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.

When I was come to Troas, for Christes Gospels sake (and a greate doore was ape•••••• vnto me of the Lorde) I had no reste in my spirite, because I founde not Titus my brother: but toke my leaue of them, and wente awaye into Macedonia. Thankes bee vnto God, whiche al∣wayes geueth vs the victorye in Christe, and openeth the fauoure of his knowledge by vs in e∣uery place. For we are vnto god the swete fauour of Christe, among them that are saued, and ••∣mong them whiche perishe. To the one parte are we the sauoure of death vnto death. And vnto the other parte are wee the sauoure of lyfe vnto lyfe: And who is meete vnto those thynges? •••• we are not as the moste parte are, whiche chop and chaunge with the worde of God: but •••••• •••••••• of purenes, and by the power of God, in the sighe of God, so speake we in Christe.

But after that I came to Troas, there to preache the Gospell of Christ, where there was by the fauoure of god a plentifull hope of encrease opened vnto me, greately was my mynde disguieted, becaused therwyse than I loked, I found not my brother and felowe Titus there, of whome I hadde greate neede, to beare out that greate and weightie matter.

Leauing them therefore I went into Macedonia, and that not without great ieopardye, but thankes geue I vnto god, whiche victoriously carrieth aboute by vs the triumphe of christian religion, makyng it more glorious, by that the glorye of hys Gospell dailye spreadeth more and more, whiche by our prea∣chyng enlargeth in all places abrode the knoweledge of hymselfe, vsyng vs, as though we were swete incense▪ For when we preache in all places of the world the glorye of his gospell, what elles dooe wee, but spreade abrode the swete fauoure of Christe, of it selfe in deede (as I saye) to all menne pleasaunte and holsome, but yet to some throughe theyr owne faulte deadlye poyson: holsom to suche, as throughe fayth in the gospell obteyne saluacion, vnholsome and deathlye to suche, as refuse it, thereby doublyng theyr damnacion to deathe euerlastyng, as menne encreasyng theyr former offences wyth vnthankefulnes and stubbernesse of myndes, But who is meete this to dooe and preache? Whoso myndeth to laboure in this, muste therein nothyng regarde, but the onely glorye of Christe. But some there bee, whiche teachyng the gospell either for honoure, or for aduauntage, spreade not somuche abrode the swete sauers of Christe, as theyr owne countrefaite deuises, profityng themselfes, and no•• Christe, whose manners wee abhorre. Nor corrupte wee the woorde of God wyth worldlye doctryne sekyng oure own commodities, but euen with a pure hearte teache it, as a thyng, that came from god, and not of our selfes, and that to the glorie of Iesus Christe, as god hymselfe is witnesse.