heauen Esdras 8 21 the Lords minister prescribed a generall fast vnto the people Acts 13 2 So did the Primatiue Church when Paul and Barnakas went their visitation trauailed to those Citties where the Gospel was not preached Infinite other such like testimonies might be produced but that they are needlesse in a cause so manifest It is not inhibited vnto any to mortifie his flesh and subdue his affections and by a godly fast to make himself fitter for godly duties whensoeuer he shal be disposed thereunto If a man bee afflicted in himselfe or in his familie he is permitted to humble himselfe and his soule with fasting and to vse any meanes to turne away Gods anger or preuent a iudgement to come But for a priuate person to call a congregation to summon a fast as it may be the cause of much publike mischiefe as much hurt hath growne to the Realme by housed conuenticles and encamped factions so we cannot finde it tollerable by the worde of God This is an office appertaining to ciuill and ecclesiasticall gouernours what priuate man therefore shal put in his sickle into this haruest as he runneth into Dathan and Abiron his sedition so hee may condignely incur their punishment Wherfore let the most vnlearnedly learned Elders of the Anabaptisticall crew and the whole rable of that vngodly disloyall and scismatical sect know that they ought not as they do most malepertly prophanely vpon euerie idle motion of their braine assemble a people and celebrate a fast Let the Pope likewise keepe himselfe in his owne bounds and meddle with those that are vnder his gouernment and preseribe lawes and Christian duties to his owne people Wee are vnder the gouernment of gratious Queene Elizabeth whom God hath set as Queen ouer the holy hil of Sion it is shee that may command general fasts publike prayers and all other exercises of a Christian man This the Pope and popelings cannot abide but the truth of it is as cleare as the Sun and Scriptures and examples do aboundantly prooue it When the Arke of God was restored did not Dauid the King play the first part Dauid beeing king made Psalmes and ditties Dauid being King danced before the Arke being king numbred all the Priests Leuits and disposed them into foure and twentie courses appoynting them continually to serue in the ministry euery one in his turne Moses the magistrate rebuked Aaron the high Priest for crecting a Golden calfe King Salomon displaced Abiathar the high Priest 1 King 2 by his kingly power 1 King 8 and placed Sadoch in his steede Also dedicating the Temple of the Lord with all his people blessed the whole congregation of Israel Also good Ezechias did put forth his hand vnto the Lords plough 2 King 8. and restored true religion of whom it is written He did that was right in the fight of the Lord according to all things that his father Dauid had done before he tooke away the groaues and brake downe Images Iudas Machabeus did purge the Temple which the Idolatrous Gentiles had before prophaned 2. King 23 25 Iosias restored Religion and reformed the temple and it was written of him That there was no king like vnto him before nor after him arose there any like him When as Artaxerxes the King gaue his regall authoritie and high commission to Esra the Priest to censure punish Church abuses the priest allowed the Kings doing and commended him for it saying Ezra 6. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers who hath put into the Kings mind to beautifie the Lords house which is in Hierusalem By these and such like euidences it appeareth that Kings and princes in the old time had the dealing in Ecclesiasticall matters as in calling the people to Gods seruice in cutting downe groaues in destroying of Images in gathering tithes into the Lords house in dedicating the temple in blessing the people in casting down the brasen Serpent in correcting and deposing priests in commanding such things as pertaine to the seruice and worshippe of God and in due pnnishing the contrarie Christ willeth tribute to bee giuen vnto Caesar Mat. 2. and denieth not power to be giuen to Pilate from aboue Iohn 19 therfore they do not well that mangle Common-wealths and diuide them into two deuise two heads the one for the spiritualtie the other for the laitie For the Prince is the keeper of the law of God and that of both tables as well of the first that appertaineth vnto religion as of the second that tendeth to good order Hee is the head of all the cominalty and laitie and also of the ministers and clergie Rom. 13 1 Saint Paul ratifieth and confirmeth the same saying Let euerie soule be subiect to the higher power whether he be Pope Bishop or whatsoeuer he be all are vnder subiection to the Prince Of the superioritie and commanding power of the prince Tertullian speaketh thus Tertull ad feapulam Colimus imperatos rem vt hommem à deo secundum solo deo mis norem We worship the Emperour as a man next vnto God and inferiour to none but God A large and iust treatise might bee written of this matter but lette this suffice which is noted by the way and let none presume without designement and Commission of his Prince either by his publike office and authoritie or otherwise by expresse commaundement from her mouth to solemnize a general and vniuersall fast Forasmuch as a fast is a Religious dutie and the Prince is to set downe orders for Religion CHAP. XI An exhortation vnto fasting HAuing thus prescribed both the spirituall and externall fast I woulde exhort thee deare Christian carefullie and diligently when it is commaunded to performe the same If it seeme harde and greeuous to performe shewe wherein and it will soone bee aunswered For indeede if wee bee willing vnto it the yoake is easie and the burthen is light Obiectis 1 Doost thou suppose it to bee greeuous Answere Then aunswere mee vnto another question which Ambrose dooth propounde to such conceited people Amb lib Elia iciunio Qui graue die eunt terunium esse respondeat quis ietunie defecerit Multi in prundto plerig dum epulum vomunt fudere animam Quod animal leiunium sibi causam fuisse mortis ingemuit per escam laque us non cauetur in esca hamu later crbus duâ—â—t in retia cibus visco etiaÌ„ aues illigat They who suppose fusting to be burdensome greeuous let theÌ„ name vs any who haue fainted through fasting a many at their dinuers and diuers in their vomis thins haue lest their liues What liuing creature harb eyer complained that hee hath dyed by abstinence by reason of the barte the snare is not auoided The hooke is couered with the baite the baite tolleth and draweth into the nette and by it the birde with lime is soone intangled 2 obiection But
Iabel Iudg 4 who deceiued flew Sosera vnder shewe of loue Or vnto Dalila who deliuered hir husband Samson when he slept in her lap Marc. 6 into the haÌ„ds ofy e Phylistines Or to Heroaias daughter who in her pastime and daunce Mat 26 asked the head of Iohn the Baptist Or that damsel or minion as whose voyce with Peter wee denie Christ It is very necessary that we do rame afflict this flesh that it might bee subiect to the spirit a godly fast and this is the cheefest vse and ende of fasting That it might bee a testimâ—nie of our true contrition and repentance of our sins Aegrotauimus per peccatum Aug. cont Iulian. Peâ—ag refert verba Basilit sunemur per paenitentiam poenitentia vero sine Ieiunio vana est We haue bin sick by reason of our sins let vs bee made whole by repentance for our siones A true tepentance is not without fasting because for the most part when wee giue our selues to prayer our zeale is soone cold beeing called away with sundrie by-thoughts and motions of the flesh The Saints of God haue giuen themselues vnto fasting that thereby they might the better be prepared vnto prayer for fasting is an affliction of the bodie if it bee rightly vsed Paul reckoneth his fasting among his afflictions 2. cor 6 11 Psal 34 Dan. 9. Jonae 3 And Dauid saith that he humbled himselfe with fasting Daniel when hee fasted cloathed himselfe with sackcloath and was couered with ashes to expresse his contrition So did the King and all the people of Nineue in their publique fast Of this fasting the Prophet Ioel speaketh wheÌ„ hee saith Turne vnto mee with all your heart with fasting weeping mourning and rent your hearts and not your cloathes and turne vnto the Lord your God And because that a true fast cannot bee without mourning Our Sauiou Christ appointeth such times which giue vnto vs occasion of mourning namely when the bridegroome is taken from vs both for our publique and priuate fasting This is a verie healthful and fruitfull affliction for it casteth downe the minde into a dutifull modestie and into a necessarie contempt of it selfe which is verie requisite when wee offer vp our prayers and sutes vnto God For suters must be humble and beggers that aske and craue almes must not shew their bracelets and Golde rings They must not cast out wordes of pride nor boast presumptuouslie with the Pharisee of their works But they must humble themselues like weaned children before the Lord Luke 18 for God reiecteth the proude and giueth grace vnto the huÌ„ble Therfore because we must be hunible to be fit for praier fasting is a means verie forcible to humble vs for this cause is fasting by the Lord commaunded vs. That fasting doth remoue such impediments and lets as doth disable vs vnto prayer and notablie prepareth vs vnto this and any other godly dutie besides both common experience and the auntient fathers teach vs. Saint Augustine attributeth vnto it these properties Aug. Serm. 220 de tempore Ieiunium purgat mentem subleuat sensum carnem spiritui subiicit concupiscentiae nebulas dispergit libidinum ardores extinguit castitatis verum lumen accendit inertiamtollit de anima impedimenta carnalia aufert Fasting dooth purge the minde helpe the sense subdue the flesh vnto the spirit disperseth the mâ—st and sog of conscupicence extinguisheth the heate of lust kindleth the true light of chastitie taketh away sluggishnesse from the soule Sainct Ambrose likewise witnesseth that this exercise of fasting is a speciall furtheraunce of vs vnto prayer and all godly actions Amb. tom 3 Serm. 2â— Ieiunia nostra sunt sicut castra mansiones Israelitarum a quibus si quis abertauerit a spirituali Pharaone inuaditur aut peccatorum solitudine deuoratur murus est Christiano ieiunium in expugnabilis tunc est fortis infirmitas Paulus enimait cum infirmior tunc fortior sum quando carotabescit ieiuniis anima puritate pinguescit QuamtuÌ„ enimilli succus de trahitur ciboruÌ„ tantum huic virtus iustitiae augetur tunc igitur â—omo imbecillis est ad secularia sedfortis â—st ad diuina opera Our fasting sayeth Ambrose are like the Tents and Mansiâ—ns of the Israelites from whence if anie warue hee is assaulted by the spirituall â—haraoh or else in the wirdernesse of his â—nnes destroyed A Christian fast is to â—m a strong tower of defence which is â—f the diuell himselfe inuincible for then our weakenessE strong For Paul saith When I am weake then I am strong when â—ur bodies waxe leane with fasting and â—ur soules with puritie doo growe fat for owe much the more meate you shall take â—om that so much the more righteousnesse â—ou shall adde to this for then is a man â—ost weake to worldly matters but strong 〈◊〉 heauenly exercises Againe the same father to the like effect thus speaken in another Sermon Vt â—rra aratris scinditur Amb tom 3 Serm. 37 vt mundanis sit â—ngrua frugibus Itaterra nostraieiuniis â—xaretur vt caelestibus sit apta seminiâ—us sicut enim redditum vberioâ—m capit qui frequentius vexando exercet campum Ita maiorem gracian percipit qui exercet corporis sui campuâ— saepius ieiunando producit enim iemnandâ— libido castitatem superbia hurnilitatem ebrietas parcitatem hi enim suxt flore vitae nostrae qui suaue Christo redolem qui odorem bonum Deo spirant As thâ— earth is cut with the Plowshare An excel lent simie latude that iâ— might be fit for worldly graine so let ouâ— earth be plowed with fastings that it may be ready for heauenly seed For as he receiâ—ueth a greater increase who oftnest troubleth the earth so doth he obtaine greate grace which turmoyleth and afflicteth hiâ— earthly bodie with accustomed fastings For by fasting lust breedeth chastitie pride humilitie and ebrietie frugalitie These are the flowers of our life which are p'eaâ— sant vnto Christ and doo yeeld a fragranâ— and redolent smell vnto the nostrils of ouâ— GOD. Wherefore since fasting remooueth such lets which riotousnesse and feasting dooth lay in our way to hinder vs iâ— our duties and seruice of God let vs wheâ—â— wee pay our vowes vnto the Lorde mace rate our flesh and subdue our bodies witâ— Christian fastings that wee may say witâ— Dauid My soule is prepared Psalme A fit similitude my soule is prepared I will sing and giue praise For if thou seest a man who laboureth to climbe vp to the top of a large and steepe hie hill and this man who did beare vpo his shoulders before a very great burtheÌ„ taketh yet another greater weight and load when hee is climbing vp thou wouldest doubtlesse thus seeing him say to thy selfe assuredly this man can neuer get vp Now this life of ours is this vally of miserie and the life that is to come is the Lords holy mountaine which is exceeding
to bring in Platoes Common-wealth and the Annabaptisticall Communion of all things I knowe that God hath ordained families and founded Common-wealths which without distinct degrees of persons and estates cannot possiblie consist But whosoeuer he be that turneth the riches of Gods mercie towards him to the maintenance of his vnsatiable couetousnesse not caring who sterue so he may glut himselfe loath to cast a mite into the Lordes treasure hauing abundaunce and superfluitie of wealth the loue of God dwelleth not in him but he is a bad steward a theefe and a robber who one day shall giue a dreadfull account of this his cruell and vnnaturall disposition Wherfore let these words Meum Tuum mine and thine when as we should charitably helpe the needle be no more heard or named amongst vs. Let vs account nothing our owne but that which is meete for our needfull vses whatsoeuer is ouerplus let vs consecrate it to godly vses especially to the aiding and supporting of such whose dolorous condition pitifully imploreth our tender compassion So shall still the right that we haue to our goods remain in our selues and as Luke writeth of the primitiue Church Acts 4 No man shall say that which he possesseth is his owne Thus haue I pâ—â—pounded the principall obiections which are commoÌ„ly vrged and made answere to them There are no doubt diuerse others beside but the subtill minde of man is so nimble and practicke to put of this dutie with so many shifts and cunning deuises as it passeth my capacitie to conceiue them and therefore it is not for me to answer them CHAP. IX Of the exceeding great benifit which redoune deth vnto vs by giuing of almes IF the pittifull complaints and outcries of the poore which pierce the very cloudes pearce not our hearts nor enter into our cares yet the certaine rewarde which God hath promised in their behalfe should not a little animate vs and incourage vs in this dutie it is thy dutie to relieue the poore and to assist him with thy helpe and heerein wheÌ„ thou hast done whatsoeuer thou caÌ„st thou marst say with the poet vitaui denique culpam non laudem merui Thou hast auoided blame Horac in Art poet thou hast merrited nothing at the Lords handes Yet so good a God haue we delighting in our well-dooing as he giueth vs his word of recompence and requitall of any thing that wee shall in his name bestowe vpon his seruants in their seuerall necessities Isai 38. The Lords healp is at hand for such who shall healpe the poore for breake thy bread vnto the hungry and let the oppressed goe free and these effects and fruits will follow therupon Thy light shal break forth as the morning and thine health shall growe speedily thy righteousnes shal go before thee the glory of the Lord shal imbrace thee If thou powre out thy soule to the hungry refresh the troubled soule then shall thy light spring out in the darknes and thy darknesse shal be as the noon-day and the lord shal guide thee coÌ„tinually and satiffie thy soule in drought make fat thy boanes thou shalt be like a watred gardeÌ„ and like a spring of waters whose waters faile not The prophet Dauid speaketh of manifold blessings that shal be heaped vpoÌ„ the merciful maÌ„ that is liberal to the pore Psal 41 Blessed saith he is he that considereth the pore and needy the lord shal deliuer him in the time of trouble the lord shall preserue him and keepe him aliue that he may be blessed vpoÌ„ earth and shal not deliuer him into the hands of his enemies the lord shal coÌ„fort him wheÌ„ he lieth sicke vpoÌ„ his bed he shal make his bed in his sicknes The lord doth absolutly refuse to heare such who will not heare the pore Pro 11 He that shutteth his eare saith Salomon at the crying of the pore shal crie himselfe and not be heard Luk. 16 The rich man in the Gospell is vnto vs a feareful exaÌ„ple shewing thus much who refusing to shewe mercie vppon poore Lazarus when hee was in such misery could not himselfe obtaine the least mercie when he was in all extremitie August non inuenit micam qui non dedit guttam He could not get a drop who would not giue a crum And the experience hereof the mercilesse misers of these times to their endles woe shal feele in themselues when as they shall stand before his tribunal seate and reÌ„der an account of those outrages and extremities which they haue shewed to the pore selling them for shooes as the heauenly prophet saith and eating theÌ„ vp as one wold eate vp bread God hath crowned our charitable almes with the gracious assurance of eternall life For come saith he ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome of god prepared for you from the beginning of the world For I was hungry and ye fed me c. Mat. 25 If this reward wil not mooue vs I know not what wil mollifie our stony harts Last of al that nothing shuld be waÌ„ting which might hearten vs to this duty the Lorde hath giuen to this not onely the promise of the life that is to come but also of the riches and plentiousnesse of this life Prou. 3 Honor the Lord with thy riches and with the first fruits of all thy increase so shall thy bearnes be filled with a boundance and thy presses shall burst with new wine If thou fearest to relieue the pore for feare to want thy self thou fearest where no feareis the Lorde doth assoile thee and ease thee of this feare by Salomon directly and plainely affirming that he that lendeth to the poore shal neuer want Prou. 23. And Christ our sauiour ratifieth this promise by speaking in this wise Giue and it shall be giuen vnto you a good increase pressed down shaken togither and running ouer Luk. 6 shall men giue into your bosome For with what measure ye meate with the same shall men meate to you againe The widow of Sarcpta is an example of this who of all others might haue feared want as beeing almost at all times in the greatest want her portion of oyle being very nigh consumed a pittance for one thinne and slender repast being onely remaining But the Lord plentifully rewarded her deuotion who for succouring of his prophet would not leaue het destitute but mightily blessed her vittailes with increase and in the time of scarcetie giuing her inough The Lord most graciously and bountifully doth respect euen the least beneuolence and good wil which we giue vnto the poore what can be of lesse value then cold water which we commonly giue vnto our beastes who would thinke that any bodie should haue any rewarde for that being simply considered in it selfe not worthie of thankes yet God to set foorth the exceeding riches of his mercy towards vs that we should the more bee mercifull vnto others hath mercifully promised Math.