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.

Wherfore if we be dead with Christ, we beleue, that we also shall liue with him, knowyng that Christ beyng raised from death, dyeth nomore. Death hath nomore power ouer him. For as touchyng that he dyed, he dyed concernyng synne once. And as touchyng that he lyueth, he liueth vnto God. Lykewyse cōsider ye also, that ye are dead, as touchyng synne, but are aliue vnto God, through Iesus Christ our lorde. Let not synne raigne therfore in your mortal bodye, that ye should thervnto obeye by the lustes of it.

Therfore if (as we haue now oftentymes sayd) we be to Christ dead, & so deliuered frō our former synnes, our trust is hereafter through inno∣cent & holy life, to liue with him: & so to liue with him, that we shall ne∣uer dye more: in this also as farre as possible is resemblyng Christ, who submitted not him selfe in suche sorte to death, that in him death should haue any power after, but rose againe to liue euerlastyngly. For as touchyng that he dyed vnto synne, he dyed but once, but touchyng that he nowe liueth, he liueth to God his father, by whose might he was from death raised to life euerlastyng.

And as it was in Christ: so thynke your selfes once dead to synne, by

that your olde v••cious desyres are destroyed, and by that ye are nowe be∣comen newe men, as thoughe ye were raised againe from death, to liue a heauenly and an immortall life to Godwarde, by whose benefite we are nowe made innocent and holy. For if ye this do not, ye liue not to God∣warde, because that to God noman lyueth but suche as liue godly, righ∣teously, and in other vertues. For synce that we are planted into Chri∣stes body, and becomen one with him, mete is it that we as membres be like vnto our head whiche is Christ. And synce y^t he nowe lyueth to God∣warde for euermore, reason it is that we likewyse liue vnto him through the same Iesus Christ our Lorde. And as he beyng once raised frō death, suffereth nomore y^e tyrāny of death, so must ye take hede lest synne beyng nowe once banished out of your soules, recouer in you againe the tyran∣ny whiche it hath loste, and so renewe his olde title of death. As it surely wyll, if ye folowe suche beastly desyres, with whiche the deuil is wont to allure and bryng vs into our olde bondage.

Notes

• For as tou∣chyng that he dyed, he dyed concernyng synne once.
• Let not sinne raigne ther∣fore in your mortalbodies