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.

Be ye therfore sobre and watche vnto prayer. But aboue all thynges haue feruente loue among your selues. For loue shal couer the the multitude of synnes. Be ye her be∣rous one to another without gr••d gynge. As euerye man hath receyued the gyfte euen so minister the same one to another, as good ministers of the manifolde grace of God. If any man speake, let hym talke as the wordes of God. If any man minister, let hym do it as of the habilytie, whych God ministreth vnto hym. That God in al thynges maye bec glorified through Iesus Christ, to whom be prayse and dominion for euer & euer. Amen.

Therfore it stondeth you in hande by all meanes, that that daye fynde you not slugishly napping, nor carelesly snourting by riot and slouthfulnes. But rather prepare your selues alwayes ready agaynst that daye, and be sobre and watching in continuall prayers. For it shall come vnloked for (so it is the will of Christ) but if it shall fynd thee in them, it can not chose but come happyly. Sobrietie is an acceptable thyng to God, it is a sure mater to watche, for God doeth gladlye heare the prayers that are set forthe by temperaunce and wat∣chyng. But this is a thyng a greate deale most acceptable of all, that you em∣brace euery one other with continuall and vehement loue, releuing euery one other with mutuall good turnes. So as he that is the more watchefull, maye rayse vp the drowsye snourtour: he that is the better learned, may instructe the lesse learned: he that is y^• more diligente, may warne the sluggarde: he that is the more feruente, maye prycke vp the colde one: and he that is the more perfit, maye forgeue him that doeth amysse through infirmitie. For this brynnynge charitie towardes the neighboure, couereth the multitude of sinnes, wherwith we are endaungered to God. That whiche we offende agaynste hym, is verye well washen awaye by doyng good turnes vnto our neighbours. Lyke as e∣uery one hath the fortune of habilitie, so lette hym studye to be good vnto hys brother. Let him that hath substaunce to do withal, shewe himselfe herberous, and bestowe vnto them that haue nede, not grudgingly, nether with murmu∣ryng, but gladly and chearefully, estemyng himselfe to receyue a good turne, whan he geueth, and that suche maner of losse of substaunce is a greate gayne with God, whiche shal repaye al with vpheaped mesure. And thinke this more∣ouer, that whatsoeuer you spende to the helpynge of youre neyghboure, is the good gyfte of God, geuen to this ende, that as it were hauing that chaunce of ••iches commytted to youre credence, you shoulde waxe riche in the vsurye of godly workes. Vnto some God hath distributed some sondry giftes: vnto some, other gyftes. Let no man take vpon him to haue that, whiche he hath, of hym selfe: let him thynke it to be Gods gyfte, whiche he would haue distributed by you vpon other, that of doynge good turnes one for an other, mutuall loue maye be glewed together amonge youre selues more and more, and that there

might encreace by occasion vnto euery one the rewarde of godlynes. Let no man be discōtent with him selfe, in that he is not endued with this or that gift. Let no man also stonde in his owne conceit, in that he hath mo qualities geuen vnto him than other haue. For so it was the will of the ryche and lyberall gen∣till God, to bestowe his gyftes after sondry sortes. No man is Lorde of that whiche he hath receaued: he is nothing but the dispoler: For the thyng that he disposeth, is the lordes. And yf he do that faithfully, chearefully and desirous∣lye, lette hym not loke for rewarde of man, inasmuche as he shall receaue it of God. If holsome doctrine chaunce vnto a man, if any man haue the gyfte of a fyne learned tongue, let him not abuse it vnto gayne, vnto pompous stately∣nes and vayne glorye, but vnto the commoditie of his neighboure, and to the glory of Christe. Let the hearers perceyue his wordes to be the wordes of God, and not of men: and that he whiche speaketh is nothyng els, but the instrumēt of the voyce of God. If any man be more hable to haue ministracion of office than of Doctrine, let him administre his gyft, so, as he chalenge not thautori∣tie vnto him selfe, but ascribe it vnto God, that geueth him power and strength to goe aboute the thynge effectually that he taketh in hande. And that shall be done, to the intent that of giftes diuersly distributed, and of offices diuersly gone about, God may be glorified on euery parte, of whom as of the welspring we haue al thynges flowynge vnto vs, not by Moses, but by Iesus Chryste, by whom whatsoeuer the father geueth, he geueth it vnto vs, as his only sonne. Vnto God therfore shall he ascribe the dede, that is holpen by his brothers good turne: vnto God shall he rendre the thankes, whiche is glad that his brother is holpen by his ministerie. So that y^• totall summe of al glo∣rie redoundeth on euery parte vnto God the father and the sonne, vnto whom is continual glorie & dominion for euer world without ende. Amen. We ought not in this behalfe to seke after glory, but it behoueth vs to remembre our due∣tie, wherwith we may please God. Concerning the rewarde let hym alone with all that we put our truste in. For he shall turne the persecutours malice into your good, be shal change your paynful sorowes into gladnesse, & your repro∣che into glorie.