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,…

Now to fast every day were more than the Pharisees did, who fasted but twice in the week: if we will be counted the sons of Patriarchs and Prophets: and the disciples of the Apostles, to take that liberty of Gods creatures, that they did, why should we be burdened with the traditions of Esaves, Hermits and Heretics? It is said of Basil the great, and Nazianzene the learned, that they use thus to macerate their bodies with very often abstinence: but what follows after, they were made (as a great learned Censurer saith) unprofitable to the Church, lying sick sometimes half a year, sometimes an whole year. Why then should we tempt God to lay an yoke upon the disciples necks, which never our fathers were able to bear? Seeing we are dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world; why, as though we were in the world, should we be burdened with traditions? as touch not, ⟨p. 214⟩t•ste not, handle not, which all perish with using, and are after the commandment and doctrine of men; which things indeed have a show of wisdom, in voluntary religion, and humility of mind, and n•t sparing the body, but are of no value, save for the fulfilling of the flesh. ¹Moreover we must learn to make a difference between a temperate & moderate use of Gods creatures (which we call sobriety, and ought always to appear in the life of Christians) and an utter abstinence from the use of the creatures, called Fasting; which neither by Gods word ought, nor yet by natural reason can be continually or daily. And here let us learn to avoid the extremities, & to keep the mean in fasting, which master Bucer hath taught us, who saith that if we eschew not fasting at all, or fasting too much, we shall fast aright. Call they this a fast, for a man to abstain every day from a meals meat? to use prayer at morning and at night, although that he spend the most part of the day, and the whole night in the commodities, refreshings and pleasures of this life? this is no sound Divinity.

Now to fast euery day were more than the Pharisies did, who fasted but twice in the weeke: if we will be counted the sonnes of Patriarches and Prophets: and the disciples of the Apostles, to take that liberty of Gods creatures, that they did, why should we be burthened with the traditions of Esaues, Heremites and Heretikes? It is said of Basil the great, and Nazianzene the learned, that they vse thus to macerate their bodies with very often abstinence: but what followes after, they were made (as a great learned Censurer saith) vnprofitable to the Church, lying sicke sometimes halfe a yeere, sometimes an whole yeere. Why then should wee tempt God to lay an yoke vpon the disciples necks, which neuer our fathers were able to beare? Seeing wee are dead with Christ from the ordinances of the world; why, as though wee were in the world, should wee bee burthened with traditions? as touch not,