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

The paraphrase of Erasmus vpon ¶ The .xxviii. Chapter.

[ The texte.] And vpon the euen of the Sabbothes whiche spryngeth in the first day of the Sabbothes Marie Magdalene and the other Marie came for to see the Sepulchre. And beholde there was a greate earthequake. For the Aungell of the Lorde came downe from heauen, and came and rolled downe the stone from the doore, and sat vpon it. And hys countenaunce was like vnto the lightening, and his garment white as snowe. And for feare of him, the kepers were astonied, and were made as dead men.

ANd when the euen of the firste Sabbothe daye was come, after the ende of the whiche, was the mornyng of the daye folowyng, whiche was the fyrste daye of the weeke next ensuing, Marie Magdalene, and the other Marie, theyr swete spices prepared ouer night, went a∣gayne in the mornyng to the Sepulchre, to see what was dooen, and to enbaulme the bodye of Iesus. And there was a great yearthquake. And whan the women deuysed emong themselues, howe they mighte remoue the stone from the doore of the graue (for it was to greate to bee remoued by the strength of women) beholde the aungel of the lorde came downe from hea∣uen, and remoued the stone from the doore of the graue, and than sate vpon it. And the countenaunce of the aungell was lyke vnto the lyghtening, and hys garmentes shinyng as white as snowe. The kepers of the Sepulchre loking vpon him, were afrayde and so amased that they laye astonied like dead men.

[ The texte.] And the aungell made aunswere vnto the women, and sayde: Feare ye not: For I knowe that ye seke Iesus whiche was crucified, he is not here, for he is risen as he sayde. Come see the place, where the Lorde was layde. And go quickely, and tell his disciples that he is risen agayne from deathe. And beholde he goeth before you into Galile, there ye shall see hym. Loe I haue tolde you.

But the aungell comforted the women, saying: These men worthyly be a∣mased at the glory of the resurreccion, whiche doe perseuer and continue styll in theyr vnbeliefe: But feare not ye, for I know that ye seeke Iesus who was crucifyed. Nowe he hath left hys sepulchre, and hath perfourmed that he pro∣mised to do. This is the morning of the third day. Therfore he is risen. Come and see the place, whiche beyng voyde of the bodye, hath yet a sygne where the body laye: It hath also the apparell of the bodye, the lynnen wherein he was wrapped. Lette these thynges make you beleue, yf ye beleue not me. But spe∣dely departe hence, and tel these thinges that ye haue sene to the other discy∣ples, being sadde for the deathe of the lorde, that he is rysen agayne. Whome if ye desire to see, beholde, he will goe before you into Galile, like as before his death he promised. There ye may see hym alyue, for whome ye mourned when he was dead. Loe I haue tolde you before.

[ The texte.] And they departed quickely from the sepulchre with feare and great ioye, and did runne to bring his disciples worde. And as they went to tel his disciples, beholde. Iesus met them saying: Al hayle. And they came and helde his feete and wurshipped him. Than Iesus sayd vnto them: be not affrayde: goe and tel my brethren, that they goe into Galile, and there they shall see me.

And whan they had looked in the voyde graue, whiche they had founde shut, spedely they returned, partely fearefull for the greatnes of the miracle, parte∣ly rauyshed with greate ioye, for the desyre and hope to see theyr Lorde alyue agayne, and they runne to communicate thys ioye to the dyscyples of Iesus.

And as they wente, Iesus met them, that they myghte tell the more certayne tidinges. And to encourage them being fearefull, he sayde: All hayle. They se∣yng and knowing the lorde, went vnto him, and embracing his feete, wurship∣ped him. Agayne Iesus to take from them all feare, that they mighte the better perceiue the thynges that shoulde be spoken, he sayeth: feare not, goe and tell my brethren the thinges that ye haue seene, and bid them go forward into Ga∣lile, there they shall see me.

[ The texte.] ¶Whan they were gone, beholde some of the kepers came into the citie, and tolde the chiefe of the priestes all thynges that had happened: And they assembled together with the elders and tooke counsell, and gaue muche money to the souldiers, saying: Saye ye that hys discy∣ples came in the nyghte, and stole hym awaye, whan ye were aslepe. And if thys come to the presidentes eares, we wyll perswade him, and saue you harmelesse. But they tooke the mo∣ney, and did as they were taught, and this saying is noysed amōg the Iewes vntil this day.

And when they were departed, to thintent the trueth of the resurreccyon myght be confirmed also by the testymonie of the aduersaries, certayne of the kepers, leuing the Sepulchre, went vnto Ierusalem, and tolde the heades of the priestes, what thinges had bene dooen, howe the sepulchre beyng shut and sealed, the body was not founde. And howe the aungel•• being of merueilouse beautie, remoued the stone, and of the earthequake, and howe they were ama∣sed for feare. And how they hearde the aungell talking with the women. Whan the priestes hearde these thinges of the kepers, they went to counsel a∣gayne with the Seniours: forasmuche as the thyng was to manyfeste to bee doubted, they bye a lye of the kepers for money, lyke as before they boughte the helpe of the traytour for money: but that they paye more for the laboure of the lyers, than of the traytoure: keepe close ({quod} they) the thynges that ye haue seene, but make a brute abrode, that hys disciples came in the night & stale him away, whan ye were aslepe. And if thys inuencyon and fleyght be brought vn∣to your president, we will perswade hym, and deliuer you from all daunger of this matter. Therefore the souldyers receyuyng money, dyd as they were in∣structed, and thys trieflyng and vayne sleight was beleued of the people. For thys rumoure is bruted abrode vnto this day emong the vnbeleuing Iewes.

[ The texte.] ¶Than the eleuen disciples wente away into Galile, into the mountayne where Iesus had appoynted them. And whan they sawe hym, they wurshipped hym. But some doubted. And Iesus came and spake to them, ••••ying: all power is geuen to me in heauen and yearth.

Nowe the eleuen discyples monished of the women, wente forewarde into Galile, and went vp vpon the hyll whiche Iesus had appoynted them. There he shewed hymselfe. They saw and knew hym to be theyr Lord, and honoured him, as now being on high and in heauen. Notwithstandyng, some yet doub∣ted, vntil they were made to beleue, with many and very certeyn argumentes. Albeit theyr doubting was profitable for the certaintie of oure belyefe. Ther∣fore Iesus drawyng nere vnto them, dyd not onely offer hymselfe to bee seene and touched presently, but also spake vnto thē with hys knowen and accusto∣med voyce: declaring that by his death, he had obteyned a kingdome & autho∣ritie both in heauen and in earth. In heauē, where euer he reigned with the fa∣ther: in earth where hereafter he shoulde reigne, not by tirannical powers and aides, but thorough fayth of beleuers: and that he shoulde dispose the office of this euangelicall kyngdome vnto his disciples, who shoulde folowe his step∣pes, committing vnto them the office to preache the Ghospell, not onely to the

Iewes, but also to all nacions: and also authoritie to baptise, and by the holy ghoste, to forgeue synnes to all menne, that wyll professe an euangelycal lyfe with a sincere hearte: and to enstructe and frame them, not after the lawe of Moyses, nor after the constitucions of the Phariseis, but after his preceptes▪ vntyll they wexed and grewe vp vnto the perfeccyon of the wysedome of the ghospell. And that they should nothing dystrust, for that he should not be con∣tinually conuersaunt with them, he promiseth that theyr felowship shal neuer fayle, and that he will neuer forsake hys, but be alwayes presente with hys in spirite and power vnto the laste ende of the worlde: All power ({quod} he) is geuen me in heauen and earth. Ye haue sene me by the reason of the weakenes of the flesh, hungrie, thyrstie, weary, nedy, despised, taken, bounde, spetted vpon, con∣demned, beaten, crucifyed, couered with all kyndes of spytefulnes, and in ma∣ner deiect vnder the loweste sorte of menne. Because I haue suffered all these thinges willingly and of myne owne accorde for the health of man: my father hath raysed me from deathe, and rewarded me with the glory of immortalitie, and hath lifted me vp to the felowship of hys kyngdome, and hath submytted vnto my power and rule, all thinges that be in heauen and earth. Ye haue an authour whome ye ought not to distrust, ye haue a Lorde, of whome ye ought not to repente.

[ The texte.] Goe ye therefore and teache all nacyons, baptise them in the name of the father and the sonne, and the holye ghoste, teaching them to kepe all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaun∣ded you.

Lyke as I dyed for the healthe of all men: so there is no nacion whiche be∣longeth not to my righte. It shall be youre parte to get vnto me, as muche as lyeth in you, all kinde of men. But ye shall not gette them by weapons or war, but by the same meanes that I got vnto me this right, by wholsome doctrine, by a lyfe woorthy and meete for the ghospell, with free well doyng, with pacy∣ent suffering of illes. Goe ye therfore as trustie Ambassadoures, & trusting me your authour, teache firste the Iewes, than the nexte neighboures vnto them, afterwardes all the nacions of the whole worlde. Teache what they ought to beleue of me, and what they ought to trust of me. First to knowledge the hea∣uēly father, the maker, the orderer, and the restorer of al thinges visible and in∣uisible. Whose power no man can resist, because he is almightie, whose know∣ledge no man doeth deceiue, because hee seeth all thynges: whose iudgemente no man shall escape: From whome, as from the fountayne, cummeth all good∣nes in the worlde. To whome is due all honour, prayse, and thankes geuing. They must knowledge also his sonne Iesus, by whome through hys eternall and vnsearchable counsell, he hath purposed to deliuer mankinde from tiran∣ny of sinne and deathe, and by the doctryne of the ghospell, to open the waye vnto euerlasting felicitie. Who for this cause by his will, came downe into the earth, and was borne very manne, of the virgyn Marie, and beyng man long conuersaunt emong menne, taught the heauenly philosophy, which only ma∣keth menne blessed.

And being an innocent, was afflicted and punished for the sinnes of the whole worlde, and put to death vpon the crosse. And layde in his graue, the third day he arose agayne according to the prophecies of the Prophetes. After that, be∣yng conseruaunt many dayes with his disciples, and the trueth of his resur∣reccion delared by sure argumentes, he wente vp agayne into heauen, where∣as

partaker of the kyngdome and glory of his father, he sitteth on the righte hande of his father almightie. Once he shall come agayne into the worlde, not lowe and abiecte as before, but with the diuine maiestie: not a sauioure, but a iudge, bothe of those whome that day he shall finde aliue, and of those whome nowe being dead, the trumpe of the ghospell shall sodainly call agayne to life: that by his ineuitable iudgemente, euery man may receiue rewarde woorthy and mete for his doinges. They must knowledge also the holy ghoste, whome I haue nowe partely geuen vnto you, and will geue more plentiously, after that I come into heauen, whose secrete inspiracion shal coumforte, teache, and strengthen the mindes of them that trust in me: and being powred into the har∣tes of all men, shall glue and confeder them together with mutuall charitie, as many as professe hartely the fayth of the ghospell, of what nacyon soeuer they come of. And if a man doth sinne any thing through the weakenes of mā, he shal obteyne forgeuenes of his sinnes, so that he doth not seuer himselfe frō the league & felowship of the holy cumpany. And whosoeuer ioyneth himselfe vnto this league,* 1.1 all the sinnes of his former life shall be forgeuen him freely. Finally lest any man shoulde thynke the rewardes of good dedes to be desy∣red in this life, or shoulde goe aboute vengeaunce agaynst yll doers, let them knowe that this hereafter shall come to passe in them, whiche ye see dooen in me. The dead shall liue agayne, and euery soule shall be restored to her owne body. The whiche as soone as it shall bee doen, whosoeuer shall belong to this holy felowship, and sticke constantly vnto me, shal be translated with me vnto euerlasting life, to be partakers of felicitie, which were felowes and partakers of affliccyons. After they ye haue taughte these thynges, yf they beleue the thinges that ye haue taught, yf they repent them of their former lyfe, if they be ready to embrace the doctrine of the ghospell, then dippe them in water, in the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy gost, that by this wholy signe, they may trust themselues to be deliuered from the filthines of al theyr sinnes, freely through the benefite of my death, and nowe to be chosen to the number of the children of God. Lette no manne be circumcysed, let no manne bee bap∣tized in the name of Moyses, or of any manne. Let them all knowe to whome they be bounde for their health, vpon whome they oughte wholy to hang. Let them not bee burdened with the ceremonyes of Moyses, or of manne. Lette this token be sufficient for all menne that cumme to the profession of the ghos∣pell, whiche is easye to bee had in euery place. But leste any manne myghte thinke it sufficient to saluacion, once to be baptysed, and to professe the faythe of the ghospell, they must be taughte agayne by what meanes they may kepe theyr innocencie, by what meanes they may goe forwarde to perfeccyon of the euangelicall godlines: I haue omitted nothyng whiche may make to the obteining of euerlasting health. And that heauenly spirite whiche ye shall re∣ceiue, will not suffer you to forget that whiche ye haue learned of me. There∣fore whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you, deliuer ye the same to be kepte of them. I haue not prescribed vnto you the ceremonies of Moyses law, whiche like shadowes must now vanishe away at the light of the euangelicall trueth. I haue not prescribed vnto you pharisaicall constitucions, but those thinges, whiche onely bringeth true innocencie and godlines, and whiche onely maye make you derely beloued of God, and truely happy.

Therefore teache these thynges to them that professe my name not onely in

woorde but also in life, as I, whatsoeuer I taught, I perfourmed it in ded••. Whiles ye be doyng of these thynges, and whyles ye bring mortall menne to heauen, the worlde will ryse agaynste you, lyke as it rose agaynste me. For my spirite agreeth not with the spirite of thys worlde, and my doctryne is wholy agaynst the affeccions of them, whiche loue the thinges that be of this world. They will ryse agaynste you with greate tumultes, but there is no cause why ye nede to distrust, though ye be but lowe and abiecte, vnlearned, weake, and fewe. I haue ouercome the worlde, and ye shall ouercome through my helpe, & by myn•• exa••mple. Ye shal ouercome through my might, and not your owne, whatsoeuer is terrible in this worlde.

[ The texte.] ¶ And loe, I am with you alway, vntill the ende of the worlde.

And although I shall take vp this body into heauen, because it is so expe∣diente for you, yet I wil neuer forsake you. For after that I shall ceasse to bee with you in body, than I shall be more effectually with you in my spirite. And I will be with you vnto the worldes ende, but whan the worldes ende shalbe, it profiteth not, nor behoueth not you to know. In the meane season do what is commaunded you, euer ready agaynst that daye. Whiche whansoeuer it shal come, than ye also, your mortalitie layed aparte, shal bee wholy with me, fe∣lowes of my fathers kyngdome, whiche shall neuer haue ende.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Baptising them in the name of the father. &c.