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 .vi. Chapter.

The texte.

Children, obey your fathers and mothers in the Lorde: for that is right. Honoure thy fa∣ther and mother, (the same is the firste cōmaundement in the promes) that thou mayest pros∣per, and liue long on the earthe. Ye fathers moue not youre children to wrathe: but ye shall bryng them vp through the norter and informacion of the Lorde. Ye scruauntes bee obedient vnto them that are your bodely masters, with feare and tremblyng, euen with the synglenes of youre hearte, as vnto Christe: not dooyng seruice vnto the eye, as they that go aboute to please menne: but as the seruauntes of Christ, dooyng the wyll of God from the hearte with good wyll, seruyng the Lorde & not menne. Knowyng this, that whatsoeuer good thyng any manne dooth, the same shall he receyue agayne of God, whether he be bonde or free. And ye masters dooe euen the same thynges vnto them, puttyng awaye threatenynges: Knoweyng, that your master also is in heauen, nether is there any respect of person wyth hym.

LEt autoritie be gouerned by charitie, that in any wyse it practise no tirannie. And on the other side, let reuerent feare holde vnder the lower sort, so as through to much sufferaunce they waxe not rebellious. For there can no concorde nor quietnes possibly be, where all is hauocke without ordre. Ouer the wyfe the husband onely hath autoritie. But the children are bounden to acknowlege the autoritie both of father and mother. Therefore ac∣cordyng to this rule, you children be curteous and obe∣dient vnto your father and mother at al theyr honeste Christian commaunde∣mentes. For this doeth euen the equitie of nature also require, that we shoulde honour them to whome we are bounden for bringing vs in to the worlde: and be kinde vnto thē, by whose goodnes, we are nourished and broughte vp. And to be briefe, the very lawe of god commaundeth the same, and sayeth: honour thy father & thy mother. And it was not inough to geue that commaundement, as it doth in the other commaundementes. Thou shalt doe no murther. Thou shalt not steale. &c. But he added also a reward vnto it, to allure them the rather to doe theyr duetie: although those thinges that are honest, ought to be dooen frely without rewarde. But what rewarde doeth the scripture promise? That it may happen wel vnto the, sayth it, and that thou mayest be long liued vpon earth. Ʋerely it is to be thought, that persone not to be worthy of long life, that is vnkynde and rebellious agaynst them, by whome he hath receiued the vse of his life. On the other part, you fathers abuse not your autoritie, & the obedi∣ence of your children, thinking that you may lawfully do to thē what you lust.

They are children, and not bonde seruauntes. Let gentlenes mitigate auto∣ritie. You must beware that through waiwardnes of your old age, or through strayt dealing, or immoderate frowardnes, you amend them not, but prouoke their stomakes to bee wurse. In case they doe amisse, by reason of youthe, they ought so to be admonished, that they may be rather taught than discouraged. Let this be the speciallest poynt of your charge, so to enforme them with mo∣uicions and instruccions from theyr tender yeares, and so to allure them with the exaumples of godlines, that it may appeare, they were brought vp vnder Christian parentes accordyng to the doctrine of Christe. For by this meanes shal they soner be brought to good frame, then with threatninges, or crueltie, if* 1.1 they be taught and not altogether compelled. You seruauntes, let it appere by you, that the profession of the gospel, hath made you better and more profita∣ble. And the duetie that other doe to their maisters, vnto whom they are boun∣den after the temporall condicion of seruitude, loke you on your behalfe doe it much more aboundauntly. For the office of baptisme is not to geue this liber∣tie, that you shoulde bee in bondage no more, but that you shoulde dooe youre bounden seruice the more diligently: nor that your will shoulde be to disdayne your maisters, because they are become brethren with you in profession, but so muche the more you ought to haue them in reuerence, and be the more afrayde to offend them: Nor do not, as the common sorte of seruauntes doth, your due∣tie for feare, and in your mynde curse them and watche them: but with an vp∣right sincere conscience obey them, considering this with your self, that you do this duetie vnto Christ, vnto whose wil you are obedient, although peraduen∣ture your maisters deserue not that obedience. By this meanes shall it come to passe, that you shall not be lyke to the common trade of seruauntes, that dooe theyr maisters commaundementes, while they be presently in syght, for feare of displeasure. But assone as they thynke no body seeth them, than they wil do as they luste. In dede thys is to serue vnto the eye and not of a conscience, and nothing elles but to couet to please men and not Christe. In whose syghte no∣thing is acceptable, that is counterfayetly done or els by coaccion. But be you as it becummeth the seruauntes of Christe, hartely and faythfully curteous & diligent in your dueties doing towardes your maysters, not because necessitie enforceth you, but because God so willeth you. And see you alienate not your selues from doing your dueties, albeit you haue croked and wieked mē to your maisters. For in dede it is an expediente forwardenes of the Gospell, that you shoulde be curteous vnto them, so that your obedience turne not vnto vngod∣linesse. And considre with your selues, that you doe that vnto Christ, that you doe vnto them for the Gospels sake, and that you doe it vnto God, and not vn∣to men, inasmuche as you doe it to men for the loue of God. And in case you winne them vnto Christe, through your diligence, it is a righte well bestowed duetie. But and if they shew themselues vnthankeful, yet know you for a cer∣taintie, that no man shall lose the rewarde of his well doing. And although he shal not receiue it at mans hand, yet he shall once vndoubtedly receyue it of the lord, not onely the bondman but also the freeman, whatsoeuer good turne he shall hartely bestow vpon an vnthankeful man. Now to conclude, like as those bondseruauntes that professe Christe ought to be so much the more profita∣ble vnto their maisters, euen so is it requisite, that christiā maisters be the more gentle in commaunding their seruauntes, and in their behauiours to vse them∣selues

in such wise, as they may appeare, to couet rather to be loued then fea∣red, and to be hartely louing vnto theyr bond seruauntes, inasmuch as they be receiued into the felow ship of brethren: and not alwayes ready to threate and to beate, as the common sorte of maisters is accustomed to doe. Let your ser∣uauntes perceiue, that you are become the more gentle by reason of the Gos∣pel, so as they also may the rather be allured vnto that professiō as wel as you, if peraduenture they haue not yet alredy professed: and considre, that maisters autoritie is but a temporali thing and onely established by mans lawe: And for all that it becummeth not vs in any wise to disturbe it: yet neuertheles there is no respect of persons with god. For he maketh neuer a whit the lesse of any mā because he is a bonde seruaunte, nor maketh the more of any manne, because he is a gentleman borne. According to mans lawes, you maisters haue power o∣uer your seruauntes vpon earth, but for all that in the meane tyme you haue a maister in heauen as well as they. And hys will is, that you care for youre ser∣uauntes commoditie, through reasonable commaunding, and not to presse thē with tirannie. These thynges that we haue hitherto treated of, tend to this end, that you should aswel be lyke vnto your head Christ in holines of life, as to a∣gree together among your selues in mutuall concorde.

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.

The texte.

And praye alwayes with all maner of praier and supplication in the spirite: & watche therunto with all instaunce and supplicacion for all sainctes and for me, that vtteraunce maye bee geuen vnto me, that I maye open my mouthe frely, to vtter the secretes of my gospet (whereof I am messenger in bondes) that therein I may speake frely, as I ought to speake. But that ye may also knowe what condicion I am in, and wher I dooe Tichi∣cus the dere brother and faythfull minister in the Lorde, shall shewe you of all thynges: whome I haue sente vnto you for the same purpose, that ye mighte knowe what case we stande in, and that he might coumforte your hartes. Peace ••e vnto the brethren, and loue with faith, from God the father and from the lorde Iesus Christ. Grace be with al them, whiche loue our lorde Iesus Christ vnfaynedly. Amen.

Therfore it standeth vs in hande to pray alway vnto him with continual sup∣plicacions, and to desyre this of him from the bottome of our hartes, without ceassing in our praiers day and night, that al saintes may haue the vpper hand by this sweorde of the spirite. And it is also your duetie, to helpe me with your prayers, and to beseche God that he would geue me plenteous vtteraunce of the gospel, whansoeuer I shall preache it: and that it would please him to vse my mouth as an instrument vnto his owne glory, and to your saluacion, so as I may boldly and without shrinking declare vnto al men the mistical doctrine of the gospel, wherunto all men are called indifferently. And that I be not hin∣dred by suche as labour by all possible meanes, that the glorye of the Gospell should not be spred abrod, for the doing wherof, I am made an embassadour, yea euen now being laden with chaynes, and suffering excedingly, that I may boldely goe about the office committed vnto me. And that this mind may still perseuer with me vnto the ende, and that by the helpe of Christe, I may freely speake, as it becummeth me to speake. For it is a rebuke for a preacher of the gospel to be afrayd of anything, that should hinder him from doyng the office of the gospell. To conclude, as concernyng the state of myne owne thinges, & howe the matter standeth with me here, you shall knowe all of Tichicus my welbeloued brother, and not a brother onely for the sinceritie of his fayth, but also a minister and an helper in the gospels businesse: whome I haue sent vnto you for this purpose, that you might know certainly in what state we are, and that you should be much coūforted by his beyng there, lest your hartes should be discouraged through myne affliccions. For I am so tyed and bounde, that the gospell of Christ doeth triumphe, notwithstanding, euen out of the prie∣son. My prayer is, that peace and mutual loue ioyned with sincere fayth, may be vnto al the brethren. Of faith springeth charitie, & charitie nou∣risheth concord. These thre with prosperous procedyng, graunt vn∣to you God the father, and the lorde Iesus Christe. The loue and merciful goodnesse of God be for euer with all them that with an vnfained conscience and vnspotted life, loue the lorde Iesus Christe: and despysyng the transitory tryfles of this worlde, folowe the thynges that are e∣ternall and heauenly. And to con∣firme this mine hartie praier, I beseche god graūt mercifully.

Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ye seruaū∣tes be obe∣diēt to your bodely ma∣sters. &c,