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 .iii. Chapter.

The texte.

¶ Moreouer (brethren) reioyce ye in the Lorde. It greueth me not to wryte one thing often to you. For to you it is a sure thing. Beware of dogges, beware of euyll worckers. Beware of dissencion. For we are circumcision whiche serue God in the spirite, and re∣ioyce in Christ Iesu, and haue no confidence in the flesshe: though I might also reioyce in the flesshe. Yf eny other man thincketh that he hath wherof he might trust in the flesshe: I haue more: beyng circumcised the cyght daye, of the kynred of Israell, of the try be of Beniamin, an Hebrue borne of the Hebrues: as concernyng the lawe, a Pharisaye: as con∣cernyng feruentnes, I persecuted the congregacion, as touchinge the right wysnes which is in the lawe, I was vnrebukeable. But the thinges that were vauntage vnto me, those I counted losse for Christes sake. Yee I thynke all thinges but losse for the excellencye of the knowledge of Christ Iesu my Lorde. For whome I haue counted all thing losse, and do iudge them but vyle, that I maye wynne Christe, and be founde in him, not hauynge myne owne tyghtewesnes of the lawe: but that which is thorow the faith of Christ: euen that righte wesnes whiche commeth of God thorowe faith, that I maye knowe him and the veriue of his resurreccion, and the felowshyppe of his passions, while I am confor∣mable vnto his (death) yf by eny meanes I might attaine vnto the resurreccion of y^• deed. Not that I haue attained vnto it already, or that I am already perfect: but I folowe, yf that I maye comprehende that, wherin I am comprehended of Christ Iesu. Brethren, I counte not my selfe that I haue gotten it as yet: but this one thing I saye: I forget those thinges whiche are behynde, and endeuoure my selfe vnto those thinges whiche are be∣fore, and (accordynge to the marke appoynted) I preace to the rewarde of the hye cal∣lynge of God thorowe Christ Iesu. Let vs therefore as many as be perfect, be thus wyse mynded: and yf ye be other wyse mynded, God shall open the same also vnto you. Neuer∣thelesse, vnto that whiche we haue attayned vnto, let vs proceade by one rule, that we maye be of one accorde.

NOw brethren, this remayneth moreouer, that whan you knowe what thinges are doen here, and hauing Epa∣phroditus sent to you againe in health, you maye reioyce: and neglectinge the affliccions, wherwith the world hath turmoiled vs, you may be glad, y^• our lord Iesus Christes busynesse goeth alwayes forwarde better and better: On the behalfe wherof I am not so muche afrayed of them that be Ethnikes, whiche impugne the gospell openly, as of these halfe christians, whiche preache Christe after suche wyse, that they myngle the Iewes maner of doctrine, in withall. Of this matter, I haue with muche carke and care oftentymes warned you, but yet it shall be no payne vn∣to me, to put the same in wryting that you maye be more sure. For you can al∣moost neuer be ware ynoughe of these pestilent wycked, shameles kynde of mē, that alwayes lye in wayte in euery place. They haue enuye at your lybertye, they barke against syncere doctrine, they depraue other mennes lyuinges, they laboure in the gospelles busynesse: howbeit to none other ende, but to cortupte it. They bragge of their foreskynnes circumcision, whan their inwarde mynde is all together vncircumcised. Beware brethren, that they begyle you not, take hede of such dogges, take hede of naughtye workers, beware of the vncircum∣cysed circumcision, yea rather concision. They haue no cause to bragge of them selues, though they beare about the fylthy marke of their highe bragge, wher∣as their conscience is vncleane and wicked. If circumcision be worthye y^• boa∣sting, we are circumcised in dede, we are very Iewes in dede, we are the ryghte children of Abraham, that worshyp God, not with beastes bloude but in spirite (for so he woulde be wourshypped:) we boaste not in the lytell skynne cut from a parte of the bodye, nor yet in Moses, but in Christ Iesus, who, by his spirite, hath cut awaye all our synnes from our soules, and hathe prynted in our har∣tes a very excellente goodlye marke, wherby it maye manifestlye appeare that we are the sonnes of God. This nowe is a glorious and a true circumcision.

God from hence forthe estemeth not man after the state of his bodye. But these men neclecting the care of y^e soule, repose al their whole trust in the fleshe, wher∣in yf any man maye boaste, I for my parte wyll geue place in this behalfe to none of them all: so as they can not haue, to quarell, that I set naught by cir∣cumcisiō because I haue it not. If any man stande in his owne cōceite bicause of his circumcision, I maye bragge of my selfe a greate deale more, for I was lawfully circumcised the eyght daye accordynge to the commaundement of the lawe. I am an Israelite, not by engraffynge, but by kyndred: not a straunge foundlyng, but a Iewe, beynge borne of the Iewes: and not of an vncertayne kyndred, but of a special chiefe kynored, that is, of Beniamin, whiche hath ben alwayes ioyned to y^• tribe of Iuda, wherof Kynges and Leuites and priestes also are ordayned: wher as many suppose them selues Israelites, bycause they descende of the kyndred of the concubines of Israel. I am an Hebrewe of the Hebrewes, after my birthe, and after the sectes of the law, a Pharisee, whose or∣dre hathe had alwayes the highest dygnitie. And yf they wyll esteme any man after the studye and obseruacion of the lawe: they haue not also in any of these, wherin to preferte themselues before me. For I regarded the dyligent study of the lawe of my fathers so earnestlye muche, that for the defence of it, I persecu∣ted the congregacion of Christ by all possyble meanes I coulde: and I so enti∣erlye obserued those thinges, that the lawe commaundeth, that there was no∣thinge, wherin I coulde be iustlye founde withall, as a transgressour. And yf any of this geare deserued any prerogatyue, I might with iuster cause boast, than these men, that woulde seme to be halfe goddes, because they be circumci∣sed. At that time in dede, forasmuch as I was not yet taught Christ, I thought my selfe a iolye fortunate man, aswell for the nobylitie of my kyndred, and dignitie of my secte, as also for my sitayte obseruyng of y^• law. But as sone as I lea••ned by the gospel of Christ, in what thinges true righteousnesse cōsisteth▪ and that matters of ferre greater excellēcie wer signified by these figures and shadowes of Moses lawe: by and by I cast awaye and renounced the thinges, that I haunted before as matters of wonderous holynesse, and thought it da∣mage vnto me, what soeuer it were, that hindred me neuer so litell from the doc∣trine of Christ: not that I condemne the lawe, yf a man vse it as it ought to be, but that I attribute so muche vnto the gospell of Christe my lorde, that I doo not onely set lesse by the carnall lawe of Moses, wherin these men boast, thā the excellent knowledge of Christ, but also I thinke it losse, what soeuer this world hathe, of how excellent or of howe glittering a shewe soeuer it be. This know∣ledge therefore as sone as I begonne any whitte to taste, there is no aduaun∣tage of any thing, how goodly so euer it be, but I esteme it as losse, yea I re∣garde it no more than the rubbyshe of a rotten wall, or yf any thinge be more vyle than it: so that with the losse of it I maye wynne Christe the fountayne of all good thinges, that are truely good. I take myne owne ryghteousnesse to be nothing worthe (where in obseruyng of Moses lawe, my ryghteousnesse was thought among men to haue ben muche auayleable) so that I maye atteyne vnto true righteousnes: which I may not call myne, forasmuch as it is not got∣ten by our owne merites, but frelye geuen to them, y^• dystrust them selues, & put their whole cōfydence symplye in Christ. Neuertheles there springeth a certaine ryghteousnes also of the lawe, howbeit it is not auaylable to geue saluacion.

But that righteousnes, whiche is geuen of god, is so not ours, that notwith∣standynge it geueth vs true perfite saluacion, in case we beleue the gospel, and through faith come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ, whose natiuitie is more wanderful, than can be vnderstanden by any mortall mannes wysedom: whose resurrection is of more power, than can be perswaded by any argumentes of man. Onlye faith is hable to perswade these vnto vs, and hathe so perswaded in dede, that beyng establyshed in the hope of the promysses, I am gladly con∣tent to come vnto the felowshyp of his affliccions, to be bounden and to dye for his gospelles sake, lyke as he was beaten and crucified for vs: that it maye by some meanes chaunce vnto me, that lyke as I folowe the example of hys death, so I maye come to the glory of his resurrection, beyng raysed vp by him. This moost certaine constaunt hope doeth so comforte me in these afflictions, bycause I assuredly trust in the promysses of Christe, who hath promysed the feloweshyp of his kyndome to them, that wyll not shrynke from the felowshyp of his crosse. Nothwithstandyng I ment not to speake thus, as though it were in me, to atteyne so hyghe a worthynesse. For I am not come as yet to the ende of my race, I haue not yet wonne the game, the matche is not yet all together at an ende, howbeit I preace vnto it to the vttermoste of my power, that I maye atteyne the thing that I pursue after. For euery bodye wynneth not the game, how so euer he runneth, but he that preaceth lustily, and he that laboureth con∣stauntlye. I am in good hope, that I shall catche it, in asmuche as Christ hath catched me to this same ende, that beyng pulled backe in the myddle of my race (which in times past I purposed wickedly against his congregacion) I might runne well in the race of the gospell, and wynne the game o•• immortalitie, lest you should fall into slouthe and naughty securitie, in trustyng to the promised game. Brethren, I doo not thinke, that I haue yet atteyned the thinge that I goe about, and hope to atteyne. It is a very weightye matter of importaunce, that I folowe, and is not lyghtlye atteyned by any man. I knowe that Christ is true, but the nature of man is so frayle and so mutable, that it wyll not suffre me as yet to be careles. Wherefore by the meanes of this excellente greate hope, I set all thinges a syde, and goe about this one thing onely, that in the race of the gospel, I maye forget, as it were, the thinges that are behynde me, and preace with all my possible endeuour to those thinges, that are afore me: howbeit I rushe not here awaye and there awaye rashely I care not whither, for he loseth his game, that runneth naught. But I bende my selfe streyghte towardes the pricke of the gospel, that is set before our e••es, and to the rewarde of immortalitie, wherunto God the maister of our game lokyng out of heauen vpon our endeuour, calleth vs, by the helpe of Christ Iesus. Therfore, what o∣ther thing goe those men about, that myngle the lawe with the gospel, than to hyndre vs in our race. And for that cause, as many of vs as be perfite, let vs be of this affected mynde, that wee set nothinge before vs to runne at, but the very marke of the gospel. And yf there be any amonge you that be somwhat weaker, than can vtterly contemne the law of their fathers, wherin they haue ben nous∣led, let them be borne withall, vntyll they waxe perfite also. God hathe shewed vnto you that the ayde of the lawe is nothing necessarie: and so peraduenture it shall come to passe, that he wyll reuele the same also vnto them.

The texte.

¶ Brethren, be folowers together of me, and loke on them whiche walke euen so, as ye haue vs for an ensample. For many walke (of whome I haue tolde you often, and nowe tell you wepynge) that they are the enemyes of the crosse of Christe, whose ende is dam∣nacion, whose bellye is their God and glory to their shame, which are worldly minded. But our conuersacion is in heauen, from whence we lake for the sauiour, euen the Lorde Iesus Christ, whiche shall chaunge our vyle body, y^• he maye make it lyke vnto his glo∣rious body: accordyng to the workyng, wherby he is able also to subdue all thinges vnto him selfe.

Now whyle we are in this worlde, let vs goo on styll in the race, that we haue taken in hande, accordynge to the rule prescribed vnto vs: and let vs truely a∣gree in it, that we suffre not oure selues, to be drawne backe from that purpose: but let vs make spedye haste, euery man to his power, to atteine the game of immortalitie. Ther be some, y^• kepe not the race a right, them it is not good to folowe. But rather folowe me: for I runne streyght to the gospelles game. And marke them, that you see treade forwarde after the example of vs. Christ hath set vs the best facion of example, after the whiche you see me preace to the same place, that he went vnto. All they that runne in this race, wyune not the game: and therfore it is not good folowing of euery one, that runneth be∣fore. For there be very many, whome I haue oftentymes tolde you of before, and now I tell you againe with wepyng teares, that preache Christ after such sorte, that they are the enemyes of Christes crosse for all that. For they wyll in no wyse folowe the example of his lyfe and deathe, to the intent they may euer∣lastinglye lyue with him: but for their owne lucre and vayne gloryes sake, in stede of true godlynesse they teache Iewyshe obseruations, circumcision of the foreskynne, choyse of meates, dyfference of dayes, to the intent, that other men beyng burthened with these wares, they them selues maye reigne and lyue at ease for all that, as though after this lyfe they loked after none other. But let the ende of them fraye vs awaye from their condicions. For lyke as through slaunderous reproche of man, we drawe to eternall glorye, and by afflictions of this world, preace vnto immortall felicitie: euen so they by transitorye plea∣sures of the worlde, procure to them selues euerlastyng destruction, bycause in stede of God they honour their belye that can not helpe them: and by countre∣faicte vayne glorye among men, whiche they repose not in Christe, but in thin∣ges that they ought to be ashamed of, they make spede to euerlastynge shame. For what soeuer is earthly, is but temporall and countrefayte? and what so euer is heauenly, is true and euerlastynge. But they studye for nothynge elles but those thinges that are of the earthe. In them they repose their glorye, in them they set their pleasure, in them they put theyr hope of helpe, and so runne astraye ferre from the marke of the gospell. But we, that folowe Christ aright, though our bodyes be deteyned vpon earthe, yet in soule our conuersacion is in heauē, sighing continuallye thither, as our head is gonne afore, from whence also through faythe we loke for our lorde Iesus Christ, whiche shall rayse vs from death, and delyuer vs possession of those thinges, that he promyseth vs: and shall transforme this vyle naughtye bodye of ours, and make it lyke vnto his owne glorious bodye, for this consyderacion, that the membres, which wer felowes of his afflictions in this worlde, shoulde be called there into the felow∣shyp of hys felicitye. This matter shall not seme vncredible to any man, that wyll dyligentlye pondre the great power of him, that shall doo this dede. For there is nothinge, but he can brynge it to passe, in whose hande it is also, to sub∣due

all thinges to himselfe at his owne pleasure. This power he shall openlye shewe than vnto al men, although in the meane season he doo many times kepe it close.