shall_v be_v transmit_v to_o posterity_n untainted_a for_o many_o generation_n especial_o when_o our_o lord_n have_v promise_v that_o he_o will_v so_o firm_o settle_v and_o find_v his_o church_n that_o all_o the_o power_n of_o hell_n shall_v never_o be_v able_a to_o prevail_v against_o it_o but_o methinks_v our_o adversary_n may_v extend_v their_o charity_n to_o the_o christian_n of_o the_o four_o five_o and_o six_o century_n and_o not_o think_v they_o will_v have_v so_o little_a regard_n to_o the_o religion_n teach_v they_o and_o seal_v to_o they_o by_o their_o ancestor_n with_o their_o dear_a blood_n as_o immediate_o to_o change_v and_o corrupt_v it_o and_o by_o it_o so_o alter_v and_o corrupt_v infect_v themselves_o and_o their_o posterity_n as_o much_o as_o in_o they_o lay_v to_o all_o generation_n with_o a_o dangerous_a superstition_n and_o will-worship_n let_v we_o suppose_v then_o that_o for_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n of_o christianity_n the_o church_n of_o christ_n in_o england_n italy_n greece_n and_o other_o country_n observe_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o lent-fast_a and_o consider_v by_o what_o mean_v possible_a the_o four_o age_n can_v not_o only_o bring_v it_o in_o all_o over_o the_o christian_a world_n but_o bring_v it_o in_o so_o secret_o and_o covert_o that_o the_o prime_a doctor_n of_o the_o five_o age_n shall_v not_o be_v able_a to_o discern_v that_o this_o new_a burden_n be_v superad_v to_o chriâ—tianity_n by_o their_o immediate_a progenitor_n but_o shall_v be_v very_o persuade_v that_o such_o a_o observation_n have_v immemorial_o from_o generation_n to_o generation_n descend_v to_o they_o from_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o christianity_n the_o apostle_n and_o yet_o its_o evident_a that_o the_o five_o age_n do_v not_o only_o keep_v lend_v but_o also_o keep_v it_o as_o a_o apostolical_a institution_n and_o the_o prime_a christian_a doctor_n of_o that_o age_n have_v leave_v it_o upon_o record_n in_o their_o diserved_o admire_a work_n that_o they_o keep_v this_o holy-fast_a as_o a_o observance_n teach_v they_o by_o tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n hear_v their_o own_o word_n st._n hierom_n in_o his_o epistle_n to_o marcelia_n we_o fast_o one_o lent_n quadragesimam_fw-la within_o the_o compass_n of_o the_o whole_a year_n according_a to_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o apostle_n in_o a_o season_n fit_a for_o we_o the_o montanist_n keep_v three_o lent_n in_o the_o year_n as_o if_o three_o saviour_n have_v suffer_v now_o if_o for_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n there_o have_v be_v no_o such_o observance_n by_o christian_n at_o rome_n but_o if_o in_o the_o four_o century_n some_o bishop_n of_o rome_n or_o some_o provincial_n or_o general_a council_n or_o christian_a emperor_n have_v first_o introduce_v it_o can_v a_o priest_n of_o rome_n and_o one_o well_o verse_v in_o all_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n as_o s._n hierom_n be_v err_v so_o gross_o as_o to_o mistake_v so_o new_a a_o institution_n for_o a_o apostolical_a tradition_n that_o be_v for_o a_o observance_n teach_v the_o city_n of_o rome_n from_o father_n to_o son_n from_o the_o apostle_n for_o the_o greek_a church_n hear_v the_o testmimony_n of_o theophilus_n patriarch_n of_o alexandria_n to_o the_o patriarch_n of_o which_o see_v it_o be_v entrust_v by_o the_o first_o general_n council_n that_o they_o shall_v yearly_o signify_v beforehand_o to_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o church_n as_o well_o as_o their_o own_o the_o true_a time_n of_o easter_n in_o his_o first_o paschal_n epistle_n he_o write_v thus_o let_v we_o cure_v the_o divers_a wound_n of_o vice_n etc._n etc._n and_o so_o may_v we_o enter_v the_o fast_n at_o hand_n begin_v lend_v the_o 30_o day_n of_o the_o month_n mechir_n as_o it_o be_v our_o february_n the_o egyptian_n reckon_v 30._o day_n in_o every_o month_n the_o week_n of_o the_o salutary_a pasch_fw-mi on_o the_o 5_o day_n of_o the_o month_n pharmuth_n or_o april_n and_o end_v the_o fast_n according_a to_o the_o evangelical_n tradition_n on_o the_o evening_n of_o the_o saturday_n be_v the_o ten_o of_o pharmuth_n and_o on_o the_o next_o lord_n day_n the_o 11_o of_o the_o same_o month_n let_v we_o celebrate_v the_o feast_n the_o like_a he_o say_v in_o his_o second_o paschal_n epistle_n and_o again_o he_o say_v according_a to_o the_o evangelical_n tradition_n i_o add_v the_o testimony_n of_o s._n cyril_n patriarch_n of_o the_o same_o alexandria_n in_o the_o next_o age_n in_o his_o 20_o homily_n de_fw-fr festis_fw-la paschalibus_fw-la so_o to_o let_v we_o keep_v a_o pure_a fast_n begin_v the_o holy_a lent_n from_o such_o a_o day_n end_v also_o the_o fast_n on_o the_o seven_o day_n of_o pharmuth_n late_o in_o the_o evening_n according_a to_o the_o tradition_n apostolical_a the_o same_o s._n cyril_n in_o 19_o other_o of_o his_o homily_n cite_v by_o b._n gunning_n de_fw-fr festis_fw-la paschalibus_fw-la preach_v in_o so_o many_o several_a year_n refer_v the_o same_o fast_n of_o lent_n to_o tradition_n appointment_n or_o instruction_n evangelical_n the_o law_n of_o abstain_v in_o lent_n be_v always_o in_o the_o church_n say_v the_o above-cited_n theophilus_n alexandrinus_n now_o can_v it_o be_v imagine_v that_o these_o two_o learned_a patriarch_n to_o who_o by_o the_o whole_a christian_a church_n be_v commit_v the_o care_n of_o signify_v the_o due_a time_n of_o lent_n and_o easter_n have_v the_o holy_a fast_o of_o lent_n be_v so_o late_o bring_v in_o by_o some_o universal_a ecclesiastical_a or_o civil_a authority_n can_v be_v ignorant_a of_o it_o and_o think_v and_o tell_v all_o the_o world_n also_o that_o they_o have_v be_v so_o teach_v to_o end_v lend_v from_o generation_n to_o generation_n from_o the_o apostle_n let_v it_o be_v the_o pastor_n of_o christ_n church_n in_o the_o four_o century_n meet_v together_o in_o a_o general_n council_n though_o for_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n there_o have_v be_v no_o such_o custom_n among_o christian_n to_o fast_o lend_v may_v make_v a_o law_n of_o abstinence_n from_o certain_a meat_n for_o 40._o day_n before_o easter_n and_o command_v the_o whole_a christian_a world_n to_o obey_v it_o but_o they_o can_v not_o possible_o have_v the_o impudence_n to_o annex_v to_o such_o a_o ordination_n and_o thus_o we_o have_v be_v teach_v to_o fast_a by_o tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n when_o they_o all_o must_v needs_o know_v themselves_o to_o be_v the_o first_o ordainer_n of_o such_o a_o observance_n nor_o can_v they_o possible_o impose_v upon_o their_o posterity_n such_o a_o belief_n but_o their_o posterity_n must_v needs_o know_v that_o such_o a_o custom_n be_v no_o ancient_a than_o their_o immediate_a progenitor_n which_o be_v so_o how_o come_v it_o to_o pass_v that_o s._n hierom_n and_o other_o learned_a doctor_n in_o the_o four_o and_o five_o century_n tell_v we_o that_o they_o keep_v lend_v by_o tradition_n from_o the_o apostle_n if_o the_o holy_a apostle_n be_v not_o the_o first_o teacher_n of_o it_o but_o some_o particular_a preacher_n or_o a_o general_n council_n or_o some_o civil_a ecclesiastical_a power_n since_o the_o first_o opposer_n of_o lent_n though_o they_o have_v the_o impiety_n to_o call_v it_o superstition_n and_o will-worship_n yet_o they_o have_v not_o the_o impudence_n to_o say_v they_o have_v be_v so_o teach_v to_o call_v it_o from_o father_n to_o son_n ever_o since_o the_o apostle_n but_o pretend_v their_o ancestor_n for_o many_o hundred_o year_n have_v be_v in_o blindness_n and_o ignorance_n but_o they_o by_o read_v the_o holy_a scripture_n and_o writer_n of_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n find_v there_o be_v no_o such_o observance_n in_o the_o primitive_a church_n in_o like_a manner_n have_v the_o keep_n of_o lent_n be_v a_o innovation_n the_o first_o introducer_n of_o it_o must_v have_v plead_v for_o it_o in_o the_o four_o or_o other_o century_n as_o the_o opposer_n of_o it_o in_o this_o latter_a age_n plead_v against_o it_o they_o must_v not_o have_v say_v abstain_v from_o certain_a meat_n in_o the_o holy_a time_n of_o lent_n for_o so_o we_o have_v be_v teach_v to_o do_v from_o father_n to_o son_n from_o the_o apostle_n for_o every_o one_o will_v have_v know_v this_o to_o be_v a_o notorious_a lie_n but_o they_o must_v have_v pretend_v to_o have_v more_o light_a than_o their_o immediate_a progenitor_n and_o have_v say_v the_o apostle_n and_o primitive_a christian_n use_v such_o abstinence_n but_o fervour_n of_o piety_n decay_v the_o world_n for_o some_o century_n have_v lay_v aside_o that_o holy_a but_o troublesome_a mortification_n and_o they_o be_v stir_v up_o by_o almighty_a god_n to_o retrieve_v that_o religious_a primitive_a custom_n but_o no_o ecclesiastical_a history_n in_o so_o much_o as_o any_o one_o christian_a country_n in_o the_o world_n make_v mention_n of_o any_o such_o manner_n of_o introduce_v the_o holy_a fast_o of_o lent_n but_o on_o the_o contrary_a wheresoever_o lent_n be_v observe_v the_o observer_n
be_v so_o many_o metropolitan_o and_o of_o so_o great_a erudition_n and_o learning_n as_o they_o be_v almost_o all_o able_a to_o dispute_v of_o dogm_n to_o who_o when_o their_o gather_n together_o in_o one_o seem_v to_o add_v a_o confidence_n of_o dare_v and_o decree_a something_o from_o themselves_o yet_o notwithstanding_o they_o will_v presume_v nothing_o arrogate_v nothing_o at_o all_o to_o themselves_o but_o take_v all_o possible_a heed_n lest_o they_o shall_v deliver_v to_o their_o posterity_n what_o themselves_o have_v not_o receive_v from_o their_o father_n and_o not_o only_o well_o dispose_v the_o matter_n for_o the_o present_a but_o also_o give_v example_n to_o they_o that_o be_v to_o come_v to_o wit_n that_o they_o shall_v reverence_v the_o dogm_n of_o sacred_a antiquity_n and_o condemn_v adinventa_fw-la the_o additional_a invention_n of_o profane_a novelty_n have_v abstinence_n from_o certain_a kind_n of_o meat_n for_o 40._o day_n before_o easter_n be_v a_o superstitious_a novelty_n its_o manifest_a no_o introducer_n of_o it_o can_v have_v persuade_v it_o to_o a_o christian_a church_n thus_o principled_a as_o the_o doctor_n of_o this_o age_n be_v they_o will_v all_o unanimous_o have_v reclaim_v nothing_o must_v be_v innovate_v beside_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o by_o our_o ancestor_n or_o be_v lend_v first_o teach_v in_o the_o age_n foregoing_a and_o be_v the_o present_a pastor_n of_o this_o 5_o age_n in_o the_o actual_a belief_n and_o practice_n of_o it_o if_o so_o how_o possible_o can_v they_o profess_v to_o be_v such_o zelots_n for_o antiquity_n and_o such_o exploders_n of_o novelty_n and_o yet_o themselves_o most_o religious_a observer_n of_o a_o superstitious_a practice_n never_o hear_v of_o till_o it_o be_v of_o late_o invent_v by_o their_o immediate_a progenitor_n and_o how_o will_v their_o adversary_n nestorius_n have_v upbraid_v they_o with_o it_o when_o they_o object_v to_o he_o the_o novelty_n of_o his_o doctrine_n or_o perhaps_o be_v lend_v first_o introduce_v in_o the_o three_o age_n but_o that_o can_v not_o be_v neither_o the_o doctor_n of_o that_o age_n be_v no_o less_o zealous_a for_o deliver_v doctrine_n and_o practice_n nor_o less_o opposer_n of_o novelty_n than_o the_o 5_o age_n as_o be_v manifest_a by_o the_o contest_v betwixt_o the_o bishop_n of_o carthage_n and_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n and_o his_o colleague_n where_o the_o assertor_n of_o rebaptisation_a want_v neither_o wit_n nor_o eloquence_n nor_o number_n nor_o verisimilitude_n of_o truth_n nor_o oracle_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n but_o understand_v after_o a_o bad_a and_o a_o new_a manner_n as_o s._n vincent_n say_v chap._n 9_o &_o 10._o how_o then_o come_v they_o to_o lose_v their_o cause_n s._n stephen_n and_o his_o colleague_n reclaim_v nihil_fw-la novandum_fw-la nisi_fw-la quod_fw-la traditum_fw-la est_fw-la nothing_o be_v to_o be_v innovate_v beside_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o agrippinus_n bishop_n of_o carthage_n hold_v rebaptisation_n against_o the_o divine_a canon_n against_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o universal_a church_n against_o the_o sense_n of_o all_o his_o fellow-priest_n against_o the_o custom_n and_o institution_n of_o his_o ancestor_n and_o hereby_o as_o s._n vincent_n observe_v give_v a_o form_n of_o sacrilege_n to_o all_o heretic_n this_o overthrow_v he_o this_o than_o be_v not_o a_o age_n wherein_o to_o introduce_v either_o novel_a practice_n or_o doctrine_n into_o the_o church_n nor_o any_o other_o before_o s._n vincent_n for_o he_o tell_v we_o chap._n 9_o mos_fw-la iste_fw-la etc._n etc._n that_o custom_n have_v always_o flourish_v in_o the_o church_n and_o by_o how_o much_o any_o one_o have_v be_v more_o religious_a the_o more_o ready_o have_v he_o oppose_v new_a invention_n we_o have_v hereof_o plenty_n of_o example_n every_o where_o and_o this_o manner_n of_o discourse_v prove_v a_o priori_fw-la that_o have_v lend_v be_v a_o superstitious_a novelty_n it_o can_v not_o possible_o have_v be_v bring_v into_o the_o christian_a church_n for_o the_o first_o 500_o year_n and_o yet_o its_o manifest_a by_o all_o the_o christian_n write_v of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o age_n that_o it_o be_v then_o universal_o practise_v both_o in_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a church_n whence_o it_o follow_v that_o it_o be_v no_o superstitious_a practice_n but_o true_a christian_a piety_n and_o be_v teach_v the_o world_n by_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o christianity_n although_o our_o learned_a adversary_n deny_v not_o but_o that_o the_o prime_a doctor_n and_o chief_a champion_n of_o christianity_n of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o age_n be_v zealous_a observer_n and_o preacher_n of_o the_o quadragesimal_n fast_o of_o lent_n and_o for_o this_o cause_n appeal_v to_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n yet_o for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o other_o less_o learned_a i_o have_v think_v fit_a to_o transcribe_v their_o testimony_n as_o they_o be_v cite_v by_o bishop_n gunning_n in_o his_o learned_a treatise_n in_o defence_n of_o the_o paschal_n or_o lent-fast_a hear_v then_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a doctor_n of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o century_n and_o if_o you_o have_v the_o least_o grain_n of_o christian_a modesty_n dread_a to_o call_v that_o superstition_n which_o so_o many_o grave_a father_n extol_v as_o singular_a christian_a piety_n s._n basil_n in_o his_o sermon_n de_fw-fr jejunio_n make_v mention_n of_o lent-fast_a for_o he_o make_v mention_n of_o five_o day_n fast_v together_o command_v to_o be_v observe_v by_o all_o degree_n all_o over_o the_o world_n which_o return_v by_o a_o orderly_a course_n now_o in_o other_o his_o contemporary_n we_o find_v express_v mention_n of_o a_o forty-day_n fast_o nor_o be_v there_o ever_o by_o christian_n fast_v five_o day_n consequent_o but_o in_o lent_n and_o the_o reason_n he_o mention_n five_o day_n be_v because_o the_o grecian_n only_o fast_v five_o day_n in_o every_o week_n in_o lent_n leave_v out_o saturday_n and_o sunday_n hear_v his_o own_o word_n hom._n 1._o let_v we_o as_o become_v saint_n receive_v the_o day_n that_o be_v at_o hand_n not_o with_o a_o sad_a soul_n but_o with_o a_o cheerful_a affection_n be_v not_o sad_a when_o thou_o be_v cure_a whoever_o amid_o sumptuous_a feast_n and_o continual_a delight_n be_v make_v partaker_n of_o any_o spiritual_a gift_n moses_n that_o he_o may_v a_o second_o time_n receive_v the_o law_n need_v a_o second_o fast._n do_v thou_o not_o eat_v flesh_n but_o thou_o eat_v up_o thy_o brother_n do_v thou_o abstain_v from_o wine_n but_o thou_o do_v not_o forbear_v to_o injure_v thy_o neighbour_n thou_o expect_v the_o evening_n before_o thou_o take_v thy_o refection_n but_o spend_v the_o whole_a day_n in_o law-court_n let_v not_o drunkenness_n introduce_v thou_o to_o the_o mystery_n of_o fast_v the_o wrestler_n be_v exercise_v before_o he_o wrestle_v for_o the_o prize_n the_o fast_o be_v prepare_v to_o fast_a by_o temperance_n do_v not_o as_o if_o thou_o will_v revenge_v thyself_o on_o the_o day_n of_o fast_v or_o mock_v the_o author_n of_o the_o law_n lay_v up_o against_o these_o five_o day_n the_o treasure_n of_o surfeit_v our_o lord_n who_o have_v bring_v we_o to_o the_o recourse_n of_o this_o time_n give_v we_o as_o to_o combatant_n throughout_o these_o day_n in_o which_o we_o be_v call_v out_o to_o combat_n to_o declare_v the_o strength_n and_o nerve_n of_o continence_n orat._n 2._o fast_v be_v at_o all_o time_n profitable_a to_o those_o who_o voluntary_o undertake_v it_o but_o much_o more_o at_o this_o time_n when_o the_o denunciation_n of_o fast_v be_v proclaim_v all_o over_o the_o world_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o island_n nor_o continent_n nor_o city_n nor_o nation_n nor_o the_o far_a corner_n of_o the_o world_n where_o the_o edict_n of_o fast_v be_v not_o hear_v s._n gregory_n nazianzen_n orat._n 4._o christ_n fast_v a_o little_a before_o his_o temptation_n we_o before_o the_o paschal_n feast_n and_o orat._n 41_o 42._o yesterday_o i_o be_v crucify_a with_o christ_n to_o day_n i_o be_o as_o it_o be_v glorify_v with_o he_o s._n epiphanius_n in_o expositione_n fidei_fw-la catholicae_fw-la the_o same_o church_n have_v be_v wont_a to_o observe_v lend_v continue_v in_o fast_n but_o the_o 6._o day_n of_o the_o week_n before_o easter_n all_o the_o people_n continue_v in_o dry_a diet_n use_v then_o bread_n salt_n and_o water_n at_o the_o evening_n yet_o those_o that_o be_v very_o devout_a pass_v two_o three_o and_o four_o day_n and_o some_o the_o whole_a week_n until_o cock-crowing_a on_o easter-day_n s._n ambrose_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr helia_n &_o jejunio_fw-la a_o lent_n be_v fast_v with_o we_o all_o day_n except_o saturday_n and_o the_o lordsday_n and_o serm._n 25._o our_o lord_n after_o he_o have_v fast_v 40._o day_n overcome_v the_o devil_n not_o but_o that_o he_o can_v have_v overcome_v he_o before_o his_o fasting_n but_o that_o he_o may_v show_v unto_o we_o that_o then_o
interpose_v also_o yourselves_o the_o half-fast_n of_o the_o station_n and_o yourselves_o other_o while_n also_o as_o each_o please_v live_v on_o mere_a bread_n and_o water_n the_o same_o tertullian_n before_o he_o be_v a_o montanist_n testify_v in_o his_o book_n of_o prayer_n c._n ult_n sic_fw-la &_o die_fw-la paschae_fw-la etc._n etc._n so_o also_o on_o the_o day_n of_o christ_n suffering_n whereon_o be_v observe_v the_o common_a and_o as_o it_o be_v public_a religion_n of_o fast_v in_o the_o same_o age_n s._n telesphorus_n bishop_n of_o rome_n do_v not_o first_o institute_v lent-fast_a as_o zanchy_a observe_v l_o 1._o m_o 4m_n praeceptum_fw-la cite_v by_o b._n gunning_n in_o his_o appendix_n but_o only_o add_v certain_a day_n to_o be_v observe_v over_o and_o above_o by_o the_o clergy_n his_o word_n be_v certain_o telesphorus_n etc._n etc._n assure_o telesphorus_n who_o be_v the_o seven_o bishop_n of_o the_o roman_a church_n and_o a_o martyr_n about_o the_o year_n of_o christ_n 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