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 .x. Chapiter.

The texte

For the lawe (hauyg•• the shadowe of good thinges to come, & not the very fashion of the thinges themselfes) can neuer with those sacrifices which they offer, yere by yere, comynually make the commers thereunto perfect. For woulde then not those sacryfices ••••••••eased to haue bene offered, bicause that the offerers once purged shoulde haue had no more conscience of synnes? Neuertheles in those sacrifyces, is there no mencion made of synnes euery yere. For the bloud of oxen and of goates cannot take a way synnes.

FVrthermore the cause why the hye priest of the olde testament coulde not do the lyke, was by reason that that lawe foras∣muche as it had not the lyuely and true fashion, but onely a certayne shadowe of good thynges, whiche rather sygnyfyed somewhat, then brought anything to effecte, could neuer wyth her vsuall sacrifice of beastes (all though they were by those priestes contynually offred yeare by yeare) make suche perfite as came to pa∣cifie God wyth vneffectuall oblacions by the mediacion of weake priestes.

For yf perfeccyon myghte haue bene attayned thereby▪ shoulde not the same sacrifices once offreo, haue ceased tobe offred any more? Now in these sacrifices when so euer they be offred agayne, there is mention made a freshe of the for∣mer synnes, whiche thyng playnly declareth that they haue no confydence in one sacrifyce. Els for what purpose dyd they euerye yeare offre agayne newe sacrifices, if one had so pourged from all synne, that no conscience therof had remayned in those whiche had once offred and bene pourged? For seyng that synne is the maladie of the soule, and not of the bodie, a grosse and bodely sa∣crifice, as is the bloude of Oxen and Goates, can in no wyse take awaye the dysease of the mynde. The onely spirituall and heauenly sacrifyce of Christe is able to doe this thynge sufficiently the whiche thorowe fayth and Baptisme so taketh awaye at once all the synnes of our former lyte, be they neuer so ma∣nye, neuer so heynous, that there remayneth no feate, or re••••orse in conscience, so that we wyl only beware that we fal not agayne into out olde enormyties, and detestable dedes. For soo farre wyde is it from the, trewth that God was made mercifull by reason that such sactifices were oftentymes oftred, that be∣ynge rather offended therwith he required some one effectuall sacrifice whiche shoulde contynew for euer.

The texte▪

Wherfore, when he commeth into the world he saieth: Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not haue: but a body haste thou ordayned me. But••t offerynges also for synne hast thou not alowed. Then sayed ••:lo, I am here. In the begynnynge of the booke it is written of me that I should do thy wyll, O God. Aboue, when he sayth: sacryfice and offeryng, and burnt sacryfices & synne offerynges thou wouldest not haue, ne••••e•• haste y^u alowed them (whyche yet are offered by the lawe) then sayde he: Lo, I am here, to do thy wyll O god: He taketh a waye the firste to estably she the latter▪ by whiche wyll we are made holy euen by the offeryng of the body of Iesu Christ once for all.

For the Sonne as it were about to come into the worlde to make God the father mercifull vnto the same with the sacrifice of his owne mooste precious bodye, speaketh vnto hym in the mystycall Psalme on thys wyse: Sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest not haue, but a bodye haste thou ordeyned me: Burnt sacrifices, and other sacrifices accusfomablye offered to pourge the peoples synnes, thou haste not alowed. Than sayed I: Loe▪ sythe that in the begynnynge of the boke I am sygnified to be a sacrifyce, I am here to do thy wyll, O God. Whan therefore he sayeth in these woordes? Sacrifyce and offerynge, and burnt sacrifices, and sacrifices for synne thou wouldest not haue, neyther allowedest thou any of these sacrifices whiche were wonte to be offred accordyng vnto the prescription of the olde lawe: And immediatlye addeth: Loe I am here to obey they wyll O God, and to offre a sacrifice plea∣saunte and acceptable vnto thy mynde: in these wordes, I saye, he taketh a∣waye that firste priesthode as dyspleasaunte vnto God, to thentent he maye stablyshe the later ther with to satisfye Goddes wyll and pleasure.

What was this wyll of God, who thus lotheth the lawefull sacrifices of the olde testament, and greatly desireth a newe kynde of sacrifice? For sooth it was this, bycause it so lyked his free goodnes towardes vs, that his heauen∣ly sonne (that is to saye Christe) shoulde take vpon hym mannes bodye, and dyeng for the synnes of the whole worlde, purifie all menne by one sacrifice duely made, of their synnes, in suche wise that there nedeth nothereafter anye

other blodie sacrifices.

The texte.

And euery pryest is ready dayly ministring and offeryng often tymes one maner of oblacion wyche can neuer take away synne. But this man after he hath offered one sa∣crifice for sinnes, is set doune for euer on the righte hande of god, and from hencefurth tarieth till his foes be made his fote steole. For with one offering hath he made perfecte for euer them that are sancrified. The holy ghoste himself also beareth vs record, euen when he tolde before: thys is the Testamente that I wyll make vnto them: After those dayes (sayth the Lorde) I wyll putte my lawes in their heartes and in their myndes wll I write them, and theyr synnes and iniquities wil I remēbre no more. And where remis∣sion of these thinges is there is, no more offering for synne.

Whosoeuer is a priest of the olde testament, is constrayned dayly to mini∣stre, and oftentymes to offre the same sacrifices agayne, whiche howe ofte so e∣uer they be offred can neuer cleane take awaye synnes, so that it is an endlesse busynesse to bothe partes, that is to saye, both to the offerer, and to the priest by whom the oblacion is made. But Christe thonely sacrifice once offered for the sinnes of al them which haue, do, or wyl beleue his promyses, sytteth now on the right hande of God the father, tarryeng for nothynge els but that whiche onely remayneth, that is to saye, to haue all the membres of his bodye assem∣bled together and vntyll at the length it come to passe, accordyng as it is pro∣mysed in the Psalme, that his enemyes (who are rebelles agaynst the ghospel) be made his foote stoole. But in the meane season he nedeth not to offre him selfe agayne for vs, because that with one oblation he hath sufficiently perfited all those for euer, whiche haue deserued to be sanctified thoro we faith, in suche wise that none of our olde synnes can be layed vnto oure charge. That I saye nowe, euen the holy ghoste hym selfe witnesseth speakyng by the mouth of the Prophet, and shewyng long before that the same thyng shoulde be, whiche we see alreadye come to passe. His wordes are these: This is the testament that I wyll make vnto them after those dayes (sayeth the lorde) when I shall put my lawes in their heartes, and write them in their myndes, and their synnes and iniquities wyll I remembre no more, muche lesse then wyll I take vengeaūce for the same. Furthermore after that al synnes be once pardoned for euer, what nede is there of the Iewishe sacrifices, whiche were made to pourge and take awaye synnes.

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.

The texte.

For if we sinne wilfully after that we haue receyued the knowledge of the truth, there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearfull lokinge for iudgement, & vy∣olent fyre, whyche shall deuoure the aduersaries. Be that despyseth ••oses lawe, dieth wythout mercye vnder two or three wytnesses: howe muche soret (suppose ye) shal he b•• punished whych treadeth vnder ••ote the sonne of gods & co••••••eth the bloude of the testa∣mente, where with he was sancrified as an vnholy thing and doeth dishonour the spirite of grace? For we know hym that hath said: it belongeth vnto me to take vengeancé, I wil recompence sayth the Lord. And agayne: the lorde shall iudge hys people. It is a fearfull thinge to fall into the handes of the lyuynge god.

But after we haue once knowen the trueth by the ghospel beyng taught, what we must hope after, and what we ought to eschewe, and what rewardes good menne shall haue, and what yuell, yf we then wyllyngly fall agayne into deadly synnes, whiche Christ hath once washed away with his pre••••••••s blou•• in that he dyed once alonely, and neuer wyll dye agayne, there remayneth the•• no Hooste or sacrifice for vs whiche haue so eftesones fallen to oure olde ly•••• and synfull lyuyng, wherby our synnes maye be freely released agayne thorow baptisme. What then remaineth? Forsoth a certaine dreadful loking for of the laste iudgement; and forthwith a cruell and tourmentyng fyre whiche in reuē∣gement of the goodnes of God despised▪ shal deuoure the aduersaries. Thynk•• you that he shall scape vnpunished that hath despysed the lawe of the ghospell? The more mercifull and beneficiall that God is, the more punyshemente shall he haue, who wyllingly and wyttyngly hathe mocked therewith. He mockethe with the gospel, whiche after he hath bene once called to the n••bre of the chyl∣dren of God, wylfullye putteth himselfe into the numbre of the Deuels ser∣uauntes. If there were so greate punishement among the Iewes, that who∣soeuer obeyed not the pryest teaching the commaundementes of Moises lawe, that is to wytte, yf he that was commaunded to absteyne from swynes fleshe dyd notwithstandyng of a selfe wyl or dysobedient frowardenes eate the same, and afterwarde, beyng firste conuicted by two or three witnesses, was done to death without mercye: Howe muche greater punishement then deserueth he to haue, who treadeth vnderfo••e not anye one priest of lowe estimacion, but Ie∣sus Christ the sonne of God? Creuly he treadeth hym vnderfote, whoso despi∣feth his so greate benefite: whoso counteth, I saye, not the bloude of a beaste, but his holye bloud wherwith the newe testament was sanctified, as an vnho∣ly thynge, specially the same bloude wherwith he was once pourged and made cleane from all hys olde synnes: fynallye whoso dyshonoureth the spirite by whom he hath obteyned the grace of the ghospell, bycause that spirite once put awaye thorowe hys vycyousnesse, he trayterouslye gyuethe vp the temple of God vnto the Dyuell. Do we therefore assure our selfes that we shall escape vnpunished bycause men do not by and by take punishement on suche as doe swa••ue from the puritie of an euangelicall and christian lyfe? We knowe hym that hath sayde: It belongeth to me to take vengeaunce: I wyll recompence fayth the Lorde. And agayne in an other place: The Lorde shall iudge the people. Let not any synner flatter hym selfe, and thynke that he is oute of dan∣ger yf he escape the handes of a man reuenger. No man can escape the handes of God. But it is a dreadfull thyng to fall into the handes of the lyuyng god. Nowe the more that ye were to be praysed when ye fyrste began to professe the ghospell, the more shame and rebuke shall it be for you to fall agayne into your former lyfe.

The texte.

Call to remembraunce the dayes that are passed, in the which after ye had receiued lyght, ye endured a great fight of aduersities, partely whyle all men wondred and gased at you for the shame & tribulacion that was doe•• vnto you: partely whyle ye became cō∣paignions of them which so passes their time. For ye became partakers also of the afflic∣cions which happened through my bondes, & toke in worth the spoyling of your goodes, and that with gladnes, knowyng in your selfes, howe that ye haue in heuen a better and an enduringe substaunce. Cast not away therfore your confydence, whych hath a greater recompence of rewarde.

And lest that come to passe, cal vnto youre remembraunce the tymes passed,

in the whiche after ye had receiued lyghte by the doctrine of the ghospell, and faythe, ye couragyouslye endured dyuerse fyghtes of aduersities in hope of the lyfe to come: partely whiles all suche as hate Christes doctrine wondered and gased at you for the shames and dyspleasures which were done vnto you: partely whiles thorowe the instigation of christian charitie, ye of your owne accord became partakers both of the shames & afflictions that were done vnto other christians, or els Apostles, who (the world vtterly contemned) lyued after the rule of the ghospel. For ye were wyllyngly partakers of the afflictions and shame whiche amonge the wycked people semed to happen by reason of my bondes and emprisonment, and were sorye for an other mannes sorowe, & coū∣ted an other mannes iniurie yours. Neyther dyd you so farre forthe onelye de∣clare your selfes true christians, but also gladly suffered the spoylyng of youre goodes, declaryng vndoubtedly by dede selfe that you knowe and beleue howe there are better ryches layde vp for you in heauen whiche neyther the pryuie thefe, nor the violent robber can bereaue you of: yea rather those ryches en∣crease by the losse of worldly gooddes whiche we suffre for the name of Christe. These dedes dyd wyth good cause put you in assuraunce and fyrme belefe to obteyne Christes promises. For very greate rewardes are owynge to so strong a fayth, and vndoubtedly God, who is bothe rightuous and bountefull, wyll trewly paye them, but in tyme conuenient. Nowe is the tyme to fyght, hereaf∣ter the crownes shalbe gyuen. In the meane season ye haue nede of pacience to thentent that after ye haue constauntlye obeyed the wyll of God, ye maye re∣ceaue the crowne of euerlastyng glorye promysed you.

The texte▪

For ye haue nede of pacience, that after ye haue doen the wyll of god, ye myght re∣ceiue the promyse. For yet a very lytle whyle, and he that shall come, will come, and will not ta••y. But the iust shall lyue by fayth. And yf he wythdrawe hymselfe, my soule shall haue no pleasure in hym. It is not we that wythdrawe our selfes vnto dampnacion, but ••e pattayn vnto fayth, to the wynuyng of the soule.

As yet the daye is not come when that after batayle taken awaye and en∣ded the rewardes shalbe gyuen: Howbeit it is not farre of: And our Emperour, who when he ascended vp into heauen promysed that he woulde retourne vnto vs agayne, wyll come, and not longe tarye. In the meane while the ryghtu∣ous shal lyue by his fayth, be he neuer so much afflicted, neuer so much lawgh∣ed to skorne, neuer so muche deade, yet by hopynge for the promyses shall he vpholde his constaunt mynde. Howbeit yf he abyde not styll in fayth, but tho∣rowe extreme desperation withdrawe himselfe from the profession of the ghos∣pell, in him my soule shall haue no pleasure. But God forbydde that by rea∣son of our mystruste, we withdrawe our selues from good begynnynges vnto damnation. Yea rather we haue professed fayth, and therin wyll we conty∣new, to thentent we may wynne the lyfe and saluation of our soule, accordyng vnto the counsell of Esaye, saying: The ryghtuous shall lyue by faith.