting some of its grace that way, it is for the maine matter of it, in all likelyhood, no other then it would hauehave bin, had he procceded to perfect it, as may appeare by comparing his second transcript with his first draught, in that that he had finished. That blessed Spirit accompanie the publishing of it, by whose immediate inspiration the Epistle it selfe was at first endited, and by whose gracious assistance, these Meditations on it were formerly conceiued and deliuered; and through his blessing it may proue beneficiall and comfortable to not a few in the reading of it, as in hearing it hath bin the like to many already. To Him commending it and thee, I rest,
Thine in Christ, T. G.