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 yf there had bene a lawe giuen whiche coulde haue gyuen lyfe: then no doubte righteousnes should haue come by the lawe. But the scripture concludeth all thinges vnder syn. That the promise by the fayth of Iesus Christe shoulde be gyuen vnto them that beleue. But before fayth came, we were kepte vnder the lawe, and were shutte vp vnto the faythe, that should afterwarde be declared.

For yf there had suche a lawe bene gyuen, as coulde vnfaynedlye and truly haue giuen lyfe, then should the same neuer haue bene abrogate, nor shoulde we haue had any nede of the healpe and ayde of the ghospell, for asmuche as then by the lawe euery man might haue attayned vnto per∣fite righteousenes. Sufficient had it bene therfore in that case to truste vpon the lawe, for all them that were of euerlastyng saluacion desyrouse. But nowe, leste men vpon boldenes of theyr workes myghte despise the* 1.1 grace of Christe, for this purpose was the lawe gyuen, declaryng and pre∣scribyng, what was to be done, and what was to be auoyded, that all men shoulde perceyue themself in daunger of syn, whyles they shūne not, that they by the lawe knewe was euyll, being vndoubtedly ouercommen with theyr noughtie desyers, and by these meanes knowyng theyr own disease, myght more willyngly embrace the remedie to be offered by the grace of the gospell. For before the lawe was gyuen, menne without correccion fell to syn, to whome all that lyked, was streyght thought lawfull, and in de∣fence of mennes synfull lyfe some thyng had they to laye for theyr excuse. But the lawe had them in suche a brake, that they coulde not chuse, but graunt, that they had well deserued punishement, for somuche as it could not be denied, but that it was good and honeste, whiche was by the lawe commaunded. After that god therfore by his great wysedom had by suche meanes taken awaye our vayne confidence in our selfes, and had sette be∣fore oure iyen our synfull lyuyng, than declareth and perfourmeth he his promise made to Abraham, and that, whiche the Iewes only loked for, as peculiarlye belongyng to them, beyng as they sayed, the only chyldren of Abraham, generally to belong to all suche, as were through fayth becom∣men Abrahams very chyldren, not for theyr deserte of keapyng the lawe, but because they with all theyr heartes put theyr affiaunce in the ghospel, and beleued also that through the death of Iesus Christe, godly lyfe shal all people haue, and receyue glory also and saluacion.

For this purpose lykewyse for a season serued Moses lawe, that partly with manacyng of punishmentes, partly w^t hope of promises made therin

and partly with rude expressing of Christe to come, the Iewes after suche sorte within theyr bondes, leste Christe at his commyng should haue foūd them strayed out into all kyndes of mischiefe, neither worthy, nor yet apte to receyue the grace of his gospell. By the promises then of the lawe had the Iewes a certayne rude knowledge of the misterie of the gospell. By the obseruaunce of this lawe then were menne so long stayed and vnder∣pyght, vntyll that was by the ghospell opened, whiche the law in shadow∣es represented, that yf men wyll nowe awake, they maye clearlye see euen that put in vre, wherof they before had but a dreame.

Notes

• * 1.1

  But y^• scrip∣ture conclu∣deth all thin∣ges vnder sinne.