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.

Seyng therefore brethren, that by the meanes of the blode of Iesu we haue libertie to entre into the holy place, by the newe and lyuyng way whych he hath prepared forvs, through the vayle (that is to say, by his fleshe:) And seing also that we haue au hie pryest whych is ruler ouer the house of God, let vs draw nygh wyth a true hert in a sure faith, sprynkeled in our hertes & the euil conscince put away & washed in out bodyes wyth pure water: Let vs kepe the profession of our hope, without wauering (for he is faithfull that promised) and let vs consider one another, to the intente that we may prouoke vnto loue, & vnto good workes, not for saking the felowship that we haue among our selfes, as the manet of some is; but let vs exhort one another, and that so muche the more bycause ye se that the day draweth nygh.

Seynge therefore, brethren, that the conscience of synnes is taken awaye whyche feared vs to make intercession to almyghtie God, and that we haue an assuraunce gyuen vs to entre into the holy place, let vs trustyng vpō the most sacred bloud of Iesu, which he shedde for our reconciliacion, and therby ope∣ned vs awaye and entraunce farre dyuerse from the olde waye, that is to saye, a freshe, newe, lyuynge, and euetlastynge waye, whiche after it is once o∣pened can neuer be shutte agayne, the whiche waye he beganne vnto vs en∣tryng

in fyrst of all thorowe the vayle, that is to saye, by his fleshe where with his Godhed was couered for a tyme in this worlde▪ and after the same fleshe was assumpted and taken vp into heauen, heuenly thynges were opened: And sythe we haue a greate pryest promysed of God after the order of Melehise∣deche, whom God hathe made ruler ouer all his house that is to saye, ouer the Churche chatholyke, the whiche churche he gouerneth not as a ministre, but as thautour and Lorde thereof, lette vs also in the meane tyme goe whither Christe hath opened vs the waye: let vs goe, I saye, not with bodely feete into a temple made of stones, but with a pure hearte, and a very sure belefe to ob∣tayne our peticion entre into the heauenly temple, but fyrst sprinkled, not tou∣chyng the body with the bloud of a beast, but touchyng the mynde and spirite with the bloud of Iesu Christ, & therby purified frō the cōscience of oure olde synnes, & furthermore washed in our bodyes too with the pure water of Bap∣tysme that scoureth and washeth awaye all the fylthe of the soule: Then re∣mayneth it that we perseuer in the thynges we haue once begonne, and kepe stedfastly and wythout any wauerynge, the hope of immortall lyfe whiche we haue professed in Baptisme, trustyng in this one thynge that God who pro∣mysed is faythfull and sure of his promyse, and cannot deceaue if he would so that we contynue styll in fayth.

Furthermore bycanse we are made the membres of one bodye let vs cleaue together by mutuall charitee and agrement consideryng with out selues how muche eche of vs hath profited in the profession of the ghospell, not bycause to enuye hym who hath ouergone vs, or to despise him that is ouergone or left behynde, but to prouoke to charitie and good workes by good example and exhortactions gyuyng one to an other. The whiche thyng shall come to passe, if the goyng forewarde of oure brother do make vs more desyrouse to lyue well and vertuouslye, and also yf we, perceyuynge anye to be slacke in goyng fore∣warde, doe then with a brotherly carefulnes prycke him forthe to better thyn∣ges, alwayes reioysynge at them whyche goo before, and makynge moche of those that do their diligence, not suffring any one to perishe from our flocke by reason he is forsaken, as some (occasion seruynge thereunto) are wont to leaue of from their good begynnynges: But let one of vs by al manoure of wayes and meanes possible styre and encourage an other to go forthe to the ende in that we fyrst beganne. And thys thynge ought ye so muche the more earnestly to doe, bycause ye see that the daye of the Lorde is at hande, whiche will gyue euery man rewardes accordyng vnto his desertes, and leaue no place or opor∣tunitie to amende what hath bene done amisse, but whatsoeuer hath-bene done shall be then examyned with exacte iudgement. And suche trespases as are cō∣mitted by erroure or frayltie of man shall easlye be pardoned.