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.

Therfore brethren, we are detters, not to the fleshe, to liue after the fleshe: For if ye liue after the fleshe, ye shal dye. But if ye (through the spirite) do mortifye the dedes of the body, ye shal liue: For as many as are led by the spirite of God, they are the sonnes of God, For ye haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare any more, but ye haue receiued the spirite of adopcion, wherby we crye: Abba father. The same spirite cer∣tifieth our spirit, that we are the sonnes of God. If we be sonnes, then are we also the heires I meane of God, and heires annexed with Christ, If so be that we suffre with him, that we may be also glorified together with him.

Vnder this spirit now therfore liue we, his subiectes are we, it must we obey, & not the fleshe, whervnto we are now deade. For assone as we once begunne to be one with Christ, we cast of the bondage, wherwith we were to the fleshe endaungered. Syth this is so, God forbid that we hereafter liue, as the fleshe ruleth, whiche fleshe should rather to the spirite be obe∣dient. Remēbre that ye be called to life, but if ye liue carnally, then runne ye headlong to deathwarde, but contrary if by the power of the spirit ye* 1.1 suppresse al fleshely desyres, after suche mortifiyng of them, ye shal liue. Nor is it to liue after the gouernaunce of the spirite of God, a paynefull profession. For albeit the same call you foorth to great & weightie enter∣prises, yet are ye glad & willyng to vndertake them, because by it in you is enkienled a feruent charitie, to whom nothyng can be hard, nothyng can be but swete & pleasaunt. As the body liueth with his bodily spirite, so d••eth the soule through a heauenly. If our bodily spirites & natural powers be weake and faint, the wholle body is made dul & heauye, but if the same be quicke and lustie, the wholle bodye is full of courage. So likewyse al suche as are with the spirite of God ledde and moued, are his

childrē. Suche as, are towarde childrē, resemble theyr fathers goodnes, with a mery chere and frely doyng al suche thinges as they shal suppose wyll please them. Bondslaues, because there is betwene them and theyr maisters no natural knotte, for feare of punishement abstaine frō euil, & beyng violētly cōpelled, do theyr duties. Iewes, whiche are with y^• bon∣dage of the lawe delited, this wyse do, but ye whiche are once deliuered* 1.2 frō such bōdage, wyl nomore so fal to the same, that with feare it be nede∣ful to compel you. Endued are ye with the spirite of God, through whom ye are by adopcion receiued into the nūbre not of seruaūtes, but of Gods owne children. This spirit putteth vs in suche a sure trust and cōfidence, that in all our distresses we may boldly speake vnto God those wordes, whiche fathers most gentilly & fauourably are wont to geue eare vnto, callyng vpō him: O father, father. Whiche worde we durst not be so bold in our troubles lamētably to speake vnto him, were we not in assuraūce, both that we are his children, & that he also is our merciful father, as lōg as we liue after his cōmaundement, not by cōpulsion (I saye) but of free* 1.3 wyl and gladly. For were it so, that he accoumpted vs not for his childrē, neuer would he haue geuen vs this his holy spirit. This benefite of God therfore, whether ye cal it a pledge or token of fatherly loue, wel assureth our consciences, that we are his children, whiche gaue vs this pledge. Further then, if we be his children & not his seruauntes, than are we also his heyres. The heyres (I say) of God from whō as author & begynner, al thinges come, & ioynte inheritors with Christ, into whose body beyng graffed, we now haue the same father, that he hath, & through him enioy one comen enheritaunce. It shal we yet none otherwyse possesse, but by goyng the same pathe waye to it, by whiche it pleased Christ him selfe to walke. He by sufferaūce of miseries came to the possession of his glorious inheritaūce, he by obedience came to his kyngdome, he by reproche came to glory, & by death attained to life euerlastyng. Suffer must we therfore with him, that we may of his ioyes be partakers, obedient must we be with him, that we may w^t him raigne euerlastyngly, suffre must we also worldely shame & vilany, that with him we in heauen may be glorifyed, and finally for a season dye also with him, that we may in his kyngdome liue for euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For if ye liue after the flesh ye shal dye. &c
• * 1.2

  But ye haue receiued the spirite of ad∣opcion▪ &c.
• * 1.3

  This spirite certifieth our spirit, that we are y^e son∣nes of God.