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.

Se that ye despyse not hym, that speaketh. For if they escaped not, which refused him that spake on yerth, muche more shall we not escape, yf we turne awaye from hym, that speaketh from heauen, whose voice then shoke the yerth, and now hath declared, saying: yet once more wyll I shake, not the yearth onely, but also heauen. Where as he saith: yet once more, it signifieth the remouinge awaye of those thynges whiche are shaken, as of thinges which haue ended their course: that the thinges, whiche are not shaken moye re∣mayne. Wherefore, yf we receyue the kyngdom whyche can not be moued, we haue grace wherby we may so serue God and that we may please hym with reuerence & godly feare▪ For our God is a consumyng fire.

The more mercifully & louingly his bloud speaketh for vs, the more oughte we to beware lest we despise him who speaketh so for vs. For if they escaped not punishment for despysyng of the worde, who refused Moyses a man spea∣kyng on earth, then shall we suffre muche greuouser punishment yf we tourne awaye from Christ speakyng vnto vs from heauen, whose voyce then shoke the earth, to feare them by sensible feare from synnyng. But what threateneth he nowe to do from heauen by the prophet Aggeus? yet once more, sayeth he, will I shake, not the earth only, but also heauen, to the entent y^u not only earth∣ly men, but also heauenly thynges maye quake & feare. Now where he sayeth: yet once more: it signifieth the remouyng away of those thinges which are sha∣ken, of such thynges, I saie, as are made with mens handes, as the temple, and citie of Ierusalem, to thende that those thinges which are not made with men∣nes handes, & therfore inasmuche as they are eternall can not be shaken, maye contynue. The Iewes do glory & take pride in their tēple, they glorye in their holy citie, but the time shall come when these thinges shal not be. They loke af∣ter a kyngdome, but we see it translated and remoued to an other place. Let vs therfore who thorowe the benifite and grace of the holy gost haue begonne to endeuour our selfes to attayne the kyngdome of heauen (the whiche can in no∣wyse be shaken) perseuer in the benifite of almyghtie God.

Let vs continue in this heauenly temple, & serue God with suche reuerence and feare, that we may with puritie of minde and conscience please him, who requi∣reth not from hence forth any other kynde of sacrifice. If our forefathers were afearde to do any thyng whiles they were makyng of their sacrifices wher with they shuld offend the eyes of men: how much more hede thē ought we to take in these spirituall sacrifices lest we do any thyng whyche maye offende the eies of almyghtie God. If in tymes past he were in daunger who came vnto the holy places without due obseruation of certayne ceremonies: how much greater pe∣ryll then shall we be in yf we presume to come with vncleane myndes vnto God, who is not a bodely fyre (the which as it is kyndled, so may it be quenched agayne) but a fyre ful of strengthe and efficacie, and also suche a one as bryn∣geth to nought and destruction what thyng soeuer it lusteth.