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.

¶ Iohn, to the seuen congregacions in Asia. Grace be vnto you & peace, from him whiche is, and whiche was, and whiche is to come, and from the seuen spirites whiche are before his trone, and from Iesus Christ, whiche is a faythful witnes, and first begotten of the dead, and Lorde ouer the Kynges of the earth. Vnto him that loued vs, & wasshed vs from our synnes in his awne bloude, and made vs kynges and prestes, vnto god his father, be glorye and dominion for euermore. Amen.

In lytle Asia were notable churches and congregacions set vp & institute of the holy apostles, & speciallye of S. Paule vnto whiche also S. Peter wry∣teth, & confirmeth them in the faythe, and vnto the same dothe S. Iohn wryte specially, in consyderacion that this doctrine shoulde concerne all churches ge∣nerally whiche were at that tyme standynge, or shoulde afterwarde be institute thorowe out the whole world. And he wysheth vnto them all as muche good, as he can thincke or dyuyfe, from god whiche is onely the gyuer of all good thin∣ges, & is and remayneth for euer vnmutable & ruleth & gouerneth all thinges, wherunto he vseth the ministraciō & seruice of his angels, which are infynyte in nombre: whiche thing the nombre of seuen dothe sygnifye accordynge vnto the vse of holy scripture. And with this eternall father & holy spirite one god, reyg∣neth our lord Iesus Christ, which is appointed to be y^e ruler of al thīges in hea∣uen & earth, & of al sensyble creatures, both gostly (as y^e spirites are) & bodily. He in his mans nature, for very loue toward mankinde was sēt for y^e comforte and wealth of y^• whole world, & testifyed most faithfully vnto al y^e world, y^e wil of his father in the gospel, accordyng as it was before promysed in all the prophetes,

that he shoulde be the founder and performer of the newe testament, and should be offered vp and dye for the synnes of the whole world, and in the resurrectiō or vprisynge againe of the bodye and soule, he shoulde goe before all the resy∣due of the faythfull, and be their guyde vnto euerlastynge lyfe: whiche lyfe he onely hath meryted and purchaced thorowe his perfyte obedyence vpon the erosse, vnto death. And therefore is he exalted, as concernynge his manhode, aboue all creatures, and hath receyued the moost worthiest and hyghest name and tytle, that can be named, eyther in this world, or in the worlde to come. And he hath purchaced and deserued for all the holy elect children of god, the honour and glorye of the euerlastynge kyngdome, and also grace, to rule, and gouerne our selues vertuouslye, and to offre vp dayly and continually a pleasant sacry∣fyce of thanckes geuynge, in true faith in god, thorow Iesus Christ. Vnto hym therfore alone parteyneth all honour and glorye.