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

¶ The xi. Chapter.

[ The texte.] A certayn man was sicke named Lazarus of Bethania, the towne of Mary, and her sister Martha: It was that Marie which anointed Iesus with oyntment, and wiped his fete with her heate, whose brother Lazarus was sicke. Therfore his sisters sent vnto him, say∣ing: Lord beholde, he whome thou louest is sicke Whan Iesus hearde that, he sayde: this infiemitie is not vnto deathe, but for the prayse of God, that the sonne of God mighte bee praysed by reason of it.

ANd furthwith occasion is offered, whereby Christes glory and his fathers shoulde highly be renowmed, & withal the malice of the phariseis should be prouoked to murther. For while he made his abode at Iordane, it chaūced that a certain mā called Lazarus, lay sicke in the towne Bethania. This was both the sicke mās and the twoe sisters Marie and Marthaes countrey. Furthermore, Mary was she, that (to y^e notable profe of loue towardes Iesus) with a precious oyntmente anointed his head sitting at the feast, and with her heare wiped his fete, which she had washed with teares. Wherof came a great amitie betwene the Lorde Iesus and this familie. Therfore whē Lazarus was through greuous sicke∣nesse in perill, his sisters (trusting vpon the acquayntaunce that they had with Iesus) sendeth to shewe him of his frendes dysease, doubtyng not but that he would of his merueylouse gētlenes towardes all folke, helpe his frende being in daunger. Behold (say they) he whome thou louest is sicke. For they thought it inough to signifie the thing to him that loued the manne, and therefore they made not further intercession. To whome Iesus made answere: this sickenes is not vnto death. God hath suffered it to fall vpon hym, that by that occasion, God and his sonne shoulde be glorifyed, with putting awaye the sickenesse by theyr godly power.

[ The texte.] Iesus loued Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. When he hearde therfore that he was sicke, he abode two dayes still in the same place where he was: then after that, he sayde to his disciples: Let vs go into Iewrie again. His disciples sayd vnto him: Maister, & Iewes lately sought to stone thee, and wilt thou goe thither agayn? Iesus aunswered: Are there

not twelue houres of the day? If a man walke in the day he stumbleth not: because he se∣eth the light of this worlde: but if a man walke in the night, he stumbleth because there is no light in him.

Iesus verely loued Martha and Mary, and theyr brother Lazarus too, & yet suffered he him to fall into sickenes, and also to dye: lest we shoulde thinke it an vnsemely thing, if at any tyme good folke and right holy menne bee punyshed with miseries of this world: god, as it were dissembling, either bicause so it is expedient for them y^• suffer, or els because it so helpeth to set furth the glory of God, not that God doeth through mans harme procure hys owne glory, but that for mans sake, he is wont to turne the eiuels, which chaunseth vs after the lawe of mans state and condicion, or by casualtie, to our saluacyon, or to hys owne glory. He knewe right well his frendes sickenes: yea, before it was tolde him. But yet was it fit, that his disciples mindes should be prepared and made redy for the great miracle that was to come. Therfore after report was made to Iesus of his frendes disease, he did not furthwith goe thence, but taried still two dayes in that same place, verayly not neglecting the daunger of hys fren∣des, but looking for a more large matter to worke a miracle of, wherwithal he himselfe, who should sone after dye, might lift vp the mindes of his disciples, weake and feble as yet, to the hope of the resurreccion.

But his disciples kepyng silence for feare, because he of late escaping the handes of the Iewes, was thought to be more safe in the deserte, Iesus sayd vnto them: Let vs go into Iewrie again. Whē the disciples heard Iewry na∣med, remembryng howe vengeable and cruell the Phariseis hatred was co∣wardes him, and how often they had taken vp stones to cast at him, how oftē they endeuored themselues to apprehende hym: the disciples (I saye) stoode in dreade not onely of theyr maisters harme, but also of theyr owne. For as yet they had not receiued the holy ghost, and bare a certayne worldely affeccion to∣wardes Iesus, themselues lykewise through feblenes lothyng death. There∣fore dissuading him from goyng agayne into Iewrie, they say: Sir haue you forgotten how that there a while agoe the Iewes would haue stoned you, vn∣lesse ye had secretely withdrawen youre selfe? And will you goe thither agayne puttyng your selfe in open daunger? But Iesus did coumforte theyr feareful∣nesse by a parable, signifying that nothing is to be dredde of them that cleane to Christ: who is the light of the worlde. For the night hath vayn feares. The daye knoweth no suche terrours. Hathe not the daye (sayeth Christe) twelue houres? The night shall not come before his tyme. In the meane tyme, whoso∣euer walketh in the daye, stumbleth not: for why, the sunne maketh him to see and to eschewe stumblyng. But the sunne beeynge taken awaye, whosoeuer walketh in the night, stumbleth, because he lacketh light. I am the light of the worlde, it is right mete that you be guided by me, and folow my conductyng, and not to goe before the lighte. Be not afrayde before the tyme. So long as I geue light vnto you, there is no ieopardie. The night shall come, whē you beeing disseuered from me, shall bee troubled.

[ The texte.] ¶This sayd he, and after he sayd vnto them: our frende Lazarus sleapeth, but I got to wake him out of slepe. Then sayd his disciples: Lord if he slepe he shal doe well inough.

Howbeit Iesus spake of hys death, [ The texte.] but they thought that he had spoken of the naturall slepe. Then sayd Iesus vnto thē playnly: Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, because ye may beleue: neuertheles let vs goe vnto him.

When Iesus had with this saying mitigate the Apostles feare, he sheweth the cause of his goyng furth on his iourney, saying: Our frende Lazarus slea∣peth, I therfore go hence to wake him. When as the disciples that were trou∣bled with feare supposed that Iesus dyd not speake of very deathe, but of the common slepe, they aunswer: Sir if he slepe, there is no cause why you should goe thither, for slepe in sicke folke is woont to bee a token of recouery of health. The disciples wer loth to go into Iewry again, and therfore to the vttermost of theyr power, they doe auoyde the causes of going thither. But Iesus did by litle and litle prepare the myndes of his, earnestly to consyder and beholde the miracle to come. For he had therfore leauer say fyrst he was aslepe then dead, to the entente he might after the vsage of holye scripture, shewe the hope of the resurreccion. For they be rather aslepe then dead, whiche reste to lyue agayne. Neyther is it so easy for any of vs to awake hym that sleapeth, as it is for the Lorde to call the dead to lyfe. Therefore the discyples not vnderstandyng the thyng that he spake of sleape, and waking out of sleape, to let them know that no hidde thyng was vnknowen to him, he sayth vnto them more playnly: La∣zarus is dead, nor he added not the thing that was than more stoute to be spo∣ken, as concerning the raysing him vp agayn. For he woulde rather that to be signifyed than expressed, and hys mynde was rather to dooe the thyng, than promyse it, euery where makyng readye for vs an exaumple of modestye and temperaunce. And because he aunswered them that tolde hym his frende was sicke, that that sickenes was not deadly, but chaunced to the entente that God∣des glorye and hys sonnes also shoulde bee set furthe by it: a lyke thyng shew∣eth he to his disciples, saying: I am glad that I was not there while my frēde was sicke and dyed, and for youre cause I reioyce, that youre truste whiche I perceyue to bee weake as yet, may bee strengthed and confirmed with a more euident miracle. For if the sicke man had mended and recouered healthe (I be∣ing present) it might haue bene thought a casualtie: in case I had at hys sisters requestes raysed hym that had bene newly dead, the Phariseis whiche fynde faulte with all thynges, mighte haue layed for them that it had bene a lacking of senses, or but a swouning, & no death, for that sumtimes happeneth in some diseases, that the bodies lying a long time in swoune, come to lyfe agayn. Now for asmuche as it is a very death in dede, there shal be a more plenteouse mat∣ter of beliefe. Therfore let vs go to him. The going thither pleased not the dis∣ciples for feare of the Iewes, which feare slacke sore in theyr mindes, and yet coulde they not improue the godly and weightie cause of that iourney.

And albeit Iesus was not ignoraunt what thing troubled the myndes of his disciples, and though also he swaged theyr dreade by reason that he sayed he shoulde goe to Bethania and not to Hierusalem, yet neuerthelesse the nyenesse of the place that they feared, made also theyr timorouse myndes afrayd.

[ The texte.] Then sayed Thomas, which is called Didimus, vnto the disciples: let vs also ••o that we may die with hym. Then went Iesus, and foūd that he had lien in his graue tower daies already. Bethanie was ••yt vnto Hierusalem, about fiftene furlonges of, and many of the Iewes came to Martha and Marie, to coumfortt them ouer theyr brother.

The disciples being carefull and pensyfe, (and yet durste they not refuse to do their maisters commaundement,) Thomas whome the Grekes cal Didi∣mus, and in Latine is named geminus (a twinne) being more timorouse than the rest, sayeth vnto his felowes: let vs also goe, (if it be certaynly thus) to dye with him, for as muche as his determinate mynde is, to bring bothe himselfe and his, into a manyfeste peril of lyfe, wheras he may so deuise that bothe shall be in safetie. Iesus than went furth with hys disciples to Bethania, & founde that Lazarus had lyen in hys graue fower dayes alreadye. Uerily Bethania was about fiftene furlonges of from Hierusalem, and thereof came the discy∣ples feare, and thereupon also arose occasion that caused the miracle haue moe witnesses and lokers vpon. For the nighnes of the place caused many to come thither out of Hierusalem, euen of fauoure they beare to Marie and Martha, and of neyghbourlye duetie to coumforte them in the deathe of theyr brother. Whiche kinde of office and duetie was wont to be doen to riche folke, euen for honour sake.

[ The texte.] Martha assone as she hearde that Iesus was cumming, went and met him: but Marie sate stil in the house. Then sayde Martha vnto Iesus: Lorde if thou hadste bene here, my brother had not dyed: neuerthelesse now I know that whatsoeuer thou askest of god, god will geue it the. Iesus sayth vnto her; thy brother shall rise agayne. Martha sayeth vnto him: I knowe that he shall rise agayne in the resurreccion at the last day.

Martha that diligently bestirred her, wente about all thinges with diligence: when one had tolde her that Iesus was come nyghe at hande, she with spede went out to mete hym. Marie kept still the house: Martha therefore when she was within the sight of Iesus (vpon ryght good hope that she had conceiued of her brother to be called to life again) with a doleful voice, she sayd vnto him: lord if thou hadst bene here, my brother had not bene dead, for thou couldeste soone haue healed him with a woorde. Although in dede the thing is not yet e∣uen at this present vtterly without hope. For I know that what thyng soeuer thou askest of God, he will deny the nothing, although thou wouldest aske life in hym that is dead and buried. These sayinges were spoken of Martha with a minde that neither did vtterly despayre, nor yet fully beleue. Therfore to con∣firme her beliefe, Iesus sayed vnto her: be of good coumforte, thy brother shal ryse agayne. Neither did this promise satisfye Marthaes minde, who (because she had but a siely piteouse hope of her brothers rysing agayne) coulde not but feare the matter. She was afrayd verilye, that lyke as he aunswered the mes∣sengers, saying that the sickenes was not deathlyke, and with that doubte∣full aunswere beguiled them, so was there nowe lykewise some mistery in his wordes that should disapoynt and deceiue her hope: I knowe (sayeth she) that my brother shal ryse agayne: but that shall bee in the laste daye when we shall all ryse agayne, for some Iewes, namely they that were of the Phariseis secte, beleued that there should bee a generall resurreccyon.

[ The texte.] Iesus sayeth vnto her: I am the resurreccion and the lyfe: he that beleueth on me, yea though he were dead, yet shal he liue, and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me, shall ne∣uer dye: Beleuest thou this? She sayde vnto him: Ye Lorde. I beleue that thou arte Christ the sonne of God, whiche should come into this worlde.

Iesus therefore to further the womans affiaunce and opinion of hym, by litle and litle to greater thynges, and that he might declare himselfe to be very

he, that not onely could obteyn by prayer, of God, lyfe to the dead (a thing that is redde ofte to bee dooen of other holy men) but to be the very fountayne selfe and authour of lyfe, both already geuen and to bee geuen to all thynges, nor that any death is to be feared of them, that putteth theyr confidence and hope in him, forasmuche as thoughe deathe chaunce, it can nothyng hurte hym that cleaueth fast to the fountayne of all lyfe: Iesus (I saye) vpon these considera∣cions, aunswereth Martha on thys wise: Thou beleueste Martha that with my prayers I may obtayne of my father, lyfe for thy brother whiche is deade: thou beleueste that thy brother shall bee restored to lyfe agayne (as other shall be) in the last day. Yea but thou must beleue this also: that they which shal ryse in the last daye, shall haue lyfe by me, nor that any man hath lyfe at all, but by my gifte, neyther is any restored to lyfe agayne but by me, not onely touchyng death of body, which is not muche to be feared, but as concernyng the death of the soule also, whiche is most of all to be feared. And the soule that liueth, liueth by me. And the reuiuing soule, reuiueth by me, for I am the very foun∣tayne of resurreccion and lyfe. He that cleueth to me by fayth, although he bee dead in bodye, yet shall he lyue. And take not thys saying to be onely spoken of thy brother, but generally, what man or woman soeuer hath faythful affiaūce in me, he shall not dye euerlastingly, although his body lyuelesse lye at rest for a tyme. Martha, beleuest thou the thyng that I saye? Martha beeyng at thys tyme altogether myndeful to haue her brother reuiued againe, geueth no very apre aunswere to Iesus saying, but yet she did confesse generally how hiely she iudged of him, saying: Lorde I doe beleue. I beleue that thou arte Messias, the sonne of the liuing God, who beeing promised of the Prophetes, and ma∣ny hundreth yeres looked for, art come into the worlde.

[ The texte.] And assone as he had so sayd, she went her waye and called Marie her sister secretly, saying: The maister is come and calleth for the: assone as she heard that, she arose quickly and came vnto him. Iesus was not yet come into the towne but was in that place where Martha met him The Iewes then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they sawe Marie that she rose vp hastely, woure out and folowed her, saying: She goeth vnto the graue to wepe there.

Martha vpon these wordes being commaunded to returne home agayne, and to call her sister Marie, (her lamentable mourning already aswaged) doth nowe leaue Iesus, and goeth al chearefull and full of good hope home to her sister: and calleth her secretly out of the throng of suche as were sette rounde a∣bout her, and prieuely telleth her in her eare the ioyfull thyng, saying: The ma∣ster is come and calleth for the. Assone as Marie knew that Iesus was come, and saw her sister chearefull and of good coumfort, she her selfe also conceiued some good hope, although Iesus semed to haue come alredy to late, on whome therfore they dyd not often call by messenger, because they thoughte it inoughe if he once knewe his frendes perill, committyng all other thynges to hys arbi∣nement. And so Marie, supposing that his cūming was not for nought, with∣out delaye, rose vp to goe mete him before he should entre into the house. And so it was expedient for the better bestowing of that miracle y^t was to be shewed. for fitte it was that many Phariseis shoulde be present, which although they came of very duetie for priuate frendeship sake to se Marie, yet dyd they hate Iesus. These surely woulde not haue folowed Marie, in case they had knowē

howe that she went to mete Iesus. But therefore the Iewes that were with Marie in the house to coumfort hir, when they saw that with so great hast she arose vp and wente furth of the house, they folowed hir: suspectyng that vpon a soden pangue and brunte of heuynesse, she woulde haue gooen to the graue, and there to wepe hir belly full, to saciate her sorowful harte with teares.

[ The texte.] Then when Marie was come where Iesus was, and sawe him, she cummeth nye vnto his feete, and sayth vnto him: Lord if thou hadst bene here, my brother had not bene dead. When Iesus therfore sawe her wepe, and the Iewes also weping which came with her, he groned in the spirit, and was troubled in himselfe, and sayd: where haue ye laied him? They sayd vnto him. Lorde come and see. And Iesus wept: then sayed the Iewes, behold how he loued hym: And some of them sayde. Coulde not he whiche opened the iyes of the blinde, haue made also that this man shoulde not haue dyed?

So than Marie went furth and founde Iesus as yet vnentred within the walles of the towne: but abode in that place where as Martha had late before met him. For he tarried there for Marie, whome he commaunded to be called to hym, chosyng a place fitte to weorke the miracle in: because the graue was not far from that place, as the maner was than to make the dead mens sepulchres nye the hye wayes. When Marie was come thither, assone as euer she sawe Iesus (as in dede she was very woefull) she fell downe at his feete & spake weping, the same thing that hir syster had sayde: Lord (sayth she) if thou haddest bene here in due time, my brother had not bene dead, and we had bene without this miserable weping and waylyng. But Iesus, seeing Marie alto∣gether in heuinesse, & the Iewes lykewise that folowed her, wepyng withall, he dyd not reason and stande in disputacion with her, as he dyd with her sister Martha, with whome he talked aparte (the people being remoued asyde) ney∣ther dooeth he promyse any thyng, when as nowe was place and tyme to per∣forme in dede, that whiche he had promysed Martha: but Iesus (I say) firste of al groned in the spirite, and was troubled in himself, euen to shew the truth of his manhoode, ready anon after to bryng furth a sygne of hys diuine power and Godhead. They were no fayned affeccions, that he was of so lothsome a mynde, and in himselfe so troubled, but there was good skill why he tooke vn∣to hym those mocyons of mynde, whiche came not of the infirmitie of nature, but by the consente of reason: neyther was it al one cause why other wept and why Iesus was troubled. They bewayled the death of the body of a certayn worldely and naturall affeccyon, Iesus rather mislyked and lothed mennes sinnes, whereby so many soules shoulde peryshe: he was dysquyeted throughe the inuincible dyffydence of the Iewes, who wepte for theyr frendes bodelye death, when as them selues (as touchyng the soule) were subiecte to eternall deathe, and yet dyd they not wepe for themselues. Iesus desyred that all men should reuiue from this deathe, and had indignacion that hys doctryne, mira∣cles and deathe, should be loste in many one. Therefore, after that by horrible∣nes of spirite and by trouble of mynde, in countenaunce, iyes, and in the whole habite of his bodye, he had genen a manifest profe of hys manhoode (teachyng also by the waye that it behoueth not to yelde and bee subdued to suche affec∣cions, or to be called away from thynges of vertue) the turmoyle of his mind beeyng refrayned and stayed, Iesus sayde: where haue ye layed hym? not that he was ignoraunt therof, but to remoue all suspicion of disceyt from the my∣racle. His kinsfolkes aunswereth: Lorde, come and see.

That aunswere proued that the graue was not far of. And nowe as if at the sight of the graue his sorow had ben renued, Iesus wept. Groning and trou∣ble went before, a token of sorow that with force entred into hys mynde. Teares are as it were the bloud of a minde already wounded and ouercome. But these teares came not from a mind that was ouercome, for they were not bestowed vpon Lazarus that was dead, but they were for vs, that we should beleue him to be very man, and also learne how death of the soule is to bee pi∣tied and lamented, whiche yet men doe not in suche sorte abhorte and bewaile. But the Iewes supposing that Iesus was in suche moode for nought elles, but for the death of hys frende, with whome he was acquaynted, behold (say they) how enterely he loued Lazarus, for whom being dead he wepeth in such sort, and yet were they nothing of kinne. And some there were that would haue layed to his charge and rebuke, his teares, wherwith he testifyed no meane or common loue towardes Lazarus, sayng: Dyd not thys felowe of late geue sight to the blinde beggar w^t whō he had no acquaintaunce? Why than made he not that his great frende should not die? In case he had no wil to doe it, why dooeth he nowe signifye with teares, loue that cummeth out of season? If he could not doe the thing that is more easie to be doē, how did that feat which is of more difficultie to be dooen? The phisicion manye tymes saueth the sicke mans lyfe. There was neuer mā before gaue sight to him y^t was borne blind.

[ The texte.] ¶Iesus therfore againe groned in himselfe▪ and came to the graue: It was a caue and a stone was layed on it. Iesus sayed, take ye away the stone. Martha the sister of him that was dead said, vnto him: Lord, by this time he ••••inketh, for he hath bene dead fower daies. Iesus sayth vnto her: Saied I not vnto thee, that if thou didst beleue thou shouldest se the glory of God▪ then they toke away the stone from the place where he that had bene dead, was layed.

But Iesus nowe being nye to the graue, to declare playnly how horrible is the state of a manne that hath alreadye lyen long in synne, and with howe great repentaunce, howe many teares are nedeful, that throughe Gods mercy he may penitentely returne to the lyfe of innocencie, dyd grone agayne, and fared euill with hymselfe, exemplyfying in hymselfe verely the thyng whiche ought to be exhibite in vs if we will eftsones repente vs of the euilles and re∣turne from the same, wherin we haue long tyme nusseled our selues. Nowe than they were come to the graue. It was verely a caue, whose mouthe was closed with a stone layed vpon it. And that made much to the beliefe of the mi∣racle, and to exclude the suspicyon of inchauntment and delusion, and because the beliefe therof should be more certayne and sure if the thyng were dooen by the handes of hys frendes, and not with Iesus owne handes or hys disciples (for those frendes suspect no fraude or illusion,) Iesus than turned him to thē and sayed, take awaye the stone. The playne meanyng of Martha, sister to the dead man, did also set furth & made a more certentie of the miracle. For she now forgetting what Iesus had promised her, did through the wepyng and heui∣nesse that she sawe Iesus in, come agayne into her olde mynde and affeccyon, and conceiued almost a certayn diffidence. Uerely she feared lest (the stone bee∣yng taken awaye) the styncke of the deade bodye shoulde offende theyr noses that stode by, not considering that he which in the general resurreccion should rayse all mens bodies already many hundreth yeres before turned into duste,

coulde rayse a dead bodye euen newlye putrifyed: She (I tell you) thus thyn∣king, sayd: Lord, by this tyme he stinketh. For he hath bene dead fower dayes. Iesus therefore did with a litle rebuke, styrre vp the vnconstaunt, and waue∣ring womans fayth, saying: hast thou forgotten how I tolde thee euen now, that if thou diddest beleue, it shoulde come to passe that by thy brothers death god should be glorifyed? Al they therefore depending and staying in the expec∣tacion, and vpon hope of a newe woonderfull miracle, the stone by the Lorde Iesus commaundement was remoued.

[ The texte.] ¶And Iesus lift vp his iyes and sayed: Father I thanke thee, that thou hast heard me. Howbeit I know that thou dearest me alwayes, but because of the people which stand by I sayde it, that they may beleue that thou hast sent me: and when he thus had spoken, he cryed with a loude voyce: Lazarus come furth. And he that was dead came furth bounde hande and foote with graue clothes, and his face was bound with a napkin. Iesus sayd vnto them: Leuse him and let him goe▪

And furthwith all theyr myndes and iyes pawsing as men in doubte, our Lord Iesus lifting vp his iyes, to teache vs therby y^t whatsoeuer great thing we dooe, we ought to referre it to God as authour thereof, and withall, to de∣clare vnto the standers by, that himselfe should by goddes power doe it, what thing so euer he should doe, saide: father, I thanke the because thou hast heard my desyre, not because that it is an vncouth or a time during thing to me: for I knowe that forasmuche as thy will and myne is all one, thou dooeste alwaye heare me if I aske any thing of the. For neither do I wil any thing y^t thou wil∣lest not, but thys prayer I make because of the people that stande by: to then∣cent that whē they haue sene the miracle, they may beleue that I doe al thinges in earth after thy will, and that also I am sent into the worlde to set furthe the glory of thy name amongest men. When he had spoken thus to hys father, he calleth out the dead man by name, saying: Lazarus come furth. He could euen with a becke alone haue made hym that was buryed reuy••e and come out of the graue: but this great sterne voyce, was a token of great power, wherwith the sinfull soule that is far of from the syghte of God, beeyng buried in darke∣nesse of sinne, and rotten with filthinesse of enorme crymes, maye ryse agayne, and come furth into the light of trueth. And without delay, he that was dead and buryed, came out byan by at the voyce of him that called vpon him before all theyr iyes And he came foorth before them, hys body sounde and whole of trueth, but he came with all y^e clothes vpon hym that he was buried in, that al they might know him to be thesame man whome they buried in such apparell thre dayes before. For as corses were wont to be doen withall, his feete were tyed with lystes: and his handes bounde with sepulchre bandes, hys face also bound with a napkin. And nowe than was thys a wunder, the dead corse dyd not quiuer and styrre litle & litle, & so shewe likelihod of life returning again as for the more parte it happeneth in them, whome we rede to be raysed to life by good and holy men, but thys man that had bene dead fower daies space, came sodaynly to lyfe agayn at the commaundement of a woorde. And to make the miracle seme greater, he, both tied & harde fast bounden, sodeinly cūmeth furth abrod out of y^e depe secret place of a caue. Than (lest any thyng shoulde wante to the full perfecte beliefe of the miracle,) Iesus sayde to the mannes frendes: be use him & let hym goe, that hys mouyng and lustie quicke pace maye declare

that the manne doth not onely liue but hath also his health. Iesus could haue made the bandes to haue lewsed of theyr owne accorde: but sith with theyr ser∣uice they had throughly the doing of al thinges, by al wayes and proues they both excluded suspicion of forgeyng the thynge, and confirmed the certayntie of the miracle. The twoe sisters aduertised Iesus, than beyng absent, of theyr brothers sickenesse by other men. And in the absence of Iesus the man dyed, he was buried, he was kept till he stonke withall. He was mourned for, with so∣lemne recourse of muche people. The sisters themselues tolde Iesus of hys death, they shewed him the graue: when he had muche people waityng vpon hym, the stone is taken away with other mens handes, and with other mēnes handes, was he lewsed that came foorth of the graue. Here is nothyng left to the vnfaithfull that they coulde lay for their excuse. Neither did Iesus, when he had wrought so notable a miracle, speake any stoute word of himself. He did not checke & reproue the people because their accustomed maner was to slaun∣dre, & fynd faulte with his miracles: he requireth no thanke of Lazarus or of his systers.

[ The texte.] Then many of the Iewes which came to Marye, and had seen the thynges which Iesus did, beleued on hym: but sum of them went their waies to the Phariseis, and tolde theim what Iesus had doen. Then gathered the hie priestes and Phariseis a counsell, and saied: what doe we? for this man dooeth many miracles: if we let him escape thus, al men will beleue on hym: and the Romaynes shall come and take away bothe ou••e towne and the people.

Therefore, many that came of frendly duetie to Martha and Marie, La∣zarus sisters, when they had seene so notable a miracle, they beleued y^t Iesus was Messias, and stacke to his doctrine, the power wherof they sawe before theyr face to bee so greate and effectuall. And truely some of them returnyng home to Hierusalem, shewed to the Phariseis the thinges that Iesus had dooen a litle of Bethania. Therfore, when thys great acte beyng so exceadyng wonderous was hearde of y^e Bishops and Phariseis, who for the euident de∣claracion of gods power, ought to haue wurshipped Iesus, and to haue bene ioyous on Gods behalfe, they being styrred with the prickes of enuie, cannot now for beare any longer, but (to cause the thyng seme more lawefully dooen) they call a wieked counsayl, wherein they consult emong themselues, by what way and meanes they maye resiste suche great daungiers. For albeit that the respect of priuate wealth, & sickenes of soule set thē on a woodnes against Ie∣sus that was beneficiall towardes al men, yet wil they that thys matier do ap∣perteyn vnto the health & preseruacion of all the people. What is your aduyce (say they) to be dooen? This manne dooeth many wonderful thynges, and ex∣cedeth himself daily in doing of miracles. If we suffer him to goe on as he hath begun, it will come to passe, that lyke as now many of the people doeth thinke hiely of hym, so within awhyle al wil take him for Messias. Whiche thyng yf it hap to be, and the brute therof cum to the Romaines (that is to wit) that the nacion of the Iewes hath forsaken the emperour and are fallen to a new king of theyr owne, whiche Romaynes do well knowe that of late a certayn kynge hath been loked for of the Iewes whiche shoulde set the nacion at libertie, the Romaines will make cruell warre agaynst vs: And so with al the prophane

Gentiles shall kepe with force thys holy place, and with mannes slaughter make hauocke and destroy the whole flocke of the Iewes.

[ The texte.] And one of them named Caiphas, being the hie priest the same yere, said vnto them: ye perceiue nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for vs that one man die for the people, and not that all the people perishe. This spake he not of himselfe, but being highe priest the same yere, he prophecied that Iesus should dye for the people, & not for the people only, but that he should gather together in one, y^e childrē of god that we•• scattered abrod.

Whereas this their aduice, vnder the pretence of a publike health, tended to the destruccion of Iesus Christ, thautour of all health, yet was it thoughte vnto Cayphas to slender a deuice and to weake a counsell. He was the bishop of that yeare. For that dignitie, as thoughe within a whyle it shoulde fayle for altogether, had ceassed to be a continuall roume: but beyng a benefice sette to sale, it was fined for euery yere to the prynces. Therfore he that professed him selfe chiefe prelate of religion, being more wieked then all other, blameth the cowardship of them that with deliberate counsell, did further debate the mat∣ter, whether Iesus were to be put to death or nay: whereas it, (thought he) all other thynges set aparte, was to be dooen incontinently and with spede. You (sayeth he) that sitte deliberatyng whether thys felow that doeth suche thyn∣ges, is to be put to execucyon or no, seme not to wey the matter as it is: nor ye consider not howe it is profitable and expedyent for euery man, that thys one should dye for the people, rather than that he being saued, al the people should perishe. This saying came not of the byshops owne mynde, that was vngra∣cious and full of murder, but by reason of the office of priestehode, whiche he than bare, the spirite of prophecie dyd bryng foorthe a godly prophecie by the mouth of a wi••ked man: which sayd prophecie did geue foreknowledge how it should come to passe, that Iesus should by his death redeme & saue the Iewes: not onelye to bryng thys to effecte, that suche of the Iewes as dydde beleue shoulde be saued alone, but that those also among the Gentiles whiche lyued in diuers countreys dispersed through the wholle worlde (but to thys ende a∣poynted that they shoulde once be made the children of God through fayth of the ghospell,) might be counite together, and that the man of I••de, the manne of Ethiope, the Greke, the Scithian, and the Britan, should ioyne together in felowship of a common vniuersall churche.

[ The texte.] Then from that day furth, they toke counsel together for to put him to death. Iesus therfore walked no more openly among the Iewes, but went his way thence into a coun∣trey nighe to a wildernesse, into a citie whiche is called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Now therfore, the Phariseis being stablished with this voyce of the wieked bishop, doe in theyr hertes certaynly determine (which thyng they often before attēpted as occasion serued) to rid Iesus out of the way, by all meanes possi∣ble, as though therby they well prouided for the preseruacion of the common weale: and agayne, leste theyr vngracious act shoulde be the lesse sinfull, they coulour their impietie: supposing they had now found out matter to stiere and prouoke al the people likewise, openly and by the lawe, to put Iesus to death, as a hurtefull man to the whole nacyon of the Iewes: neyther neded they (as they thought) any fault or any new cause to lay to hys charge. Iesus therfore,

from whom nothyng was hid, although the rumoure of the people did not aduertise him of the Phariseis and priestes pretenced malyce, shewyng him∣selfe a very man, al y^e while he was in Iury came not abrode, leste he should increase their fury. But he conueied himselfe a farre of, from the bondes of the citie of Ierusalem, the killer of Prophetes, & went to the citie of Ephra∣im: wherunto the deserte was nye, signifying by that dede, that the wicked Iewes should forgoe their Synagogue: and a newe people (that should not sticke to the vnfrutefull workes of Moses lawe, but to the fayth of the gos∣pell) should be gathered together, and a churche made of them: whiche peo∣ple should also (as the significacion of the Hebrue woorde betokeneth) grow of a small beginnyng into an exceadyng great thing: for Ephraim, to the He∣brues, signifieth encreasing. Iesus therfore tarryed here with his fewe dis∣ciples, whiche though they were wofully afearde of themselfes also, yet durst they not forsake their Lorde.

[ The texte.] And the Iewes E••ster was nye at hande, and many went out of the countrey vp to Ieru∣salem before the easter, to purifie themselfes. Then sought they for Iesus, and spake among themselfes as they stode in the temple: what thinke ye, seyng he cummeth not to the feast day? The hye priestes and Phariseis had geuen a commaundement that if any man knewe where he were, he should shewe it, that they myght take hym.

Now the very time was come, sothly apoynted of the father, when Christ should be offered vp in sacrifice for the saluacion of mankinde. For that most religiouse day of the Iewes was at hande, which they call phase, that is to we••e, a passing ouer: (in English Easter) by that name calling to their remē∣braunce that dede, which was, that long before y^e tyme the bloud of a lambe striken on the postes, did saue the Hebrues from the sworde of the Aungell that kylled the Egypcians: and those only houses passed ouer that had their postes marked with the lambes bloud. Now therfore before the feast which was verie nie, many went out of diuerse coastes of Palestine to Ierusalem, there being purified with ceremonies of their law, to solemnise y^e most holy feast. And to let vs know that nothing is more vnreligiouse than Iewish re∣ligion, which consisteth in visible thinges: & sith also y^e while they take great hede with much vaine deuociō leste they ouerslip any thing that was prescri∣bed them of Moses, or that was added to by the Phariseis: they be not loth to doe that thing on the moste sacred daye, whiche is of al thinges most wie∣ked, that is to wete, to shead y^e bloud of an innocent mā. Therfore, whē there was a great throng of people together, & many of thē knewe Iesus, whose maner was to be present at suche feastes, they wondered y^t he was not there present: and standing in the temple, they talked one to an other what should be the cause that contrary to his customable maner, Iesus was absent frō so so∣lemne & high a feast. From which solemnitie would not he yet altogether ab∣sent himselfe, but to thentente he myght come more loked for, he deferred his cumming vntill such time as he thought best. Furthermore the bishops and Phariseis suspecting him sumwhere to hide himselfe for feare, they trauey∣led & gaue a commaundemēt yea with an autoritie also, that if any mā knew where he were in secrete, that they should shew it that he might be apprehē∣ded. With these approued holy customes, the bishops and Phariseis, that were guides & maisters of religion, prepared themselfes to the feastful day, but in the meane while they vnwares procured the saluacion of the worlde.

Notes

• Lazarus is dead and I am glad for your sakes. &c.
• Iesus wept