now a seruaunt and Embassadour of Iesus Christ whose gospel euē as y◠day light wipeth and driueth awaye all the shadowes of the olde testament write vnto all maner of men without parciall excepcion either of people or religiō either of kynde or state or yet condicion For we esteme all people to be kynsfolkes and most nerely ioyned vnto vs whosoeuer haue deserued to be made like vnto vs in the profession of the faith of the gospel by the which we haue atteyned true rightuousnes not by circumcision or by sacrifices of the lawe but by the goodnes of our God and by the deathe of our sauiour Iesu Christ who hath frely pardoned vs our olde synnes to th entēt we should hence forthe folowe gospellyke righteousnes which dooeth not consiste in ceremonies but in true godlines of mynde hath a certaine farre greater perfecciō than the Iewes righteousnes whiche is nothinge but a shadowe of true righteousnes And I praye y◠lyke as you haue yet hitherto gon aboundantlye forwarde in the grace of y◠gospel alwayes somwhat augmentyng in thencreaces of godlynes drawinge nerer brotherly concorde amonge your selues daylye more and more so the liberall goodnes of God woulde vouchesafe to make perfite his gyftes in you which Iewelles encrease so much y◠more largely in you as you grow forewarde into y◠knowledge of God y◠father of his sonne our Lord Iesu Christ the acknowledginge of whome is eternall lyfe For it is the chiefe poynte of saluacion to acknowledge the autor of saluacion that we chalenge no parte therof to our owne desertes and strengthes or to the prescripcions of Moses lawe inasmuche as whatsoeuer is perteyninge to true lyfe and whatsoeuer belongeth vnto true godlynes his diuine power hath bestowed it vnto vs without helpe of circumcision onely by faithe wherby we acknowlage God the father from whome procede all thinges and Iesus Christ by whome onely we haue al thinges geuen vnto vs. These thinges are not geuen throughe our merites but by his free bounteouse gyfte whiche of his owne accorde hathe called vs vnto the benefite of saluacion and to them that were voyde of glory and vertue he hath bestowed bothe his owne glorye and vertue to thintent that wheras being addicte vnto our owne vicious naughtines lyke fylthye vyle slaues we scrued ydoles we shoulde be engraffed vnto Christe and be made bothe pure and glorious hauing y◠wickednes taken out of the waye wherin we were fylthily soyled He hathe translated our vyle naughtines vpon himselfe that he mighte choose vs of his owne free pleasure into the felowship of his glory Our trespasses he hath taken vpon himselfe that we might enioye his innocencye Nowe these same are very great matters but those are farre greater of muche more excellencie that are promissed vs in tyme to come not by the lawe of Moses as we haue often sayed before but by thacknowlageing of Iesu Christ But what is it that is promysed Forsoothe that albeit you perteyne not to the kynredde of the Iewes yet you maye be made with them companions of the diuine nature beyng chosen into the nomber of y◠children of god to possesse thenheritaunce of immortal lyfe so that you set your study vpon a certaine immortalitie by vncorrupte conuersacion in the meane season here in this worlde and flee from al corrupcion of vices and naughtie lustes wherwith a mynde that is infected tēdeth to euerlastinge deathe The texte ¶ And herunto geue all diligence in your faithe minister vertue in vertue knowledge in knowledge temperaunce in temperaunce pacience in pacience godlynesse in godlynesse brotherly kyndnesse in brotherly kyndnesse loue For yf these thinges be amonge you and be plenteous they wyll make you that ye nether shal be ydle nor vnfrutefull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus Christ But he that lacketh these thinges is blynde and gropeth for the waye with his hande and hath forgotten y◠he was pourged from his olde synnes ▪ God hathe once geuen innocencye frely and it is not inoughe to mainteine it but applyeng withall studious diligence endeuour your selues to be made riche in well doinges that your faithe be not ydle but that it be accompanyed with good behauiour that nothing be doone or sayed but that whiche is vertuous Than let good behauiour entreteyne knowlage that you maye not onely folowe the thinges that be vpright but also discerne what thinge in what place amonge whome after what sorte and by what meanes ought worthilye to be done Let knowledge be accompanied with temperaunce that the mynde beynge vnmoueably strong against all the wanton enticementes of the worlde maye constantlye without shrinkynge folowe the thing that it hathe iudged to be best Vnto temperaunce let pacience be ioyned that whan you doe wel you maye chearefully suffer sorowes For those men whom the flateringe pleasures of the worlde doe not bringe in to a fine fingred nicenes are somtymes broken with impacient suffring of sorowes with pacience let godlynes be present that what soeuer you doe or suffre you referre it to the glorye of God Let godlynes be accompanied with brotherly charitie that like as you loue God for himselfe euen so for his sake you maye loue all them that professe God And let brotherly charitie be augmented and vpheaped with loue to studye to doe good for all men not onely them that are godly and Christian folkes but also for them that are wicked These are the frutes of an euangelicall faithe whiche yf you haue them aboundauntlye shall brynge to passe that where you haue acknowledged our lorde Iesus Christ throughe faithe it should not be vnprofytable and vnfrutefull vnto you althoughe you haue nothing to doe with circumcision For in these thinges consisteth the whole summe of Christen godlynes and yf any mā want thē he hath professed Christ in vaine forasmuche as he slydeth backe from the light of the Gospell in to his olde former darkenes euen as it were a blynde man that groapeth the waye with his hande and is caried aboute hereawaye and therawaye throughe the mases of worldly lustes neither seeth he the waye to come to the felowship of Christ beynge vnthankefull also for the benefite of Christ of whome where he is once frely clensed from his olde transgressions yet as a man forgetfull of this so exceadynge a mercye he slydeth backe in to the same againe The texte ¶ Wherfore brethrē geue the more diligence for to make your callynge and eleccion sure by good workes For yf ye doe suche thinges ye shall neuer fall Yea and by this meanes an entringe in shal be ministre◠vnto you aboundantly into the euerlastinge kyngdome of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ Wherfore I wil not be negligent to put you alwayes in remembraunce of suche thinges thoughe ye knowe them your selues and he stablished in the present trueth Notwithstandynge I thinke it mete as longe as I am in this tabernacle to stere you vp by putting you in remembraunce for
loue haue they but yet not accordyng to knowledge and right iudgement Nor are they deceiued for lacke of a godly minde and purpose but in the choyse and practise of life they rūne farre awry Now better is it to haue some minde to religion then to be al without and of God wel worthy wer that minde of theyrs in goodnes to be encreased were it not that they to the grosse beginnynges of godly life so stubbernly cleaued that they refused the true and perfite religion and wer it not also they so vehemently requyred and auaunced euen shadowes and pictures of trueth that the verye fountayne of trueth they vtterly dispised For whiles they busyly in dede but yet vndiscretely defende and kepe Moses lawe resistyng him for whom the lawe was principally ordained they vtterly fal euen from the whole lawe selfe Kepyng of the sabboth day circumcision abstinence frō certayne kyndes of meates the shonnyng of dead carkasses fastyng dayes the keapyng of high feastes were for this purpose made and decreed for a time that frō suche rude beginnynges men might by litle and litle growe vpwarde to true perfite righteousnes and from a certaine worldly righteousnes encrease and growe vppe to that whiche is in all pointes godly and perfecte If an ordinaunce be purposed and made for a better ende vnseamyng is it for loue of suche a meane to dispise the ende for whiche the sayd meane was appointed But now frowardely so yet do the Iewes whom albeit after the publishyng of the righteousnes of God it besemed to forgoe the carnal iustice of the lawe yet so farrefoorth bolster they out defende theyr olde and at this tyme hurteful and not onely superfluous iustice of the lawe that they not onely wyll not knowledge the heauenly righteousnes of God but also hauyng a confidence in theyr ceremonies withstande and resist the gospel of Christ wherevnto they ought by fayth to submitte them selfe if they euer minded to be truely righteous For we must by imaginacion conceiue as it were twoo kyndes of iustice th one wherof Moses was author the other wherof Christ was beginner The one standeth in ceremonies the other in fayth and obedience And as the rude piece of timbre is matter wherof an image is wrought as bloud is the beginning of liuyng creatures to be brought foorth by generaciō so is the iustice of the lawe a rude grosse beginnyng of thother whiche is more perfite And certainly extreme folishenes is it after that a man is come to perfeccion curiously to sticke styl in rudimentes But now of all Moses law whiche is of it selfe rude vnperfite is Christ the fulfillyng and perfeccion by whom through fayth and not through circumcision we attaine righteousnes whiche way to righteousnes is not onely open for Iewes to entre therinto but also to all true and faythful beleuers The texte For Moses writeth of the righteousnes whiche commeth of the lawe how that the mā whiche doeth the thinges of the law shal liue therby But the righteousnes which cōmeth of fayth speaketh on this wyse say not thou in thine heart who shal ascende into heauen that is euen to fetche Christ doune from aboue either who shall descende into the depth that is euen to fetche vp Christ againe from death but what sayth he The worde is nigh the euen in thy mouth and in thy heart Both kyndes of iustice did Moses clearely expresse For the temporal iustice whiche rested in ceremonies to be kept but for a season plainly setteth he out in the boke of y◠Leuites saiyng kepe my lawes decrees this who so doeth shal liue therby But the true euerlastyng iustice whiche we by Christ through a liuely fayth obtaine in the boke of Deuteronomi expresseth he when he sayth neither say thou in thine heart who shall ascende into heauen for that is euen to fetche Christ doune from aboue Nor yet say thou who shal descende and goe doune into the deapth of the yearth for that were euen to fetche vppe Christ againe from death Of whiche bothe sortes of questioners forasmuche as they require of fayth to haue an experiment neither of both semeth to beleue well But whosoeuer vnfaynedly beleueth is in suche poyntes more surely and better persuaded thē is one which nedeth suche meanes to be taught with either of this I saye that Christe once descended from heauen or els of this that he nowe sytteth at his fathers ryghte hande thoughe he nomore shewe neither of bothe before mennes iyen And though it be of men sene nomore yet beleueth he also that Christ went downe to hell and the thyrde daye rose agayne to lyfe Sufficient is it for vs to beleue that this was once done So that this remayneth that we gyue credence vnto suche as sawe the same And to beleue this we nede not to seke ferre The Iewes sawe and yet beleued not Other heard whiche sawe not and yet gaue they credence The scripture recordeth the same whiche streight after saythe the worde is nyghe the euen in thy mouthe and in thy hearte The texte This same is the worde of faythe whiche we preache For yf thou knowledge with thy mouth that Iesus is the lorde and beleue in thy heart that god raysed hym vp frō death thou shalte be saued For to beleue with the hearte iustifieth and to knowledge with the mouthe maketh a man safe For the Scripture sayth whosoeuer beleueth on hym shal not be confounded And what worde is this whiche Scripture speaketh of Withoute doubt the worde of the gospel which we beyng publyshers of this righteousnes do preache worketh in mennes soules present saluacion so that menne by faythe onely apply theyr myndes therunto But howe is this worde of the gospell in thy mouthe and howe is it in thy hearte Yf thou with thy mouthe confesse and knowledge the Lorde Iesus and with thy heart vnfaynedly beleue that god from death raised hym agayne to lyfe that we through hym beyng restored to lyfe from the death of syn shoulde hereafter lyue in cleannesse of lyfe then shalt thou be saued For with hert beleue we whiche is to ryghteousenes the very entrey but for asmuche as when nede requyreth all men are bounde to glorifie Christe to euerlastyng saluacion it is not sufficient with heart onlye to beleue excepte thou the same with thy mouthe confesse By this seeye that this matter hangeth not vpon ceremonies but vpon fayth Whiche thyng Esai also speakyng of Christe recordeth saying whosoeuer beleueth on hym shall not be confounded The texte There is no difference betwene the Iewe and the Gentile For one is lorde of all whiche is riche vnto all that cal vpon hym For whosoeuer dothe call on the name of the Lorde shal be safe Howe then shall they call on hym on whome they haue not beleued Howe shall they beleue on hym of whome they haue not hearde Howe shall they heare withoute a preacher And how shall they
indued wyth learnyng and rules of good order maye bestowe that they haue for the common profite Fourthly such as worke miracles to kepe vnder and subdue the power of deuyls and to auaunce with them the name and glory of Christe Fyftly suche as can heale diseases And after them suche as can with theyr autoritie and counsel help other that are in trouble through a singuler discreacion kepe the multitude in obedieÌ„ce And laste of al such as by knowledge of the toÌ„gues may be to other profitable This varietie doth not only encourage but also coÌ„pell you to mutual loue concord forasmuch as eche one of you hath nede of others helpe Are al Apostles are al Prophetes are al teachers are all workers of myracles haue all men the gyft of healing doe all men speake diuerse languages haue all men the gyft to expounde No not so but euery maÌ„ hath his owne proper gyft No man must be disdayned but yet must euery man endeuour to be endewed with such gyftes as among these are chiefe and so styll encrease to such as are better For it is not to be supposed that euery man hath his gyfte so geuen vnto him that he is without hope to receiue better And leste ye growe to arrogant of theÌ„ I say vnto you they are the gyftes of the spirite but yet is the holy spirite of God wont with our endeuour prayers to be prouoked both to geue his gyftes and to encrease mayntaine theÌ„ Excellent gyftes are these which I haue nowe rehearsed but suche as may be in vngodly men But I wil shewe you a more excellent waie than al these wherunto euery man must spicially endeuour synce that without it nothyng auayle these gyftes whiche we haue spoken of and whiche ye yet in suche sorte folowe as though there were none other ¶ The .xiii. Chapter The texte Though I speake with the tongues of men and of Angels and haue no loue I am euen as â—ounding brasse or as a tynkâ—yng cymball And though I could prophecy and vnderstode all secretes and all knowledge ye yf I haue all fayth so that I can moue mountaynes out of theyr places and yet haue no loue I am nothyng And though I bestowe all my goodes to fede the poore and though I geue my body euen that I burned and yet haue no loue it profyteth me nothyng AHygh gyft is it to speake with tonges for whiche ye specially please your selfe But though I speake with all tonges not of meÌ„ only but to encrease the matter also with the tonge of Angels and haue not a feruent desyre to doe for my neyghbour to bestowe the gyft of God to the profite of all men as vnprofitable shall I bee as brasse that with his vayne sounde breaketh the ayer or as a cymball that with his vnprofitable tinklyng troubleth the eares Yea if I haue also a more excellent gyft than this for example the gyft of prophecie wherby I know all the secrete senses of the scriptures of God if somuch haue chaunced to any one man to vnderstand al yea if therwith â—e ioyned a perfite knowledge of all learnynges haue finally so strong a fayth that I could with thesame moue euen mountaynes out of their places lacke charitie in vayne haue I all the other forasmuch as they profite no body Yf I haue so great a gyft to helpe other yâ— what substance so euer I haue I would be content to bestow it al together for the reliefe of the poore yea if for yâ— ayde of such as are oppressed I would put my body in al ieopardy yea euen to be burned yet yf it may possybly be lacke charitie yâ— is to say a mynde desirouse euen freely to doe wel to other of all my other gyftes haue I none aduauntage By charitie only are we taught how we should vse other giftes which to haue is for a maÌ„ but vayne if he cannot vse them Other gyftes are sometime defaced with ambicion sometime with malyce sometime with dissencion from al which infeccions farre is charitie Eche other gyft hath his owne peculiar coÌ„moditie but charitie can neither be corrupted and her vse is moste commen The texte Loue suffereth long and is courteous Loue enuyeth not Loue doeth not frowardly swelleth not dealeth not dishonestly seketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh no euill reioyseth not in iniquitie but reioyseth in the trueth suffreth al thinges beleueth all thinges hopeth all thinges endureth all thinges Though that prophecyinges fayle either tonges cease or knowledge vanyshe awaye yet loue falleth neuer awaye Charitie is mylde to suffer wronges and also for this present lyfe commodiouse courteouse Charitie enuieth no man but asmuch as she hath bestoweth vpon other Not euill tounged but pleasing euery manne not swelling but lowly humblyng herselfe to other nor thinketh any thing vnsemely for her so that she maye doe good nor seketh her owne priuate lucre nor is thorough iniurye prouoked to reuenge and so farre from doyng wrong for wrong that she not somuche as myndeth to be reuenged so farre from doyng wrong herselfe that she cannot in other abyde it but rather reioyseth she in pure and godly maners and of a readie desyre to doe good suffereth all thynges be they neuer so paynfull so farre from conceyuing any euyll suspicion in any other that he beleueth all thynges and despaireth lyghtly of no man but through a sure trust of amendemente stedfastly contineweth in hope And to be briefe charitie neuer fayleth so farre that after this life when one manne shal haue no nede of an others seruice yet shall charitable loue of myndes abyde styll and neuer cease And in what gyft soeuer for this time a manne encreaseth charitie is neuer awaye but is a perpetuall gyft spread generally through the whole lyfe and state of christian menne though it chaunce prophecying to fayle or tounges to cease or knowledge to be abolished by excesse of more ample knowledge The texte For our knowledge is vnperfecte and our prophecying is vnperfecte But whan that whiche is perfecte is come then that whiche is vnperfecte shal be doen awaye When I was a chylde I spake as a chylde I vnderstoode as a chylde I imagined as a chylde But assone as I was a manne I putte awaye chyldyshnes Nowe we see in a glasse euen in a darke speakyng but then shall we see face to face Nowe I knowe vnperfectly but then shall I knowe euen as I am knowen Nowe abydeth fayth hope and loue euen these three but the chiefe of these is loue For that whiche we of these thynges as yet possesse is vnperfite so that neyther our knowledge neyther vnderstanding of misteries through prophecie is yet ful and perfite But when that is come which is perfite that which is nowe but halfe perfite shall after a sorte be abolyshed Euen as it is in nature so hath christian religion her degrees ages and increase of ages When I was
with God long ago yea euen afore the world was made and in a maner opened vnto the prophetes by inspiracion albeit it was not playnly opened to the world as it is now by me that the Gentiles through onely fayth of the Gospel without helpe of Moses law should attayn saluacion yea in so much that the chiefest of the Apostles durst not admit suche as were not circumcised vnto baptisine But nowe it is playnely opened vnto the holye Apostles of Christe and to hys prophetes by inspiracion of the holy goste that the Gentiles through faith are so vnited vnto the Iewes that they are comen in to the felowship of yâ— selfe same enheritaunce and growe in to all one bodye reioycyng in theyr common head Christe and by reason therof are becomen partiners of all the proinisses that abyde suche as beleue the Ghospel of Christ to preache the which Ghospell autoritie is commytted vnto me and I ceasse not to dooe my commaunded office labouring constauntly hitherto in the Ghospels busines euen vnto emprisonmeÌ„tes and fetters not that I am any thing mete of mine owne strength for so painful a busines but he that appoynted that office to me hath laied his owne helping hande to the same And so it is that I being as concerning myne owne habilitie feble and weake am by his benefite strong and full of courage agaynst the stormes of al mischiefes I boast not myne own worthines for I coÌ„fesse that I am the least of Saintes but yet as litle as I am it hath pleased the goodnes of God to putte me in trust with this businesse of moste weightie importaunce that I shoulde publishe and preache among the Gentiles whiche before this time knewe nothyng of God the vnsearcheable richesse of Christ which he offereth plenteously to all men and bryng to lyght the thyng that before was hidden that the benefit of the ghospell is to be dispensed and ministred to all maner of nacions whiche beefore was supposed to be geuen onely to the Iewes although it was otherwyse decreed eternally of God the maker and gouernour of all thynges notwithstanding his will was to haue thys Counsayll of hys diuyne intente to be yet hitherto kepte secrrete whiche in these tymes he woulde so openly manifeste and that by the congregacion wherinto he powred suche aboundaunce of spirituall giftes that his manifolde wisedome whiche with wounderfull deuises disposeth all thinges through death geuyng life through shame exaltyng to glorye through humilitie aduauncyng Goddes maiestie whiche no man in times paste coulde haue Imagined shoulde nowe bee brought to lyght not onely to the brode worlde but euen to prynces and chiefeste of Angelles and deuilles that haue to dooe in the skyes and in the vppermoste parte of the ayer whiche thynges albeit they myght gesse should come to passe that mankynde should once be redemed yet this was not knowen by what reason the wisedome of God had eternallye decreed to bringit to passe whiche thing now at length was openlye knowen whan he sent his sonne into the world who hauing taken vpon him an humain bodye would by vnspeakeable meanes vnite and couple the congregacion to hymselfe whereof our lorde Iesus Christe should bee the head by whome like as Innocencie chaunced vnto vs in that that our sinnes were doen a waye euen so chaunced vnto vs an assured truste also that as children we shoulde not be afraied to approche vnto the father whose displeased countenaunce we durst not afore beholde For what shoulde we bee afrayed of hauyng suche a heade that in no wise suffreth any of his membres to perishe albeit here in the meane season we suffre sum affliccion The texte â–ª Wherfore I desire that ye faint not because of my tribulacions that I suffre for your sakes whiche is your praise For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the father of our lorde Iesus Christ which is father ouer all that is called father in heauen and in earth that he would graunt you accordyng to the riches of his glorie that ye maye bee strengthed with might by his spirite in the â—â—â—er man that Christe maie dwell in your hertes by faith that ye beyng rooted and grounded in loue mighte bee hable to comprehende with al sayntes what is that bredth aâ—d length depth and height and to knowe the excellente loue of the knoweledge of Christ that ye mighte bee fulfilled with all fulnes which cummeth of God Vnto him yâ— is hable to doe exceading aboundantly aboue al that we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs be prayse in yâ— congregacion by Christe Iesus thorowâ—â—t al generacious from tune to tyme. Amen This secrete counsayle of God forasmuch as I preache boldely in euery place I suffre exceadyng punishemente of such as yet cannot possibly be perswaded of this matter But I beseche you let not myne affliccions whiche I suffre for your sakes anythyng disquiete or dismaye you For there is no cause why you shoulde be ashamed of suche an Apostle though I bee laden with fetters For like as the crosse of Christe is our glorie euen so my fetters which I we are not for any euill dedes but for the sinceritie of the Ghospel are for your honestie and no rebuke For the more displeasures we suffre with a constaunt mynd for the Ghospell of Christe the more entierly we cause the people to beleue that the promises of Christe are not vayne inasmuch as through assured hope of them we faint not for any displeasures of this life And it is not Ioyous to me onely to suffre for the ghospelles businesse but it also becommeth al men that are entred vnto Christe to folowe the example of their autour and head And truely for this cause sake I bowe my knees and praye earnestly euen from the botome of myne harte vnto God our father and the same the father of our lorde Iesus Christe of whome as the supreme head dependeth all spirituall kynred wherby by are incorporated together whether they bee angelles in heauen or faithfull people vpon earth and of whome onely as of the fountaine springeth whatsoeuer is belongyng to true felicitie that like as he hath begonne to declare hys aboundaunte glorye in you so he maye more and more augmente his liberall goodnesse to you ward that as you are engraffed to Christ through baptisme and as it were borne newe agayne so you maye gather courage and strengthe with daylye encrease not accordong to the bodye but accordyng to the mynde and soule that is to saye by the gyfte of the spirite of the father continually encreacyng in vs by whome we are made stronge and valiaunt to withstande al dredes of persecucion and that the constancie of your fayth maye be suche that you thynke surelye that Christe will neuer fayle you but rather dwelle in wardly in your hertes for the faythful trustes sake wherwith you commit your selues wholy vnto him For with such is he most specially presente as distruste theyr owne
also these thynges equally with the father Certaynly this is the thyng that the Psalmiste by the inspiracion of the holy gost spake of so long agoe For Christe hauyng all ready conquered the helles is ascended alyue agayne into the hygh kyngdome of the father and hath caryed with him the ensigne of his conqueste euen the flocke of vs myserable captiues whom he hath frely deliuered from the tyranny of the deuyl and synne And from thence of the fathers liberalitie he hathe geuen throughe the holye ghoste soondrye kyndes of gyftes and bestowed them among menne as it is the solemne manner of suche as wynne the maistrye in a tryumphe to throwe downe tokens of tryumphe abrode among the people He sente downe giftes from heauen and heauenly thynges they were that he sente To be briefe where it is sayed he ascended doeth it not consequently folowe that he before descended And there is no descencion but from aboue so that the descencion is before and the ascencion after For none deserueth worthelye to bee exalted on hyghe but onelye throughe lowlinesse and humbleyng of hymselfe To conclude after moste lowe humblyng foloweth moste hygh aduauncing From the moste hyghe heauen than the whiche nothyng can be higher Christ deiected himself euen vnto the helles than the which nothyng can be lower And for this cause sake he was worthily exalted aboue the higheste of all the heauens and so tooke his bodily presence out of oure syghte to the intente to accomplishe all thynges from aboue wyth heauenly giftes and after an other maner of reason to be now more effectually presente with vs than whan he was conuersaunt emong vs vpon earth He forsoke not his body but deuyded his gyftes vnto euery of his membres after suche wyse as none of them all should want anye thyng albeeit some were endued with more excellent giftes than some For some he would haue to be chief as Apostles ryng leaders autours of the Gospel preahing some to be prophetes that coulde expounde the hidde meanynges of Moses lawe some to be euangelistes to occupye the Apostles roumes and to carrye aboute the gospell from place to place And some to be pastours and doctours as byshoppes to feede the flocke of Christe with the meate of holy doctryne and holsome example of goodlyfe And the teste he instructed some with one gyfte and some with an other to the intente that of all these conferred together the coumpanye of saynctes shoulde bee perfeitelye consummate and furnyshed to the vse of euerye good offyce and that the perfeit bodye of Christe beyng fully growen together in all his menbres shoulde so bee cherished one with the succour of an other and that the stronger membre shoulde beate for the tyme with the weaker and the weaker marke and folowe the exaumple of the stronger vntill we maye all at length cumme to equall strength of fayth and with lyke perfeccion knowe the sonne of God throughe whose helpe we maye waxe bygge and lustye in the secrete encrease of mynde after such sorte that at length we may growe vnto a perfeit manne and accordyng to oure measure frame oure selues aunswerably to our most perfite head In whome was neither imbecillitie nor erroure neyther yet any defaulte The texte That the hence forth should be nomore children waueryng caried about with euery winde of doctryne by the wylmes of men thorowe craftyues whereby they laye awayte tor vs to deceyue vs. But let vs folowe the trueth in loue and in all thynges growe in hym whiche is the head euen Christe in whome yf all the bodye be coupled and knitte together thorowoute euery ioynt wherwith one ministreth to an other accordyng to the operacion as euerye parte hath his measure he encreaseth the bodye vnto the edifiyng of it selâ—e thorowe loue There is an age of the bodye that geueth full strength to all the membres and putteth away the tendernesse of chyldehood And in semble ble wyse vnto this there is a lyke procedyng in the ordre of godlinesse whereunto we ought all to geue diligent endeuour that we be not from hencefoorth as we haue been waueryng lyke children in vncertayne opinious not addicte to any certayne decrees to attayne saluacion but as men voyde of trueth catryed about now into this nowe into that iudgemente with euery wynde of doctryne submittyng our selues as it were pieuishe chyldren to the subtiltie and crafte of some certayne men whiche trauayle not to teache vs Christe sincerely but to catche vs through theyr subtill artes and to snare vs with their craftie deceates or with philosophicall reasons to bryng vs in doubte of those thynges which by faith ought in no wise to be doubted of or elles in stede of the Gospelles veritye to set before vs the shadowes of Moses lawe But no we hauyng once embraced the veritie of the Gospel lette vs rather ioyne vnto it sincere charitable loue towardes al men enforcing our cominuall studye to this ende that we maye profite not onelye in the knowledge of the trueth but also in the continual diligente workes of charitie so as all we beyng membres maye be answerably like vnto our head And truely Christe is our head who also is the trueth selfe and hathe so loued vs that he hath geuen hymselfe to make vs safe To this head it is requisite that the membres be agreable Inasmuche as from hym the spirite of lyfe floweth into all the whole bodye beyng compacte and set together of sondrye membres ioyned ordrelye one to an other and pearcyng throughe euerye ioynt of the lymmes which coulde not be excepte the partes of the bodye were ioyned agreably one to an other that lyfe may haue passage into theÌ„ from one membre to an other For the hande or the fote beeyng cutte of cannot possiblye haue any parte of the vertue that commeth from the toppe of the heade But forasmuche as the whole bodye is perfeitly conglutinate in it self it commeth to passe that the spirite of Christe practiseth his efficacie in euerye membre accordyng to their seuerall capacitie and ordre and forasmuche as all the membres studye through mutuall loue to profite euerye one other the whole bodye wareth bygger and bygger and is made lustye and stronge so as it wyll not geue place in any condicion to the wyndes of false opinions alluryng this way and that ware to bryng it out of the trueth The texte This I saye therefore and testifie thorowe the Lord that ye hence forth walke not as other Beutiles walke in banitie of theyr minde while they are blinded in their vnderstanding being farte from a godly lyfe by the meanes of the ignorauncie that is in theÌ„ and because of the blindenes of their hartes whiche being paste repentaunce haue geuen themselues ouer vnto wantonnes to worke all maner of vnclennes euen with gredines But ye haue not so learned Christe If so bee that ye haue hearde of hym and haue beene taught in him as the trueth is in Iesu as
Iesus Christ as it becoÌ„meth me so iudge I of you al because I haue you in my berte for asmuche as ye all are companyons of grace wyth me euen in my bondes and in the defendyng and stablyshynge of the gospel For God is my recorde howe greatlye I longe after you all from the very hart rote in Iesus Christ And this I pray that your loue may encrease yet more more in knowledge in all vnderstandyng that ye may accepte the thinges that are most excelleÌ„t that ye may be pure and such as hurte no mans coÌ„science vntyl yâ— day of Christ beyng filled with yâ— fruit of rightewisenes whiche fruit coÌ„meth by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and prayse of God Verely as often as I call vpon God in my prayers as I doo in dede with out ceassyng I make continuall mention of you all with rendryng of thankes and excedyng reioycyng on all your behalfes that euer synce the fyrst entraunce of your profession euen vnto this daye in that you haue releued me wyth your helpe and gentilnes you haue shewed youre selues to be of the felowshyppe of the gospel And my continuall prayer is that you maye encrease in those vertuous doynges more more not doubtyng but God which hath entred these godly partes in you wyl performe yâ— which he hath begon in you vnto the day yâ— Iesus Christ shall come recompence eternall rewarde to well done dedes For so it is conuenient the I should iudge of you through the helpe of God in asmuche as alwayes hitherto I haue had suche experience of youre constaunte and true gospellike loue to me warde as I may easyly gather that of a very good begynnyng shal come a very good ending For the which cause sake my minde is so affectuously set towardes you the euen in these bandes and whaÌ„ I am arraigned at Neroes barre wher I must pleade for my head giltie or not giltie in other mine afflictions through the which yâ— power of yâ— gospel is not hindred nor obscured but coÌ„firmed aduauÌ„ced I haue euer borne you a singuler good will bicause I haue alwayes perceiued you as glad as my self that the word of Christ doth florishe through my painful afflictioÌ„ For god him selfe knoweth froÌ„ whoÌ„ nothing is hiddeÌ„ how disirously affected I am towardes you all not after the maner of mannes affection either to the intente to get anye thyng of you or yet in anye wyse to flattre you for youre lyberalitie shewed to me but I loue you with a pure christiaÌ„ affectioÌ„ for none other purpose but bycause I see that you loue Iesus Christ constauntly purely I thanke God heartely for bestowynge hys gyftes vpon you I beseche hym that this youre charitie may encrease more and more in all knowledge and in all vnderstandyng that you maye knowe vnto whome youre dutie is to minister the offices of charitie For the commaundement of charitie is that you should mynde to doo good dedes And discretion sheweth howe and where you shoulde doo good dedes Than what so euer you shall bestowe for Christes sake vpon the preachers and promotours of the ghospell it is best bestowed of all other bycause you shall receyue it agayne with greate auauntage And for this cause I wyshe and praye that you may alwayes encrease in both these gyftes so as you maye be hable to proue what is best to be done and that you maye be of a sincere affection to geue respecte to nothyng but onelye to Christe and to set out the profession of the ghospell with suche vprightnes of lyfe that you geue not any man occasion to be offended but rather allute all men to the true wourshyppe of God and so perseuer styll vnto the daye of Christes commynge that you maye than appeare ryche and aboundauntlye ful of good workes wherof in this world you make as it wer a seedenesse and shall reape the frute therof at yâ— day with moste plenteous encrease by the meritours goodnes of Iesus Christ not to the glory of you me but to the glorye and praise of god to whoÌ„ as yâ— fouÌ„taine of al goodnes al thinges are to be referred The texte I would ye should vnderstande brethren that the thynges whiche happened vnto me chaunced vnto the great furtheraunce of the ghospell So that my bondes in Christe are manifest thorow out all the iudgement hall and in al other places In so much that many of the brethren in the lorde beyng encouraged thorowe my bondes dare more boldely speake the worde wythout feare Some preache Christ of enuye and stryfe and some of good wyll The one part preacheth Christ of strife and not sincerely supposyng to adde more aduersitie to my boÌ„des Agayne the other part preache of loue because they know yâ— I am set to defend the gospel What then So that Christe be preached anye maner of waye whether it be by occasion or of true meanyng I am glad therof yea and I will be glad For I know that this shall chaunce to my saluacion thorowe your prayer and ministrynge of the spirit of Iesu Christ accordyng to my expectation and hope that in nothyng I shal be ashamed but that with all bold nesse as alwayes euen so nowe also Christ shal be magnified in my body whether it be thorow lyfe or thorowe death For Christe is to me lyfe and death is to me auauntage If it chaunce me to lyue in the fleshe that thyng is to me frutefull for the worke and what I shal chose I wote nor â—or I am coÌ„strained of these two thynges I desyre to be loâ—ced to be with Christe which is moche farre better Neuerthelesse to abyde in the fleshe is more nedfull for you And this am I sure of that I shal abyde continue with you all for youre furtheraunce and ioye of your fayth that your reioysyng maye be the more aboundant thorow Iesus Christe in me by my commyng to you agayne Now to the intent ye may the more amplye be partakers of my ioye I would ye should vnderstand brethreÌ„ that yâ— emprisonmeÌ„t fetters arraignemeÌ„tes and my other calamities wher with I was tossed turmoyled for the gospel of Christ did not only not hinder the sitting abrod coÌ„firming of the doctrine of the gospel but also happened to the great furtheraunce of it did not only not withdraw the faythfull froÌ„ the profession yâ— they had taken vpon theÌ„ but also confirmed theÌ„ in it a greate deale the more made theÌ„ more hartie of a better courage so as they vnderstode yâ— to be most vndoubtedly true yâ— I preache for yâ— which I am not afraied to suffre these thinges made theÌ„ bold to entreprise yâ— lyke by myne exaÌ„ple For this for the most part is the coÌ„men chauÌ„ce that happeneth to matters of honestye of weightye importauÌ„ce the more they are holden vnder and turmoyled hereawaye and thereawaye so muche more they come forwarde appeare not withstaÌ„ding the
one supplying and fulfilling by his ministers suche thynges as mighte in his affliccions seeme vnperfecte not that his death of it selfe is insufficient but because the affliccions and punishmentes of the head and members of the prince and ministers are in maner one These punishmeÌ„tes the greater and more vehemente they be the more redounde and make they to the fulnes and perfeccion of your saluacion And not for your saluacioÌ„ onely but for yâ— weale also of Christes whole body whiche is the churche do I the office committed vnto me for to me is committed the cure and ouer sight of the congregacion For Christe hath set and placed me in his stede and hath deliuered vnto me the custody of his owne bodye specially for that porcion whiche is of the Gentiles to be receyued to the gospell to the intente I should with my labour supply that whiche he semed to lacke and to publyshe yâ— which was so many hundred yeares before this tyme hidden from the Gentiles and to teache that not only the Iewes but the GeÌ„tiles also haue through fayth an entry into this welthy state of the gospel This to do was by god long since purposed but yet was this his purpose hidden vntill this tyme from the worlde and is nowe through my preachyng opened to all suche as forsakyng theyr former vngraciouse lyfe embrace yâ— doctrine of Christ to whome it hath pleased god to declare howe glorious his ryches is towarde vs when by publyshing this his so long hidden misterie the whole worlde perceyueth howe that free saluacion whiche men firste thoughte was offered onely to the Iewes is nowe commen vnto al nacions that the kepyng of Moses lawe is not requyred but fayth onelye so that men doubte not of the promises made in the gospell In stede of all suche thynges wherin the Iewes haue had a foolyshe confidence Christ onely is for you sufficient If he be in you ye haue no cause to be sorye of the hope ye stande in beyng both sure ynough and also through hym glorious who of hymselfe wyll vndoubtedly perfourme as muche as he hath promised Hym preache we of and not Moses nor aungels aduertisyng teaching not onely the Iewes but also all people of the world and in so doong leauyng nothyng vntouched which appertayneth to the wisdome of the gospell And this do we to the intent all men should vnderstand that whither they be circumcised or not circumcised theyr weale is in nothyng els to be set but in Christ Iesus To bryng whiche fayth into mennes myndes I in suche sorte labour that for auauncing therof I thynke it not paynfull to put my selfe in so many ieopardies and perilles which are in dede more weightie than our weakenes is able to abyde suffer But strong mightie is he by whose ayde and mayntenaunce I do these actes who also wheÌ„ nede requireth with working of myracles by vs bryngeth my preaching in eredence The ii Chapiter The texte For I woulde that ye knewe howe great care that I haue for you and for them that are at Laodicia and for as many as haue not sene my person in the fleshe that theyr hertes myght be comforted when they are knyt together in loue and in al riches of full vnderstanding for to knowe the misterie of God the father and of Christe in whome are hydde all the treasures of wysedome and knowledge ANd this muche haue I sayde ye Colossians not to boste my self vnto you but because I couete yâ— ye should knowe howe carefull I am and what ieopardies I put my selfe in not only for suche as I haue presently taught the gospell vnto but for them also whiche by syghte know me not especially for you and the Laodicians whom thoughe I neuer sawe with my bodely iyen yet see I them coÌ„tinuallye with the iyen of my hearte glad of your encrease furtheraunce fearful it I espye your entiernes and godly condicions either to be in ieoperdie or to be inconstant wauer Nor is it for my selfe so greatly anaylable that suche as neuer sawe me know what labours paynes I take for them as it dothe auauntage them For by my pensyfenes by my ieopardies and affliccions are they more pricked furth and enforced to consent and cleaue more together in godly charitie lyke yâ— members of one body knyt and surely mortised wherby also menne more clearely perceyue and more certaynely beleue the bountifull goodnes of god the father toward all mankynde yea toward al creatures aboundaÌ„tly flowyng abrode by openyng nowe throughe Iesus Christe the secrete misterie which hath hitherto bene hidden whiche is that besyde hym onely we should desyre no worldly wysdome be that neuer so great which the wyse Philosophers promisen or teachers of Moses lawe or anye suche as boste that they by speakyng with aungels are taughte forasmuche as in hym alone are contayned and hydden all the treasures of wysedome and fruytful knowledge Of this fountayne maye we easly drawe asmuche as is to perfite saluacion requyred The texte This I saye lesse any man should beguyle you with entising wordes For thoughe I be absent in the fleshe yet am I with you in the spirite ioying and beholding youre order and your stedfast fayth in Christe These poyntes for this ende thought I it good to warne you of because ye should with all diligence take hede least any beyng instruct with worldly wysdome agaynst the playnes of Christes gospel blynde and deceyue you with false tales beyng yet suche tales as haue a colourable apparence of trouth and lykelynes For so are the wyse men of this world with capâ—touse and subtile reasons of theyr inuencion wont to entangle simple people of whiche sorte I know that some there are among you watching how they maye corrupte your fayth For albeit I be absent from you and see not presentlye what is done there yet am I in mynde among you present with all my herte reioysyng to see the good order and condicion of your lyfe and therwith the soundnes and strength of the sure confidence whiche ye haue in Iesus Christe to whome ye haue once wholy commytted your selues The texte As ye haue therfore receyued Christ Iesu the lord euen so walkeye in hym so that ye be roted and buylte in hym and stablyshed through faythe as ye haue learned and therin be plenteous with geuyng thankes Nowe remayneth this that ye vpon this good beginnyug continue and profit more and more and as ye haue once receyued and beleued that Iesus Christe our lorde is all goodnes the head and welspring of our felicitie so set all your lyfe agree and consent with your fayth and profession prouiding alwayes that as ye are through baptisme graffed into him that ye lyke wyse abide in hym and gather strength And as the sure and strong foundacion of the doctrine of Christes gospell is once alredy layed in you so labour ye to buylde vp ther vpon suche a worke as is for
but for the weale also of Christes whole body whiche is the churche do I the office committed vnto me for to me is committed the cure and ouer light of the congregacion For Christe hath set and placed me in his stede and hath deliuered vnto me the custody of his owne bodye specially for that porcion whiche is of the Gentiles to be receyued to the gospell to the intente I should with my labour supply that whiche he semed to lacke and to publyshe y◠which was so many hundred yeares before this tyme hidden from the Gentiles and to teache that not only the Iewes but the Gētiles also haue through fayth an entry into this welthy state of the gospel This to do was by god long since purposed but yet was this his purpose hidden vntill this tyme from the worlde and is nowe through my preachyng opened to all suche as forsakyng theyr former vngraciouse lyfe embrace y◠doctrine of Christ to whome it hath pleased god to declare howe glorious his ryches is towarde vs when by publyshing this his so long hidden misterie the whole worlde perceyueth howe that free saluacion whiche men firste thoughte was offered onely to the Iewes is nowe commen vnto al nacions that the kepyng of Moses lawe is not requyred but fayth onelye so that men doubte not of the promises made in the gospell In stede of all suche thynges wherin the Iewes haue had a foolyshe confidence Christ onely is for you sufficient If he be in you ye haue no cause to be sorye of the hope ye stande in beyng both sure ynough and also through hym glorious who of hymselfe wyll vndoubtedly perfourme as muche as he hath promised Hym preache we of and not Moses nor aungels aduertisyng teaching not onely the Iewes but also all people of the world and in so doong leauyng nothyng vntouched which appertayneth to the wisdome of the gospell And this do we to the intent all men should vnderstand that whither they be circumcised or not circumcised theyr weale is in nothyng els to be set but in Christ Iesus To bryng whiche fayth into mennes myndes I in suche sorte labour that for auauncing therof I thynke it not paynfull to put my selfe in so many ieopardies and perilles which are in dede more weightie than our weakenes is able to abyde suffer But strong mightie is he by whose ayde and mayntenaunce I do these actes who also whē nede requireth with working of myracles by vs bryngeth my preaching in credence The .ii. Chapiter The texte For I woulde that ye knewe howe great care that I haue for you and for them that are at Laodicia and for as many as haue not sene my person in the fleshe that theyr hertes myght be comforted when they are knyt together in loue and in al riches of full vnderstanding for to knowe the misterie of God the father and of Christe in whome are hydde all the treasures of wysedome and knowledge ANd this muche haue I sayde ye Colossians not to boste my self vnto you but because I couete y◠ye should knowe howe carefull I am and what ieopardies I put my selfe in not only for suche as I haue presently taught the gospell vnto but for them also whiche by syghte know me not especially for you and the Laodicians whom thoughe I neuer sawe with my bodely iyen yet see I them cōtinuallye with the iyen of my hearte glad of your encrease furtheraunce fearful if I espye your entiernes and godly condicions either to be in ieoperdie or to be inconstant wauer Nor is it for my selfe so greatly auaylable that suche as neuer sawe me know what labours paynes I take for them as it dothe auauntage them For by my pensyfenes by my ieopardies and affliccions are they more pricked furth and enforced to consent and cleaue more together in godly charitie lyke y◠members of one body knyt and surely mortised wherby also menne more clearely perceyue and more certaynely beleue the bountifull goodnes of god the father toward all mankynde yea toward al creatures aboundātly flowyng abrode by openyng nowe throughe Iesus Christe the secrete misterie which hath hitherto bene hidden whiche is that besyde hym onely we should desyre no worldly wysdome be that neuer so great which the wyse Philosophers promisen or teachers of Moses lawe or anye suche as boste that they by speakyng with aungels are taughte forasmuche as in hym alone are contayned and hydden all the treasures of wysedome and fruytful knowledge Of this fountayne maye we easly drawe asmuche as is to perfite saluacion requyred The texte This I saye leste any man should beguyle you with entising wordes For throughe I be absent in the fleshe yet am I with you in the spirite ioying and beholding youre order and your stedfast fayth in Christe These poyntes for this ende thought I it good to warne you of because ye should with all diligence take hede least any beyng instruct with worldly wysdome agaynst the playnes of Christes gospel blynde and deceyue you with false tales beyng yet suche tales as haue a colourable apparence of trouth and lykelynes For so are the wyse men of this world with capciouse and subtile reasons of theyr inuencion wont to entangle simple people of whiche sorte I know that some there are among you watching how they maye corrupte your fayth For albeit I be absent from you and see not presentlye what is done there yet am I in mynde among you present with all my herte reioysyng to see the good order and condicion of your lyfe and therwith the soundnes and strength of the sure confidence whiche ye haue in Iesus Christe to whome ye haue once wholy commytted your selues The texte As ye haue therfore receyued Christ Iesu the lord euen so walke ye in hym so that ye be roted and buylte in hym and stablyshed through faythe as ye haue learned and therin be plenteous with geuyng thankes Nowe remayneth this that ye vpon this good beginnyng continue and profit more and more and as ye haue once receyued and beleued that Iesus Christe our lorde is all goodnes the head and welspring of our felicitie so set all your lyfe agree and consent with your fayth and profession prouiding alwayes that as ye are through baptisme graffed into him that ye lykewyse abide in hym and gather strength And as the sure and strong foundacion of the doctrine of Christes gospell is once alredy layed in you so labour ye to buylde vp ther vpon suche a worke as is for suche a foundacion mete and conuenient And take hede that ye wauer not this waye or that waye as euery blaste of newe doctrine moueth you but stāde stedfast and stable in that ye haue once learned and endeuour not only to stande stedfastly but also to encrease euery daye from better to better that your fayth and fruites of godly lyfe beyng dayly more and more augmented ye maye alwayes haue some newe thing
mynde as a man quite ouerturned and paste all remedy Neyther hast thou any neade to laboure in the condemnynge of him sythen he is condemned by his owne iudgement If he peryshe he is lost and cast awaye by his owne faulte For he cannot laye this excuse for him I was deceyued and went oute of the waye thorowe ignoraunce no man warned me of myne â—â—â—oure This excuse it but vayne For what shal one do to a sicke man that wil take no medicine peraduenture yf he were contemned and not passed on he woulde wexe wyser If he wyll not yet the fewer resorte vnto him the fewer shall the contagion of his madnes infecte The texte When I shall sende Artemas vnto the or Tithycus be diligente to come to me vnto Nicâ—â—opolis For I haue determined there to wynter Bryng zenas the lawear Apollos en theyr iorney diligently that nothynge be lackyng vnto them And let oures also learne to â—â—cell in good woorkes as farforth as nede requireth that they be not vnfruteful All that are with me saluâ—e the. Grete them that loue vs in the fayth Grace be with you all Amen I woulde fayne haue the with me a fewe dayes but I woulde not it should be to the damage of the christian congregacions in Crete which haue bene but late conuerted to the faith and therefore they haue the more nede of a diligente ouerseat whiche maye buylde vpon the foundacion nowe all ready layed Se therefore that thou mete with me at Nicopole But come not afore I send Artemas or Tichicus to thee to be there for thee in my steade leste thy departing shoulde leue Crete destitute and as it were an Orpheline Thou shalte not neade to feare that I wyll in the meane tyme go any where els and so thou to lese thy laboure For I am purposed all this nexte wynter to be at Nicopole whiche is a citie of Trace Whan Zenas sometyme a doctor of Moses law but nowe a noble preacher of the ghospell and Apollos whiche is a man greatlye approued in the doctrine of Christe wyll departe from the bryng them forthward with all the humanite that maye be and see that they lacke nothyng that shal be necessary for their iornaye If these offices of humanitie be exhibited of the Ethnikes that they doo for good maners sake brynge their frende onwarde on his iorney and gyue him at his departyng sufficiently bothe of vytayles and otherthynges necessarye for him in his way I thynke it very right that our men also whiche profelse Christe do learne to vse suche gentyle fashions and to gyue due thankes to them that do deserue it Not that they shuld make them riche with greate gyftes but to geue them suche thinges as be necessarye for their lyuing whan nede shall requyre For seyng that they whiche do not knowe Christe be yet taught of nature to geue them thankes whiche haue done for them truly it is very vnsemely that christian men should be barayne and vnfruteful to them of whom they haue receiued any good turne As many as be here with me commende them vnto the. Do thou agayne coÌ„mende me to as many there as loue me not with worldely affeccion but with Euangelicall and christian loue whiche the commune profession of faythe doeth engendre in vs. The free beneficence of Goddes mercy be with you all for euer Amen ¶ Thus endeth the paraphrase vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to Titus ¶ The Argument vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to Philemon by Erasmus of Roterodame â–ª THis Philemon after the Grekes writing was a Phrigiâ— borne whiche nacion of people is vntractable â—â—anyshe as the Greekes owne prouerbe maketh often mencion Stripes make the Phrigian to amende And yet Paul reconned this Philemon one of hys speciall frendes bycause of his godlynes diligence done to yâ— sayntes And a seruaunt of his one Onesimus had runne away froÌ„ him to Rome and had theuishlye stollen somwhat from him as seruauntes are for the moste parte vsed to doe There whan he had hearde Paule who at that tyme was in bondes he receiued the doctrine of the gospel and serued Paule in prison But lest the maister should be vexed in his mynde for his seruauntes runnynge awaye he sendeth him home agayne with a wonderfull diligence and ciuilitie he reconsileth vnto the Maister his seruaunt that had bene both a runneagate and a piker and offreth him selfe to be suertie to make good what soeuer he had piked at his runnyng awaye This Epistle he wrote from the prison by the sayd Onesimus whom he also calleth his sonne Thus endeth the Argument ¶ The paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to Philemon ¶ The .i. Chapter The texte Paule the prysoner of Christe brother Timothee Vnto Philemon the beloued and oute helper and to the beloued Appia and to Archippus oure felowe souldier and to the congregacion that is of thy house Grace be vnto you and peace from God oure father from the Lorde Iesus Christe PAule before this tyme an Apostle and seruaunte of Iesu Christ and nowe his prysoner also for why shoulde not I be glad to be hys prysoner for whose ghospelles sake I weare these bondes not for the punyshement of any euyil that I haue done but as a notable badge of a free valeaunt preacher and also my felowe ghospellpreacher brother Timothee vnto Philemon in the profession of the commune faith a brother singulerly worthye to be beloued and not a brother onely but also my companion in very many affaires partaker in the office of the gospel to his wyfe Appia my moste welbeloued syster as concernyng the kynred of fayth to Archippus our felowe souldier and to the rest of the congregacion whiche is at his house Grace be vnto you and peace from God oure coÌ„mune father froÌ„ his sonne the lord Iesu Christ The texte I thanke my god making mencioÌ„ alwayes of the in my prayers when I heare of thy loue and fayth whiche thou haste towarde the Lorde Iesu and towarde all sayntes so that the fellowshyppe of thy fayth is fruteful in the knowledge of euery good woorke whiche is in you towarde Iesus Christe For we haue great ioye and consolacion in thy loue because that by thee brother the sayntes hertes are comforted In my prayers wherwith I am accustomed to sacrifice daylye vnto God I undre thankes vnto him alwayes on thy behalfe For I ascribe it thankefully vnto him that I heare spoken openly of all men that is to say both the purenesse thy ryght gospelling charitie which thou bearest towardes the lord Iesus not towardes hym only but also towardes al saintes yâ— is to were his meÌ„bres vnto whoÌ„ what so euer is bestowed hys wyl is to reckeÌ„ it done to him self And this I also beseche him to augment his mercifulnes vpon thee that this thy faith whiche is not idle in the may expresse his power dayly more more to enforce
deuysion in the churche betwene the rulers of the laytie and clergye hath bene the occasion of very great myseries betwene the grecians and yâ— Romaynes Emperors and Kynges Popes and byshops bothe in the spirituall and temporall regiment For this deuyllyshe burning fyre of pryde hathe bredde infynite and vnspeakeable hurte vnto yâ— churche of Christ For euen out of yâ— sprang so many warres battels burnynges and destroyng of landes And suche common harmes wyll the spirite of god sygnifye by the trouble losse and destruccion in all the elemeÌ„tes yâ— fyre water ayer the earth For there was no man sure and in safegarde The texte ¶ And the thirde angel blew and there fell a great starre from heauen burnyng as it weâ— a lampe and it fell into the thirde parte of the ryuers and into fountaines of waters and the name of the starre is called wormwod And yâ— thirde parte was turned to wormworde And many men dyed of the waters because they were made bytter And the fourth Angell blewe and the thirde parte of the sonne was smytten and the thirde parte of the mone and the thirde parte of starres so that the thyrde parte of them was darckned And yâ— daye was smytten that yâ— thirde parte of it shoulde not shyne and lykewyse the nyght And I behelde and hearde an angell flyinge thorowe the myddes of heauen saying with a loude voyce Woo woo woo to the inhabiters of the earth because of the voyces to come of the trompe of the thre angels whiche were yet to blowe The thirde plage came vpon yâ— starres of heauen that is vpon the most holyest people whiche were taken for the spirituall state and order as monckes fryers and priestes whiche thorowe their hypocrysye haue heaped vnto them selues money goodes and treasures and haue gotten landes and dominions for the whiche great dyuision was among them â–ª And wheras the world should haue learned of them faith loue and knowledge it was nothing but slandered offended deceyued seduced and sore hyndered by them bothe in faythe and in godly lyuynge and behaueour bothe whiche were vtterly decayed in these parsons â–ª to the great vndoyng and dystruccion bothe of bodye and of soule And thus the swete hony of christen loue and concorde among these orders is turned in to bytter wormewoode by the which many soules are destroyed The fourthe plage maye well be vnderstande to be the breakyng in of the Turkes Sarasens whiche is as it were a worthye and well deserued scourge or whyppe whiche shoulde scourge and punyshe the christendome fallyng into synne and dyssolutenes As it hath already happened in the .iii. partes of the earth Asya Europa and Africa All these hath he gotten wholy into his handes And hathe also dyuerse tymes attempted Italy and Spaine And hath alreadye gotten Austry Etschlande and parte of Hungry He yâ— thinketh not this a great losse and a wonderfull destruccion the same hath no vnderstandynge at all Suche great myseries perplexites and destruccions dothe the scripture sygnifye in diuerse places by the darcknes of the Sunne Moone and Starres And where as he sayth that onely the thirde parte was destroyed he syngnifyeth thereby that all this dyd not continue in dyuerse places For men addressyng theÌ„selues vnto repentaunce and amendement haue dysappoynted suche enemyes dyscharged them selues of them But not euery where nor at all tymes For all these myseries and plages returned againe afterwarde and were more dangerous hurtful and intollerable than they were before And bothe these and other plages dyd increase and get the ouerhande daylye more and more lykewyse also the synne against the worde of god against true loue againste peace and quietnes and against all vertue and godlynes dyd not cease but raged contynually against the manyfest and clere gospel euen by the spirituall sort which haue their lyuynge of the gospel wherunto they are the most extreme enemyes bothe in worde and deade a thousande partes more than the secular and laye sorte And yet all vnder the pretence coloure of a Christen good zeale wheras they seke nothing but their owne pryuate lucre as it is euydent manyfest ¶ The .ix. Chapter The texte ¶ And the fyfte angell blewe and I sawe a starre fall from heauen vnto the earth And to him was geuen the kaye of the bottomlesse pyt And he opened the botomlesse pyt and the smoke of the pyt arose as the smoke of a great fornace And the sunne and the ayer were darckned by the reason of the smoke of the pyt And there came out of the smoke locustes vpon the earth vnto them was geuen power as the scorpyons of the earth haue power And it was coÌ„maunded them that they shoulde not hurte the grasse of the earthe nether any grene thinge nether any tree but onely those men whiche haue not the seale in theyr foreheades And to them was commaunded that they should not kyll them but that they should be vexed fyue monethes their payne was as yâ— payne that commeth of a scorpion when he hath stoâ—ge a man LYke as in the openyng of the fourthe seale god is become man to washe away all synnes and wyckednes euen so the deuyll whiche is a counterfetter of gods workes imageneth by all meanes that he can to set vp and stablyshe all maner of intollerable errours and to augment his kyngdome And goeth about to make him selfe a god and to fyght and stryue againste the gospell and against all godlynes But thorowe the iudgement of god he is fallen downe from heauen vnto the earthe and hath receyued thorowe the iudgement of god and thorowe his permission the key of hell and of the botomles pyt of all wyckednesse euen lyke as Christ is ascended and gone vp and thorow his merites and rightuousnes hath opened the heauen and hath receyued the kyngdome of god for all the faithfull electe And out of this hellyshe botomles pyt arose a smoke of worldly wysdome of fleshly lustes by the whiche al godlynes planted of Christ and of the apostles thorow the preachyng of the gospel is obscured and darckened And there are rysen vp locustes that is to say false teachers heretykes and worldly suttell prelates sâ—olemen and sophisters which thorow their proude doctrine and mans ordinances pompe and couetousnes haue done muche harme in the churche in the heartes of the faythful thorow the permission of god And all this is suffered euen for the synne of contemnynge gods worde and for that men haue loued them selues muche more than Christ Whiche worde of god they haue made more to be contemned with their syngyng and fast or swyfte mumblynge vp therof without vnderstandynge than they haue profyted or edyfied eyther them selues or any other therby And also in their hyghe scoles and vniuersyties with their Aristotle and their Phylosophy they haue made yâ— worde of god darcke obscure And with their Philosophical dysputacions they haue made it vncerten and doubtfull and vnprofytable vnto
his kyngdome wexed derke and they gnewe their tonges for sorowe and blasphemed the God of heauen for sorowe and payne of their sores and repented not of their dedes The fourthe plage went ouer the seconde regiment of Rome whiche had both the temporal spiritual gouernance and was twise worse than the first For as muche as thorow her .ii. hornes it had power bothe ouer bodye and soule ouer the doctrine and ouer the polytike lawes with mouthe and hande againste God and also against the temporall gouernaunce against Christe and all his ministers Howe it hath dealte with the Emperours and what rule they haue kepte amonge them selues one Romyshe Pope against another practising all wicked sciences of the deuil bothe with quicke and also with deade mē against many good and godly Kynges and Emperours and againe how ofte Rome and the Papacye hath bene greuously plaged of God with rebellyon treason murther poysonynge nigromancye and with suche other kindes of wickednes as are neuer herde of in any other storyes we maye reade in the storyes of the Popes and of the Emperours from the time of Charles the great vntyll late dayes That by this meanes the summe of christen vertue and godlynes is turned into very desceite fraude falsehede and hipocrisie And the moste parte of all the wicked Popes were religious men and mooste false traytours to the gospell of Christe As for repentaunce there is none founde by this deuilyshe flocke The fyfte angell with his fyfte plage fallen vpon the seate of pestilence is rebellyon and resistance against the gospell raysed vp thorow false teachers whiche haue preached bothe without and also against the holy lawe and scripture of the lorde and haue rayled against many godly and faithfull men leauynge and refusynge holy scripture and settynge vp the studye of Aristotle in the steade therof whiche in the papacye hath bene more regarded and estemed than the holy worde of God By the meanes wherof so many greuous errours are crepte into the churche as well in matters of faythe and relygion as of dyscipline and Christen behauour Muche deuision many sectes by the meanes of so many orders of religions and so many glorious names and tytles yea and heresyes also Of the which al stories are full from Emperour Fryderiche the first of that name vntyl y◠ende of the thirde Frydierche In the whiche tyme there was muche trouble raysed vp in the christendome in the seculer iurisdiccion thorowe the Turke and in the spirituall thorowe the beggyng orders of religious parsons and of the hyghe heathnyshe scholes and vniuersities Of the which times muche might be wrytten heuy inoughe to be red but to auoyde tediousnes vnto the reader it shall be intermitted at this tyme. The texte ¶ And the syxte angell poured out his vyall vpon the great ryuer Euphrates and y◠water dryed vp that the wayes of the kynges of the east shoulde be prepared And I saw thre vncleane spirites lyke frogges come out of the mouthe of the dragon and out of y◠mouthe of the beast and out of the mouthe of the false prophet For they are y◠spirites of deuyls workynge miracles to go out vnto the kynges of the earthe and of the whole worlde to gather them to the batayle of y◠great daye of God almighty Beholde I come as a thefe ▪ Happie is he that watcheth and kepeth his garmentes lest he walke naked and men see his fylthines And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrue tonge Armagedon Consyder and waye yf this angell maye not sygnifye the spirite of Helias in oure tyme whiche spreedeth abrode the gospell in to all the worlde bothe with worde and dede to the confusion and vtter destruccion of all errours and to the profyte and reformacion of the worlde in all states and degrees For this seede can brynge forthe no nother frute But the great Euphrates ▪ of the pretensed spiritualtye is so sore fallē from their first rule that it is become more worldly and secular than the very secular state in so muche that it is vtterly dryed vp and wythered from the gospel syncerely preached Which is not to be merueyled at for it is euen of very necessitie For falsehede deceyte lyes and Hypocrisye must be opened and dysclosed by the trueth of gods word and by the preachinge of the gospell that syncere loue trueth and faythe in the worde of God with a sure confydence of the harte in the lorde God myght be taught and prynted into the naturall wyt and vnderstandinge of man And therfore it is necessarie that suche wrestynge of the true knowledge and doctrine shoulde be dysclosed vnto suche as haue any vnderstandynge and are not vtterly corrupte euen vnto worldlye princes and hygher powers and that the innocencye and clearnes ▪ and also the synguler profyte of the doctrine of the gospell might come to lyght that they myght see and confesse that it is the very trueth and so acknowledge and imbrace this Sunne rysinge vp Althoughe this doctrine be to stronge for their bloude and fleshe and they beyng fleshlye ouer weake in strengthe to lyue after the gospell Nowe against this euangelicall Sunne and manyfest knowledge of the trueth shall aryse .iii. maner of enemyes whiche shall assaulte it First the deuyllyshe dragon the great enemye of God and of all goodnes the botomles pyt of all wyckednesse with whome the mercye and goodnes of God dalyeth and playeth to shewe and declare his mercye and goodnes manifestlye before men The seconde is the beaste at Rome of whome we spake before the very right Antichrist whiche speaketh and worketh all that he can against the gospell of Iesus Christe wherunto he preferreth his decretalles and wyll be Lorde ouer the scripture ouer the churche and ouer the whole world and yet he wyll be taken and estemed for the vycar and debyte of Christ and S. Peters frende and the most holy father and for the head of the whole holy christendome And whosoeuer contraryeth or gainesayth this he must dye and also be cursed and made the deuylles by the power of this beastes mouthe The thirde is the false prophete not one person but an whole order and multitude of byshops and relygions parsons monckes friers c. Whiche by their office and callynge ought to mainteine and supporte the true doctrine but haue appoynted and bent them selues their whole lyfe and state vtterly against the doctrine of the gospel that nothing can be more vnlike the state of the Apostles eyther in doctrine religion or lyfe than is their order and state Wherof it is not nedefull to make manye wordes howe they haue alwayes resisted the doctrine of the gospell These are suche .iii. foule vncleane spirites as none can be founde more vncleane whiche notwithstandynge doe worke great tokens and miracles The deuyll with great wonders bothe amonge the Turkes and the Christians The papacy by forcerye witchcrafte and nigromancie The monkes and religious spirituall sorte withall
euen as Christe is yâ— head of the congregacioÌ„ Ye housbaÌ„des loue your wiues as Christ al to hath louedtde congregacion He that Loueth his wife loueth himself Ye seruauÌ„tes be obedieÌ„t to your bodely masters c We haue heard of your fayth i Christ Iesu c. Of whiche hope ye heard before by the true worde of the gospel Whiche also declared vnto vs your loue which ye haue in the spirite Ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge c Strengthed with al might through his glorious power c. Whiche hath made vs mete to be partakers of the inheritaunce of sainctes in light For by him were all thinges created He is the begâ—nnyng and first begotten of the dead c That in him should all fulnes dwell c. Now ioye I in my suffâ—riÌ„ges for you c. For his bodies sake whiche is the congregacioÌ„ Whome we preache warnyns all men and teaching c. â— That theyr hertes might be comforted c. Thoughe I be absente in the fleshe c. And disceitfull van tie after the tradicion of meÌ„ c. In him dwelleth all yâ— fulnes of yâ— godhead bodelye â—c In whom ye are also râ—seÌ„ again through fayth â—â— And hath â—ut out the hâ—nâ—wryâ—ing â—â—â—t was agaâ—â—â—t vs c Whiche are shadowes of thynges to come c. In the thynges which he neuer sawe Touche not taste not haÌ„dle not whiche all â–ª c. And â—â—uetonsnes whiche is worshippyng of idols And image of him that made hâ—m Take hede to thy office We haue heard of your fayth i Christ Iesu c. Of whiche hope ye heard before by the trae worde of the gospel Whiche also declared vnto vs your loue which ye haue in the spirits Ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge c. Strengthed with al might through his glorious power c. Whiche hath made vs meâ—e to be partakers of the inheritaunce of sainctes in light For by him were all thinges created He is the beginnyng and first begotten of the dead â— That in him should all fulnes dwell c. Now ioyâ— I in my sufâ—â—riÌ„geâ— fo◠〈◊〉 c. For his bodies sake â— whiche is â—â—e congregacioâ— Whome we preache warnyng all men and teaching c. That theyr hertes might be comforted c. Thoughe I be absente in the fleshe c. And disceitfull vanitie after the tradicion of meÌ„ c. In him dwelleth all yâ— fulnes of yâ— godhead bodelye c. In whom ye ate also riseÌ„ again through fayth c. And hath put out the handwryting that was against vs. c. Whiche aâ—â— shadowâ—s â—â— thynges to come c. In the thynges which he neuer sawe Touche not taste not haÌ„dle not whiche all c. And couetousnes whiche is worshippyng of idols And image of him that made him Take hede to thy office Thessalonica God make vs Englishmen â—â—ght Thessalonians God sende vs suche preachers This is the will of god euen your holynesse By the coÌ„mission of god our sauiour To his natural sonne In the faith Grace mercy peace As I besought the. That thou commaunde some The ende of the lawe is loue The law is good The lawe is not geueÌ„ vnto a righteous man We haue the lyke aduersaries but not the lyke diligeÌ„t preachers Paul made a priest by layeng on of haÌ„des without anoputynge Faith and conscience The cause of the decay of faith and good conscience The chiefe pollicie that bringeth meÌ„ to Christ is christian charitie Elders as we in oure commen speche vse to cal them Aldermen All prelates maye learne diligence at this mooste diligeÌ„t preachinge prelate the deuyll The charitie of the Gospel maketh one to be as glad of an others good to be as sory for an others hurt as though it were to him self not al worldly suâ— staunce to be thinune as the â—hant asâ—icall Anabaptistes do wikedly dreame The tree of lyfe The seconde death The fyrste death Manna The whyte stone Iesabel The whyte araye The open dore To be in the spirite Gods seate The precious stones The raynebowe The .xxiiii. seates and the .xxiiii. elders The sea of glasse The foure sondry beastes The face of the man The calfe The lyon The Egle. The wynges The eyes Foure angels The earth the sea and the trees The holy angell A certen nomber put for to signifye an vncerten multitude The trees Locustes The raynebowe vii thonders The quier xlii monethes The .ii. witnesses The great citie The temple of God The Arke The lyghtnyng thondering c. Heauen The womaÌ„ with childe The crienge The dragoÌ„ The .vii. heades The .x. hornes â—â—e tayle The taile of the dragon or of the deuyll The wynges The catte The Beare Tabernacle Ludouicus pius .viii. hundreth lvi The lambe This name is nowe turned and called al sainctes