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.

For I suppose that the affliccions of this life, are not worthy of the glorye, whiche shalbe shewed vpon vs. For the feruent desyre of the creature abideth, lokyng when the sonnes of God shal appeare, because the creature is subdued to vanitie, against the wyl therof, but for his wyl, whiche subdued the same in hope. For the same creature shalbe deliuered frō the bondage of corrupcion into the glorious libertie of the sōnes of God. For we knowe, that euery creature groneth with vs also, and trauaileth in paine, euen vnto this tyme.

These be the wayes and condicions to wynne this inheritaunce by, wherof since there shal neuer be an ende, & the thyng selfe so great, that it passeth al mens capacities and estimacion, surely if al the affliccions of this life were put vpon one mannes bodye, all the same yet were of no weight but euen trifles, beyng weighed and compared with the reward of the glory to come: whiche men gette, & in maner bye, with suche great

displeasures and calamities. And though we now already haue an er∣nest peny of this welthy life to come, so that therof nomā shuld dispayre, yet by reason of oure bodyes subiecte to paynes and death, the same is not in euery point perfite and full. In the meane tyme by the spirite of God haue we therof inwardly a secrete taste geuen vs, but then shall we haue it fully and wholy, when our bodies are restored to life, and all the miseries of our mortal state are shaken of, at what tyme we shall with e∣uerlastyng Christ raigne euerlastyngly. For whiche ioyful tyme in the meane season the whole engyne of this worlde ernestly loketh, in his ma∣ner wishyng for the day, wherin after that the numbre of Gods children is fulfilled and restored, theyr glory shal plainly appeare, whiche beyng yet burdened with theyr mortal bodies, are with hūger, with thryst, with diseases, with diuers paynes and miseries punished: yea, euen the world selfe after a sorte semeth to be of mannes careful estate partaker, because the yearth, the water, the ayre, heauenly bodyes, and to be briefe euen the very Angels selfe were by God especially made to helpe mannes ne∣cessities. And therfore not so muche as the verye worlde selfe shal from suche miseries be free, vntyl that Goddes children be sette in perfite fre∣dome, so y^t in the meane season it is in bōdage vnwillyngly. For euen in the very dead creatures, which haue no life, a natural desyre is ther to be made perfite: & yet abide they nethelesse this bōdage, therin obeiyng him at whose pleasure it became subiecte, enduryng it so muche the more pa∣ciently, because it knoweth it selfe not bonde for euer, but vnder this cō∣dicion, that as sone as the children of God are fully deliuered from al in∣feccion of death, than shal y^e worlde no lenger be thral and vnder the dis∣pleasures of corrupcion. For syth that we see al y^e elemētes of this world so diuersly altered vnder so many corrupcions, and see that the Sunne and moone, besyde that they almost seme in theyr continual renewyng of corruptible creatures to labor in vayne, haue also theyr eclipses, & synce that the one starres power is also contrary to another, synce there is no doubt also, but that the whole cōpany of Angels frō heauen beholdyng our wretchednes, are by reason of a pitiful loue borne towarde vs, great∣ly moued, and are as farre as may stāde with theyr blessed state, sory for our miseries: Appeareth it not by this, that al natural thynges mourne with vs, and like a woman trauailyng with chylde wyshe an ende of la∣bor and sorowes?

Notes

• For I sup∣pose that the affliccions of this life are notworthy. &c.
• For y^• fernē•• desyre of the creature aby∣deth lookyng when y^• sōnes of God shal appeare▪ &c.
• For we know that euery creature gr••∣neth with v•• also▪ &c.