The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

But some will say: what need we now to fast, who will censure us? I answer, the Lord himself. For albeit we that are Christians, are not to be charged as the Jews were, with one special day: yet as the Jews, with all God his people, did humble themselves before the Lord, either for the removing of some judgement which presently did lie upon them, or for the preventing of some perils which were towards them, or for the obtaining of some grace, which they wanted, (and yet without all observations of days (so we must join with them. And therefore whosoever refuseth the exercise of humbling either privately or publicly, the same is to be controlled by the word. If any be commanded publicly by the Magistrate, whether the cause be just ^*or not just, we are to obey; if the cause be just, it is not the commandment of the Magistrate, but of God, and who so breaketh this, is surely to be condemned. The similitude here annexed of the Apostle, is very fit: for as the skilful painter first portraiteth, and then painteth with fresh and lively colours, that which before more rudely and obscurely he did frame and fashion with a black coal: so these rudiments more darkly did represent that which now is lively described unto us, the truth of all things in Christ. The body is Christ: as if he should say, ye have received Christ, and the things which he hath prescribed: and though ye have not the Sabbaths, and holy days of the Jews, yet have ye the true Sabbath, & pure holy day, which Christ hath left unto you. Here then the Apostle is so far from abrogating of the Sabbath, that he maketh no mention, nor includeth any meaning thereof in these words. And thus much for the reasons, which they think they have gotten out of the epistles of Saint Paul.

But some will say: what neede wee now to fast, who will censure vs? I answere, the Lord himselfe. For albeit wee that are Christians, are not to bee charged as the Iewes were, with one speciall day: yet as the Iewes, with all God his people, did humble themselues before the Lord, either for the remouing of some iudgement which presently did lie vpon them, or for the preuenting of some perils which were towards them, or for the obtaining of some grace, which they wanted, (and yet without all obseruations of daies (so wee must ioyne with them. And therefore whosoeuer refuseth the exercise of humbling either priuately or publikely, the same is to bee controlled by the word. If any bee commaunded publikely by the Magistrate, whether the cause be iust