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.

Finally my brethren, be stronge through the Lorde and through the power of his might. Put on all the armoure of God, that ye maye stande againste the assaultes of the deuill. For we wrestle not against bloode and fleshe: but againste rule, against power, against worldly ru∣lers, euen gouernoures of the darckenes of this worlde, against spirituall cra••tyues in heuē. y thinges. Whertore take vnto you the whole armoure of God, that ye maye be hable to resist in the euell daie, and stande perfecte in all thynges. Stande therfore, and your loynes girde w^t the trueth, hauyng on the brestplate of righteousnes, and hauing shoes on youre ••ere, that ye maye bee prepared for the Gospell of peace. Aboue all, take to you the shilde of faithe, where w^t ye maye quenche all the ficrie dartes of the wicked. And take the helmet of saluacion, and the ••••••••de of the spirite, whiche is the woorde of God.

Now this remayneth for a finall conclusyon, that forasmuche as the wieked doe lay sundry engines to ouerthrowe your tranquillitie, you must also bee ar∣med with a strong lustie inward conscience to resist them, not with the ayde of your owne powers, but by the meane of the lorde Jesus your defendour, who will not suffer hys bodye to be destitute. Verely as for vs, we are feble mem∣bers, but he is valeaunt and mightie, that hath taken vpon him to be our pro∣tectour. Desyre therefore of him all maner of spirituall armour and weapons, that therwith being in euery poynt surely harnessed, you may be hable to stand valeauntly agaynst the assaultes of the deuil. For we haue not warre and bat∣tayl with men, whose wronges our duetie is to ouercome with pacyence. But our battayl is with wicked spirites, the enemyes and foes of Christe, whose champions and instrumentes those are, that ragingly assault vs. And by their ministery the princes and powers of deuils geue battail against vs frō aboue, and exercise theyr tirannye vpon suche as bee addycte vnto them throughe the naughtinesse of thys worlde, and lay wayte in the darkenes of this worlde for those that loue the lyght of the Gospel. Agaynste those (I say) we must necessa∣rily abyde battayll, and they are not onely mightye of strength, but also excea∣dingly perfite in spirituall pollicie, and that in the coastes of the ayre, so as they may the easelier come vpon vs, and so as it is the harder for vs to apprehende

them. To warre agaynst this kinde of enemies, no humayne weapons nor ar∣mour can doe any good. But it is the onely armour of God that must defende vs from harme. Therefore as often as you must entre battayl with your ad∣uersaries, doe alwayes, as noble warriers are accustomed, whan they haue a doe with a daungerous enemie. Get on all your harnesse, and doe euery thyng accordyngly, that whan the daunger of the battayl shalbe, you may be hable to kepe your place, and stedfastly stand vpon the sure rocke Christ. Whan menne goe to warre one agaynst an other, fyrste they couer themselues on euery syde, that they lye not open any way to theyr enemies ordinaunce. Than they make ready to bea••e backe the inuader. The middle partes of theyr bodies, because of the tendernes, they girde with an Apron of maile. The vpper partes they harnesse with a brest plate. Upon the legges and feete they weare bootes, and an helmet vpon the head. Than on the lefte syde a shylde is buckled, to kepe of all arowe shot. And so in like case, you that haue spiritual battayl, with wicked spirites continually, in steede of the girdle, put on trueth to girde vp the loines of your mynde, so as you stande vpryghte and shrynke not at any naughtie en∣ticement of false goodes and false opinions. For the breste plate, put on inno∣cencie and righteousnes, to kepe the inward partes of your mynd safe and sure with the mayles of vertue and godlines. For bootes to put on the legges and fete, loke you haue a sincere affeccion that coueteth after nothing, but such thin∣ges as be heauenly, and is afrayde of nothyng but onely of vngodlines: so as you may be alwayes readilye prepared to defende the Gospell, whose defence consilieth not in styrryng of tumulte but in patience and quietnesse. And for that cause sake it is called the gospel of peace. The preachers wherof, the pro∣phete in times past respecting, was in an admiracion to considre howe excel∣lently fayre their feete were. But we must diligently see y^• we haue in continual readinesse on euery syde, y^• buckeler of faythe, wherby we maye assuredly trust to all the promyses of God. What larum so euer happeneth, with this bucke∣ler it shal be vaynquished: what fyrie dartes so euer our subtill aduersary shall throwe at vs, this buckeler shal kepe theim of, so as none of theim shal pearce any parte of oure liuely membres. For what thing can wounde the soule, that defieth death it selfe? And if you haue also with this buckler, the helmet of a vi∣gilaunt mynde, that can take good circumspect hede, you nede not in any wise to be afraid of your health. Finally, haue alwaies in your right hand the sword of the spirite, aswel to cut of naughtie lustes from your mindes, and to pearce to the inwarde partes of the harte, as also to kepe of the resistours of the gos∣pels veritie, and to suppresse false head, that trueth may preuayle. This sworde is the worde of God, that pearceth with a constaunt power of fayth, not after the maner of mannes cutting reason, but rather renneth through than cutteth. For the woorde of man is but a weake watrishe woorde, forasmuche as it en∣treateth onely of vayne transitorye matters: But the woorde of god is effectu∣al, and can skil of nothing out of heauenly thinges, and pearceth through vnto the ioyntes of the soule, and searcheth euen to the inwarde boanes and marye. These be the enemies that Christians haue battail withal, wheras with men they are at peace: And these are the weapōs wherwith they defend themselues and get the vietorie, not with their own powers, but by the helpe of Christ the mightie Captayn, through whose luckie ayde theyr batayl hath good successe.