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

¶ The .v. Chapter.

[ The texte.] ¶And they came ouer to the other side of the sea, into the countrey of the Gadere∣nites: and when he was cum out of the shyppe, immediatly there mette hym out of the graues a man possessed of an vncleane spirite, whiche had his abidyng amōg y^e graues, & no man coulde bynde hym: no not with chaines, because that when he was often bounde with fetters, and chaynes, he plucked the chaynes asunder, and brake the fetters in pieces, ney∣ther coulde any man tame hym. And alwayes night and daye he was in the mountaynes and in the graues, crying, and beating hymself with stones. But when he had spyed Iesus a far of, he ranne and worshypped hym, and cryed with a loude voyce, and sayed: what haue I to do with the Iesus thou sonne of the moste hyghest God? I requite the in the name of God, that thou tourmente me not. For he sayed vtuo hym: come oute of the man thou foule spirite. And he asked hym, what is thy name? And he aunswered, and sayed vnto hym: my name is Legion, for we are many. And he prayed hym instauntlye that he woulde not sende them awaye oute of the countrey.

AS this tēpest hath taughte vs that all trouble and bu∣sinesse whatsoeuer the world woulde stirre vp agaynst the gospell, oughte by the ayde of Christe to be suffe∣red with constāt courage of mynde: and that such trou∣ble should at one tyme or another, be turned into great∣test tranquillitie and quietnes: So folowed therein cō∣tinent a figure, whereby was fignified y^t there should be in summe partes of the world so vplandishe and cru∣ell people, that they woulde at the fyrste brunte by rea∣son of their naturall crueltie, refuse and abhorre the doctrine of the gospell: and yet should it cum to passe in processe of tyme, that they also shoulde waxe ien∣tle or cyuille, and louingly receiue the swete yoke of the lorde after they once knewe it. Wherefore assone as this storme was alayed, whyche fygured the storme of persecucion that princes should stirre vp raging againste the gospell, Iesus, and suche as accompanied hym, arriued on the other side of the water.

That countrey was called the countrey of the Gerasites of a famous town of Arabie, named Gerasa, ioynynge vnto mounte Galaad, in the tribe of Ma∣nasse,

not farre fro the lacke or sea of Tiberias. For nowe the Lorde Iesus ma∣keth a foreshew of the brutishe, and cruell barbarousnesse of certayne nacions, of whome it maye be doubted,* 1.1 whether they deserue to haue the name of men, or no: yet is there none so fierse and saluage crueltie that we ought to despaire of. Wherfore after that Iesus was cummen out of the shyppe, and entred in∣to this countrey, by and by he sawe a sight, whiche playnly declared the ma∣ners, and naturall disposicion of that nacion. For when he was hearde cum∣myng, there starte out a certayne felowe, vexed with a spirite of passinge vn∣clennesse, and crueltie. This wretched creature woulde not come where as a∣ny resorte of people was, but liued in solitarye places, lurkynge, and hydynge hymselfe in dead mennes tumbes that were by the highe waye syde. Neyther was there any that assayed any more to bynde hym, because he had bene ofte tymes bounde before, and alwayes plucked the cheines asunder, and brake the fetters in pieces.

Neyther was there anye violence that could so reclaime hym, but that he be∣yng in case not able to rule himselfe, would gad abrode at libertie, whitherso∣euer the wicked finde enforced him to go. For this cause he was vnbound, and wandered vp and downe both night and daye among dead mens tumbes, and in wylde mountaynes, criyng and beatyng himself with stones. Nowe yf anye reken this to be (as it is in verye dede) a miserable, and a terrible sighte, lette him considre with hymselfe, how muche more miserable a sighte in the iyes of almighty god, is he that hath nothyng els of a man, but the name onely: He, I say, that is marde and caste a waye through riottous liuinge, woode vpon harlottes, madde vpon the dise, and besyde himselfe by reason of dronkennes, a brauler, a robber or praye taker, a breaker of the peace, a violent felowe, suche a one as can neyther be restrayned by Goddes lawe, ne mannes: neyther let, and brideled from his sensuall wilfulnes by any shame, reuerence, or feare: bolde to doo what hym lyketh: who for small wages is hired to go to what warfare soeuer it be, to sley and murder suche as he knowethe not and neuer dyd hym harme, to burne vilages and good tounes, to rifle churches, and fynallye to destroye all that euer holy is, or not holy. Put hereunto periuries, blasphe∣myes, and inceste, with the whiche vices suche leude ruffians as are of this sorte, be well acquainted. Put hereto treasons and poysonynges, with the practise of arte Magike or Sorcerye, and then shalte thou euidently perceiue howe muche lesse was the furye of the man thus vexed with the deuill, then of this wretched and vnthriftie caytife. But what? Ought we to despayre of suche a one? No truely, yf it maye chaunce him at anye tyme to see Iesu. He is sene by faith. For when the same wretched felowe at the noyse that the straun∣gers made, was come out of his denn, violently to assault them according vn∣to his accustomed maner, anon as he had afarre of espyed Iesu, he drawen with an heauenly power, and sodaynly chaunged, ranne vnto hym, and wur∣shypped him. And straight wayes the fiende began to cry with a loude voyce by the mannes mouth, and saye: What hast thou to do with me Iesu the sonne of the higheste God? I require thee by the name of God, that thou tour∣mente me not.* 1.2 For Iesus voyce was vnto that deuill, a tourmente, because he sayde: Thou foule spirite departe out of the man. So greate was the malice of the deuill, that it was the greatest tourmente to him that might be, if he nowe ••••lde no lenger be suffered to vexe and tourment the sely wretche. He felt Ie∣sus

voyce effectuall, and almyghty, the whyche he was constrayned to obeye vnto, whether he would or no.

Nowe I reporte me to you, whether there be not lyke affeccion of mynde in suche as be extremely malicious persones, who haue a great delyght to do o∣ther menne harme, yea, thoughe it be to their owne displeasure. And yf they be restrayned from theyr wilfull desyre, so that they can not be suffered to dooe what mischief they woulde, then are they sore vexed in mynde. Iesus demaun∣ded of the foule spirite what was his name. The spirite made aunswere: my name is Legion, because we be manye. Thou knowest (good reader) that thys worde Legion, is a worde or terme of warre, whiche implyeth a foule rable∣ment of ruffions confedered together, to destroye mē. But no power of a mul∣titude preuayleth agaynst the might of Iesus. He as easelye puttethe a Legion to flight, as one man. Then that capitayne deuill who spake for all the reste, greatly besought Iesus, whome he acknowledged to be his conquerour, that he woulde not cleane exile hym out of that countrey••. O peruerse malice of the deuil. He desyreth not forgeuenes, nor any other benefite, whereby he maye be in better ease. He counteth••t a pleasure and benefite, if he maye be suffered there to continewe, whereas moste occasion is for hym to do harme: Euen as thoughe a sorte of snap haunses set all on mischiefe, enforced by a greater power of the prince, and commaunded to breake garison, or forsake theyr hold and fortresse, would make this peticion: We desire no wages, but only that your grace will suffer vs to raunge abrode in the countrey, and robbe and reaue at our owne peryll.

[ The texte.] But ther was there nigh vnto the mountaynes, a great heard of swyne feedyng, and al the deuilles besought hym, saying: sende vs into the hearde of swyne, that we maye enter in∣to them. And auon Iesu gaue them leaue, and the vncleane spirites went out, and entred in∣to the swyne. And the bearde was caryed headling into the sea. They were almoste two. •• and were drowned in the sea. And the swineheardes fled, and tolde it in the c••ie, and in the fieldes And they wente out for to see what had happened and came to Iesus, and sawe him that was vexed with the find, and had the Legion, sit both clothed and in his right mynde and they were afrayed: and they that sawe it told them howe it happened to hym that was possessed with the deuill, and also of the swine. And they began to praye hym that he would depart out of theyr coast.

When that vnto this requeste and peticion of the deuill, Iesus made no aunswere, there was not farre of a great hearde of swine, nighe vnto the moū∣tayne feedynge in the fieldes. Thou knoweste here good reader, the beaste that was abhorred of all the righte Iewes, and wherewith the Gentiles, a people geuen to Idolatrye, were chefly delyted. Therefore the deuils desyred that they myghte be suffred at the leaste wyse to enter into the swyne: And yf we maye not (saye they) destroy the man whom thou delyuerest from vs, yet geue vs leaue sumwhat to wreake oure malice by destroyinge of the vncleane bea∣stes. That Iesus graunted them without any stycking, who cared not for the safegard and preseruacion of swyne, but of men: teaching vs hereby that for to saue euen but one man, we ought not to passe vpon the losse of other world∣ly thynges, be it neuer so greate. The Legion of the vncleane spirites, forsoke the man, who remayned to be purified with the spirite of Christe, and went in∣to the heard of swyne, whiche were forthwith caryed headlong with greate violence, doune the stepe hill into the lake or sea, and there drowned. The swyne were almoste twoe thousande in number. Lette menne beware that they bee

not founde like vnto swyne. For into suche soules the diuels are ryght glad to enter. Nowe the swyneheardes after they had sene this wonderfull facte, dyd not helpe theyr swyne, but fled awaye for feare into the nexte citie, and into the countrey there aboute, and shewed euery body what they had sene. That good shepehearde helpethe hys flocke being in ieopardye. But when the pastoures or shepeheardes are themselues as bad as theyr naughty flocke that is paste all grace and goodnes, then both the flocke goeth to wrecke and vtterly perishethe and the shepeheardes do nothyng els but flye awaye for feare. Assone as this thynge was noysed abrode, the people came runnyng thicke and threfolde oute of the toune and countrey, desyrous to see with theyr iyes, what they had hearde before with theyr eares. For all semed vnto them incredible that the swyne∣heardes had tolde them. Wherfore they came themselues vnto Iesu, and sawe the manne whome they all knewe, before vexed with a spirite of exceding cruel∣nes, and wont by reason of his great fury and madnes, to braste al his chaynes and fetters in pieces, to rent and teare a soundre his clothes, to beate hymselfe with stones, violentlye to assaulte those that passed by, and to make all the pla∣ces there aboute to ryng with his furious crying, and roring: sawe him, I say, then sit quietly at Iesus feete both clothed, and in his right mynde. Nowe they whiche were presente, and sawe what was doue, recounted to suche as came thyther, the whole history of all that befel, euen from the beginning, both howe the Legion of diuels was caste out of the man, and also how the hogges were drowned in the water. Wherfore when they (the mattier now diligently exa∣mined and tried out) were throughlye persuaded that all was of truthe which had bene tolde them of the swyne heardes, then were they afraied, and beganne to desyre Iesu to departe out of theyr quarters. This wicked, and grosse na∣cion, knew not Iesu throughly. They perceyued his power, but they marked not his goodnes, manifestlye declared in that he restored this man to his ryght mynde: and they were a greate deale more moued in theyr myndes for the losse of theyr swyne, then glad of the mannes health and recouery. They feared their Oxen, theyr Asses, and theyr hogges, and toke great care for the bely, and none at al for the soule. And yet for al that, it is a certayne begynnyng of saluacion, sum what to stande in dreade of Gods power.

[ The texte.] And when he was come into the shyp, he that had the deuyll, prayed hym that he might be with hym, howbeit Iesus would not suffer him, but sayde vnto hym: go to thyne owne howse and to thy frendes, and shewe them how greate thynges the lorde hathe done for the and how he hath compassion on the. And he departed, and beganne to publishe in the .x. Cy∣ties, howe great thynges Iesus had done for him, and all men dyd meruayle.

The Lorde, teachyng vs by dede, that the roses of Goddes worde and the gospell oughte not in anye wyse to be caste vnto hogges, reculed vnto the wa∣ter syde and toke shyppe. In the meane whyle the felowe whyche was deliue∣red from the deuil, perceiuing the authour of his health to departe, beganne to desyre hym that he might be one of his trayne. The Lordes pleasure was that he shoulde rather be a publisher of his mercie, and goodnes, then one that should accompany him in his iourneys, because it was expediente for the soule health of many that he should so be. Get the hence rather ({quod} he) vnto thy house and to thy kynsfolkes and acquayntaunce, and shewe them howe muche god hathe done for the, and howe he toke compassion vpon the when all manne pi∣tied the, but yet demed the paste all remedye. That countreye conteyned in it ten

cities, and therfore was called in the Greke language, Decapolis. The man obeying the commaundemente of Iesu, departed, and tolde in all those cities bothe what case he was once in, and in what case he was nowe made againe throughe the benefite of Iesus. Euery man beleued that his wordes were true, by reason very many of the same countrey knewe hym before, and also because he shewed by his outwarde behauiour, that he was by the power of Iesu, per∣fitely restored vnto his ryght minde. He was not ashamed to speake of his olde calamities, whyles he wente aboute to set furth Gods glory.

Heare these thinges thou wurshypper of Idols, thou whoremonger, thou dyser, thou ryotous folowe, thou waster, thou ertorcioner, thou robber, thou house burner, thou warryer, thou poysoner, thou murtherer: dispayre not: onlye runne vnto Iesus. Consider not the multitude & greuousnes of thine offences: only regarde that Iesus is he that came to saue all men, and is able to dooe all thynges with a becke. When the legion of deuiles hathe forsaken the, when thou arte restored to thy ryght mynde againe, then blase, especially amonge thy frendes, and acquaintaunce, the great mercy of God towardes the. Be not ashamed to confesse thy former lyfe. For this also shall make greately for the aduaūcyng and settyng furth of the mercy of Iesu, if it be knowen to as many as maye be possible, howe abhominably thou ly••eddest before. Knowledge and confesse what thou haste bene: And where as thou arte nowe sodainly chaunged and become another manne, ascribe it not vnto thyne owne deseruinges, but vnto the free mercye of God: who takethe mercy and compassion vpon whom∣soeuer it pleaseth him, for as muche as he is debtour and bounde to no manne.

[ The texte.] ¶And when Iesus was cum ouer agayne by shyppe vnto the other syde, muche people gathered vnto him, and he was nighe vnto the sea: and beholde there came one of the ru∣lers of the Synagoge, whose name was Iairus: and when he sawe hym, he fell doune at his fete, and besought hym greatly, saying: my daughter lieth at poincte of deathe. I praye the cum and laye thy hande on her, that she maye be safe, and liue. And he wente with him, and muche people folowed hym, and thronged him.

When this seede (as a man maye call it) was sowen among the Gerasites, y^e Lord Iesus passed eftsones y^e water. That he so oftetimes chaūgeth place maketh for the aduauncyng of the gospell: and the varietie of miracles moni∣sheth vs how the teacher of the gospell ought busyly to do his deuoure whē∣soeuer occasion serueth, to bryng whōsoeuer he can to saluacion. Nowe when he was brought ouer to y^e other side, thither resorted afreshe, a great multitude of people. For like as the lodestone draweth vnto it yron, so dothe benefyeence & well doing allure all men vnto her. Whiles the Lorde was by the water side, there came vnto hym one of y^e rulers of y^e Sinagoge, called Iairus. This Iai∣rus moued by the fame of Iesu,* 1.3 came thither w^t the reste of the multitude. For there was a thing which greued his heart very sore, wherein he muche desyred y^e presence of Iesu. Therefore whē he sawe y^t Iesus was brought againe vnto y^e shore, & set al ād, he was right ioyous, & (as they are euer lowly & crouchinge whiche greatly desyre any thyng) although he were a ruler of the Synagoge, that is, a primate among stately felowes, yet fell he downe at the fete of Iesu, and besought hym saying: Lorde, my daughter a mayden of twelue yere olde, in whome I reposed the chiefeste solace of myne olde age, is in as greate perill of lyfe as may be, & lyeth now at the mercy of God: cumme, and laye thy hāde

vpon her, that thorough thy touchyng she maye be safe, and lyue. Iesus per∣ceyuing well by his wordes how weake his fayth was as yet,* 1.4 in asmuch as he made mencion of the extreme ieoperdye that she was in, as thoughe he had not bene able to reliue her, if she had bene deade in deede: and in that he required his presence, and also the touching of his hande, as thoughe he coulde not beeynge absente, yea, and wyth a becke make whole whomsoeuer hym liste: Iesus, I saye, promised hym to come, and so folowed hym goynge homewarde a good pace: geuynge thereby an ensample howe readye the pastour of Christes flocke oughte to be in procurynge soule health to al men, bothe to Grekes, and to barbarous nacions, to them whiche are descended of noble parentage, and of base linage, to riche, and to poore, to learned and to vnlearned. And as he wente, there was occasion geuen him whereby to reforme the vnperfite faithe of the sayde ruler of the synagoge, & that by the ensample of a woman, whiche the lesse that she knewe▪ Christe by the lawe, the more was she to be borne with all, and excused of her vnbelefe. There folowed Iesus as he wente to the ruler of the synagoges house, merueilous greate multitude of people, partlye bicause it was not possible to disseuer them from him, and partly to behold the miracle whiche shoulde be wrought. The nobilitie of the suyter made them more desirous to beholde. Wherefore as eche of them preased to be nexte Ie∣su, so was he payned with the throngyng of the people.

[ The texte.] ¶And there was a certayne woman whiche had bene diseased of an yssue of bloude, xii. yeares, and had suffered many thynges of many physicians, and had spente all that she had, and felte none amendement at all, but rather was worse and worse. When she had hearde of Iesus, she came in the prease behynde hym and touched his garmente. For she sayde: If I maye but touche his clothes, I shalbe whole. And strayght way the foun∣tayne of her bloud was dried vp, & she felte in her body that she was healed of that piage.

In this prease was there a woman that had a fylthy, a shamefull, and also an vncurable disease, and had bene sycke thereof, the space of .xii. yere (for it was the bluddye flyxe) whiche was in so muche the worse takynge, because whyles she put great hope of recouery in Physycians, that mader her manye faire promises, & whyles disapoynted of one, she wente vnto another for boote that put her in more assuraunce of healthe, and from hym agayne to another, beyng continually fed with good hope, and comfortable wordes, she spente all that euer she had vpon them: and yet for all this so lytle was she holpen by Physike, that she was in muche worse case then she shoulde haue bene if it had not chaunced her to medle with the Phisicians at all, who whyles they made manye large promises, and payned the poore wretche with their seruiceable di∣ligence, bothe encreased her olde griefe, and also added thereunto a newe, that is to saye, vnto her bloudy flyxe, pouertie. Suche vndoubtedly are the com∣mune sorte of those that professe humaine medicine. But it is oft tymes seene that healthe is gotten by vtter despairing of healthe. After she began once to distruste the Physicians, and they perceiuinge that she had nothynge lefte to geue them, had now at the length geuen sentence that there was no hope of her recouery, than began she to be nerer vnto health, then she was before. For God helpethe none more wyllyngly then suche a one as is cleane destitute and forsaken of all worldly succours. This woman hearde but tell of Iesu, and furthwith she conceyued a wonderful greate confydence of hym, and preased in among the thyckest of the multitude. The bashefulnes of womanhode, and

the fylthynes of her disease, woulde not suffer her to dooe as the ruler of the sy∣nagoge dyd, but she came behynde Iesu, and at the lengthe when she had wyth muche a do wounde her selfe out of the prease of people, whiche thruste, and thronged one another, then touched she hys garmente. For she had suche confy∣dence in hym, that she sayde secretelye to herselfe in this wise.

If I maye touche but the onelye hemme of hys garmente, I shalbe deliuered of my disease. When all the Phisicians whiche toke muche moneye to put her to payne had geuen her ouer, she happened to mete with an other Physician, who sodaynelye restored her to perfit health, and that for naughte. She was not de∣ceyued in her truste. For assone as she touched the Lordes garmente, the yssue of bloude staunched, the humor beeynge sodaynlye corrected, whyche was wonte to yssue, and well out, as it hadde bene out of a quicke springe. Moreouer she felte nowe agayne the selfe same strengthe and lustines in all her bodye, that she was wonte to haue before, or euer she began to be sycke of this disease.

Lette suche as be effeminate persones, and made woman lyke throughe excesse, and worldely delicacies or pleasures, haue recourse no whitherels for succoure, saue vnto Iesu. If they truste to Philosophiers, lawyers, arte Magike, or Pha∣risaicall ceremonies, then shall they, after bothe tyme and wytte consumed here in, dooe nothynge els but encrease theyr disease, and wynne pouertie: excepte peraduenture suche pouertie be lesse grieuous vnto them by reason that age is nowe spente, and wytte cleane decayed and gone.

The woman highly reioyced when she had, as it were, stollen this benefite of Christe, whom she thoughte mighte (as a man) be deceyued, and kepte from the knowledge of the thynge that was done: or els yf he could not so be, then trusted she verelye that he woulde of his goodnes, pardon the shamefastnes of womanhood.

[ The texte.] ¶And Iesus immediatly felyng in hymselfe that vertue proceded from hym, turned hym aboute in the prease, and sayed: who touched my clothes: And his disciples sayde vn∣to hym: thou seest the people thruste the, and aske••••e thou, who dyd touche me? And he to∣ked rounde about for to see her that had doen this thing: but the woman fearing, and tren••∣dlyng (knowynge what was done within her) came, and fell downe before hym, and tolde hym all the truthe, and he sayed vnto her: daughter thy faith hathe saued the, go in peace, ••••d be whole of thy plage.

The Lorde hauyng more regarde to Gods glory, and the healthe of a greate manye, than to the shamefastnes of one woman, knowynge righte well that he was touched, and that the woman had receyued the benefite of health therby, turned hym to the multitude preasynge behynde hym, and sayed: who touched my clothes? The disciples thynkynge nothyng vpon this that befell, answerede the lorde agayne, and sayde: Thou scest a greate prease of people thrusting and throngyng the on euery syde, and yet askest thou who toucheth the? They that reade the gospell do touche Christe. Suche as do consecrate or receyue hys ho∣ly bodye do the same: but al are not healed whiche do touche hym. The wom••n alone that touched hym with a stronge faythe was healed. Iesus required no other reward for his benefite, but onelye a confession of the disease, and a knowe∣ledge of Gods mercy. Therfore when the woman constrayned by shamefaste∣nes, helde her peace, trustynge that she mighte styl haue beene vndiscryed, he loo∣ked rounde aboute on the people, as thoughe he had bene desirous to knowe her that had touched hym. This lokyng about of Iesus, was a gesture of hym that

courteously requyred a confession of the benefite receiued. He woulde not vt∣ter her by name, lefte he shoulde haue semed to haue hit her in the teethe, wyth the good turne he dyd her. The woman, of a woman lye shamefastenesse, and not of any vnthankfullnesse, helde her peace. Then was there a prycke or prouoca∣cion geuen, to make her to put awaye that vnprofitable shamefastenes, and to wrynge out of her an holsome confession. For what is not the looke of Iesu able to dooe? In this wyse he beheld Peter, and furth with he came vn∣to hymselfe agayne. The woman knowyng in what case she came vnto Iesu, and what greate benefite she had receyued of hym, durste nor dissemble the mat∣ter, but all womanlye bashefulnes layde aparte, came fearynge, and tremblinge before hym. For she stode in greate dreade, leste he woulde haue rebuked her for her leudnes.

Then fell she downe at his knees, and in the audience of them all, shewed the whole matter as it was in euery poynte without anye dissimulacion or colou∣ryng: howe longe the disease had hanged vpon her, howe physicke had beene prac∣tysed in vayne, howe she touched his garmente priuily, and what a greate truste she had conceyued of him. The lorde Iesus loueth suche a confession as causethe the synner to knowe himselfe, and to geue all the glorye vnto God for the resti∣tucion of his healthe, and fynally that maketh him to prouoke many mo to haue like fayth: puttyng vs in remembraunce, that of him onelye cummeth free health and saluacion, and that it make the no matter howe manye, and howe abomi∣nable mannes enormities be, but howe muche confidence one hath, either in the power, or els in the goodnes of almightie God. If the disease of thy mynde be secrete and vnknowen, yet confesse it vnto Iesu, who neyther vttereth it a∣gayne, nor imbraydeth y^t therwith, but maketh the whole. If thou haue openly offended, then make thou open confession, that like as thou haste entised manye by thy naughtye ensample, to vice and synfull lyuynge, so contrarye wyse beyng turned from synne, thou mayste prouoke many to amende theyr liues. That shamefastnes is vtterly to be putte awaye, which bothe enuyeth God hys glory, and our neyghboure hys soule healthe. Assuredly thou shalt be well apayed that thou art rid therof, when thou once felest thy selfe more quiet in cōscience through thy confession, then thou waste before, as though thou haddest hearde the selfe same wordes of the Lord Iesu that the woman hearde. What hearde she? Daughter, the fayth thou haddest in me, hathe restored the vnto healthe, whiche physike was not able to geue the. Departe wyth a ioyfull, and a quiete mynde. I wyll that thou enioye this my benefite continually. O thou ruler of the synagoge, seest thou not? Hearest thou not these wordes? For all this was done to enstructe the, and suche as thou art. The woman was sicke of an vncurable disease, she waxed dayelye worse and worse, and yet for the notable fayth she had in Iesu, she was healed by the onelye touchynge of his garmente. And thou casleste, as one woulde saye, the Physician home to thy house: thou commaundeste hym to laye hys hande vpon the paciente, and requirest haste.

[ The texte.] ¶While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the Sinagoges house, certayne whiche sayde, thy daughter is deade: why diseasest thou the mayster any further? And asson•• as Iesus hearde the worde that was spoken, he fayde vnto the ruler of the Synagoge: Be not afrayde, onely beleue. And be suffered no man to folowe him saue Peter, and Iames, and Iohn the brother of Iames, and he came vnto the house of the ruler of the Synagoge. and

sawe the wundring, and them that wept, and wayled greatly, and went in, and sayde vnto them: why make ye this a do, and wepe? The damosell is not dead but slepeth: and they laughed him to scorne. But he put them all out, and taketh the father and the mother of the damosell, and them that were with him, and entreth in where the damosell saye, and taketh the damosell by the hande, and sayth vnto her. Tabith a cumi, which is (if one do enterprete it) damosell, I saye vnto the, arise. And straight waye the damosell arose, and walked. For she was of the age of twelue yeres. And they were a stoned out of measure, and he charged them straightly that no man shoulde knowe of it, and commaunded to geue her meate.

Whyles Iesus was aunswerynge the woman, there came messengers from the ruler of the Synagoges house, which saide vnto him: Thy doughter is deade. Why doest thou put the mayster to further paynes in vayne? These wordes spoken, the ruler of the Synagoge, who had before a doubtfull hope mengled with muche feare, beeyng nowe as a manne in despayre, durst make no farther suite vnto the Lorde. The messangers put hym in despaire, sayinge: She is deade. So manye are wonte to speake by those persons whiche haue fallen to the committing of some haynous enormitie: as for an ensample, of aduoutrie, inceste, thefte, or manslaughter, sayinge: He is at a poynte: he is paste all goodnesse. Surely Iesus sufferethe none to fall into desperacion, but suche a one as refuseth to beleue in hym. It is the propertie of Iewes to despaire. The good Christian who knoweth the goodnesse of the Lorde to bee ••g••ll with his power, neuer despaireth. Christe therefore holpe and lyfted vp the fayntyng hope of the ruler of the Synagoge, with swete and confortable wordes, sayinge: be not afrayed althoughe it be so that thy doughter be deade in dede. Onelye haue belefe. It skylleth not in howe euell case she be, but howe stronge and stedfaste is thy faythe. When he had thus spoken, he came vnto the ruler of the Synagoges house, and entred in, but leauyng all the rablemente of people without dores, sufferyng not so muche as his disciples, to goe in with hym, saue alonely Simon Peter, Iames, and Iohn, who was Iames his brother. These folowynge hym, he entred into the ruler of the Sy∣nagoges house, there founde he al thinges ryght gorgiouslly, and with great pompe prepared for the buryall of the mayden, and besyde this manye of her kynsmen, and kynswomen lamentably bewaylyng her ouertymely deathe. For she common sorte are wounte to take the death of young folkes much greuous∣lyer then of olde, wher as in dede nothing is more to be desyred of god, then in that age to dye, when it is moste pleasure to lyue, or euer the soule be blemished with the manifolde euyls of this present lyfe. For it litle forceth howe longe a man liue, but howe well, and vertuously.

Iesus therfore teaching vs that we oughte not to bewayle the deade with vayne funerall songes, caused the mourners to cease theyr noyse. Why, ••aythe he, make you such a clamoure and noyse in the house with your wepynge, and waylynge? The mayde is not deade, but a slepe. Truly vnto hym she dyd but slepe, who could much easlyer wakē, & relyue her with a worde of his mouthe then one of vs can wake another oute of his slepe. And slepe is in euery point a resemblaunce and meditacion of death. For it bryngeth to reste the powers of the sowle, and taketh awaye sence, so that if it were continuall, it were verye deathe in dede. But suche as stode by when she died, not perceyuing what Ie∣sus meante by these wordes, laughed hym to skorne because he beleued she was yet aliue, sithe it euidently appeared that she was deade. Iesus droue all these folkes out a doores, whiche fylled the house full of noyse and dynne with

theyr vayne wepyng, and waylyng, and dyd not onelye nothyng at all profyte the deade bodye therwith, but also encreaced the woefullnesse of her parentes, and laughed hym, the aucthour of healthe, to skorne. There nedethe not the presence of suche people, where the soule beeyng dead throughe synne, is to bee called agayne to the lyfe of innocencie, and vertuous lyuyng.

This thyng dyd Iesus then in a nother mannes seuerall house. What woulde he nowe doe, yf he sawe the great pompe that some vse in funerals e∣uen to very madnesse? There are certayne persones hiered to fayne mourninge and weping, to crye out, to teare the heare that manye tymes is none of theyrs, to knocke themselues on the breste, to scratche theyr faces, to caste out wordes that no frantycke manne woulde speake the lyke, full of distruste and vnbelefe. They set mylke by the deade karkes, therewyth to allure the soule, strayinge and wandryng abrode, into the body agayne. They oftetymes crye and call vpon the dead body by name: Phylip cum againe: Come agayne to vs good Phylip. They chyde and braule with him saying: Why hast thou forsakē thy frendes? Why wouldes thou kyll vs with mourning? Thou lackeddest no∣thyng to liue all at pleasure, neyther ryches, nobilitie, honorable aduauncemē∣tes, beautie, nor age. O thou cruel felowe: O wretches that we be. &c.

Nowe put me hereunto trumpettes that sounde vnto the deafe, the syngyng menne that syng vayne funerall songes vnto the deade bodie, whiche hearethe them not: and dooe not thereby take awaye the sorowe of the ly∣uinge, but encrease it. Furthermore, put hereto the long rowes of torch-bearers, and the raye of those that are clad all in blacke, and mournyng appa∣rell: Yea, there be summe also whiche cause horses trapped in blacke to bee brought into this pompous shewe, to cary the deade mānes flagge and coote∣armoure, and with theyr downe lokyng, (for theyr neckes are fast bounde vn∣to theyr legges) to make as though they sought for their maister that is de∣scended and gone downe to hell. What shall I rehearse the great feastes, and so∣lemne bākettes that they are wonte to make? The magnificke, and costlye buil∣dynges of tombes, as thoughe there were litle pompes, and super••••uite vsed in life, excepte dead folkes dyd also declare themselues to be attached wyth these vices. Nowe sythēs euen those that are of the wysest sorte of the heathen, sup∣pose these to be mad and fonde customes: howe muche more then oughte they not to be had in vse amonge christen menne, whiche dooe all slepe rather then dye, and shal awake agayne the last daye at the sownyng of the Aungels trum∣pet. Therefore, to retourne to the order, and processe of thy storye, when Iesu had put all these folkes out a doores, he toke the parentes of the mayden, and wente into the secrete chambre whereas the coarse laye.

For his pleasure was that they shoulde be witnesses of the miracle whiche he entended to worke. Here the Lord toke the mayden by the hand, and as though he woulde haue wakened her out of her slepe, sayde vnto her: Tabitha cumy, the whiche in the Syrian language is as muche to saye, as howe mayden, aryse. Suche as are in a depe or sounde slepe cannot many tymes be wakened, althoughe a manne call them ofte tymes with a loude voyce, and pinche them neuer so muche: and when they be called vp, yet doe they not by an by awake, but beeyng a good while halfe a slepe or drousy, gape, stretch theyr armes, nod with theyr heades, that many tymes the chynne stryketh the brest: and if a man call not styll vpon them, they fall aslepe agayne. This deade mayden a∣rose

furthwith, and walked at the voyce of Iesu, beyng not only relyued, but also very mery, and iocunde. For the soule which throughe thenforcement of disease had forsaken the bodye,* 1.5 knewe the voyce of his maker, and without delaye retourned againe into the house that it went out of.

The more sorowfull that her death was by reason of her yong age, (for she was but twelue yeare olde) the greater was the myrthe and ioye which was made for her relyuyng. Her father and mother were greatly amased with this straunge, & wonderfull syght. Iesus who neyther required reward or mede of them nor yet thankes for his laboure, onely commaunded them to geue her meate, bycause it myght thereby more certainely appeare how she was resto∣red to life. For catyng is not onely a sure token of lyfe, but also of welfare, and good healthe. He lykewyse charged them that they shoulde not blase this thyng abrode whiche was priuely done, and in the presence of a few persons, eyther because he would haue it rather published by suche as he putte out a doores, then by the ruler of the Sinagoge (who should haue bene more enuy∣ed, but lesse beleued if he had bene the publisher hereof) eyther because, in that he commaunded them to kepe the thyng secrete, whiche he knew ryght well they would not do, his will was to teache vs how that in all the good dedes we dooe, we ought vtterlye to exchewe all vayne glory, and worldly prayse. If a man wade deper herein, and serche what secret learning lyeth hid in this miracle, (for euen the very doinges of Iesu be parables) it shall appeare that this dead mayden of twelue yeare olde, and scarcely yet mariable, sygnifieth a man, whiche by frayeltye of nature hathe fyrste fallen to the committing of some priuie cryme or synne, and therfore, because he is not yet past regarde of honestye, nor by long custome rooted in synne, maye with the medicine of shame, easlye be holpen, and cured therof. When any suche offendeth, it becō∣meth the Curates and pastours to folow the gentle demeanour of Iesu, who without makyng any great a doe, raysed the mayden at home in the presence of a fewe witnesses. It shall be sufficient to rebuke suche as haue thus offended and done amisse, secretly: leste theyr faulte beyng once disclosed, they eyther sette all shame aparte, or els pyne awaye throughe ouermuche sorowe and heauinesse.

The fyrst offence if it happen throughe frayltie and weaknesse, is very sone a∣mended. It is muche harder to cure hym whose wickednesse is once cum to the knowledge of the people: and hardest of all to heale suche a one as is har∣dened and rooted in synne by long custome of synnyng. And therfore he ray∣seth the mayden by vertue of his bare worde in her fathers seuerall house, suf∣feryng fewe to be present thereat. But he maketh more a doe when the young springalte, whiche was borne out vpon mennes shoulders to be buryed, is re∣stored to lyfe agayne. His mother and all the people that go with her, make great mene and lamentacion. The yong man is had out to burying, and fyrst his mother heareth Christ saye: wepe not. Then Christ toucheth the coffin, and causeth the porters to staye. Anon he calleth the dead man, with a loude voyce, saying: How, I say to the, aryse. Then fyrst he rayseth himselfe, and sit∣teth in the coffin: afterward he begynneth to speake, at the length he whippeth out of the coffyn, and is deliuered vnto his mother.

But Christ commaundeth Lazarus graue to be shewed hym, as thoughe he knew not where it were: he wepeth once, or twyse. He is troubled, and gro∣neth

in spirite. He commaūdeth the graue stone to be remoued and calleth out Lazarus with a loude voyce. The dead man cummeth out, but bounde: At the length he is vnbound, and falleth to his meate.

It was no more maisterie for Christ to rayse vp the karkas whiche had layne fower daies deade, then the bodie newly deade, who at the daye of dome, will by the voyce of thaungell, rayse and call to lyfe agayne, all mennes bodies that haue bene buryed in so many thousand yeares before: but by thys fygure his wyll was to shewe vs howe muche a doe it is for them to turne from sin∣ful lyuing, who of long tyme haue bene accustomed to vices, not to the ende that we should despayre of suche persons, but because we should endeuoure to amende oure lyues in season, and more earnestly goe about to bryng all that are in suche case to amendement. Moreouer I thynke it also here worthye to be noted, that where as Iesus woulde haue hys benefyte publyshed of the Gerasyte possessed of the deuyll, yet commaunded he the ruler of the Syna∣goge to kepe sylence. For the enuyous Synagoge went aboute by al meanes, to ouerwhelme and oppresse the glorye of the Lorde Iesu, the whiche Syna∣goge did also afterward beate the Apostles, and charged thē that they should not be so hardy as once to speake of his name. But theyr enuye preuayled no∣thyng at all. The more they went aboute to oppresse his holsome name, the more was it preached amonge the Gentyles. The priestes holden theyr peace: The Phariseis crye out, and speake agaynst him: The Scribes rayle vpon him: Herod laugheth him to skorne: but wurshyppers of Idolles, theues, ex∣torcioners, and such as are attached with the vyces of inceste and aduoutry, sodainly delyuered by the grace of the ghospell from theyr olde synnes as from most fell and cruell dyuels, doe magnifye and prayse hym.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And when he was cum oure of the ship. &c.
• * 1.2

  For he saied vnto him &c.
• * 1.3

  My daugh∣ter lieth at pointe of dethe.
• * 1.4

  And he wē•• with hym.
• * 1.5

  And they were asto∣••ed out of measure. &c.