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.

This onely would I learne of you, whether ye receiued the spirite by the dedes of the lawe, or by preachyng of the fayth? Are ye so vnwyse, that after ye haue begunne in the spirite, ye now ende in the fleshe? So many thinges ye haue suffered in vaine, if it be also in vaine.

If there be in you yet any wytte lefte, euen consider me this, whiche vnlesse ye be blind, ye may easily vnderstand, and so do I, because I wyl not subtily reason the matter with you, nor seeke for farre fetched argu∣mentes. Ye remembre, that lately at my preachyng of the gospel, how through baptisme and puttyng of my handes vpon you ye receiued the spirite of Christ. It was no vaine persuacion. The wonderfull worke of God ensuyng thervpon, as the gifte of languages, of prophecie, of hea∣lyng, and other giftes made plaine profe, that this came by the power of God, and by no mannes craftie conueyaunce.

This spirite of God (I say) whether (I pray you) receiued ye it by Moses circumcision, or els by that, through my preachyng ye beleued the gospel of Christ? Notwithstādyng that ye to Moses were straungers, yet gaue Christ vnto you through fayth his strong and mightie spirite, as an er∣nest peny of the blissed state, he promised vnto you. And why should ye now elswhere of any other looke for saluacion, than of him, of whom ye haue receiued so plaine a gage of blisse to come?

If I to you preached circumcision, and if by trust therin ye receiued the heauenly spirite of God, then am I content, that for some parte of your saluacion ye shal geue thankes to Moses lawe, but if I nothyng taught you, but Iesus Christ, and that by puttyng your confidence in him onely ye found in your selfe euen the same giftes, that the Iewes through bap∣tisme receiue, why should ye in dispite of Christ seeke for the heauye and paineful burden of Iewishnes? Wyse and thriuyng scholers from rude beginnynges growe forwarde and encrease, but ye from suche godly and commemdable rudimentes fal backe to the worse.

The Iewes borne vnder the bondage of the grosse lawe, forsakyng the ceremonies of theyr elders, repayre vnto the spiritual doctrin of the gos∣pel. Ye contrary, from the godly beginnyng of the gospel and your hea∣uenly profession, growe out of kinde into a Iewishe supersticion. They of Iewes become christian menne, and labor ye of christians to become Iewes? What neded vs to be indaungered and become debter to Christ, if Moses law sufficiently worke our saluacion? Why forsake ye now him for whose sake ye haue suffered suche affliccions, euen of them that hated Christes name and glory? For who so through circumcision thinketh to be saued, the same man is fallen from Christ.

Wyll ye in suche sorte vse your selfe, that menne of you shal thinke, ye haue for Christes sake suffered in vaine suche great affliccions? But God forbid, that ye haue suffered them in vayne. Out of the right way are ye, but so are ye not for lacke of good wyl, but for lacke of knowledge, not of malice in your partie, but rather staggeryng through the enticemēt of o∣ther. Amende by tymes, and feare not, but that ye shall nethelesse enioye the fruite of your olde fayth.