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.

Knowledge your fautes one to another: and praye one for another, y^• ye may be hea∣led. For the feruent prayer of a ryghteous manne auayleth muche. Helyas was a man

mortall euen as we are, and he prayed in hys prayer that it myght not rayne: and it ray∣ned not on the earthe by the space of tore yeares and s••••e monethes. And he praied againe, and the heauē gaue ra••••••, and the earth brought forth her frute. Brethren, if any of you do erre from the trueth and ano••her conue••••e hym; let the same knowe that he whiche con∣uerteth the synner from go••ng astraye out of his waye, shal saue a soule from death, and shall by de the multytude of synnes.

And forasmuche as the life of manne consisteth not without light and day∣ly offences, it shalbe conuenyent•• to vse a dayly remedie, that you maye bothe releue euery one other with your mutuall prayers, and acknowlage euery one hys faulte to other. And so shall the remedy be auayleable▪ if thou acknowlage thy disease and desire helpe. Supersticious folkes suppose a secret hydden ef∣ficacie to be in theyr enchauntmentes and prayers, but in very dede the prayer of a righteous manne is muche worthe, whiche through faithe obteyneth what so euer it desireth of God. Vpon this condicyon Christe made couenaunt with vs, that what so euer we shall aske in a faythfull trusty confidence, we shoulde obteyne it, onles it be suche a thynge, as were beste not to be obteyned. Would you fayne haue a doctrine of thys matter? Helyas was a pure manne, he was a mortall manne as we are, and yet at his prayers it rayned not vpon the earthe thre yeares and sixe monethes. He prayed agayne, that it myght rayne, and a∣none the heauens, as hauynge hearde hys prayers, gaue rayne, and the earthe brought forthe his frute. Incase the heauen be obedient to the prayers of one godly manne, as though it were bewytched: is it any maruayle, if God beynge moste readye to forgeue, be pleased at the prayers of many? Now weight this, brethren, if it be godly, if it be the partes of christyan loue, to ease the sickenes of an other mannes bodye through commune prayers: how muche more indif∣ferent reason is it, that we shoulde succour them that be diseased in mynde? For it is no greate matter to obteyne this by prayer, that it may be somwhat longer before deathe happen to this man or that man, howbeit it muste nedes comme ones: but it is a great matter to haue aboyded the disease of minde. Therfore if there be any among you, that erre from the Gospelles veritie, ether to muche cleauyng to the lawe of Moses, or be a stubburne folower of heathen relygion deliuered of the elders, let no man thinke that he should be dryuen awaye with scoldyng, but it behoueth rather to endeuour with all▪ studies to this ende, that he maye turne and re••ent from hys errour. For who so euer doeth thus, shall doo God a greate sacrifice, who wisheth not the deathe of a synner but rather that he may turne and lyue. For that man doeth a great feate, that pre∣serueth the soule from deathe, delyuerynge hys brother from syn∣nes, wherby he was holden in subieccyon of deathe. Nether in the meane ••yme shall he wante hys rewarde: for Christe shall forgeue hym hys syn∣nes agayne, how many so euer they be, that shall kepe his brother from destruc∣••yon.