A fruitful treatise of fasting wherin is declared what y e Christen fast is how we ought to fast what y e true vse of fastyng is Newlye made by Thomas Becon Mathew vi VVhen ye faste be not sad as the hipocrites are ¶ The sayinges of the holye Scripturee Eccles. xxxvii BE not gredy in euery eating and be not to hasty vpon al meates For exces of meats bringeth sicknes gloâ—oâ—y coÌ„meth at the last to an vnmeasurable heate Thorow surfet haue many one peryshed but he that dyeteth him selfe teÌ„peratly prolongeth his life Luke xxi Take hede to your selues lest at any tyme youre heartes be ouercome wyth surfetyng and dronkennes Roma xiii Make not prouision for the fleshe to fulfyl the lustes of it ii Cor. vi Let vs giâ—e no occasion of euil that our offyce be not euyl spoken of but in al thynges let vs behaue oure selues as the ministers of God in much pacyence in watchynges and fastynges Ephe. v. Be not dronke with wyne wherin is excesse but be fylled wyth the spirit ii Thes. v. Let vs watche and be sober i. Peter iiii Be ye sober and watche vnto prayer ¶ To the moste reuerende father in God Thomas Archbishop of Caunterburie Primate of al Englande and Metropolitane Thomas Beacon his humble and faythefull seruaunte wisheth the fauoure of God longe lyfe contynuall healthe and prosperous felicitie OUre Lorde and alone sauioure Iesu Christe declareth in a parable of the gospell that after a certayne houshoulder had sowed good seede in hys fielde whyle hys seruauntes slepte hys ennemye came and sowed tares amonge the wheate and wente hys waye Thys houshoulder is Christ the lord The good sede is y â— children of god gods worde The seruauntes that slepte are negligente Prelates and sleepye shepheardes whiche watche not ouer the Lordes flocke The enemy is the deuil The tares are the children of the wicked errours and heresies which Satan soweth in the heartes of the vnbeleuinge Of this parable as wee learne the goodnes of Christe toward vs in be getting vs a new not of mortal sede but of immortall by the worde of God whiche liueth and lasteth for euer so like wyse learne we the maliciousnes of Sathan whiche lyke a subtile serpente and olde enemye of maÌ„kinde neuer sleepeth but contynuallye walcketh vp and downe lyke a roryng lion seking whom he may deuoure and warely watcheth hys tyme to destroye when souer anye occasion is geuen be it neuer so little Not wythoute a great cause therefore did out sauioure Christ exhort vs to watch and praye that wee fall not into temptatioÌ„ And albeit in this our frayle and synnefull lyfe manye occasions of doinge myscheife be offered to the ennemy on our behalfe such is our negligence and vncircumspecte behaâ—youre yet the gratest occasion wherin Satan most gloryeth and soonest hopeth for the victorye is when the shepheardes of Christes flocke giue no ateÌ„dauÌ„ce to theyr charge but lye sleepynge and snortyng walowynge and welterynge in theyr pleasures and suffer the wolf to scatter yea to catch to kil and to destroye the shepe For although the deuil leteth go no profer whiche maye moue him to do euil but laieth haÌ„d on it streight waies yet as the histories both of the holye scriptures of credible writers do testify he neuer sheweth him selfe so right a deuil nor so liuely setteth forth him selfe in his true colours as wheÌ„ y â— guids of the Lords flocke be either absent froÌ„ their shepe orels are negligeÌ„t in doiÌ„g theyr dutie I mean in preching gods word in writing godly bokes if nede require for the confutacion of erroures and heresies and for y â— establishment of gods holi religion How sone had the people of Israel for gotten god and his goodnes toward the after Moses was gone from them into the mouÌ„t Sinaâ— to talke with god to receiue the lawe Fel they not streightwaies from the one and alone true and liuing god vnto abhominable idolatri and worshipped a golden calfe After the daies of Moses of other godly Prophetes preachers when wicked kinges reigned and the preachinge of gods worde ceased did not y e people of Israel fal to the worshipping of strauÌ„ge gods made of the braseÌ„ serpeÌ„t which was but a sacrameÌ„t and figure of Christe a God and brent sacrifice vnto it Certayne yeres before y e coÌ„miÌ„g of christ into this world into how mani sectes soÌ„dry religioÌ„s were the Iewes deuided amoÌ„g theÌ„ selfs whiche not w t staÌ„diÌ„g couÌ„ted theÌ„selfes onli the people of god hated al other nacioÌ„s as abhominable Idolatours Yea in the time of the Apostles were ther not y â— denied Christe to be eyther true God or true man How sone wer the Corrinthians and Galathians seduced by false Apostles after that the mooste worthye Apostle S. Paul was departed from them Howe many kynde of Heretikes rose there vppe in the churche of Christe after the Apostles tyme What greate and howe manye contencions both in sermons disputacions and wrightinges had the holye Bishops and godly fathers of the primatiue church w t the heretikes of theyr time for the maintenaunce of gods truth and for plucking vp y â— enemies tares Since the time y t those verteous Bishops and learned fathers of Christs church died into how many sects haue the people y â— profes god be deuided The number of sectes and counterfait religious which yet liue vnder the Bishop of Rome are almoste innumerable Neither ceaseth Sathan eueÌ„ in this most clear light of the gospel to play the right deuil and to cast mistes before the eies of the vnfaithful Into how many sects is Christendome yet deuided Ar not some called papists some protestants some Anabaptists some sacramentaries Whence come al these abhominacions but only from sathan the author of al euil Moreouer in what fielde where good sede hath bene sowed hath not the ennemie sowed his tares also howe pestilentlye hathe he corrupted the pure wheate of goddes woorde wyth myngeling hys chaffe drosse darnell cockell and tares I mean the false gloses and vnsauery exposicions of the papistes Anabaptistes and suche other secâ—aries Howe wickedlye hathe hee peruerted the righte vse of the sacramentes specially the sacrament of Christes bodye and bloude fastinge praier and almes deede howe hathe he made theÌ„ to be abused There is no pointe of Christen religion which Sathan hath not attempted too ouerthrowe by hys ministers And albeit as I said before the enemy laboureth at all times to sowe hys tares in the Lordes fielde yet when the shepheardes of Christes flocke be negligeÌ„t in doing their dutye fal a slepe and loke not to the Lordes field then doth he most of al play his parte and bestoure him like a right deuil as Salomon saythe When the preahing of gods word faiâ—leth the people pearishe It therfore becommeth al men that tender the glorye of God but specyallye the Lordes Ministers to loke
diligentlye vnto theyr lords fielde and earnestly to take hede that the enemy sow not his tares amonge the Lordes wheate If any be sowed it is their duti to laboure euen to the vttermooste of theyr power not with violence corporal armours for the vse of the seculare swearde is not commytted to the preachers of gods worde but to the temporal rulers onlye to punysh malefactoures but with the swearde of the spirit whyche is the woorde of God wyth prayers supplycacions and â—eares to weede theym oute The weapons of our warfar saieth S. Paule ar not carnal thinges but thynges myghty in god to cast down strong holds wherwyth we ouerthrow couÌ„sels and euery hye thyng that exalteth it selfe agaynste the knowledge of God and bryng into captiuity al imaginacion to the obedience of Christe And in thys behalfe I meane in pluckinge vp the enemyes tares and in purgyng the Lordes fielde that nothyng may growe therin but pure wheate your both godly and vnreastfull paines most reuerend father aâ— well knowen in thys churche of England and thanckefullye accepted of all faythfull Christen heartes insomuch that very manye do daylye render vnto God most humble and harty thankes for the singuler and great benefites whiche they haue receiued of him thorowe your vertuous trauaile in attayninge vnto the true knowledge of iustification of the sacrament of Christes bodye and bloud and such other holye misteries of oure profession And al be it the deuill roare the worlde rage and the hipocrites swell at these your most Christen labourers whiche you willinglye take for the glory of God and the edifyinge of hys congregacyon yet as ye haue godlye begunne so without ceasinge continew vnto the ende By this meanes shal it come to passe y t when the cheife shepheard shall appeare ye shal receiue an incorruptyble crowne of glorye And forasmuch as so many as the Lord hath appoynted watchmenne ouer hys flocke oughte euerye one accordynge to theyr talente to folowe youre Godlye example in weedynge oure erroures and plantynge true and Christen opynyons in the heartes of the people seinge that Sathan hath not a lyttle corrupted the true vse of fastynge whyche beynge ryghtelye vsed doeth hyghelye please God and abused displeaseth hym I thoughte it good agaynste thys tyme of Lente whyche of longe contynuaunce hathe bene appoynted to abstinence to write some what of fastynge that myghte both openne awaye too the faythefull howe they maye faste to please God and also dysclose the falsse manner of fastynge broughte in by the deuyl and his Ministers And in thys my treatyse I haue fyrste declared what the Christen faste is secondly how we oughte to fast and thyrdly what the true vse of fastinge is I toke thys laboure vppon me the more gladlye partelye because no manne hytherto hath writen of that matter in oure Englyshe tonge partlye to satysfye the heartye requestes of dyuers faithefull brethrene whyche ceased not to requyre me in the Lordes name to wryghte some what that myghte enstructe theym in the true vse of fastinge The matter I graunt requyreth a woorke manne of riper iudgemente and more exercysed in the Lordes haruest then I am whyche myghte according to the worthynesse of the matter haue set it forth pleasauntly and learnedly but seing no maÌ„ hath hitherto takeÌ„ it in haÌ„d I thought it my part not to deny the godlye requestes of the brethreÌ„ but gladly to bestowe vpon them what so euer the Lord hath geuen me in thys behalfe Thys treatyse what so euer it is I your humble and faythfull seruaunt not hauyng otherwyse wherwyth to testify the thankfulnes of my hart toward your most honorable Lordship for the manyfold benefytes whych ye haue bounteously bestowed vpon me do dedicate to your name moste humblye besechynge you accorto your accustomed gentlenesse to take in good part this my rude and grosse woorke whych to polyshe and to make nete if habylitie had serued shortnes of time wolde not suffer God whose honoure you most desirouslye seke moughte vouch safe to preserue youre grace in continuall healthe and prosperous felicitie vnto the glorye of his mooste blessed name and the profyt of hys holy congregacyon Amen B. I. ¶ A treatyse of fastinge What the true and Christen faste is ¶ The .i. Chapter THe true and Christen fast is frely and willinglye to abstaine not only from al kind of meates and drynckes but also from all those thynges wherein the fleshe hathe pleasure and delectacion whiche abstinence or forbearing of meates dryncks and other plesures wherein the outward man deliteth riseth either of an hearte contryte and sorowefull for the synnes commytted against god or elsse of a minde feruentlye geuen to godlinesse That thys is a true diffinicion of the Christen faste it maye bee easelye proued oute of the holyâ— scryptures Fyrste to whome is it vnknowen that when the holye menne in tymes paste fasted theyr maner was so long as the faste continued to abstaine from al kinde of meates and drinckes and from all pleasures wherein the fleshe deliteth and wholye to gyue them selues all worldelye affaires sette aparte to godlye exercyses as to the heartye and vnfayened lamentynge of theyr synnes where wyth to much vnkindelye they hadde offended theyr Lorde God and prouoked hys fearse wrathe and vengeaunce to fall on them to feruente prayer and diligente calling on the name of God for turnyng awaye hys heauye dyspleasure from theym and for remission of theyr synnes thorowe faith in the holy sacrifice to come of that blessed seede of the woman which by hys one and alone oblacion they beleued shulde reconcile mannekinde to God the father pacifye his wrathe and make him a mercyfull Lordâ— to the hearinge and readinge of goddes worde to the comâ—orting of one another to the studie of amendemente of life to the prouisyon makynge for the poore to the redresse of abuses in y e common weale to the planting of true godlines and abolishing of all wicked and straunge relygion Of thys maner of fastinge speaketh the Prophete when he saithe halowe ye a fast meaning that they whiche faste shoulde in the tyme of theyr fasting occupy them selues in spirituall and not in worldly exercises or elsse is it no faste before God ¶ The .ii. Chapter THis abstinence or forbearing of meates dyd alwayes continewe at the least one whole day withoute receiuinge of anye corporal sustenance many times ii or .iii daies as the historyes of the holye scripture teach vs. The Israelits wheÌ„ they sawe so great a multitude of their people slain of the Beniamites in the battell wente vp and came vnto Bethel where the arke of the appoyntement of God was in those dayes wepte sate there praying before the lord and fasted the same day vnto euen and offered burntoffe ringes and peace offeringes before the Lorde Again when the Israelites gathered together aâ— Mizpha lamentiug their sinnes and prayinge vnto the Lorde for healpe againste
be praysed for our abstinence The myghtiest fastis water and bread but because it hath no glorye nor notable fame because we al liue with bread water it is not couÌ„ted as the publyque coÌ„mon fast Wold God y t al they that fast yea so many as profes Christ wold remeÌ„ber coÌ„tinually set before their eyes thys saying of s. AusteÌ„ It nothing profyteth sayeth he to haue passed an whole day in loÌ„g fasting if afterward the soul be oppressed wyth dylyciousnes or superfluitye of meates for so is the minde much filled soone dulled and the erth of our body so watered wil bring forth thornes of wicked lusts Let therfore our meate be temperate no more then is sufficient let our belly neuer be to ful And let vs alwayes haue more mynd of the meate for the hearte then of meate for the body because with in the inward man we be made after the image of God but in the flesh we are fashioned of the slime of the earth The .xi. Chapter FUrthermore the Christen fast ryseth of an hart contrite and sorowful for the sins coÌ„mitted against God as we haue heard heretofore The popish faste ryseth either of custome or els of supersticyon For the Papystes in theyr chiefe solempne fastinge dayes are led wyth no true feare toward God neyther do they lament theyr syns nor study by hartie repentaÌ„ce true faith amendment of life to apease the wrathe of God kindled against them for their abominable liuing on those dayes that they fast more them any other tyme. What Papiste among them forsaketh hys papistry hipocrisy supersticion and idolatry and gladly receiueth the truth of Gods word What coueuetous worldling leaueth his couetousnes exerciseth mercy toward the pore meÌ„bers of Christ What proud maÌ„ giueth ouer his pride and embraceth humilitie What adulterer forsaketh hys adultri and leadeth an honest coÌ„uersacion what gloton or dronkard giueth ouer hys glotony or dronkennes and leadeth a sober lyfe what vsurar leaueth his vsury what briberer his brybery what catchepole hys extorcion what tirante hys tirannye what whore her whoredome what rybalde hys rybaldrye what blasphemer hys blasphemy what enuious man his enuy c. As they begin their fast w t an vnrepentaÌ„t wicked hert euen so do they continue end the same so far is it of that they haue any sorow in their heart for their syns committed against God whych shoulde earnestlye moue them to forsake theyr meate and to giue them selues wholy to be reconciled vnto god by repentynge and callyng on the name of God for mercy in Christ Iesu our lord Their fast therfore is abhominacion before God forasmuch as in the time of theyr fastyng they gyue not ouer theyr wyckednes and earnestlye seeke to please God Moreouer the ChristeÌ„ fast riseth also of an hert ferueÌ„tly geueÌ„ to godlynes In thys behalfe also y â— popish fast agreeth nothing with ChristeÌ„ abstinence For the Papystes myndes are set on no true godlines in the time of their fastyng but altogether on supersticion hipocrisie Theyr godlynes yea rather vngodlynes when they fast consisteth in obseruyng the popes ceremonies and mans inuencions If they fulfyl those they thynke theÌ„selues godly ynough when notwithstaÌ„ding they â—e furdest from all true god lines Nether do they direct their fastes vnto anye godly end but as eueri one â—antasieth so do thei faste yea and that for sondry purposes Sâ—me fast breade and water some eate nothinge but fruit some taste no kynde of meate or dryncke that is dressed with fyre some in theyr faste go wolwarde barefoted and barelegged some are so scrupulous supersticious in their fasting that in the time of theyr faste they wyll neither eate nor dryncke nor sleepe nor yet swalowe dowâ—e theyr owne spittle If they do they thincke them selues damned Prouided alway that they also muste be fyrste and laste at churche If they obserue these fastes they promyse theym selues I knowe not howe great rewardes ane how hie seates in heauen aboud other and howe many gay garlandes of red roses anâ— swete violetes that God and oure Ladye and the blessed saints shal giue them after thys lyfe for theyr deuout fastyng and prâ—aty paines O fond folishnes folysh fondnes worthy rather to be lamented then to be laughed at If it be done of a good entent say they al is weil whatsoeuer we do If we fast the blessed Saintes euens and worshyppe them wyth a Pater noster Aue and Creede they wyll do for vs whatsoeuer we axe S. George wyl defend vs in battell agaynst our ennemies S. Barbara wyll kepe vs from thondring and litenyng S. Agasse wyl saue our house from burning S. Antony will keepe oure swyne S. Luke wil saâ—e oure Oxe S. Iob wyll defend vs from the poxe S. Gertrude wil keepe oure house from mise rats S. Nicholas wyl preserue vs from drowning S. Loâ— wyl cure our horsse S. Dorothe wil saue our hearbs flowers S Sith wyl bring again whatsoeuer we lose S. Apoline wyl heal thâ— pain of our tethe S. Sweteladde and. Sayute Agnes wyll sende vs Maides good husbandes Sainte Peter wyll lette vs in at heauen gates wyth a thousande suche lyke Thys supersticion and idolatry is the godlines of the Papistes If they fast and serue the saints vnto this end on their feastful daies fare deintely drynke largelye in the honour of the good saint they think thei haue done much for the saint and haue shewed theym selues good godly and deuout persons O double vngodlines What shall I speake of the spiritual exercises whiche the true and Christen faste requireth to be done in the time oâ—â—asting If we marke wel the maners of the papists and notetheyr behauour on theyr fastinge daies we shall caâ—â—y perceiue that in the middes of their fastinge they are no lesse wicked vngodlye no les proud and enuious no lesse lecherous and couetous no les backbitinge and slaunderous no les polling and pillinge no les churlish and vnmerciful no les geuen to glotoni dronkennes then thei wer afore They lameÌ„t not their syns they fall not to faithefull prayer they call not on the name of God as they oughte but fle vnto creatures they gyue not them selues to the hearinge or readynge of gods worde which many of them extremelye abhorre they go not about to leaue theyr idolatri and wish to be better instructed in the knowledge of gods lawe c but continuing stil in their old supersticion idolatri thei thinke them selues godly inough and good inough If thei eat no flesh if thei for beare white meates al is wel whatsoeuer they do though ther be no repentaunce no calling on the name of god no correccion of maÌ„ners no ameÌ„dmeÌ„t of life God haue mercy on vs god open their eies giue theÌ„ grace to amende Hitherto haue we learned out of the word of god what the true and Christen