The first tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente

¶The .xx. Chapiter.

[ The texte.] For the kingdome of heauen is like to a man that is an householder, whiche went out earely in the morning to hyre labourers into his vineyarde. And whan the bargayne was made with the laborers for a denary a daie, he sent them into his vineyarde. And he wente out about the thirde houre, and sawe other standyng ydle in the market place, and sayed vnto them: go ye also into the vineyarde. And whatsoeuer is right, I will geue vnto you. And they went theyr waye. Agayne he went out about the sixte and ninthe houre, and did lyke∣wyse. And ••bout the eleuenth houre he went out, and founde other standing ydle, and sayed vnto them: why stande ye here all the daye idle? They say vnto him? because no man hath h••∣ted vs. He sayeth vnto them: go ye also into the vineyarde, and whatsoeuer is right that ye shall receyue.

ANd because it semed a darke riddell that he spake concerninge the first and the last, he declareth the thing that he spake with a parable, whereby he sheweth that men were called to the ke∣ping or obseruing of righteousnes in diuers ages: and yet al the seruauntes of righteousnes haue one and the same rewarde of euerlasting saluacion, so that they whiche be called, labour di∣ligently in the vineyarde of righteousnes. For they haue no lesse, whiche be called in the time of Christ, than they whiche be called in the time of Abraham, or Moyses, or Dauid. And they haue no lesse whiche be called and drawen to the seruice of the gospell being aged, than they whith be children or yong men. The one and the same denary and rewarde of euerlasting lyfe, is geuen vnto them al. And yet they y^• came late, seme to haue greater honour by this that the liberalitie of the lorde maketh them equall to them whyche came before. The Iewes were firste called, but yet the Gentiles called afterwarde, be not onelye made equall vnto them, but also preferred before the vnbeleuing Iewes. The parable is after this sorte: The kingdom of heauē ({quod} he) is like vnto an house∣holder, whyche wente abrode earely in the mornynge to hier workemen into his vineyarde. And getting certayne and bargayning with them that they shoulde haue eche of them a denary a piece for theyr dayes worke, sent them in∣to his vineyarde: He wente out agayne aboute three of the clocke, and when ••e same certayne stande idle in the markete, saide vnto them: go ye also into my vineyard, and I shall geue you that shall be mete: He went oute agayne about sixe of the cloke, and agayne aboute nine, and did likewyse as he did at one, and three of the clocke. Againe going out aboute three of the clocke towarde night, he founde certayne other in the market, to whome he sayed: why stande where all day idle? They saye: because no man hath hired vs. He sayeth to them: go ye also into my vineyard.

[ The texte.] ¶So, whan euen was cum▪ the lorde of the vyneyard sayeth vnto his stewarde: Call the laborers, and geue them theyr ••yer, beginning at the laste vntill the fyrste. But whan they did cum that came about the eleuenth houre, they receyued euery man a denary. And whan the firste came also, they supposed that they shoulde haue receyued more, and they also re∣ceyued euery 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a denarie. And whan they had receyuyd it, they murmured against the householder, saying▪ These last hath wrought but one houre, and thou hast made thē equall with vs, whiche haue borne the burden and heate of the day. But he answered one of them, sayinge: Frende I dothe no wrong. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an thou not co••enaunted with me for a denary? Take Ha••ts thine, and go thy waye: I will geue vnto this laste, euen as to the. Is it not lawfull for me to do as I will with mine owne goodes? Is thyne iye euil because I am good? So the last shall be firste, and the first last. For many ••e called, but fewe are chosen.

Further toward night the lorde of the vineyarde geueth commaundement to his bayly: Call all the workemen and pay them theyr hyer: so that thou begin with the last and cum to the firste. Therfore they that came last, that is aboute eleuen of the clocke, and laboured in the vineyarde the leaste parte of the daye, were called firste of all, and a denarye was geuen to eche of them. Whan they that were called earely in the morninge perceyued this, because they came longe before into the vineyarde, they thought that after the ra••e of the time, they shoulde receyue greater wages. But a denary was geuen vn∣to eche of thē. Therfore when they sawe that they which were not like in space of time, yet were made lyke in wages, they departe murmurynge agaynste the lorde of the vineyarde, and saye. These whiche came at eleuen of the clocke haue laboured but one houre, and yet thou makeste them lyke vnto vs in

wages, who haue continued the whole daye in laboure, and haue suffered the heate of the daye whereas they came a lytle before nyght, when the heate was nowe paste. But the householder made aunswere to one of them for all: Frende, why hast thou enuy that I am liberall vnto others? My fre libera∣lytie towardes other, hurteth not the. For I doe the no wrong. Did I not bargayne with the, so that thou shouldeste haue a denarye for thy dayes la∣boure? Thou haste done thy laboure, thou haste thy couenaunte: I haue no∣thinge more to doe with the. Take that that is owed vnto the, and departe. Thou werte hiered hither for wages to doe thy labour, not to appoynte me what I shall doe. Thus it is thought good vnto me, to geue him that came last as muche wages as I geue the. Thou doest lese none of thyne, if I geue this man any thyng of my liberalitie: Shall I not be at libertie because of the, to do with my own what I will? Is thy iye therefore vexed with enuy, because thou seest me liberal toward whom it pleaseth me? This similitude Iesus brought, willing depely to graffe in theyr mindes that God, naturally beneficiall towardes al men, ceasseth not by diuers wayes and in diuers a∣ges, to prouoke and moue al men to the seruice of true godlines: In whiche they that haue exercised themselues diligently, shall haue for rewarde euer∣lasting lyfe, from the which none is excluded geuing eare whan he is called. This reward like as it is in no case due vnto our merites but is of y^e good∣nes of god, yet it cummeth not without our endeuour: yet we be bound to the ca••ler for this also, that we cum to the seruice of godlynes, and that we con∣tinue in it vnto the euentide of the day. For they that be called and refuse to go into the vineyarde, they disapoynte themselues of theyr wages. And al∣though among sayne••es there is neyther enuy nor murmuryng against god: yet with these saynges he expressed the high honoure that was shewed to the last, whiche had the first place in rewarde. Whiche dignitie in so noble, that a man might haue cause to enuy. Yet the good Iewes also at the beginning murmured against the Gentiles, because they cumming of idolaters, straun∣gers from Moyses law, finally vncircumcised, should sodenly be made equall vnto them in the grace of the gospel, and be admitted to the same saluacion, beeyng incumbred with no burden of the lawe, whereas they long exercised in the ordinaunces of Moyses, were nothyng better than Gentiles, whiche were now admitted to the profession of the gospell, being a litle before of a wicked life. Therfore the Gentiles had more forgeuen them, but the Iewes haue no cause to brawle with God therfore, sithe they also maye attayne to like felicitie. And if they had rather enuy than folowe, let them thanke them∣selues that they be cast of for theyr vnbelefe, the Gentiles in the meane tyme obteining for the redines of theyr faith, that thing which the Iewes thought that they onely ought to haue.* 1.1 Therfore whoso is called, let him furthwith make haste, or els he shall be called in vayne, excepte he take hede that he be also elected. And all be called, but few deserue to be counted among the elect. Therefore Iesus ended his parable with thesame clause that he began with▪ So shall they be last that were firste, and firste that were laste. For many be called, and fewe chosen.

[ The texte.] And Iesus goyng vp to Hierusalem toke his twelue disciples asyde in the waye, and sayeth vnto them: Beholde, we do goe vp to Hierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe be∣trayed

to the chiefe of the pristes, and to the Scribes, and they shall condemne him to death, and shall deliuer him to the gentiles to be mocked and scourged, and crucified, and the thirde day he shall ryse agayne.

After this Iesus beyng a whyle in Galile, began to drawe nere to the place of his death, going towarde Hierusalem. And now whan he had in∣structed and framed his disciples many wayes, as concernyng despysing of ryches, neglecting of parentes and kinsfolkes, of chastitie, of great mo∣destie, of the rewardes that they should haue also in this lyfe: he leadeth se∣cretly aparte his twelue apostles, whom he had chosen and thoughte mete to commit the mistery of the crosse vnto, whiche the multitude was not yet able to beare: And yet he tolde of his deathe vnto the people, when he spake of Ionas, and of the pulling downe of the temple, and the making vp of it againe in three daies: but so he tolde them of it that they vnderstode not what was sayed, before that they sawe it done. He had opened the mistery of the crosse vn∣to his disciples, as to them that were more strong and able, now once or twyse speaking vnto them playnly. But because men forget lightly that, whiche they be not glad to heare of, and doe not lightly let sinke into theyr hartes the thing whiche the mynde abhorrethe: the Lorde Iesus to confyrme hys apostles agaynste the storme that was at hande, openethe vnto them more playnely and distinctly, not onelye that his death was nere, but also telleth them of the mockes and affliccions whiche oftentymes be more greuouse than deathe it¦selfe. Beholde ({quod} he) we go to Hierusalem, and the sonne of man shalbe be∣trayed to the chiefe priestes and Scribes,* 1.2 whiche nowe goe aboute to laye in wayte for him. And they will not rest to blame and accuse him vntill they haue broughte hym to condemnacion of deathe, and they shall deliuer him vnto the Gentiles to mocke him, to scourge him, to spit vpon him, and to nayle him vp∣on the crosse, and whan that he is deade and buried, the thyrde daye he shall ryse agayne.

[ The texte.] Than came to hym the mother of Zebedes childeren, with her sonnes, worshippinge and desyring a certayne thinge of him. And he sayethe vnto her: What wil•• thou? She sayde vn∣to him: Graunte that these my two sonnes may sit, the one on thy right hande, and the other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lefte hande in thy kingdome. But Iesus aunswered, and sayed. Ye wote not what ye aske. Can ye drinke of the cuppe that I shall drinke of? and be baptised with the baptisme that I shalbe baptised with? They saye vnto him: We can. He sayde vnto them: Truely ye shall drinke of my cuppe, and be baptised with the baptisme, that I am baptised with: But to sit on my right hande and on my left hande is not myne to geue: But it shal chaunce vnto them, for whom it is prepared of my father.

In the meane season Iames and Iohn the sonnes of zebede, because they had heard that the keyes of the kingdome of heauen were geuen to Peter, and had heard also of the honoure of twelue seates, beynge yet rude and dreaming of worldely thinges, and supposinge that this kingdom and these honoures shoulde cum immediatly after the resurreccion, because he sayde, the thyrde day he shall rise: to get thēselues nowe some excellēt dignitie, they sente furthe their mother to be a suiter vnto Iesus for her sonnes. She after that she had done her dutie and worshipped him, requiring him not to deny her suite, be∣ing required what she would, sayeth: Geue commaundement that these my two sonnes may sit in thy kingdome, one on thy right hande, the other on thy lefte hande. Iesus turning vnto the children, of whom he knewe that the mo∣ther

was sent furth, aunswered them: ye know not what ye aske. Ye delight in the speaking of a kingdom, whiche is far of an other sorte than ye dreame, but at this presente we muste rather talke and debate of affliccion, and of the crosse, which is the way to the kingdome. Ye require the rewarde oute of ordre, whereas first ye muste traueile and stryue. I haue opened vnto you nowe what I muste suffer. Can ye drinke of the cuppe that I shall drinke of: Can ye be baptised with the baptisme that I shall be baptised with? They as yet litle knowing their strengthe, but for the gredines that they had to ob∣teyne theyr peticion, they answere rashely rather than valiantly, we can. But Iesus was content that they sayde they wer ready to folow his crosse, but as touching the rewarde, because they vnderstode not what they asked, and be∣cause it was not for that tyme to commōne of it, he sayeth that it is not in him to geue them: but that s••ch dignitie shoulde not chaunce but vnto them, vnto whom it was geuen of the father, for to deserue the chiefe place through no∣table and excellente vertue. Truely to encourage al men to clime vnto the highest, he sayeth: ye shall drinke of my cuppe, but to fit one on my right hand, and the other on my left hand, it is not in me to geue, vnto thone or to the other, but this shall chaunce vnto them to whom it shall be geuen of my father. Euery man as he doeth traueill, so he shall be rewarded.

[ The texte.] And whan the ten hearde this, they disdayned at the two brethren. And Iesus called them vnto him, and sayed: Ye know▪ that the princes of nacions hath dominion ouer them. And they that be great men exercyse power ouer them. It shall not be so among you, but whosoeuer will be greate among you, let him be your minister, and whoso will be chiefe amonge you, let him be your seruaunte: as the sonne of man came not to be ministred vnto, but to ministre, and to geue his lyfe a redempcion for many.

Whan thother ten afterwarde heard these thinges, they were agreued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the two brethren, because they ••eqai••ed so great dignitie. They had not yet receyued the holy goste: they were ledde yet with certayne affeccions of men be∣ing ambiciouse and enuying one an other. And Iesus suffered his disciples to be troubled longe with these affeccions, to thintent he would plucke them vt∣terly out of the mindes of them all, whiche shoulde succede in the roumes of thapostles. And they thought, and were glad, that therfore the lorde did reiect the request of Iohn and Iames, not because they dreamed of carnall thinges, where as the spirituall kingdome was in hande, but because they required honoure aboue theyr merites, whiche other thought that it ought rather to be geuen to them. Therefore Iesus lyke as he dyd represse the ambicion of the folish sutours, because they knew not what it was that they asked: so he repres∣sed the enuy and indignacion of the other, which issewed out of thesame foun∣tayne of ambicion, opening vnto them that ther was a farre diuerse kinde of the worldely kingdome from the kingdome of the gospell. For there in the worldly kingdom he that is lesse, is oppressed with the tiranny of the migh∣tier. Here, the primacie is nothing elles, but the greate desire to do good vn∣to all men. There the prouder a man is, the greater he semethe: here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is more meke in harte,* 1.3 than he that deseruethe chiefly to be the higheste. Tha•• he mighte fasten this doctrine in all mennes hartes, he called vnto hym the other of thapostles. Ye knowe ({quod} he) that they that ••eare rule amonge the Gentyles, vse lordlynes and tyrannye vpon them, whome they rule: and they that be chiefe, exercyse theyr power vpon theyr subiectes. For with the

hurt of the people, they prouide for theyr owne authoritie, and care for those thinges, whiche do not profite the multitude, but make for the stoutnes and florishing of theyr welth and glory. But it is not mete to be so emonge you, but whosoeuer will beare rule emong you, let him be the minister of all men, not vsing honour for his owne commoditie, but for the commoditie of the people, whom he ruleth. And he that emong you will haue the first place, let him be the seruaunt and the lowest of all. For he taketh vpon him the chiefe place for no nother intent, but to loke for the commoditie of al men, hunting and seking therof neyther honour nor profit. And if ye thinke it harde, loke vpon me, for wheras I am your Lorde and Maister and the sonne of God, as ye t••ulye professe, yet I take not vpō me dignitie and honour, nor I abuse not my power to myne owne commoditie. But for this I am cum, to serue al mennes turnes, and to wayte theyr commodities, insomuche that it g••eueth me not to bestowe my life,* 1.4 that by the losse of one lyfe, I maye redeme many. Emonge them ther∣fore that be thus minded, there is no cause why any man shoulde seke after honour, neyther why any should be enuiouse at an other mannes dignitie: for who can enuye him whiche studieth no nother thynge, but to do an other man good, and that if nede be with the losse of hys lyfe? Also if honour be geuen vnto them, they take it not vnto themselues, but yelde it vnto God.

[ The texte.] And when they departed from Ierico, muche people folowed hym. And beholde two blinde men sitting by the way, whan they heard that Iesus passed by, they cryed sayinge: O lord the sonne of Dauid, haue mercy on vs. And the people rebuked them, that they should holde theyr peace. But they cryed the more, saying: Haue mercy on vs o lorde the sonne of Dauid. And Iesus stoode still and called them, and sayde: What will ye•• that I shall do vn∣to you? They say vnto him: Lorde that our iyes maye be opened. And Iesus had compassion on them, and touched theyr iyes, and immediately theyr iyes receyued sight, and they folo∣wed him.

And whan he went with his disciples out of Ierico, a great multitude of men folowed him. And behold two blind men sate by the wayes side, whiche whē they perceyued by the noyse, that it was a great multitude, and askynge what it shoulde be, knew that it was Iesus whiche passed by: whē they could not see him, and if they had sene him, coulde not go vnto hym for the multi∣tude, they spake vnto Iesus with a loude voyce, saying: Lord Iesu the sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon vs. Iesus made as though he hearde them not, to thintente that theyr faythe and feruentnes might be the more manifeste to all men. The people seyng that Iesus made no aunswere at their crying, and suppossing that it was paynefull to him, that twoe blinde common beggers made such a clamoure at his eares, rebuked them, and bad them holde theyr peace. But they through a constante truste in Iesus, whom they heard saye to be beneficiall towardes all men, cried out louder, and sayde aga••ne: Lorde the sonne of Dauid, haue mercy vpon vs. Iesus therfore when he had suf∣ficiently declared theyr fayth to them all, & had taught vs by theyr exāple that we should beate at the eares of God feruently and constantly, yf we will ob∣tayne anye thynge: stode still (for they could not folow but onely with crying) and commaunded thē to cum to him. At his worde they cum. Iesus askethe them what they would with theyr great crying, and what they woulde that he shoulde do for them. Iesus was not ignoraunte what they desired, but he would that the disease that they were troubled wyth, should be knowen to all

menne by theyr owne confession, that the faythe of the miracle mighte be the more certayne. Lorde ({quod} they) we desire that oure iyes maye be opened by your helpe. They speakyng these thynges with a great affeccion, declare that blyndnes was a great griefe vnto them. And he is nexte vnto light, whiche is very wery of his blindenes. Than Iesus shewyng his pietifull affeccion both in countenaunce and iyes, with whiche affeccion euery gospeller ought to bee sory for other mens harmes, touched theyr iyes: and forthwith their iyes be∣yng opened, they saw, and with others they folowed Iesus. So Iesus with his touching healeth the mynde blinded with worldly desyres, and lighte is geuen to this ende, that we maye folowe his steppes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For many are called but few are chosen.
• * 1.2

  Behold we dooe go vp. &c.
• * 1.3

  Ye knowe y^t the princes. &c.
• * 1.4

  And to geue his lyfe a re¦dēption for manye.