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.

My brethren, be not euery man a maister, knowing howe that we shall receaue the greater damnacion: for in many thinges we synne all. If a manne synue not in worde, the same is a perfecte man, and able also to came all the bodye. Beholde, we put byttes into the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about all the body of them. Be∣holde also, the shippes whiche though they be so greate, and are dryuen of fearce windes, yer are they turned about with a very smal helme whyther soeuer the violente of the go∣uernour wyl. Euen so the tongue is a lytell membre also, and boasteth greate thynges.

GReate is the profitablenes of a mannes tongue, if a man teache those thynges that pertaine to true godlynes, but it is a peril∣••ous pece of woorke to take thoffice of a teacher in hande: and fyrste it requireth that a manne bee excellently learned in the thynges that concerne the doctrine of the gospell, and than to be of moste pure affeccions: it is not ynough for euery man to teache vprightly, but for him that respecteth nothing elles but to the glorye of God. Such a teacher like as he may do very much good, if he loue that he tea∣cheth euen so whose doctrine is corrupte, or whose minde is corrupt with wic∣ked desires, with hatred, yre, desire of reuengemēt, couetousnes, ambicion, or le∣cherous lustes, he occupieth the roume of a teacher to the greate marring of the people. Therfore my brethren, couet not euery where to be maisters. It is more sure to herken than to speake. And a few teachers are ynow to instructe many. Therfore he that taketh vpon hym the rowme of a byshop, and of a teacher, muste often and manye tymes examyne him selfe, whether he be mete to take that charge in hande: and let hym thinke thys specially with him selfe, that he taketh a trauaile in hande endaungered with myghtie peryl, and shall rendre a moste streyght reconyng to the moste highe Iudge▪ if he teache otherwise than becometh him. For hys doctryne throweth abrode hys venome, so muche the more wyder and perilouslier, in that it is set forthe by autoritye of a speaker. And there is nothyng of more difficultie, than in euery poynt so to tempre the tongue, that it neuer speake amysse. For in asmuche as the infirmytie of mannes nature is suche, that there is no manne but he dayly doeth amysse in many thynges, if anye manne canne auoyde all escapes of the tongue, he maye be thought a perfite and a mete manne to gouerne the whole bodye, as it were with the brydie of reason, after that he hathe beue hable to restrayne that moste slyppery membre, that it offende not.

From thys daunger he is farther of, that had rather beare the rowme of a scholar than of a teacher. It is somwhat to rule the bely, it is not nothynge to tempre the eyes and the eares, it is somwhat to refrayne the handes: but of all other it is the most harde matter, to gouerne the tongue perfitely. The tongue is a small membre: yea but yet the whole bodye dooeth almoste all together de∣pende of it. The speche of a man is a certayn effectuous and an excellent thyng

of importaunce, either to the profite or to the destroying of many. It pearceth into the myndes of the hearers, it engraffeth or bryngeth forthe noysome opi∣nions, it stereth vp or aswageth displeasures, it moueth vnto bataille, it draw∣eth vnto peace, and it strayneth the hearer to thys waye or that waye. So we do put brydles in horses mouthes, that they maye obey vs, and with a small bytte we turne about y^e horses whole bodye at our owne pleasure. The thing that the brydled mouthe is to the sitter, the same is the tameo tongue vnto the manne. You see what houge weyghtie substaunce the shippes be of: they, where as whan the sayles are spredde abroade, are carryed on the waters with a won∣derous violence of wyndes, yet are they turned about with a very litell stearne whither so euer the shippe maisters mynde that gouerneth the rother will set it. He dryueth the stearne by a sleyght, and that so great a weyghtie substaunce, is gouerned of the leaste parte of it. Therfore the temperate gouernaunce of the tongue is not to be contemned. It is a small membre, yea, but it is a swellinge membre and ful of bragges, and entermyngleth destruccion wyde and broade, and stereth vp myghty tumultes: onles it bee restrayned by the brydle of the mynde, it setteth all people and all kyngdomes together by the eares one with an other.