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.

Loue suffereth long, and is courteous. Loue enuyeth not. Loue doeth not frowardly, swelleth not, dealeth not dishonestly, seketh not her owne, is not prouoked to anger, thin∣keth no euill, reioyseth not in iniquitie: but reioyseth in the trueth, suffreth al thinges, be∣leueth all thinges, hopeth all thinges, endureth all thinges. Though that prophecyinges fayle, either tonges cease, or knowledge vanyshe awaye, yet loue falleth neuer awaye.

Charitie is mylde to suffer wronges, and also for this present lyfe com∣modiouse & courteouse. Charitie enuieth no man, but asmuch as she hath, bestoweth vpon other: Not euill tounged, but pleasing euery manne: not swelling, but lowly humblyng herselfe to other, nor thinketh any thing vnsemely for her, so that she maye doe good: nor seketh her owne priuate lucre, nor is thorough iniurye prouoked to reuenge: and so farre from doyng wrong for wrong, that she not somuche as myndeth to be reuen∣ged: so farre from doyng wrong herselfe, that she cannot in other a∣byde it: but rather reioyseth she in pure and godly maners, and of a rea∣die desyre to doe good suffereth all thynges, be they neuer so paynfull:

so farre from conceyuing any euyll suspicion in any other, that he beleueth all thynges, and despaireth lyghtly of no man, but through a sure trust of amendemente stedfastly contineweth in hope. And to be briefe, charitie ne∣uer fayleth, so farre that after this life, when one manne shal haue no nede of an others seruice, yet shall charitable loue of myndes abyde styll, and neuer cease. And in what gyft soeuer for this time a manne encreaseth, cha∣ritie is neuer awaye, but is a perpetuall gyft, spread generally through the whole lyfe and state of christian menne: though it chaunce prophecying to fayle, or tounges to cease, or knowledge to be abolished by excesse of more ample knowledge.