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.

For the earth whyche drinketh in the rayne that cometh oft vpon it, and bry••geth forth herbes meete for them that dresse it, receaueth blessyng of God. But that grounde which deareth thornes & briers, is reproued, and is nye vnto cursing: whose ende is to be burned. Neuertheles (deare frendes) we trust to se better of you, and thinges which accompany saluacion, thoughe we thus speake. For God is not vnryghteous that he shoulde forget your worke and labour that procedeth of loue: which loue ye shewe in hys name, which haue ministred vnto the saynetes, and yet mynyster. Yea, and we de••re that euery one of you shewe the same dylygence to the full stablishyng of hope, euen vnto the ende: that ye faynte not, but be folowers of them which thorowe fayth and pacience receyue the enhe∣ritaunce of the promyse.

For the earth which hath dronken in the rayne that falleth oft vpon it, & hath brought forth herbes profytable to them that tyll it, is praysed of God for that it is not barayne, nor kepeth doune and strangleth the sede, whych is therin sowed, without any frute or profyte. But that grounde whych af∣ter good seed receiued hath brought forth thornes and thystles, is yuell, and ••ye vnto goddes cursyng, whose ende is not to be mowed downe, but to be ••u••ned. And these thynges speake I (dearly beloued) only to exhorte you, & not because the wordes I haue spoken of a baren earth maie well be appli∣ed to you. Naye rather I haue conceyued a better opynyon of you then so, wherby I am ascertayned, that by goddes helpe you shall attayne saluaci∣on, rather then be damned, albeit this similitude vsed I because to styre vp

in you the desire of godly & chrystian lyuing, lost you waxing fainte againe, come by litle and litle to vtter confusion. God wyll helpe you if you do your endeuoyre to attayne better thynges. For he is not vnkynde, nor vnrighte∣ous in suche wyse that he wyll forget your good dedes, & the labour ye haue susteyned, not for renownte, or vauntage sake, but for the loue of his name, the which loue ye haue shewed by dedeselfe, who both hertofore haue mini∣stred of your goodes & benefites vnto the sainctes (by whom Christes name is preached) and yet do ministre at thys present. Furthermore I haue spok•• these wordes because I am desyrous that ye all (among whome there are many the which are fainter then I would they shoulde be) perseuer in your doynges, and not onely that, but also dayly profite more and more tyll ye come to perfeccion, that wher as I haue nowe a good hope of you, I may haue a sure confidence and belefe, perceyuing you styll to go forwarde, and to be nothing nye the daunger that such are in, as thorow a slowthful faint∣nesse fall agayne by litle and litle to theyr oldelyfe, but rather to folowe the steppes of those, who beleuing Christes promyses, and hauing sure hope of heauenly rewardes attayne the enheritaunce of the lyfe immortall, whych God hath promised vnto hys in y^• kyngdome of heauen. Suche as dystrus∣ting goddes promyses loked backe vnto Egypte forsaken, neuer came vnto the lande of behest, but Abraham, who agaynste all naturall reason con∣stantly beleued goddes promises, obtayned that he taried for.