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
eat on the other daies the cost y â— thou shuldest make on that daye that thou fastest lay it vp giue it to the widow to the fatherles childeÌ„ or to the poremaÌ„ and so shalt thou fast a good fast that he which hath receiued it of the may fil his soule and that his praier may go vnto the lord for the. If thou fulfillest thy fast on this maÌ„ner as I commaund the thy sacrifice shalbe acceptable to the Lorde and thy fast shalbe written in the boke of life Origen saithe we finde in a certaine boke that the Apostles saide blessed is he that fasteth to thys ende that he maye nourishe the poore man The fast of suche one is wonderfully accepted before God Hereto pertaineth the sayinge of S. Austen mercy dyd commende and greatly setforthe the praier and fastinge of Cornelius For hee beinge ryche and a wealthye man fasted He dyd not onlye faste but he also fed them that wanted that theyr fulnesse myghte make his faste acceptable Agayne in a nother place he sayeth before all thynges that whyche we were wonte to eate at our dynner on the fastyng daies let vs bestowe it on the poore Oure goulden mouthed Doctoure in a certayne homilie councelleth vs that when so euer wee faste we should be lyberall to the poore and gyue theym largelye of oure goods In a nother place he also sayeth he that eateth hys meate and is not hable to fast let hym geue the larger almes lette him be the more diligent in praiing let him haue the more ferueÌ„t desyre to heare the word of God Here Chrisostome estemeth almesse among other vertues of so hie price that if ther be ani which can not abyde to fast for y â— weaknes of theyr bodye yet if they be plenteous in doinge the workes of mercye and in prayinge and hearing the worde of God they are not refused of god but accepted as good Christians Mercye therfore and almes is a precious thinge in the sighte of God â–ª and ought to be exercised of the faithful when so euer occasion is geuen whether they faste or not Mercye saieth the aungell is betâ—er then to hoorde vpâ—e treasures of golde For mercye delyuereth froÌ„ death clense the sin causeth to find euerlasting life Thus haue wee hearde that Christen menne oughte to vse theyr faste vnto thys ende that they abstaynynge frome meate and drincke mighte haue wherof to geue the more abundantlye to the poore to feede the hungrye to clothe the naked to relieue the sicke to healpe the endebted and to comforte the neadye O blessed are they that so faste But wher are they and we shall commende them and call them blessed For great and commendable thynges dooe suche woorcke amonge theyr neyghboures and Christen brethren ¶ The .xxi. Chapter THirdly if we wyll vse fasting aryghte we must vse it vnto this ende also that by the dilygent doing and often exercyse therof we may be made the more apte to praye and to lifte vp oure heartes vnto the Lord our God with feruent praiers humble supplications and heartye thanckes geuinge For vnto this ende serued fasting in times past as dyuers histories of the holye scrypture do declare If anye mysfortune or greuous plage chaunced at any time to the people of god then streightwaies they fasted as we reade in the boke of iudges Againe if anye plage wer threatned theÌ„ by the Prophetes of god for theyr wyckednes as we reade of the Niniuites or if they perceiued anye great euyl to be at hand as wee reade in the histories of the Israelites of Iehosaphat Iudith Esther c. then fell they straightwaies to fastinge And theyr fastes wer taken vnto this end that they might humble theym selues in the syghte of God and be made the more mete for to pray to swage the wrathe of God Nether do we read that anye solempne fast was proclaymed at any time but it was done to this end that the fasters might the more quietlye and frely serue god and cal on his holy name by feruent and coÌ„tinual praier And as we read this in the olde testamente so lacke we not the like examples in the newe Is it to bee doubted but that oure sauyoure Christe in that time of his longe and solempne faste ioyned to his faste prayer He withoute doubt prayed vnto God hys father all that tyme that by his preachinge whyche was at hande manye myghte bee tourened from theyr vngodlynesse vnto the true worshippinge of God from wickednes of life vnto innocencye of maÌ„ners We reade also that the godlye Matrone Anne serued God in the temple wyth fastynge and prayer both day and night The Apostles likewise after Christes ascencioÌ„ did alwaies ioin to their fastinge praier In like manner reade we of the vertuous manne Cornelius whiche ioined to hys fastinge bothe prayer and almes deede And the aungel sayde vnto Thobye prayer is good wyth fastinge Esdras sayd lykewyse to the Iewes We fasted prayed vnto the lord we had good lucke Quene Esther also sente woorde to Mardocheus saying gather together all the Iewes and praye for me but se that ye neither eat nor dryncke .iii. daies and three nyghtes and I wyth my maides wyl fast pray lykewyse Again Eliachim the priest saied to y e children of Israel wheÌ„ they were in greate sorowe and danger of theyr enemyes Be ye sure that the Lord wil hear your petycyons if ye contynewe stedfaste in fastynges and prayers in the syghte of the Lorde Thus se we that the godly people both of the olde and of the new testamente ioined alwaies for y e most part fasting and praier together thincking them selues theÌ„ to fast wel wheÌ„ their faste was accoÌ„pained wyth prayer as it is wrytten prayer is good with fastinge S. Peter also saith be ye sober and watche vnto prayer ¶ The .xxii. Chapter MOreouer our sauiour christ also ioineth praier fasting together wherhe saith this kynde of dyuels is not caste out but by fastyng praier To thys kind of fasting doth S. Paul exhort vs wheÌ„ he saith let vs giue no occasion of euil that in our offyce be found no faute but in all things let vs behaue our selues as the ministers of God in much pacience in laboures in watchings fastings Also S. Peter Be ye sober sayth he and watch vnto prayer And from the contrari doth our sauiour Christ cal vs away saying Take heede to your selues lest at any time your herts be ouercom with surfeting and dronkennes cares of thys lyfe and so the dai of iudgemeÌ„t come on you vnwares The prophet Esay thoundereth agaynst them which despising this godly maner of abstinence set al theyr minds on bankettyng and belly there Wo be vnto theÌ„ sayth he that rise vp early to folow dronkennes and to them
youre clothes Moreouer albeit S. Paul councelleth that maryed folke should not wythdrawe them selues one from another any longe tyme lest Satan tempt them to incontinency and vnclennes yet y â— they myght be the more apt to fast and to pray he woulde haue them sometyme to withdraw theÌ„ selues one from another Herevnto pertayneth the sayinge of the Prophete Ioel Blowe oute wyth the trumpet in Syon proclayme a fasting cal the congregacion aud gather the people together warne the congregacioÌ„ gather the elders bryng the children suckelyngs together Let the bridgrom go forth of his chaÌ„ber the bryde out of her closet The .v. Chapter THus haue we learned out of the holye Scriptures that the true and Christen fast is to abstayn not only from al kind of meates and drinkes durynge the tyme of fastyng but also froÌ„ al those thinges wherin the flesh hath pleasure and delectacion to occupy our selues in all godly and spiritual exercyses vnto the glory of God the comfort of our neyghbour and the helth of our own soules But it is to be noted that thys abstinence or fast must be frely and wyllynglye done or els canne it by no meanes please God For what so euer commeth from an vnwilling and constrained mynde God abhorreth appere it neuer so godly and praise worthye before the worlde God loueth a cherefull geuer sayeth Saynte Paule And the Psal-inographe sayeth An offerynge of a free hearte wyl I gyue the and prayse thy name O Lorde because it is so coÌ„fortable They therefore that faste for custome sake or at the commaundemente of man onlye and not of a good wil and fre spirit do nether please God nor profit theÌ„selues Therfore shal that chaunce vnto them that God threatneth by the Prophet sayinge When they fast I wil not heare theyr praiers ¶ The .vi. Chapter HEare peraduenture some manne wyll saye Is it vngodlye to faste at the commaundemente of manne What if the Magistrates cause a faste to be proclaymed Ought it not to be obserued of theyr subiects I aunsweare If the hye powers at anye tyme commaundeth fastynge so that it bee doone vnto a godlye ende and ryseth not of supersticion it oughte to bee obserued of the subiectes For wee haue examples hereof in the holye scryptures whyche doo bothe sette forthe the authoritie of Magistrates in commaundynge fastynge and also the obedyence of subiects in obseruing the same When the Israelytes were in greate feare and daunger of the Philistines Samuell which at that tyme iudged the people called all the house of Israell together proclaymed a faste exhorted theym vnto prayer wylled them to put away the strauÌ„ge Goddes frome amonge theym and wyth theyre whole hearte to tourne agayne vnto the Lorde theyr God and he of hys mercye wolde surelye rydde them out of the handes of the Philistines The people gladly obeyed Samuels commaundemente put awaye theyr idols confessed theyr synnes serued the Lorde onlye and fasted the same daye vnto euen And God saued them from y â— hande of the Philistines all the daies of Samuell Kynge Iehosaphat hearinge that y â— Moabits and Ammonites came with an exceadinge greate multitude against him to battel was in greate feare soughte for healpe at the Lordes hande proclaimed fastinge thorowe out all Iuda and called the people together to praye vnto the Lorde The people willingli obeied the kynges commaundemente All Iuda came and stode before the Lorde wyth theyr yonge ones theyr wyues and theyr children to aâ—ke counsell of the Lorde They both fasted and praied vnto the Lorde theyr God for healp agaynste theyr enemies And the Lorde gaue theim a wonderfull and glorious victorye Esdras returninge vnto Ierusalem with the childrene of Israell proclaimed a faste and exhorted theym to call on the name of God that he mighte giue them a prosperous iourenye The people obeied fasted and prayed vnto the Lorde theyr God and they hadde good successe in all theyr doynges The kynge of the Niniuites hearynge of the mooste terryble greuous plage that was threatned vnto them and theyr cytye by Ionas the Prophet of god humbled hym selfe and sent forthe a proclamacion vnto al his people commaunding that neither man nor beaste Oxe or shepe shulde taste anye thinge at al and that they shuld nether eat nor drinck water but put on sackclothe both man and beast He commaunded them also in his proclamacion to repeÌ„t to beleue God hys word to turne froÌ„ theyr wicked waies and mightly to cry vnto God for mercy The people did according to the kings proclamacioÌ„ so that both y â— kinge and his subiects together repenting fastinge beleuing turning from their wicked waies and mightely callyng on the Lord for mercy forgiuenes of theyr sins wer saued both they their citie withal that thei had Esther hearinge of the proclamacyon that kynge Ahasuerus at the suttle suggestion of wycked Haman hadde sentforthe for the destruccyon of the Iewes commaunded Mardocheus to gather together all the Iewes that were founde at Susan and to faste for her so that they shuld neyther eate nor dryncke by the space of three dayes and three nyghtes but spende all that time in fastynge and prayinge Her commaundemente was fulfylled It came to passe that God preserued the Iewes alyue and broughte theyr ennemyes to a shamefull ende Thus haue we learened oute of the holye scryptures that the rulers haue authoritie geuen theÌ„ of God to comauÌ„d theyr subiects to fast whenso euer anye vrgenâ— cause is offered as in the tyme of battell honger droute plage pestilence c. and that the people are bounde by gods commaundement to obey the magistrates and their ordinaunces in al such thinges as they tender the glory of God the conseruacyon of the common weale and the health of theyr owne souls This meaneth the Prophet Ioel speakinge vnto the heads of the people on this maner Proclaime fasting cal y â— congregacion â–ª gather the elders and all the inhabytoures of the lande together into the house of the Lorde your God and cry vnto the Lord. c. Againe blow out wyth the trompet in Sion proclaime fasting cal the congregacioÌ„ gather the people together The .vii. Chapter FUrthermore the true and christen faste riseth either of an hearte contryte and sorowfull for the sinnes commytted against God or elsse of a mynde feruentlye geuen to godlynesse As touchinge that fast whiche commeth frome a contryte and sorowefull hearte for the synnes commytted agaynste God it is a worthy and noble faste in the syghte of God and can not but hyghelye please him For the Psalmographe sayeth A troubled spirite is a sacrifice vnto God neyther dothe hee desyyse a contryte and humbled hearte And God hym selfe sayeth by the Prophete Whome shall I regarde and fauoure Euen hym that is poore and of a lowelye and troubled spirit and suche one as standeth in awe of my wordes
that contynue so vntyl nyght and tyll they be set on fyre wich wine In those companies are harps and lutes Tabrets and pipes wyne But they regard not y â— work of y e lord Agayne he saythe Wo be vnto theÌ„ y t are strong to sup out wyne expert meÌ„ to set vp dronkeÌ„nes These giue sentence with the vngodly for rewards but coÌ„demne the iust cause of the ryghteouse Therfore like as fyre licketh vp the straw and as the flame consumeth the stuble euen so theyr roote shalbe as corrupcion and theyr blossom shal vanysh away like dust for they haue cast awai the law of the Lord of hosts and blasphemed the word of the holy maker of Israel From beastly baÌ„ketting vnto faithful fastiÌ„g contynual calling on the name of the Lord doth the prophet Ioel cal these belly goddes saying Wake vpye droÌ„ckards weepe mourne al ye wine bibbers not without a cause For he y t hath his bodye loden wyth meat drinke is no more mete to prai vnto god then a dead maÌ„ is to tel a tale nether can the minde of such one any more fly vnto god with heaueÌ„ly desires then a ship to much cuÌ„bred with burdens at the point to sinck can any lenger flote vpoÌ„ of y e waters We haue a prouerb no les true then commen among vs. When the belly is ful the body wold be at reast meaning that he which hath enfarâ—ed his belly with delicious meates and costious driÌ„cks is more mete to stepe like a swine theÌ„ to take any earnest weighti matter in haÌ„d We haue not red saith S. Eiprian y e the godly men did euer take any great thing in hand except they first fasted So oft as they weÌ„t about to obtain any thing of God they fasted wept and watched whole nightes in praier weare garmentes of heare next to their flesh so withal humblenes desired god to be benificial to theÌ„ Nether wanted they of their purpose wheÌ„ they most huÌ„bly fel down at the fete of god offered vnto him the sacrifice of a contrite hart but god was neare vnto them y t called on him reached forthe hys hand to them y t wer in daunger holpe theÌ„ that wer in trouble Again he saieth praier is of great vertue wheÌ„ fasting goeth afore Basilius magnus saith also y t fasting is necessari when we desire obtayne any thyng of the Lord The auÌ„cient fathers of Christes churche godly consideryng how necessary a thing praier is in the Church of Christ ordayned certayne feastful daies in the yeare on the whych the people shoulde resorte and come together vnto the temple for to praye vnto the Lord God And that they myght come the more deuoutely pray wyth the greater fruite they appointed also that the daye before the solemne feast they shuld fast that they myght be the more apt to pray wheÌ„ they come together into the temple For wher the body is burdened wyth meate ther the mynde can haue no free passage vnto God Let theÌ„ therfore that fast appointe their fastynge also to thys vse that by theyr abstinence they may be the more re pray not only to prepare them selues to pray but also earnestly to gyue theyr mindes vnto praier or els what doth theyr fast profit them To faste from meat and to goo about worldlye matters what other thing is it then a mockinge of God a derision of christen abstinence as S. Ambrose saith doest y u thincke y t he fasteth aright whiche waking betymes in the morning goeth not vnto y â— church to prai to hear the word of god but as sone as he is vp gathereth together hys seruauntes laieth abrode his nets bryngeth forth his dogs goeth running about the forestes Therefore if we faste lette vs faste a ryghte and after the examples of the auÌ„cyente holye fathers lette vs alwaye couple prayer wyth our fastinge So shall boothe we oure fastes our praiers please God ¶ The .xxiii. Chapter FOurthelye and finally forasmuche as the word of God is the singuler and vnspeakeable gift of God geuen of him to be a lantarne to oure feete and a light to our pathwaies to tourne souls from idolatri vnto true god lines to giue wisdom to the humble to make the faithful penitent heartes glad to lighten the eies of the ignoraunt to teach the true relygyon to iâ—proue errourres and heresies to amend sinners to instruct all degrees in righteousnes that the man of God may be perfect and prepared vnto all good worckes it is conueniente whither wee heare â—t of other or reade it oure selues that we both heare and reade it wyth greate reuerence and all humilitie seinge that not man but the holye ghoste is the authoure of it whiche breathed into the heartes of holye mâ—nnethe knowledge of it and putte in theyr myndes what they oughte to wryghte as S. Paule sayeth the whole scrypture was geuen of God by inspiracion And S. Peter recordeth the same sayinge The scrypture came neuer by the wyl of manne but holye men of God spake as they wer moued by y â— holy ghost If the holye scripture then commeth froÌ„ god god be the author of it who dare presume either to heare or to reade it but wyth an humble reuerence and reuerent humilitie As S. Austen sayeth by the bookes of the holye scrypture God hym self and oure lord speaketh vnto vs and sheweth vnto the effecte of a godlye wyll â–ª Let vs then consider and marke well with what honoure the message of that god and Lord ought to be receiued of vs. What if a message came vnto vs very earlye in the mornyng from a kyng wold we not streight waies al other cares laied aside receiue the letters with a readye wil withal deuocioÌ„ and after we had red theym laboure to fulfill the kynges request to y â— vttermoste And beholde from the heauen of heauens the Kynge of kynges and Lorde of Lordes yea and our redemer hathe vouched safe to dyrecte hys letters vnto vs by the Prophetes and Apostles not that hee shoulde commytte vnto vs anye seruyce necessarye for hym but sygnifye what thynges maye dooe vs good vnto saluacion and glorye O wyth what reuerence and greate honoure oughte we then to receiue reade or heare the letters of thys euerlastinge king and immortal god sente for oure glorye and for our saluation seing that by them not man bâ—t God speaketh vnto vs as oure sauioure Christe testifieth he that heareth you he speaketh of the preachers of goddes word heareth me he that despyseth you despiseth me he that despiseth me despiseth hym that sent me Now y â— we may come reuereÌ„tly humblye to the hearinge of gods worde it shal not be vnsitting to vse our fast vnto this end also that we maye come vnto it with fasting empty stomackes that oure
mynde and inwarde maÌ„ mai haue the purersenses to vnderstande the cleare sighte to beholde the more open eares to heare and the gredier stomacks to digest the holi misteries of god For likewise as he is no mete maÌ„ to pray vnto God that commeth out of the Tauern sweating and set on fire with drincking of whot wine eatiÌ„g of delicious meats so in like maner is he no fit man either to reade or to hear y â— word of god that hath a ful gorge and stuffed belly The more the body is filled the more is the mind dulled made vnapt to receiue any message from god But albe it y â— outward man decay be made feble for a tyme yet the inwarde man is renewed day by day and made strong And this meant the holy fathers godlye bishops of Christes churche in tymes paste when they appointed fastinge on the eueÌ„s of solempne feastes that the people by their fasting might be made the more apt the day folowing when they came to the teÌ„ple to heare the blessed worde of theyr saluacion The holy letters do testify that when Moses receiued the law he was in the mount with God and fasted .xl. daies and .xl. nights before the taâ—les of the law wer deliuered vnto him where of wee maye learne howe reuerently we oughte to take the word of god auâ— not to come vnto it with vnwashed fete as they vse to say And this is to be noted by y â— way that as Moses fasting was fouÌ„d worthy to receiue the law of god so likewise when he came downe from the mount saw the people droncke and mad singinge piping dauÌ„ciÌ„g leaâ—ing he threw down the tables of y e law brake them on peces by this declaring that Epicures and belly gods be no worthy and mete vessels to receiue the new wine of gods word When the children of Israell at a certaine time came together to read the boke of the law of the Lord they fasted the whole day that they mighte reade the holye scriptures with the more reuereÌ„ce and bee made the more mete to haue the holy ghost present with them to teache them by hys godlye inspiracion Esdras also being greatly desirous to haue certaine secretes opened vnto him was commaunded of Uriel the angel to fast vii daies first of al. Whych thing he did and had hys desyre satisfied In like manner after the Prophet Daniel had fasted and praied vnto the Lord for knowledge of certain misteries Gabriel the aungell of God came and reueled vnto him the secretes of Christes incarnatioÌ„ passion death c When Baruche red hys boke before the kinge and the kinges councell and before all the people they all wepte fasted prayed before the Lorde Before that oure sauyoure Christe tooke vppon hym the office of preachinge to declare vnto the people the ioyfull tidinges that he broughte frome heauen he fasted .xl. daies and .xl. nights and dyd eate nothinge at all geuinge vs example by his fasting not to faste the like fast which is impossible and aboue y e natural strengthes of ani maÌ„ but to come vnto the word of god thorow fasting with al reuerence humilitie whither we reade or heare it The Apostles of Christ lykewise before they vniuersally preached the kyngdom of Christ fasted and praied and as they wer fastyng and prayinge the hollye Ghoste came downe vpon them and endued them with the knowledge of al languages taught them the true vnderstandynge of Gods holy misteries To ende Cornelius being very desierous to knowe y â— true and approued religioÌ„ before God fasted praied vnto the Lord and god graciousâ—â— satisfied his desire The .xxiiii. Chapter TThus le we that all godlye men both of the old and new Testament vsed abstinence for the most part wheÌ„ they shuld eyther preach heare or read the worde of God that they myghte come the more reuerentlye vnto it and be made the more mete to handle so holye and worthye misteries It is conuenieÌ„t therfore y â— we also if we wyll vse fastinge aright do folowe the examples of these holi men whensoeuer we entende eyther to preache reade or heare the worde or God and not vnreuerentlye to come vnto the holy scripture as vnto prophane wrightings after the example of many vngodly parsons which w t out al humilitie reuereÌ„ce read the woorde of god as thoughe it wer an Ethnike chronicle a boke of mannes statutes of Beuise of Hampton of Gye of Warwicke of Robinhoode and suche other lyke fonde and foolyshe fansyes yea ther waÌ„t not the greater shal be our plage which scorn y â— word of god and moste shamefullye abuse it some vnto â—koffynge and iesting some vnto the tauntinge of other some vnto y â— vpholdiÌ„g of their fleshly liberty corrupt maÌ„ners some vnto the maint eining of wicked opinions c. whose destruccion slepeth not whose damnacion is at hand For if it be not lawful to cast pearles before hogs nor to gyue that is holy to dogs nether is it lawful for hogges to touch pearles nor dogs to taste y â— is holi If thei wer punished that did eate vnleuended bread at the feast of the passeouer if Uza wer striken vnto y â— death for touching the arcke if that geast y t came vnto the maryage not hauinge the wedding garmente was bounde hand and feete and â—ast into vtter darcknes wher weping and gnashinge of teethe is if the Corinthes wer plaged for abusinge the lords supper let not those swinish Epicures doggish papistes Licencious Libertines vngodly Anabaptistes grosse gospellers and wicked worldlinges thincke that they shal escape vnpunished if they go forth to abuse the word of god or to come vnreuerentlye vnto it For the holye scripture is the message of god brought vnto vs from heauen by his holy Embassadoures the Prophetes Apostles yea by his own dearly be loued sonne that kinge of glory which sealed confirmed it with the sheding of his most precious blud it may not therfore be lightly regarded nor vnreuereÌ„tli haÌ„dled For if the y t despyseth Moses law saith S. Paul dieth w toute mercy vnder .ii. or .iii. wytnesses how much sorer suppose ye shal he be punished which tredeth vnder fote the son of god counteth the blud of the Testament wheâ— with he was sanctifed as an vnholy thyng and doth dishonoure to the spirit of Grace That we therfore maye humbly reuereÌ„tly deuoâ—tely honorably come vnto the preachyng hearing or reading of the blessed word of God let vs not neglecte thys noble vertue of fasting but after the exaÌ„ple of the aforesayd godly men prâ—pare our selues by the diligent exercise therof to be mete to handle so holye and heauenly misteries By this meanes shal it come to passe y â— god which is the author of the holi scripture shal alwaye be present wyth vs
the Philistines they fasted the whole daye So likewise did Dauid and thei that were with him when they heard that Saule and his sonnes were slaine in battell Nehemiah fasted two dayes together or moo For hee saide as it is written of hym I sate me downe and wept and mourned certaine daies and fasted and praied before the god of heaueÌ„ We reade that Quene Esther and her Maidens wyth all the Iewes that were founde at Susan fasted thre dayes and three nightes together and dyd neyther eate nor dryncke Moses Elias and Christe fasted fortye dayes aud as manye nightes wythoute receiuinge of anye corporall foode but suche fastes are not to be practised for asmuch as they are maruelous and past the bouÌ„des of mens nature and are done onlye by the vnsearcheable power and mightie worcking of God in few of his creatures But the common manner of fastinge among the true godly was when they did faste to abstaine from al meate the whole daie til nighte that they mighte the more frelye gyue theyr minde to spiritual exercises and at night to take some refeccion moderatli yea and that with thanckes geuing And on thys manner as some fasted but one or .ii. dayes together so some fasted manye euerye one as they were moued by the spirit of God and as occasyon requyred We reade that the Prophete Daniel fasted thus thre weekes together Hys wordes are these I Daniel mourned for the space of thre weekes so that I had no liste to eate breade as for fleshe and wine there came none wythin my mouthe No I did not once annoynte myselfe till the whole thre wekes were oute The scripture testifieth that the vertuous womaÌ„ Iudith fasted al the daies of her lyfe excepte the sabbothes and new moanes the solempne dayes that the people of Israell kepte Likewise reade we of Anna the Daughter of Phanuell whych departed not from the temple but serued god with fastings and praiers night and daye On this maner did the Apoâ—tles after Christes ascension many other godlye menne in the primatyue church fast So that their custom was on that daye that they dyd fast to eat nothing til night but to occupy them selues about such godlye exersyes as here to fore are mencioned The .iii. Chapter ANd as the godlye menne in the tyme of theyr fasting did abstayne frome meate and drincke so dyd they from al other thynges that myghte delyte the fleshe and be haued them selues outwardlye accordinge to the sorowe and trouble of their hearte inwardlye Oute of a mourning and soroweful hearte dyd spring outwarde yea and those vnfayened tokens of sorowe and mournynge For wee hearde before that when Daniell fasted three weekes and prayed vnto the Lorde hys God although he did eate bread euerye nyghte for the comforte of hys weake body yet he neyther eate flesh nor dronck wyne nor yet once anoynted hym selfe And in a nother place he saieth I turned me vnto God the Lorde for to praye and to make myne intercession wyth fastyng sakcloth and ashes The people of Niniue when they hearde the preachynge of Ionas whyche threatened them and theyr cytye destruccion after fortye dayes repented beleued God and proclaymed fastyng and arayed theÌ„selues in sackeclothe as well the greate as the small of them And when the tidyngs came vnto the king of Niniue he also arose out of his seate dyd his apparel of and put on sackeclothe and sate hym downe in ashes Agayne the chyldren of Israell as wee reade in Esdras when they fasted dyd put on sackeclothe and sprinkled earth vpon theyr heades knowledged theyr synnes prayed vnto God and redde in the booke of the lawe of the Lord theyr God Quene Esther also when she fasted layed awaye her glorious apparel and put on the garmentes that serued for syghyng and mourning In the stede of precious ointment she scattered ashes and donge vpon her heade and as for her bodye shee huÌ„bled it with fasting brought it verye lowe Lykewyse kynge Achab wheÌ„ he was reproued of the Prophete Helyas for kyllynge Nabothe fell to fastynge and as he fasted so dyd he putte sake cloth about hys flesh lay in sackclothe wente barefoote and hangyng downe hys heade The .iiii. Chapter VUhat so euer myght make to the huÌ„blyng and taming of the flesh that dyd the godly men vse for the moste parte in the tyme of theyr fastynge Neyther dyd those corporal exercyses displease God seynge they came from a coÌ„trite hart and troubled spirit wholye dependynge wyth strong faith on the great mercies of God For Dauid saith A troubled spirit is a sacrifice to God nether doth he despise a contryte and huÌ„bled hart But these outward sygnes of humiliacioÌ„ God vtterly abhorreth wheÌ„ they come not from a penitent and faythful hart and casteth them awaye as hypocrytysh and diuelish as we read in the Prophet Esay wherfore fast we saye the hipocrites and thou O God seest in not We put our liues to straightnes and thou regardest it not Behold saieth God when ye fast your luste remayneth sâ—yl for ye do no lesse vyolence to your debters Lo ye faste to stryfe and debate and to smite with the fyst of wickednes Now ye shall not faste thus that your voice might be herd aboue Thyncke ye thys faste pleaseth me â–ª that a man shuld chasteÌ„ hym selfe for a day and to wrythe his head about like an hoope to lie vpon the earth in an heary cloth Shuld that be called fastyng or day that pleaseth the lord Doth not thys fastynge rather please me that thou loose hym oute of bondage that is in thy daunger that thou breake the othe of wicked bargaynes that thou let the oppressed go free and take from them all manner of burthens to deale thy breade to the hungrye and bryng the poore wandering home into thy house when thou seest the naked that thou couer hym and hyde not thy face from thy neighbour and that thou dispyse not thyne owne â—â—eshe If thou thus fastest then shall thy lyght breake forthe as the mornynge and thy healthe flooryshe ryght shortlye thy ryghteousnes shal go before the and the glory of the Lorde shall embrace thee Then if thou callest the Lorde shal aunswer the yf thou cryest he shall saye here I am Yea yf thou layest awaye from thee thy burthens and holdest thy fyngers and ceacest from blasphemous talkyng yf thou hast compassion vpon the houngrye and refreshest the trubled soule then shal thy lyght spryng oute in the darknes and thy darknes shalbe as the none day The Lord shall euer be thy Guyde and satysfye the desyre of thyne hearte in the tyme of drouth and fil thy bones wyth mary Thou shalt be like a fresh watered garden lyke the theÌ„ fouÌ„tayne of water that neuer leaueth running Againe God saith by the prophet Ioâ—l turne you vnto me w t al your hert with fasting weping and mourning teare your harts not
haue the ouerhande and by no meanes to follow the wycked maner of the papists whych in theyr fastes abstain froÌ„ grosse fleshe deuoure all kynde of deinty and fine fishe whiche make theyr bodies muche more prone to lewdnes then the eatyng of flesh and also bringeth the spirit into miserable seruitute bondage O vngodlye manner of fastinge The .xix. Chapter VNto this taming chastining subduing mortifying of y â— flesh by y â— true vse of fasting dothe S. Austen exhort vs sayinge Let oureflesh be continuallye subiecte to oure soule and serue it as an handmaide dothe her Masters Lette vs not suffer oure bodye to be ouerlustye least 〈◊〉 warre against the spirite but alwayes let the fleshe be subiecte that it obei the commaundement of the holye ghost Neither let vs suffer the handmaide to waxe to rancke leaste she set lyght by her maistres but rather let her obey all her commaundementes and do her seruise For as horses must be brideled so muste our bodies be restrained with fasting watch prayer For as if the guides of chariots do giue their horsse the reanes thei draw them into head long down fals so if our body be not brideled the soul and it both together slip into the depe pit of hel Let vs therfore be good and experte Carters or Chariot dryuers to our body that we may go the rigâ—twai c. Again he saieth fasting swageth the intemperancye and vnrulines of the bodye and represseth or keepeth vnder the troubioâ—s mocions raging lustes therof It causeth the soul to â—e at liberty and not to be oppressed of the flesh as the Lorde saith take hede that your hartes be not ouercom with surfetyng droÌ„keÌ„nes For wheÌ„ the soul is deliuered froÌ„ to much eating drinking then doth it consider it selfe the bâ—ttâ—r waieth in what case it standeth For as a maÌ„ in a filthye glas seeth not him selfe such one as he is in deede so likewise if he be ouerladen wyth to muche eatynge and drinckynge he thincketh him selfe to be another manner of man then he is Yea then is hee prouoked vnto sensualilitie and filthye luste moued vnto anger puffed vp with pride stirred vnto letchery In respecte wherof the Apostle sayeth be not dronke wyth wyne wherin is vnhonest behauioure But if the body be kept in order and accustomed wyth fastyng then doth the soul know the better with what deuocioÌ„ she ought to serue her redemer Fastyng therfore is very necessari Hereunto pertaineth y â— saying of S. Ihon goldeÌ„ mouth The abstinence fro meates is receiued for this purpose y â— it shuld restrain the rigour fearsnes of y â— flesh to make it obedient to the spirit eueÌ„ as an horse is to his keper For he that fasteth muste aboue all thinges refraine anger learne mekenes and gentlenes haue an hearte contrite and such one as may repel and put backe vncleane concupiscences lusts He muste also set before his eies alway the eye of the euerlastinge iudge and y â— iudgeing place that canne not be corrupted Againe he muste by his monye be made the better by distributing it to the pore haue rule ouer it He must be liberal in geuing almes receiue into his hart no euil against his neighboure as Esaye speaking in y â— persoÌ„ of god sath haue I chosen this fast sayth the lord Thoughe thou wrye aboute thy necke lyke an hoope and strowest vnder the sackeclothe and ashes yet wyll not I regard thy fast saith the lord What fast theÌ„ tel me Losen saith he the bonds of the wicked bargaines breake thy breade to the hongry bringe the pore man that hath no house into thi house If thou doest these these things saith he theÌ„ shal thy light breake forth as y â— morning light and thy health shal spryng right shortly Hast thou now sene my welbeloued what y â— true fast is Let vs loke vpoÌ„ this fast and let vs not thincke as many do y â— fastinge standeth in this pointe if we continewe without any dinner til it be night S. Hierome also saieth Satietie or fulnes is to be exchewed euen of y â— most vyle meats For ther is nothing y â— so ouerwhelmeth y â— mind as a ful bellye Thus haue we herd that the first principal vse of fastinge is to tame chastise subdue mortifi the flesh y â— it resist not but rather obei the rule of y â— spirit as an haÌ„d maide her maistres or an horsse hys keper But this is to be coÌ„sidered in our fasting y â— we do not with our vnmeasurable fasts so make weake feable the bodye that it be hable to serue neyther God nor our neighbour nor yet our selues by this meanes vtterly quench the vse workyng of the spirit as we rede that many in times past haue done such fasts please not God This commauÌ„dement therfore of S Paul is to be obserued in al our fasts Make not prouisioÌ„ sayth he for the flesh to fulfyl the lustes of it An horsse that is to much delicate lyfed casteth his master againe if he be kept to hongry he faynteth in the mids of the iourney doth not his office A meane therfore is to be had as in fedinge of the horsse so likewise in ordering of the bodye We lyue not to eat but we eate to lyue ¶ The .xx. Chapter THe seconde cause whye wee ought to vse fastinge is that we abstaining from meates maye haue to giue vnto the pore and hongry the more liberallye For this kind of fasting pleaseth God greatly when he seeth that we haue so put on the bowels of tender mercy are led with such and so harty compassion toward our pore neighbour that we can not finde in our hearte he shulde want yea rather then he shoulde lacke we wil spare it out of oure own belli giue it him god right wel accepteth this fast and blesseth the faster wyth plentye and abundaunce as the wisemaÌ„ saith He that hath pitie on the poore maketh the Lord his debter and loke what he layeth oute it shal bee payed hym agayne Unto thys manner of fastynge dothe God exhorte vs by the Prophet where he saieth breake thi bread to the hongrye and lede the neadye and wayefaringe men into thyne house WheÌ„ thou seest a naked man couer him and despyse not thi flesh What it is to breake thy bread to the hongri we heard afore in the .xiii. chapter The angell of God tolde Thobye â–ª that when fastinge praier and almes deedes go together that is good and accepted in the Lordes sight It is written in a certaine â—oke called Pastor the author wherof they say Hermas S. Pauls disciple was on thys manner On that daye that thou shalte faste thou shalt taste nothing at al but bread and water wheÌ„ thou hast couÌ„ted the quantitye of the meat that thon wast wont to