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.

Likewise ye wiues be in subiection to your husbandes, that euen they whych obey not the word, may with out the worde be wonne by the conuersacion of the wiues, while they behold your chast conuersacion coupled with feare. Whose apparel shal not be out∣warde with broyded heare, and hanginge on of golde, ether in puttinge on of gorgeous apparell: but let the hid man which is in the heart, be without all corruption, so that the spirite be at rest & quiet, which spirite is before God a thing muche set by. For after thys maner in the olde tyme dyd the holy wemen, which trusted in God, tier them selues, and were obedyente to their husbandes, euen as Sara obeyed Abraham, & called hym Lorde: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do wel and are not afrayed for any terrour.

NOwe lyke as free men ought to allure y^• prynces and publyke magistrates, and euen so oughte bonde seruauntes to allure their maisters vnto the fauouryng of the gospell, by their obe∣dient diligence (whych purchaceth frendship in euery place) or in dede not to prouoke them by occasion, if perauenture they be vncureable: euen so ought the wiues also shewe themselues obedyent vnto their husbandes, not onelye yf they be Christians, but to them also, that haue not yet embraced the doctrine of the gospell. For in dede it maye possiblie come to passe, that suche as oure preaching doeth not stiere, the entier vpryghtnes, godlynes, womanlynes, sobrenes, chastitie, and sufferaunce of the wyfe, maye ouercome and mollyfie them, and in conclusion wynne them vnto Christ. For whan they shall perceaue theyr wyues maners chaunged through baptisme, whan they shall see the examplar of true vertue in them, they shall peraduenture be enflamed, the affeccion of wedlocke not a lytell forewardyng to the same purpose, that as they be felowes of one bedde, so they would mynd to be felowes of one profession. For syncere good demeanour hath very sharpe pryckes, whiche, yf a man do marke it nerely, bryngeth to passe manye tymes, that carnall loue is turned into a spirituall loue. That maner of loue is occa∣sioned by welfauourednes of beawtie, and behauiour of apparel, helpyng the fauour of beawtie forewarde. And behauiour is occasioned by the fayre good∣lynes of an entier good hearte, shynyng in her manners. Therfore it behoueth not wyues, whiche haue professed Christe, to deuise howe they maye set forthe themselues pleasaūtly in their husbandes eies, after the cōmune custome, with theyr heare craftyly broyded, or with puttinge on of precious stones, or gold, and purple rayment, and with other trymmyng of the bodye, whiche is shewed outwardly. For what other thynge shoulde come of this gayre, but that they should loue their wyues body for the vse of fleshely lust? And what a porcion of man is the body? This rather they ought to studye for, that theyr husban∣des may be enticed by their goodly garnyshed maners, and so to loue the secret hidden mynde and hearte, yf they shall perceyue her to be pure, and spotted w^t •••• knacke of viciousnes: and if they shall see, contrarie to the commune maner of women, no lyght affeccion in that woman, which women communly haue: no intemperaunce, no wrath, no enuye, no seking of preeminence, no arroganncie, ••o ouerthwart bibble bable, but a softe, mylde, tractable & gentyll spirit. This is an excellent and a gorgeous apparell in the e••es of God. By this maner of decking they muste chiefly deserue to haue their husbandes heartes.

By this kynde of wooing, euen certayne holy women in times past (which fixed their whole hope, not in slyppery and transitorye thinges, but in God) set forth themselues to please their husbandes, not with gold or precious stones, or pur∣ple, but with sobrenes & obedient diligence, wherby the fearcenes of an husbā∣des disposition is most easyly aswaged. So Sara obeyed Abraham, callyng him Lorde, where as she was hys wyfe, & not his drudgeing hande mayde, but submitted her selfe vnder his subieccion for sobrenes sake. For althoughe it be not fitte for a man to vse a lordlynes towardes his wife, yet there is an autori∣tie, which if he in somthynges abuse, yet it standeth with the womans modestie to obeye in place. To be briefe, lyke as they are Abrahams true and very right sonnes, that folowe thexample of his fayth: euen so are you Saraes daugh∣ters, which resemble y^• excellent good womans maners & manly substaūtialnes of mynde, trymmyng vp your selues with good workes, & reposing all youre trust in God: & hauing the fruicion of his ayde, there is no cause at al, why you should be afrayed of womans frailtie.