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.

¶ Take hede therfore how ye walke circūspectly: not as vnwise, but as wise men: a••oi∣ding occasion, because the dayes are euyll. Wherfore, be ye not vnwise, but vnderstand what the wyll of the Lord is, and be not droncke with wyne, wherin is excesse: but be fyl∣led with the sprite, speakinge vnto your selues, in psalmes and hymnes, and spyritual songes, singyng and making melodie to the Lorde in your hertes, geuyng thankes al∣wayes for all thynges vnto God the father, in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ, sub∣mittyng your selues one to another in the feare of God.

Therefore you of the Ephesians, vnto whome Christe, our bryght sunne, ge¦ueth hys clere lyght, take hede and loke about you, how and after what maner you walke, not leadyng your lyfe nowe after the maner of the gentyles, which through blyndenesse of harte perceyue not what is honest, but as it becommeth them, that vnderstande truelye the doctryne of the Ghospell, and with losse of all you haue redeme this oportunitie to obteyne saluacion: whiche the more gredelye is to be layed holde vpon, y^• this tyme is so per••ously naught, and ma∣ny thynges flowe in on euerie side, that are hable to withdrawe vncircumspect men from the synceritie of Christian doctryne. Therfore it standeth you in hand to take the more circumspecte hede, that throughe vnaduisednesse you geue not occasion vnto the wicked, y^• eyther they maie be open aduersaries to the Gospel, or elles drawe you backe from your profession. This is the whole Summe of your saluacion, and in this behalfe you ought to be warely wyse, to wynke at other thynges, and to declare that you vnderstande perfeitlye what the lordes wyll is. For his desire is to haue al men brought to the saluacion of the Gospel, if it were possible. And it shalbe requisite for such as take that busines in hand, to bee sobre. For drounkenship is hartelesse, and vncircumspecte, and not onelye harteles, but also rashe and temerarious.

Therefore be in no wyse drounken with wyne, whiche is a thyng vnnecessari••, and prouoketh ••a••ciuiousnes: but be you filled with the swete wyne of the holy ghoste. For that is a fortunate ebrietie, that can stirre vs, not to wanton daun∣cynges or folyshe ballettes, wherewith the gentiles crie vpon theyr deuilles: but vnto psalmes, and hymnes, and spirituall song••s, wherewith to reioyce, and syng, and make merye amonge your selues vnto the lorde: not with vncom∣ly yellyng noyses, as madde drounken men are vsed to dooe, but in wardelye in your soules and in your hertes. This is a pleasure, this is a loue, this is a ba••∣kette woorthye of Christians, leste they shoulde excede the gentiles in drounken bankettynges. After theyr drounken pastimes, sorowe dooeth ensue, and many tymes also disease of bodye. But your myrth is a continuall merimente. For whatsoeuer chaunceth vnto you, whether it bee gladnesse or whether it bee sad∣nesse (gladnesse from our mercifull God, sadnesse from hym that laboureth for your saluacion) you are bounden alwayes to geue thankes for all thynges, be∣yng assured, that nothyng can happen, but to the beste auauntage of your eter∣nall felicitie. But the thankes are to bee geuen vnto God, the autoure of al good thynges to al menne: and thesame is also the father and God of our lord Iesus Christe, by whome he geueth vs all thynges, and hym he wyll haue praysed in all thinges equally w^t himselfe. Christ hath submitted himselfe obediētly vnto y^• father, and in lyke case it becommeth vs to submmitte our selues vnto hym, not that it besemeth a Christian to be a terrour vnto a Christian, but those that re∣uerently folow Christ, as apperteineth, do not grudge to submit thēselfes euerye one to other, inasmuch as he, beyng the supreme head of al, hath submitted him∣selfe humbly vnder al. Let the inferiour acknoweledge the autoritie of the supe∣riour. And on the other syde, let the superiour confourme hymselfe vnto y^• capaci∣tie of the inferiour: so as y^• rather he may do hym good. For he y^t among Christi∣ans beareth moste rule, ruleth to none other ende, but to do the most good he cā.