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.

Of the thynges whiche we haue spoken, this is the pith: that we haue suche an hye prieste as sitteth on the ryght hande of the seate of maiestie in heauen, and is a mynister of holye thynges, and of the trewe tabernacle, whiche God pyght, and not manne. For euerye hye prieste is ordeined to offer giftes and sacrifices: wherfore it is of necessitie, that this man haue somewhat also to offer. For he were not a priest, if he were on the earth where are priestes that according to the lawe offer giftes which serue vnto thensaumple, & shadow of heauenly thynges: euen as the answer of God was geuen vnto Moses, when he was a∣bout to finishe the tabernacle. Take hede (said he) that thou made al thynges accordyng to the patron whiche is shewed to thee in the mount.

OF the thynges whiche we haue so largelye entreated of before, the chiefe poynte and effecte is, that hereafter we haue not in admiracion Moses hye prieste, synce wee haue one soe excellente in all poyntes that he sytteth on the ryght syde of the royall seate of god in heauen, to the entente he maye duely make, not those figuratiue sacrifices prescribed by Moses, but the trewe and heauenly sacrifices, and bee within the tabernacle,

I meane not that figuratyue tabernacle pytched of man, but in the secrete places of the true tabernacle pitched by almightie God, disseuering heauen∣ly thinges from earthly. Furthermore sens that euery hye priest is wonte to be ordeyned for this intente, that he may offer giftes and sacrifices to God, howe were it possible for him to be a lawful hie prieste whiche hath nothyng to offer? Nowe if it so be that an earthly priesthood were geuen to Christ af∣ter lyke manour as vnto other, then were he no priest, for that he neuer offe∣red, ne offereth any of those sacrifices whiche are accustoinably offered of o∣ther priestes, according to the prescripcion of the lawe, the whiche sacrifices are nothing els but shadowes, and certayne figures of the heauenly temple and celestiall sacrifyces. For whatsoeuer Christe did, euen in earth, because it was not done after the fleshe but after the spirite, & came from heauen and thither rēdeth, thesame compared vnto the grossenes of Moses priesthood, is woorthely called heauenly. And this god seemeth to haue signifyed when prescrybyng vnto Moses a forme to buylde a temple, he speaketh in thys wise: Se thou make all thinges according to the patron whiche was shew∣ed thee in the mounte. For Moses sawe with his spiritual iyes, an other ho∣lyer manour of temple: an other manour of sacrifyces and priesthood, after the patron whereof, ••edrew out in the meane season a certayn grosse figure of thinges, till the tyme should come that god woulde haue shadowes geue place vnto trew thynges. Nowe is the same tyme already presente.