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.

Erasmus, Desiderius, d. 1536., Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568., Old, John, fl. 1545-1555., Allen, Edmund, 1519?-1559.

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book Philippians

The paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Epistle of S. Paule the Apostle to the Philippians▪

¶ The .ii. Chapter.

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The texte.

But I supposed it necessarie to sende brother Epaphroditus vnto you, my companyon in labour and felowe souldier, youre Apostle, whych also ministreth vnto me at nede. For he longed after you all, and was full of heuynesse, because that ye had hearde saye, that he had bene sicke. And no doubte he was sicke, in somuche that he was nye vnto death. But god had mercye on hym: and not on hym onelye, but on me also, leste I shoulde haue sorowe vpon sorowe. I sente hym therefore the more dylygently that when ye see hym, ye maye reioyce agayne, and that I maye be the lesse sorowfull. Receynt hym therefore in the Lorde wyth all gladnesse, and make muche of suche, because that for the worke of Christ he weute so farre, that he was nye vnto deathe, and regarded not his lyfe: to fulfyll that which was lackyng on your part towarde me.

Furthermore I thoughte thys also veray requisite, that Epaphroditus, who is bothe my brother, and companyon and felowe souldier, and youre Apostle, shoulde beare Tymotheus companye vnto you, to the entente he myghte be commendablye welcome vnto you bothe for my sake and for youre owne: who also broughte vnto me youre louyng charitie, wherwith you are wonte to releue me at my nedes. He was a good while a goe muche desy∣rous to come see you, and was wonderfully afrayed, lest it greued you to sore, to heare tell that he was so perylouslye sycke. It was true that you hearde saye, for he was so sooze sycke, that he was in ieoperdye of hys lyfe, and vearye lyke to haue dyed. But God restored hym agayne, and had compassyon vpon hys seruaunte, and not vpon him onelye, but also vpon me (that was in ieoperdye, whan he was in ieoperdye) leste vpon the sorowe, that I conceaued by his sickenesse, I should haue had double sorowe, for the death of so faythfull a felowsouldyour. And therfore I was the more diligent to sende hym vnto you, specyally, that you myghte be glad to see hym well amended agayne, and peraduenture not beleue the tale as it was tolde you: than that all my sorowe maye be wyped cleane oute of my mynde, yf I per∣ceaue you vnfeynedlye ioyous and glad of hys welfare.

Receyue hym therefore with a louynge Christian affection in all ioyfulnes: and haue not hym in price onely, but all them also that are lyke him. For he, whan you sente hym hyther, was not onelye nothyng afrayed of Neroes cru∣eltie, whome he knewe to be muche greued at me, but also for the ghospell of Christe he put him selfe in suche haserde, that he was verye lyke to haue died, preferrynge the doctrine of the ghospell, before his owne healthe, for this con∣sideracion, that bycause of his beyng awaye, he thoughte he dyd not the of∣fices, that were lackyng on youre parte toward me: and that by meanes of him you myghte be in a maner presentlye here with me, in that he broughte youre charitable tokens vnto me, and with hys ministeries serued me in this daun∣ger, that he myghte one alone represente you all vnto me.

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