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.

¶ And I sawe an Angel stande soche sonne, and he cryed with a loude voyce, saying to all the foules that flye by the myddes of heauen: come and gather your selues together vnto the supper of the great God, that ye maye eate the fleshe of kynges, and the fleshe of ••ye captaines, and the fleshe of mightie men, and the fleshe of horses, and of them that syt on them, and the fleshe of all fre •••••• and bonde men and of small and great. And I sawe the beast, and the kinges of the earth, and their warriers gathered together to make batayle against him that sat on the horse, and against his souldiers. And the beast was taken, and with him that false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with whiche he deceaued them that receaued the beastes marke, and them that worshipped his ymage. These bothe were cast into a ponde of fire burnynge with brimstone: and the remnaunt wer slayne with the swearde of him that sat vpon the horse, whiche swearde proceaded out of his mouthe▪ and all the foules were fulfylled with their fleshe.

Lyke as Chryst maketh a supper vnto hys chyldren and seruauntes in hea∣uen, euen so doth he also, beynge the sonne of ryghtuousnes make a supper vn∣to the deuylles & to al dampned sowles. In euerlasting supper of al bitternes &

vnblessydnes wherof they maye eate and be partakers altogether. And there is than, desperacion, hate, enuye, wrathe and murmuringe againste God, and all kyndes of euil whiche are sygnified by corporall thinges accordynge to our ca∣pacite, and after suche wyse as men maye be most moued therby y^• they must of necessitie marke and consyder it. And it is to be noted that S. Iohn seeth these gestes of the deuell in hell, that they are the destr••yers of y^• worlde, tyrantes of all maner of degrees, the beast with .ii. hornes, the dragon & false prophete, all enemyes of gods trueth, religion and of all maner of godlynes, oppressours of the innocent frendes of God. To be shorte, all they whiche beare the marke & to∣ken of the dragon & of the beast, whiche is infidelyte & misbelefe in Christ, lyke as faith in y^• crucified Christ is the sure marke and token of al the electe. These vnfaithfull must lyue eternally in the ponde of fyre, and they shall be po∣nisshed & vexed painfully with vnspeakeable sorowe and heuines, euen y^• deuel & his seruātes together. And although some come out of this life with y^• sworde without faith, yet their damnaciō did begin here, & shal continue euerlastingly.