A SERmon made: by the famous Doctor Erasmus of Roterodame.   

¶ In the second chapter of the Gospel of saint johan.  
A Marriage was made in Ca●ia a city of Galilee, & jesus mother was there/ And jesus and his disyples were called unto the marriage/ & when their wine failed, jesus mother said to him. they have no wine/ jesus said unto her, woman what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. his mother said unto the ministers. what soever he saith unto you do it. There were standing six water pots of 〈…〉 one after the manner of the purification of the jews: jesus said unto them fill the water pots with water, & they filled them up to the hard brim/ & he said unto them pour out now & bear unto the ruler of the feast/ and they bore it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was turned into wine, neither knew whence it was (but the ministers which drew the water knew) he called unto the bridegroom, and said unto him/ all men at the beginning usen to set forth the good wine, and when men have drunken their fill/ then that, which is the worse, but thou haste kept back the good wine hitherto.  
I Can scarcely with my tongue express, most dearly beloved brethren, & sistren in christ, how greatly it rejoiceth me, and replenisheth: & fulfilleth my mind, all full of joy, and gladness: that I do see so great a multitude, of you to be assemble here, and to have come together: & that with so great alacryte, cheerfulness, and good will/ to the solemn commemoration of our blessed lady, both virgin & mother. This affection of you toward the mother: is devotion, & love toward the son/ it is a manner, and custom/ left to us of our old ancestors & Forefathers: upon the feastful days, to make some royal and costly feast, or dinner. Would god that I, which am a father & herdesman having charge of souls might bring forth out of the most rich & plenteous larder, or storehouse of holy scripture, to you, Which are my sons and my sheep in our lord, some meat/ which never will perish/ but fatteth and maketh strong the minds of men into eternal life/ and also that I might bring forth the wine of the spirit/ which by a sober drunkenness may so cheer and glad your hearts: that even in the very mids of the tribulations & evils of this world, you may always sing, give laudes, and thank unto the lord with spiritual hymns. Which albeit that he is glorious in all his saints: yet in his most blessed mother, he hath specially, or singularly above all other saints declared and (as it were) powered out the riches of his glory. Let us therefore all together with our common prayers call for that holy spirit, which lighting upon the most blessed virgin mary, did consecrate & make holy her young and tender virgins breast or bosom, a temple and tabernacle to the divine trinity/ & which made her untouched womb the workhouse of that wonderful birth, which brought f●●th to us jesus christ the saviour of the whole world desired and looked for of all ages. first of all this is not unknown to you good christian people, that the honouring and worshipping of the most holy and blessed virgin mary consisteth and resteth principally or chiefly in four things/ that is to wit, in laudes or praises/ in honours/ in calling upon her/ and in imitation or following of her life/ of the which four the last, that is to wit the imitation of her life, is so the most chief and principal: that without it all, the other four are unfruitful or unprofitable, and this one also containeth all the other four within itself/ for that man hath sufficiently praised mary/ hath sufficiently honoured the blessed virgin Marie/ and also hath sufficiently called upon Marie: who soever he be, which to the uttermost of his power doth follow the soberness/ doth follow the chastity/ doth follow the humbleness and lowliness of Marie/ but they which throw foolish judgement/ and clean out of order, cease not continually to sing, and to heap laudes, and praises to Marie/ they also which with wax candles/ which with gifts, or oblations/ which with churches, or chapels do honour her/ & they which with long ambytions prayers calleth upon her desiring her help and do not so much as one think of following her life whom they do praise they stand in iopardye, lest the mother do say unto them that, which the father saith by the mouth of his prophet Isaiah, to the people of the jews that worshipped him. This people honoureth me with their lips/ but their hearts be far away from me. Again that also which saith to the same people in the gospel. Not all they that say to me master, master shall enter into the kingdom of heaven/ but he that fulfilleth my father's will which is in heaven. Let this therefore most dearly beloved brethren, and sisters be our principal study and care, to follow, as much as we may, the virtues of the blessed virgin Marie in our manners, and conversation of living lest she also may say to us/ this people honour me or worship me with songs/ with pipes/ recordars/ and other instruments of music/ with wax candles, and garlands: but their heart is all set on such things/ which I have always hated with my son jesus: that is to wit/ on riches on pleasures/ on sinful/ and ungracious plays/ unfylthy tale's/ and uncleanly communycacyons/ & on pride/ they give to me the principal seat or place in the churches, and in altars/ but within their own breasts or minds they will giant me no seat or place at all/ they sing and cry to me Regina celi/ domina angelorum/ vita/ dulcedo/ et spes nostra/ that is to say, they call me queen of heaven/ lady of angels/ they call me their life and sweetness/ their hope & comfort/ I am saluted every where/ with most honourable titles or names/ but not every one that saith to me lady lady, shall enter into the kingdom of my son/ but they only which following the example of my son, do obey the commandments of god/ and which endeavouring themselves to express and counterfeit the example given of me do labour to obtain the favour of my son by following of his mother/ in whom what so ever thing is worthy to be followed: it is the gift of the son. Let us not therefore suppose or believe, that the most holy virgin hath delight or is pleased with such fasts wherewith some men upon certain days do honour & worship her fasting only for this intent, that the next day following, they may the more largely be made drunken: or that she hath delight or pleasure in those songs, which certain persons do sing unto her/ which are most corrupt with fleshly lust and riot/ or that she hath delight in their gifts and offerings, which are on all sides defiled with fornications & adulteries. Not for that the most merciful virgin doth hate or turn away her face from sinners/ but who soever are ashamed and do repent them of their filthiness or sins, are now no longer sinners/ what soever thing is displeasant or misliking to the son: can not be pleasant or well liking to the mother. I know that in some places the chapel of our Lady is set forth (as it were to show) full of silks/ silver/ gold/ and precious stones/ so that they which there do worship the virgin, may seem to worship mammon or riches/ how moche more acceptable and pleasant should it be to the blessed virgin mary, If such riches were bestowed and dealt forth in alms to the reseving and socoring of Christ'S membres/ in whom the mother also with her sone after a manner is either vexed and afflicted, or else comforted relieved, and refreshed? If it like or pleas you so well to have an image of the blessed virgin/ let it be made after such manner, after which she herself pleased almighty god/ and let her be portrayed such manner one, as shall be a goodly thing for us to follow/ that is to say, let there appear chastity/ meekness/ and sobryetye/ in the countenance or face/ in all the state, or behaviour of the body/ and also even in the very vesture or garments, and apparel of her. ¶ Now I will in few words open/ and declare unto you what thing it is convenient, and meet to follow most principally, in the virgin Marry. But first I will admonish you in the way of charity of this one thing/ that there can not be a more perfect, or a more sure rule, or form, & example of holiness, and virtues life taken of any then of the son: howbeit this is undoubted/ that there is nothing in the mother: which swerveth, or is disagreeing from the doctrine of the son. And here be now of attent minds, giving audience, & good heed all your young both boys/ and wench's/ wives/ and widows/ married men/ old men/ and old women/ there is none of you/ but you shall have somewhat that ye may follow in the blessed virgin: the principal points and as it were marks/ whereupon we ought to have our eyes stedefastlye set/ and whereof we will now speak. ¶ Are these, her virginal, her maidenly behaviour and simpleness joined/ with most high prudence/ her most high felicity joined with most perfect humility/ her most high chastity in wedlock/ the sedulytie, and diligence of her in doing the office, and duty of a mother: the passing great fortitude, and strength of her mind in the frail, and bretell womankind. How greatly her mind/ and love was set on virginity/ purity/ and cleanness/ it is evident even hereof/ saying that she was so troubled/ and dismayed at the coming in of the angel to her/ as Luke 
Luc. 1.  telleth in his gospel. No doubt of it she understood/ and knew full well/ how great a treasure chastity, or cleanness is/ but she perceived also again/ how great hardness/ and difficulty it is to keep the said treasure/ for which so many men/ with so many trains/ and wiles do lie in wait/ and which many one have lost afore they knew how good a thing/ and how great a treasure they had of it in their possession. Now how far are these virgins away from the example of the blessed vyrgn mary/ which wilfully and of their own mind do run forth to play, & to have communication/ with young men far unlike to the angel And which virgins also with becks and signs with boards and merry conceits/ with flattering words and behaviour/ with gestis/ and letters of love do provoke also that thing/ whereby they may lease their vyrgynytie or maiden heed. The blessed virgin mary had an husband with whom she lived in one house: & yet that notwithstanding she was troubled & dismayed at the coming in of the angel in a strange & unknown shape, that she had never seen before/ and she feared all things even those also wherein is no jeopardy at al. That she had been married unto an husband/ she did it because of the custom used among the people of the jews/ and also to obey the authority and commandment of her parents/ and yet for all that on virgynytie was all her desire. This she declareth plainly herself when she saith I know no man/ for here the verb of the present temps signifieth the purpose of her mind. Many women are kept from uncleanness through the great fere that they have of infamy & loss of their good name/ but the blessed virgin mary whiles for the love of chastity and cleanness, she regardeth not the infamy of sterylytie and of being called a barren woman/ which was accounted a great rebuke among the Jews/ she deserved both ii of them/ that is to wit, that she remaining still a virgin, should bring forth a child/ being very god & very man/ how may they for shame say themselves to be the worshippers of this virgin/ which even in that time: in which they profess virgynytie, do use ungracious wantonness, or else which being now old women/ and passed child bearing/ yet nevertheless have delectation/ & burning lust to pleasure of the flesh now being out of season for them? Now this that is shameful, and unseemly in a woman is much more shameful in the kind of men. Those that desire to be taken for virgins after the example of the blessed virgin Marie: let them be hole/ and in every point virgins/ for certain maids have their bodies untouched/ or undefiled/ but the tiering or apparelling of themselves (not without medicines painting I warrant you) to set forth themself/ and to cause them to appear beautiful is unchaste/ & unclean/ they use wanton looks/ city of the most blessed virgin/ this was an evident argument and token saying that though she loved singularly perpetual virgynytie, yet of a simple mind/ she being a young maiden lived in one house with her young spouse or husband. Now hearken somewhat of the wisdom of this young virgin/ for foolish virgins the spouse refuseth/ & knoweth them not/ as it is red in the gospel. 
Mat. 25.  After that the angel had saluted her/ she doth not forthwith salute him again/ neither she lepyth out by an by: but quietly abiding she considereth & thinketh in her mind, 
Luc. 1.  what manner salutation that might be/ And again when the angel had promised to her/ that she should bring forth so noble a child neither she mistrusteth his promise/ neither she is proud or over merry & glad therefore/ but demurely and discretely she demandeth of the angel/ after what manner/ or by what means that thing should come to pass which he had promised unto her she not losing the treasure of her virgynytie, whereupon was all her heart and desire set/ she had seen the concourse of the shepherds/ she had seen the veneration & worship, which the three noble wise men that came out from far countries had done to her son/ she had hard also the prophecies of Anna: and simeon, & yet for all that she blabbeth forth none of all these things (as the most part of women would) but holding her tongue, she gathered all these things together, and keepeth them in her heart or mind/ it is the most sure token that may be of wisdom, even in men also/ that they can keep secret to themselves so great felicity/ whereof came this so great wisdom in a young virgin, in a tender damosel, having none experience, & unbroken in the world? That wisdom is an overlate & a wretched wisdom: which is gotten or cometh to man by long experience of hurts or evils/ the holy ghost doth remplysshe and fulfil even the mind of young wenches, & of young boys also with sage prudence or wisdom/ let every man purge or cleanse his own mind from vices: that that ghost the giver of wisdom may vouchsafe to enter into it. Now as for the felicity of the blessed virgin Marie, what need we to speak of it? who was evermore worshipfully saluted and greeted of an Angel? to whom was evermore great or royal promises brought? he that is the maker of heaven and earth sendeth an embassage unto the virgin/ Gabryell doth the message/ and is maker of the marriage, a child is promised unto her such one as was never afore nor since promised to any/ he shall be (said the angel) great and shall be called the son of the highest, 
Luc. 1.  and the lord god shall give to him the seat of his father David & he shall reign over the house of jacob for evermore, and of his kingdom shall be none end. what more high promises may be made then these? Now after that the angel had brought her in such believe of the said promises, trow you that this so great felicity did any thing minish the humility or lowliness of this young virgin? Forsooth it minished it nothing at all/ but rather increased it. Behold (said she) the hand maid of the lord of this so great a business, she challenged or took unto her self no part of the glory or praise, only she professeth and knowledgeth herself to be an hand maid obedient and ready, or well willing to all things/ what soever it should please the lord to do with her. Now when she was great with the heavenly child/ she disdaineth not for cause of good manner & courtesy to visit her cousin being an old woman & great with child/ her cousin Elyzabeth said to her how chanceth this to me that the mother of my lord doth thus come to me/ yet for all that she being always like herself and continuing still one manner woman answered and said again/ for he hath looked upon the low estate of his hand maid/ she granteth and speaketh of her happiness/ but she boasteth nothing her dignity, neither she saith/ all generations shall call me happy & blessed, because I have deserved it: by because he hath done great things to me, which is of might and power to do what soever he pleas/ and she saith not, & holy or glorious is my name: but she said, & blessed is his name/ And albeit she knew well enough that she had such a noble child in her womb: yet for all that she disdaineth not, ne despiseth her husband/ what soever service any obedient wife doth to her husband that same/ moche more abundantly did she to joseph/ she goeth with him to the tax or ceasing/ which Cesar had commanded with him she bore the child to his circumcision/ with him she finished all the ceremonies of the Purification/ she followeth him into Egypt: For when they should have admonition to i'll into Egypt the angel appeared then not to Marry, but to joseph, that the authority should be or rest in the man. In their returning again from Egypt, she cleaveth to him & never departeth from him, neither disdaineth she to be commonly called the wife of a carpenter/ neither she is a shamed of that love & poor or vile brethren & sisters, or kinsfolk/ neither she taketh it grievously that her son was accounted to be the son of joseph/ whom she herself also called the father of jesus/ thereunto was never wife in this world/ that hath more reverently obeyed her husband/ then did the mother of god/ hearken now ye women that do worship the most blessed virgin Marie. What shall here those new wedded wives say: which being proud of their beauty & youth despiseth & setteth at nought their husbands. what shall these matrons or dames say which often times among casteth in their husbands teeth the dowry & richesse which they brought to him. Yea and also otherwiles driveth them out of the house: as if they were ladies or mastresses/ & not wives/ what shall they say? which over turneth or destroyeth the hole house with chiding & brawling. The most blessed virgin Marie with most reverence, & dread pleaseth, and obeyeth her husband joseph, she never giveth to him froward answers/ neither taketh she upon her at any time to rule or master him: or to have her mind fulfilled afore his/ & are you ashamed to obey & follow your husbands minds: without whom ye are barren & without honour: and to whom also the authority and commandment of god & of the apostle Paul hath made you subjects? And it is no doubt but look how great reverence she used toward her husband/ as great sedulyte and diligence she used in the keeping & bringing up of her son/ she leadeth him every year once to the temple in Jerusalem to show that children should learn in their tender age to love and worship god/ when she had lost him with how great care and diligence doth she seek him? And she never resteth until she doth find him/ what was the blessed virgin Marie afraid of any misfortune that might come to her son: had she seen any token of lightness or wildness in her son/ no verily none attall/ but she taught you, that be mother's having children/ & gave to you a lesson that you can never be diligent enough: & take so good heed as ought to be taken unto your children in their tender age/ youth is frail and ready to follow & to be led into all manner vice. They do worship Marie undevoutly who soeur be negligent about the bringing up of their children/ as who should say, it were enough only to have conceived them & borne them/ ye moreover certain women there be/ which by wicked and unlawful crafts and means, do put from themselves the yrksomenes of bearing their child/ & the labours of giving it suck. And they offend or sin nothing less which with loud & ungracious example giving/ infecten and corrupten the feeble young age/ & which teacheth children unthriftiness & vice/ Before they can perfectly speak. The most blessed virgin Marie she was very careful & diligent about her son jesus/ & dost thou wilfully set out and betray thy son and daughter/ unto all manners or kind of filthiness a sin. Doubtless hereof it cometh to pass/ that so many women repent them that ever they were fruitful & not barren/ because they bring up evil & noughtly the children well borne/ and yet to have brought up or taught their child well: is the office more properly belonging to the father & mother/ then to have begot it/ or to have borne it/ but how is it possible/ for them to teach and bring up their children well which either be not abiding at home/ or else which liveth filthily and shamefully at home/ so that by the conversation and company with their parent's/ the children do learn filthy communication & ribaldry, do lerane wantonness/ do learn to be drunkards/ and to be brawlers/ to be dysers and carders to be blabs and full of idle and vain words/ to be backbiters and slanderers/ and generally do lerane of them all manner vice and sin. But here offereth itself unto us large matter/ so speak of, if we would compare the most excellent virtues of the most holy virgin unto our manner of living/ but yet we shall take very moche profit. If we shall study to amend our manners which be corrupt upon every side/ according to the example of this blessed virgin. Now it resteth, or remaineth to touch somewhat of the fortitude, or ghostly strength of this virgin: for both these be tokens of magnanimity, and strong mind.  
¶ Neither to be proud, or high minded in prosperity: neither to be sad, & let the heart fall in adversity. Albeit that the worshipful name of jesus waxed famous/ & he was so greatly spoken of for his so many & great miracles done: yet we do never read that this most holy virgin challenged ever or took unto herself any portion or part of the praise/ yea moreover we scarcely read that she was present at any miracle: save only when at the bridal he turned water into wine/ she hard all things and she gathered them togtyher in her heart and mind making no words/ but alwyes bearing the person of an hand maid which she hath professed herself to be. with like constance and strong mind she took it: when her only son and dearly beloved was often times in jeopardy by the reason of the Pharisees lying in wait for him/ and in conclusion. when he was taken, & was bound, when he was scourged, when he was condemned and judged to death, and when he was led to be crucified/ the other women wept/ and they were rebuked of our lord/ what felt she then in her motherly breast or mind? she was not with out feeling or perceiving of all things she sorrowed and had compassion with her son/ but she subdued and kept under the natural or carnal affection with the strength of the spirit/ she kept in her sobbings/ she held back and kept in the tears/ which would fain have burst out/ and when all the other disciples were slipped and shrunk away from their master for fear/ she only and Iohn stood near to the cross of her son. All those are contumelious pictures & to the dishonour of our lady/ which representen or setten her forth falling to the ground & in a swoon without any feeling or perceiving of herself/ well near deed for sorrow/ she neither cried out ne tore her hears/ ne knocked her breast, ne cried out calling herself wretched or unfortunate/ she took more consolation and comfort of the redemption of mankind/ than she did heaviness or sorrow of the death of her son/ & in this point also she showeth herself an hand maid: according to her promise, unto him whose will and pleasure it was after this manner to restore the kind of man/ and she thought herself to have been happily a mother, which had brought forth the auctor of health & saviour to the world, she preferred the public and comen felicity before her own private sorrow or grief where then be now those women which for the loss of money/ or for a smaller hurt or displeasure do bring forth or cast their child before the due time/ for sorrow & care? where be these men which for the death of their little daughter dystemperen all their hole houses with fond and foolish lamentyngꝭ/ complainings and weepings. It is red that the most blessed virgin Marie did behold and see the most bitter and cruel death of her son/ but we read not any where that she wept and made lamentation: other women wept/ and for the lack or want of their lord taken from them/ whom they did not yet love spiritually/ they were almost out of their wits and besides themselves/ Marry only, having a strong mind, holdeth her peace abiding the will and pleasure of god/ peradventure you do suppose or judge it but a mean thing and not so highly to be esteemed to become the bond servant or hand maid of the lord. Verily there is nothing more diffycyle or harder to achieve & attain, for who soever hath once wholly given or put himself to the will & pleasure of the lord, giving the praise only to him/ if any wealth, or good chance hath been betide him or looketh for succour or aid from no where else, but only from him. If he be in distress or in adversity/ that man can not but stand stiff and unabashed for any wiles or fearful assaults that Satan can do or invent against him. But of these things peraventure we shall at another time have opportunity to speak more largely. Now the solemnity of this day requireth that we should pike out somewhat or take some part of the gospel which hath been red to you: unto the glory of the son and of the mother: and to our ghostly health & comfort/ they which are all ready married/ or else which are purpossed to be married/ & desirous to have a mate in wedlock gladly/ and with attent ears here this high honour to have been given to matrimony/ and wedlock.  
¶ That christ with his dysyples & mother, when he was bidden to the brydeale or marriage feast/ refused not to go thither/ but moreover vouchsafed to put it to herewith by doing so great a miracle at it/ but for this cause the lord himself being a virgin, & also the son of a virgin: once hath honoured matrimony/ to the intent that we should not dishonest it with our fyltynes, or uncleanness/ ye and even now a days also, where soever the man and wife are joined together in chaste and faithful matrimony with agreeable minds, and with equal love and exercise of virtue there the lord jesus disdaineth not to be present with his mother. Neither she is grieved to beseech & entreat her son for them: if any thing be wanting to them, that which appertaineth to the more pleasantness or jocundity of them that are married/ all though their substance or richesse be never so slender or small/ and though that they have a great many of children/ for that wine which jesus giveth, maketh dulcet and sweet all things: be they else never so heavy/ sorrowful and painful. Moreover this thing also is to be marked, that as it is sitting or due that the children do obey and follow the will of their mother/ so likewise it is convenient and seemly that the authority of the parents do give place to that which the gospel calleth us/ for in this nothing is to be considered or regarded/ but only what maketh most to the glory of god, and to the common soul health of the people. That his mother calling upon him doth say/ they have no wine: it is a point of a certain loving sollicytude or careful diligence/ that she giveth place to the authority of her son/ answering here to outward appearance somewhat hardly, or sharply in this wise. 
Io. 2.  woman what have I to do with thee/ it is a point of certain wise humbleness and meekness: again that she saith privily to the ministers, what soever thing he shall say unto you/ do it, it is a point of a certain trust & confidence that she had in her son. Now a days, certain fathers & mother's abusen their authority, that they have over their children: whiles they compel them whether they will or not to entangle themself in wedlock or else in the order of priesthood, or to put themself into some religion/ or else whiles they draw them back from the preaching of the gospel/ or whiles the father or mother compelleth their son being a prince or governor to begin betayle or war, which shallbe cause of great hurt or destruction to the comen weal. For the prince or governor in as much as he beareth a public person & is a comen office, he may safely not hurting the natural love and reverence, which he oweth unto his father, make answer to his father on this wise/ in this thing I will not take you, or regard you, as my father/ I will more regard the profit of the comen wealth/ the governance whereof I have taken upon me, than I will regard the private authority of my father/ Here is peradventure a man having wife & children at home, and his mother commandeth him to go in pilgrimage to saint jamys in Compostella, because she hath made such a vow or promise: let him say to his mother. In other things I will take you and obey you as my mother: but in this thing I must obey god, which commandeth me to provide & see unto my wife & children. For whose cause it is well done and according to gods commandment, that a man do also forsake his father or mother/ and these things we have spoken as touching to the literal sense of the gospel/ but for as much as our lord hath turned the water of the unsavoury law into the best wine, it is right & according or meet that we also do get out some more prive and hid sense or meaning/ It was no great thing that a young wench was joined to a husband in matrimony. But it is a very great mystery, & to be honoured even of the Angelical spirits, that the spirit that is to wit the son of god is joined with the flesh of man, that is to say: the nature of god with the nature of man For the son of god took unto him our nature/ & by a marvelous glue it was brought to pass that the same person was both god & man. There was present in the same our lord jesus at this same spiritual marriage both the spouse & the spouses/ there was present in that spiritual bridal & feast that blessed womb, in which that wonderful and unspeakable marriage, was celebrated & made/ in which womb, as in the workhouse of the holy ghost that Giant of three substances, was form/ which should vaynquyshe depress and subdue all the tyranny of Satan. There is also another mystery of the said marriage/ the son of god fervently loved the church which he hath purified with his own blood, to the intent that he might have her a Spouses meet and accordyn for himself, 
Ephes. 5.  having no manner wembe, or spot, 
Nota.  neither any wrinkle in her at all/ and for the love of this spouses this marvelous and wonderful woe were descended from heaven & came into the womb of a virgin, from whence being clothed with the rob or vesture of our flesh came forth, as a spouse or bridegroom from his bride chamber. This womb of the virgin was certainly, 
Ezech. 44.  that gate which Ezechyell saw toward the rising of the son/ out of the which gate there arose or sprung the light jesus christ to men sitting in darkness, & in the shadow of death/ which gate remained still closed or shit to the prince the son of god entering in & also brought forth to us the same Prince clothed in the body of man, as in his wedding garment, the seal or closure of her chastity being unhurt/ he then after he was come forth of this chamber/ wedded a new spouses the church/ he married her having no dowry or richesse/ he married her being in captivity/ he married her being filthy & contaminate. But her thus deformed and full of spots, he hath purified with the bath of his most precious blood he hath ransomed her being prisoner with his own precious death/ and her being bare and naked he hath plentifully enriched with spyrytaall gifts & virtues. The soul of every one of us most dearly beloved brethren, is the spouses of christ we have been ransomed and bought with an exceeding great price, from the thraldom of the devil, let us not now wilfully fall again into his servitude and bondage. We have been freely washed from filth, let us not now like swine return again unto the soil or mire of vices and sins/ we have once received the doctrine of the gospel, & we have drunk in the most sweet spirit of jesus: let us not now being unkind to him for his so great liberality twardes us, run again to the adulterer the devil/ but continuing in the faith & promise made at the receiving of baptism/ by which promise we have renounsed the devil and all his pomps/ let us always have in remembrance that we were spoused to one husband, 
1 Cor. 2  that we should keep ourselves a chaste virgin to our spouse christ/ & let us not suffer our senses to be corrupted by the wiliness and craft of the serpent, from the sympfycyte which is in christ Iesu/ christ is a jealous lover, & not without good cause which did get or win and set at liberty his spouses to himself/ so dearly let us give diligence that we may be present always at this spiritual wedding or marriage, let us by unfeigned faith, by pure and perfit charity continue and abide in the embracings of our spouse, 
Io. 15  let us that be branches, abide and continue in the vine tree/ let us which be the membres, 
1 cor. 12  or limbs abide in the body, 
Io. 17  that by the spirit which glueth or soudereth all things together: we may be made so one with him: as he is all one with his father, let the synagogue of the jews drink their own cold & unsavoury water which hath lost her sponse / he drinketh this water wheresoever he be that putteth his trust and hope of health and salvation in ceremonies, in outward things in the power or strength of man. Let us sitting at the table of our spouse be made drunken with the spiritual wine of the doctrine which the spouse hath largely & plenteously powered forth unto us/ let us be made fat with the precious body of him: and with the potion or drink of his precious blood let us always wax young as touching our inward man, all though our outward man do decay & fall away. They which be not yet apt or able to be fed with strong and substancyall meat are to be nourished with milk until that they be grown to the strength that they be meet to receive this drink & this meat/ that thing (saith Paul) is not the first which is spiritual/ but that which is carnal. 
1 Cori. 17.  The jews had a carnal law which the wretched men do cleave unto, and will not yet leave it/ but to us which by receiving the spirit of christ are made spiritual: it is a great shame to be always infants or babes, & to suck milk, but it is a moche more shame after that we have tasted of the wine of heavenly doctrine, to return again to the water of the jews, it is the property of other men first to set before their gests the best wine/ and afterwards that which is worse, that is, to fall from better to worse things/ But christ hath changed this order to the contrary, which kept the best wine behind and set it forth last to teach us that we should always profit or go forward from weak things to more strong and substantial things/ let us pray and beseech the lord that he will give to his spouses most plentiful fecundite, that is to say: that the seed of the gospel may most largely be spread abroad/ and that daily there may be borne quick issue or children/ filling the house of god, for through our vices and sins/ we see it brought to pass, that now the limits of the Church be brought into so narrow room, and that also among these which professen the name of the Church: so few be whom the spouse doth recognize to be his/ one of us doth blame another/ the private person findeth default with the princes or governors, the lay men with the priests/ why do we not rather with agreeable minds go about each man to amend his own self: then to rebuke another man's life? if we will do so, by this mean the spouses of christ shall flourish and prosper, by this mean the bridal feast shall wax merry and cheerful/ Paul crieth/ you men that are married love your wives, 
Ephes. 5.  as christ loved the Church and let no man hate his own flesh, but let him nourish and cherish it. giving honour to the more weak vessel, likewise as christ hath suffered and doth suffer his spouses, 
1. Pe. 3  forgiving her sins and always drawing her unto better things, likewise the wives again on their parts, according to the doctrine of the Apostle let them be subject and obedient, 
Coll. 3.  so as is meet and convenient in the Lord, and let there be such temperature of authority and of obsequy or service between them that the unlawful man may be saved/ by the faithful or christian woman, 
1. Pe. 3  and that the unchristened woman may be sanctified by the christian man her husband. And I would wish that all men and women should so come together oft unto the praising of the blessed virgin Marie, if by the gift of the son, and the example of the mother, every one of them might return home better than he came, & might minish somewhat of their vices and make some increase & augmentation of virtues/ such worshipping it is wherewith the most blessed virgin Marie is pleased, such also her son loveth and rejoiceth in. To whom with the Father and the holy ghost be glory & praise without end. Amen.  
¶ Laus deo.   

¶ Here endeth a sermon made: by the famous Doctor Erasmus of Roterodame.  
¶ Imprinted by me Robert wire/ dwelling at the sign of saint Iohn evangelist/ in saint martyn's parish/ beside Charing cross/ in the bishop of Norwytche rents.  
¶ Cum privilegio regali.   


ROBERT wire.