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.

Remember that Iesus Christ of the sede of Dauid, tose a gayne from death according to my gospell, wherin I suffte trouble as an euyll doa••, euen vnto bandes. But the word of god was not bounde. Therefore I suffre all thynges, for the electes sakes, that they myght also obtayne that saluacion, which is in Christ Iesu, with eternal glory. It is a true sayinge, for yf we be dead with hym, we shall also lyue with hym. If we be pacient we shall also reigne with him. If we d eny hym, be al so shal denye vs. If we beleue not, yet abyderh he faythful. He cannot denye himself. Of these thinges put them in remem∣braunce: and testifye before the Lorde, that they folowe no contencious wordes, whiche are to no profite: but to the peruerting of the hearers.

It is requisite to haue in remembraunce, as thou knowest, that Christe Ie∣sus beyng made mortall man of the sede of Dauid, hath enhaunced the glorye of the ghospell throughe suffrynge of rebukes, and after the punishemente of the crosse was exalted to the rewarde of immortalitie. This is the ghospell, that I preache yet hitherto without shrynkynge, beyng neyther afrayed of the Iewes malice nor of the Gentyles feare. And for the ghospelles sake I am afflicted with many displeasures of them both yea euen vnto pryson and bon∣des as thoughe I were an euyll dooer. And for all that I doo not so geue o∣uer the preachyng of the ghospell. My bodye is bounden yetto, but •••• toungue that preacheth Christ could not be bounden. And beyng a prysoner, as muche as doeth possyblie lye in me, I allure as many as I can vnto Christ of what sorte so euer they be. It maketh no matier to me what I suffre, so that I maye encrease some gaynes to the ghospell of Christ. For this cause sake, I suffre all thynges wyllynglye, beyng assured of mine owne saluacion, and that they also throughe preachynge of the ghospell shall atteyne saluation, whō God hathe appoynted to this felicitie, whiche saluation is offered to all men, not throughe Moses lawe, but throughe Iesus Christe, who lyke as he hathe suffred for vs, so lykewise it becometh vs to suffre for his gospelles sake and for the saluacion of our brethren: and lyke as he throughe sondry afflictions and spyghtefull entreatyng was exalted to the glorye of heauen, euen so muste we preace to the same ende by the same waye. This matier vnto manye semeth hard & vncredible, but vnto vs it ought to be vndoubted. For yf we bethrough baptisme dead together with Christ vnto the lustes of this world: or also yf we perseuer in the professyon of baptisme, & so it chaunce vs to be turmoyled with the sorowes of this world, it shal come to passe, y^t we shal also liue w^t Christ, y^• is to wete, we shall be cōpanions of immortalitie w^t him, whiche were cōpanyons of death with him: And yf we suffer wyth hym and for his glorie, we shall vn∣doubtedly reigne w^t him also. For god is of most perfite equitie, & wil not suffre those to be shut out from the felowshippe of reygnyng, whom he would haue to be felowes of sorowes suffryng. Yf we professe him boldely in this worlde be∣fore men, he shall acknowlege vs also in his Maiestie. But and if we shall denye him (for he denyeth him that refuseth his crosse) it shall come to passe, that in the laste daye we shall heare that terrible voice: I knowe you not. It we put our trust in him, we do for our owne wealthe, but if we distrust him, he shall haue no losse. For concernyng our opinion of him, there commeth neyther wynnyng nor losyng to him therof. He of his owne nature is true, and can not chose but be lyke hymselfe. Whether we beleue or beleue not, that shall come to passe that he hath promysed, to the godly, lyfe that neuer shal dye: and to the vngodlye, deathe that shall neuer haue ende. Thys is the foundacion of the ghospelles doetrine. Of this see thou warne all men, wythoute disputyng and

wrangglyng with humayne argumentes, but charge them by the Lord Iesus the autor of this doctrine, and the witnesse of thy monicion, yea and the reuē∣get of vngodlynes, excepte they will repent beyng warned. By this manner of sadde earnest charge geuyng, thou shalt doo more good, than with disputing. Mynde not in any wise to stryue with wordes after the maner of Sophisters, nor couet with humayne reasones to affirme the thinge that oughte to be per∣ceaued by faythe. For that matter doeth not onely auayle nothyng to the fur∣theraunce of godlynes, but also it weakeneth the strength of faythe, and at length subuerteth the myndes of the hearers, that euerye thinge is called in to question, and with philosophicall reasones the thyng now set vp now throwen ••••••ne, whereof it is not lawfull to doubte, and so ariseth question vpon que∣stion, that there is nether ende nor measure of questionyng.