The seconde tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testament conteynyng the epistles of S. Paul, and other the Apostles : wherunto is added a paraphrase vpon the reuelacion of S. John.

The texte.

The spirite speaketh euydently, that in the latter tymes some shall departe from the fayth, and shal geue hede vnto spirites of errour, and deuylishe doctrines of them which speake faise thorow ipocrisy, and haue theyr consicences marked with au••ho••eyren, for∣biddynge to mary, and commaunding to abstayne from meates which god hath created to be receaued with geuyng thankes, of them which beleue, and knowe the truth. For al the creatures of god are good and nothynge to be refused, yf it be receaued with thākes∣geuyng. For it is sanctifyed by the word of god and prayer. It thou put the brethren in y^• remembraunce of these thinges, thou shalt be a good minyster of Iesu Christ, which hast ben norished vp in the wordes of the fayth and of good doctrine, whiche thou hast conty∣nually folowed. But cast away vngestly and olde wiues fables.

THese thynges doe I beate in with so muche the more study∣ous diligence as I more drede peryll, whiche is not nowe ga∣thered by doubtful coniectures, seyng the spirite himselfe fore∣knowyng thynges to come doeth clerely and certaynlye syg∣nyfye by them whom he hath enspired, that in the later tymes some shall spring vp, whiche shall departe from the synceritie of fayth that the ghospell teacheth and styde backe vnto a certayne Ieweship, and repose the chief principle of godlynes in those thynges, that doo not onely nothyng anayle vnto godlynes at all, but also doo many tymes hurte: and beyng rebelles agaynst the spirite of Christe, shall rather take hede to decea∣uyng spirites, and beynge turned awaye frome the doctrine of the true God, shall geue theyr eares and myndes to the doctrine of deuylls, that in outward she we of feyned godlynes, shal speake those thynges, that are cleane contrarie to the trueth of the ghospell, and shall set out thē selues in the syght of the sim∣ple people in outwarde apperaunce of holynes, where as in the syghte of God they haue an vncleane conscience, defyled and marked and prynted with many markes of worldely lustes. Those maner of men, where as they swymme in∣wardly in malicious rancor, hatred, couetousnes, ambicion and other diseases,

that are cleane contraryly repugnaunt vnto true godlynes, yet for that to the intent they maye with a certayne newfangled wondrefull doctrine bryng them selues in opinion of godlynes, they shall (after the Essenes example) forbydde lauful mariage, as though wedlocke being chastlye kepte were not honorable before god and the bedde vndefyled: and they shall requyre to be estemed for goddes because they liue single, vnmaried, being neuertheles infected with in∣numerable pestilent vices: & are not so free from fylthye luste as from wyues. They shall also goo about to drawe men backe agayne to make difference of meates, after the maner of the Iewes, as thoughe meate it selfe had some im∣puritie in it, where as God hath ordayned all kyndes of meates to thys ende, that we shoulde vse them temperately to the necessarye reliefe of oure bodye, and to kepe vp the sttength with all, thankinge hym for hys gentilues, as ma∣ny of vs as haue embraced the fayth of y^• Gospel in stedde of Moses law, and hauyng wypped awaye the mystes of Iewyshe supersticions are broughte to the lyghte of the trueth, knowynge that whatsoeuer is created of almyghtye God, is of it owne nature good, yf a man vse it as it oughte to be, and to that ende that it was created for.

There is no kynde of meate to be abhorred or refused, that is receyued as Goddes bounteous gyfte with thankes geuing. Thys is a Iewyshe maner of sayeng and not a Christian: Eate not this meate, touche not thys bodye, weare not this garment, to daye do not this thyng nor that thyng. There is no creature impure or vncleane, yf the conscience of hym that vseth it be pure and cleane. And albeit there were any impuritie in the meate, yet with hunnes wherwith the larges of god is praysed before meate and with holy wordes and prayers it shoulde be made holy and pure, that before was vncleane. Those maner of vayne smokes are blowen vnto the people by suche as occupye Chri∣stes busines vnfaythfully, yea rather go about their own gayne. But see that thou auoyde suche maner of tryfles, and teache the brethren those thinges, that thou hast learned of me, and playe the good and vpryght ministre of Christe, disposing entierly and faythfully his doctrine, that is ferre dyfferent frō these mennes prescribed appoyntementes. And thus it standeth the in hande to doo so muche the rather bycause thou art called to be a teacher of the ghospel being not yet of full growen age, whiche is not wonte easylye to swerue in to newe fangles, but thou hast ben brought vp (as it were) euen from thy youth in the fayth of the ghospell and in good learnyng, so as thy contynuaunce ought to make the more practiced & strong: and thou canst not chose but be lyke thy selfe in that thyng that thou hast hitherto constauntly folowed. Therefore see thou teache thys doctrine worthy the ghospell vnto those that thyne are. But as for other mennes fables and vayne olde wyues tales (which as impertinent to the misteries of the Euaungelicall fayth I myght ryghtly cal lewde tales) reiecte them, & rather applye thy selfe to y^• exercise of true godlines, than to contende in woordes with the moste bablyng and most frowarde kynde of men that is.