PHIL. True the it is that ye saye But I praye you be diliâ—…ent a lytle while to heare me and I wyll teach you both what the true christen faste is and also howe ye ought to faste THEO I pray you let it be so EVSE Speake on brother Phelemon we heare you gladlye PHIL. The true christen faythe as Basilius magnus doth defyne is not only to abstayne from meates but also to eschewe euell thinges Of this diffinicion do ye learne two thynges y â— is to saye that the true christen fast consisteth not only in the abstinence of meates but also in the eschewynge of euell Therfore sayth our golden mouthed Doctor ther is a spirituall and a corporall fast The corporall faste is to abstayne from meates The spirituall fast is to abstayne from synnes For as y e fleshe hath a pleasure in eatynge so hath the spiryte of the flesh a pleasure in synnyng In consideracion wherof the wise men call euery sin pleasure or lust bycause we coÌ„myt euery synne with delectacioÌ„ plea sure Agayne he sayth He that abstayneth from meat not froÌ„ euell workes he appearethe to faste but yet he fasteth not in dede For loke howe much he fasteth vnto men so muche dothe he eate before God seing he goeth forth styll to synne In another place also he saythe I call fastyng abstinence from vices For the abstinence from meates is receiued for this purpose that it should refrayne y e rigoure fearse nes of the flesh to make it obedient euen as an horse is to his keper He that fasteth must aboue al thin ges refrayne anger learne mekenez lenite haue a contryte herte that may repell put abacke vn cleane concupiscences lustes set before his eyes alwaye the eye of y â— euerlastynge iudge the inprauable iudgynge place by his mony to be made better to haue rule ouer it to be liberall in gyuynge almes to admyt receyue into his herte no euell agaynst his neighbour as Esay speakyng in y â— person of God sayth haue I choseÌ„ this fast sayth the LORDE Though thou wriest about thy necke lyke a circle strowest vnder the sackeclothe ashes neyther shall thy fast be so called ac ceptable saythe the LORDE What fast than tell me Loosen sayth he the boÌ„des of the wicked bargaynes breake thy breade to the hungrye brynge the poore man that hath no house into thy house If thou doste these thynges saythe he than shall thy lyght breake forth as the mornyng and thy health shall sprynge right shortely Hast thou now sene my welbeloued what the true fast is Let vs loke vpon this fast and lette vs not thynke as many do y â— fastynge stondethe in thys poynte yf we continue without ony diner vntyll it be nyght Hytherto haue I rehersed the wordes of S. Iohn Chrisostome of whome we maye easly learne that the true christeÌ„ faste is not onlye to abstayne from meat but also from synne But let vs heare the myndes of some other doctors Origene sayth wylt thou that I shewe vnto the what fast y u oughtest to fast Fast from euell de des abstayne from euel wordes refrayne froÌ„ euell thoughteâ—… touche not the theuish breades of peruerse doctryne Couyt not nor luste not after the deceyuable meates of phi losophye that maye seduce turne the from the trueth Suche a faste pleaseth God S. Austen sayth the fastes of christen men are rather to be obserued spirituallye than carnally In consideracioÌ„ wherof let vs fast principally sroÌ„ our synnes vnlesse oure faste be refused of the LORDE as the fastes of the Iewes were What a fast is this that an impostore or deceyuable person I caÌ„ not tel who should abstayne froÌ„ meates whiche the LORDE hathe created yet ware fatte with the fatnes of synnes Haue I chosen such a fast sayth the LORDE Rede the eyght and fifty Chapter of the Prophet Esaye And a lytle after he sayth the faste which the moost hyghest dothe approue allowe is not only to leaue of to refresshe the body but also to departe froÌ„ euell actes or dedes Also i another place he fayth the great generall faste is to abstaine froÌ„â—…iquites vnlaw ful pleasures of the worlde which is a perfecte fast that we sorsakige vngodlines the lustes of y â— world should lyue in this worlde soberly righteously godly To this faste what reward doth the Apostle giue It followeth he saythe Lokynge for that blessed hope and the apperaunce of the glory of y â— great god of our Sauiour Iesu Christ. In this worlde as a Lent of abstineÌ„ce do we celebrate whan we lyue wel whaÌ„ we abstayne from wickednes and vnlawfull pleasures But bycause this abstinence shal not be w t out rewarde we loke for that blessed hope of the reuelacion of y e glory of the great God of oure sauiour Iesus Christ. I coulde reherse vnto you iÌ„numerable places bothe of these Doctors of many other yf I had leasure which declare eui dently that the true christeÌ„ faste doth not only consiste in the abstinence of meates but also in the for sakyng of synne But these at this tyme maye seme abuÌ„dantly to satisfye THEOPHILE O good LORD howe greatelye are manye deceyued whiche thyncke that they fasts wel yf they do onelye but abstayne from a smokye pece of Baconne or harde salted and powdered befe though they eate the mooste delicious fyshes that can be gotten and infarse theyr bodies like belyed Hy crites with all the swete meates 〈◊〉 eyther Potecaries or ony other caÌ„ inueÌ„t or imagyne yea that so vn measurablye that after they haue once dyned they are prouoked eyther to the pleasure of the body or elles lyke beastes of the bellye faull streyghtwayes vnto sleape so that they are not able to serue God nor themselues nor yet onye other O detestable abhominacion EVSE Howe much also are they deceiued of the true maÌ„ner of fasting which do not only fast after such sorte as ye haue nowe spokeÌ„ but also do no rysh in theyr hertes all kynd of ma lyce agaynst theyr christeÌ„ brothers sekyng howe they may destroy theÌ„ shed theyr bloude yea neyther do they cease to pollute and defyle the moost blessed name of God so much as lyeth in them wyth moost abho minable oothes and are also in all theyr conuersacion wicked lyuers as I maye adde nothynge therto PHIL. Undoutedly these men are farre from the true christen man ner of fastynge whiche is not only to abstayne from meates but also from synnes Agaynst those thoÌ„dereth the holy Doctor Basilius ma gnus on this manner Wo be vnto you ye droÌ„ckardes not with wyne only For wrathe indignacioÌ„ is al so a certayne droÌ„ckeÌ„nesse of y e soule makiÌ„g it eueÌ„ as wyne doth hertles folysh For although y u
worme of them that shall be there dye at ony tyme as y e Pro phette sayth Thus se you that ye haue no great cause to boste glory of worldly goodes nor yet to auaūce your selues aboue other mē for youre possessions sake no more than a greate mans seruaunt hath to whome his LORDE and mayster hath cōmytted his goodes for a cer tayne space to kepe the seruaunte lookynge at euery houre whan his mayster wyl require them agayne He is a very thefe robber say the Basilius Magnus which maketh that thyng his owne that he hath receyued to distribute and gyue abrode For the bread sayth he that thou retaynest kepeste is y e bread of the hungry the garment which thou kepest in thy chest is the garment of the naked the shoo that is moulde with the is the shoo of him that is vnwod the mony whiche thou hydest in the grounde is the mony of the nedy Moreouer thou doste iniury playne wronge to so many as thou forsakeste whē thou arte able to helpe them Hytherto pertayneth the sayenge of the wyse man the bread of the nedy is y e lyfe of y e poore he that d◅fraudeth hym of it is a manstear Thus se you in howe great iopardy the ritch men are that be vnmercyefull vnto the poore people how lytle theyr fast pleaseth God in theyr vnmercifulnes seynge they do not annoynte theyr head that is showe no mercy to the poore mēbers of Christ God teachynge the true manner of fastynge by his Prophet amonge all other thiges sayth breke thy bread to the hungry Marke y e he say the breke thy bread to the hungry Cer tayne Doctors wryte on this tert says y t thou breakeste thy breade thā to y ◠hūgrye whan y ◠so fastest y t thou sparest from thyne owne bellye to gyue it to the poore hungrye man For a Christen manne ought to be no lesse carefull for the poore than for hymselfe so that prouisiō once made for his familye he muste also shewe mercye to the nedye Thou therfore doste breake thy bread vnto the hungrye whā thou gyueste hym that whiche thou thy selfe necessarelye shouldest haue eaten And this is to annoynte thy head aryght verely euen to breake thy bread to the hungry THEO Would God that all rytche mē dyd knowe this much would followe it For many thyncke that they do God an hyghe Sacrifyce yea y e they be good almes men yf whan they haue once pāpred theyr owne bellyes with all kynde of deynties they than at the laste gyue or sende to the hūgry a few scrappes which they wyl scasely vouchsafe to giue to theyr dogges PHIL. I pray God giue vs all grace to do oure dutye Nowe haue ye herde what it is to annoynte youre heade I wyll also speake somwhat of wasshyng your face although I maye seme abundantly to haue spoken of the very effect of it in y ◠diffiniciō of fasting If we wyll fast aryghte we are not only commaūded to annoynte oure head that is to saye to shewe mexcy to the poore people but also to wasshe our face that is to make our hertes cleane from all synne y ◠we maye haue a pure conscience For it is not ynough to be benefici al to other except we also be benefi cial to our selues This shall come to passe yf we labour w t all mayne to haue a mynde pure cleane frō all carnall affectes a body voyde of wicked dedes What was y e cause that God dyd cast away the fastes solemne feastes which the Iewes celebrated kepte holy ī his name but onlye y t they wasshed not theyr face that is they went not aboute to put of theyr olde conuersacion to become newe men I hate abhorre sayth God your sacrifiices youre solemne feastes your fastes why so For your handes sayth he are full of bloud Youre hertes are full of vengeaunce your consciences are spotted and defyled withal kynde of sinnes ye haue no feare of God before your eies What is thā to be done Be ye wasshed sayth he be ye cleane take awaye the euell of your thoughtes from myne eies Cease to do euell learne to do well seke iudgement helpe the poore oppressed be fauourable to the cōfortles defende the widowe c. GOD hateth those prayers those fastes those good dedes as they cal them which come from a defyled body a corrupt hert a fylthy mynd a blou dy conscience a spotted and pocky soule as a certayne man sayth It profyt a mā nothynge at all to fast pray to do other good thīges of deuocion excepte the mynde be refrayned from vngodlynes and the tonge from backebytinges For God hath euer a principall respect to the herte of the doer of y ◠worke If the herte be pure cleane fayth full than dothe God approne that worke But if it be spotted w t syn God casteth it away appeare it ne uer so glisteryng excellent in the sight of y ◠worlde Offer not sayth the wyse manne wycked giftes for God wyll not receyue them CHRI It is euident thā that so many as chaung not theyr wicked lyfe cast away theyr Hypocrisy make clene theyr hartes put out of theyr myn des al rācoure malyce enuy grudge c. and to study aboue all thyn ges to lead a pure innocent lyfe can by no menes please God PHIL. No forsoth Therfore yf ye entende to fast aryght to make your faste acceptable to God prouide earnest ly that youre faste procede from a pure cleane herte voyde of al car nall affectes stuffed full of fayth charite and altogither studious of true innocency vnfayned godlynes So shall it come to passe that not only your fast but al that euer ye do besydes accordynge to Gods word shall very greatly please god THEO I besech God gyue vs grace to do all thynges accordyng to his moost godly wyll pleasure PHIL. Labour God wyll helpe I haue declared two thynges that are necessary to the true vse of fastynge There remayneth nowe the thyrde to be brought forth which is so expedient and necessary for that pur pose also y e y ◠other two w tout this profiteth nothynge EVSE I praye you let vs heare it PHIL. We are not only cōma◅ded in oure fastyng to annoynt our head to wash our face but also to fast in secret THEO What is it I praye you to faste in secret PHIL. Uerely to fast in secret is not to kepe you close frō y e sight of men so to abstayne from your meates in preuye corners but not to hunt hawke after vayneglory nor prayse of men for your fasting nor to seke to be sene of men whyle ye fast that they maye commend prayse you We are counted before God than to faste in secrete whan we fast with such
melody togyther signifi eth theyr inward vnsayned ioye which they haue cōceyued in theyr hertes for the redempciō that they haue in Christe Iesus CHRI But what meanethe theyr Palmes and Oliues or other greene herbes in theyr handes PHIL. I haue declared vnto you before that the Palmes signify the victory y t we haue gotten ouer Satan thorowe oure LORDE captayne Iesus Christe as S. Paule sayth death is swalo wed vp into victorye O deathe where is thy stynge O hell where is thy victory The stynge of deth is syn The strength of syn is y e law But thanckes be vnto God which hath gyuen vs the vyctory thorow our LORD Iesus Christ. Christ him selfe also sayth in the world ye shall haue trouble but be on a good con fort for I haue ouercome y e world All that is borne of God ouercommeth the world saythe S. Iohn this is y e victory which hath ouercome the worlde euen our faythe EVSE What is signified by y e grene Oliues or other herbes PHIL. The aboundance of vertues The be arynge of Olyues she wethe that we are not only delyuered oute of seruile captiuite that we haue gottē the victory thorowe Iesus Christ are set at liberty that we beyng w tout feare delyuered frō y e poore of oure enemies shoulde serue God all the dayes of our lyfe ī holines righteousnes but that we are also thorow hi plenteously garnysshed enuyroned w t al kīdesof vertues do now no lesse florysh w t vertues than y e Olyue tree dothe w t fruyte which as Plini writethis neuer w t out grene leues fruyte Therfore saith Dauid I being as a fruytful Olyue tree in y e house of God haue trusted ī the mercy of God for euer more CHRI we perceyue now these thynges ryghte well What followeth I praye you PHIL. These thi ges once done thā the people gothe somewhat further vnto the chyrch doreward and there stondeth styll EVSE I remēber it well PHIL. Im mediately after certayne chyldren stondynge vpō an high place right agaynst the people syngynge with a lowde voyce a certayne Hymne in the prayse of our Sauioure Iesus Christ which begynneth Glorialaus THEO It is trueth PHIL At the ende of euery verse the chyldren caste downe certayne cakes or breades with ◅loures EVSE What do they meane by this PHIL. The chyldrē which sig betokē y e faithful christen men in this worlde whiche ought to be simple hūble in hert as a chylde is as Christ sayth vere ly I saye vnto you excepte ye be cō uerted become as a chylde ye shal not enter into the kingdome of heuen Who so euer therfore hūblethe himselfe as this chylde he it is that is greatest in the kyngdome of heauen Also S. Paule Brothers be not chyldren in vnderstandynge howe be it as concernynge maliciousnes be chyldren but in vnderstandynge be perfecte Nowe as cō cernynge the syngynge castynge downe of cakes floures ye shall heare now thre thiges The fyrst is geuyng of glorye prayse to Christ for his innumerable benefites shewed vnto vs which is signifyed by the syngyng of the chyldren For it is conueniente that we be not forgetfull of Goddes goodnes toward vs but that we be thanckefull agayne for it and synge perpetuall prayses to his moost blyssed name For this is the rewarde and amendes that he desireth as he himselfe sayth the Sacrifice of prayse shall honouor me Also y e Psalmograph sayth O◅ier to God the Sacrifice of prayse The seconde is an honest conuersacion the continuall exercyse of godly vertues which is signified by the floures that y e chyl dren east do◅ne For seing that we are restored vnto oure olde liberte thorowe Christe whiche we lost in Adam are nowe become christen mē we ought not only to be thākeful to God for his benefites but al so leade an honest pure lyfe that by this meanes also Goddes glory maye be set forth by vs as Christe sayth Let youre lyght so shyne before men that they maye se youre good workes glorify your father which is in heauen We are set w toute feare delyuered frō y e power of our enemies sayth Zacharye y e preste father of S. Iohn Baptiste that we should serue God all y e day es of our lyfe in holynes ryghteousnes We are the workemanshyp of god sayth S. Paule created in Iesus Christe vnto good workes which God hath prepared that we shoulde walke in them Agayne ye are derely bought Glorify GOD now therfore ī your body ī your spiryte which are Goddes Also in another place If any manne be in Christe he is a newe creature The thyrde is mercy towarde the poore people which is signifyed by the ca stynge downe of the cakes Thys mercy towarde the nedy mēbers of Christ ought diligently to be exer cised of all christē men which haue the goodes of y e world in theyr possession or els they shewe thē selues vnworthy the benefites of GOD. For by mercye faythe are synnes pourged saythe the wyse man To do mercy iudgement pleaseth the LORDE more then Sacrifice Giue almes sayth christ behold all thiges are cleane vnto you Thus se you what is signifyed by the syngynge of the chyldren by the castynge downe of the floures and of the cakes Wherof ye learne what is youre dutye to do agayne vnto God for his excedynge incomparable benefytes towarde you verely to be thanckefull to lede a godly lyfe to be mercyfull to y ◠poore mēbers of Christ. THEO Undoubtedly the significacions of these ceremonies are godlye I woulde all men knewe them woulde do ther after PHIL. The very same wysh I also CHRI But what doth it mene I praye you y ◠the chyldren which singe cast downe the floures and cakes stonde in so hygh a place frō the ground PHIL. This preacheth vnto vs y e they which gyue prayse vnto God practyse an honest con uersacion and shewe mercye to the poore poople shoulde not do it for vayne glorye nor for the prayse of men but only for the glory of God settynge theyr myndes seyng they are come to Christe no more vpon earthlye thynges but vpon thynges celestiall heauenly In token wherof they ascend and go vp into such an hygh place from the earth And this is it that S. Paule wry teth yf ye be rysen agayne w t christ seake for those thynges that are aboue where christ is syttynge on y ◠ryght hāde of God Seke for those thynges that are aboue not that are vpō y ◠earth For you are dead your lyfe is hydde with Christ in God EVSE This is a good lesson we thancke you for it PHIL. Well nowe marke the ende of your Procession for it is almoost done THE.