A03549:183
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…
The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in the former part of homilies. Set out by the authority of the Queens Majesty: and to be read in every parish church agreeably.The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in the former part of homilees. Set out by the aucthoritie of the Queenes Maiestie: and to be read in euery parishe church agreeably.
Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richard Jugge, and John Cawood, printers to the Queens Majesty, 1571Imprinted at London : In Poules Churchyarde, by Richarde Iugge, and Iohn Cawood, printers to the Queenes Maiestie, 1571
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When forty thousand of the Israelites were slain in battle against the Beniamites, the scripture sayeth: All the children of Israel, 1and the whole multitude of people went out to Bethel, and sate there weeping before the Lord, and fasted all that day until night. So did Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, and many others in the old testament fast. But if any man will say, it is true, so they fasted in deed, but we are not ⟨p. 176⟩now under that yoke of the law, we are set at liberty by the freedom of the Gospel: therefore those rites and customs of the old law, bind not us, except it can be showed by the scriptures of the new Testament, or by examples out of the same, that fasting now under the Gospel, is a restraint of meat, drink, and all bodily food and pleasures from the body, as before. First, that we ought to fast, is a trueth more manifest, then that it should here need to be proved, the scriptures which teach the same, are evident. The doubt therefore that is, is whether when we fast, we ought to withhold from our bodies all meat and drink, during the time of our fast, or no? That we ought so to do, may be well gathered upon a question moved by the Pharisees to Christ, and by his answer again to the same. Why (say they) do Johns Disciples fast often, & pray, and we likewise? but thy disciples eat 2and drink, and fast not at all. In this smooth question, they coutch up subtly this argument or reason: Who so fasteth not, that man is not of God. For fasting and prayer are works both commended, and commanded of GOD in his scriptures: and all good men, from Moses till this time, as well the prophets, as others, have exercised them selves in these works. John also and his disciples at this day do fast oft, and pray much, and so do we the Pharisees in like manner: But thy disciples fast not at all, which if thou wilt deny, we can easily prove it. For whosoever eateth and drinketh, fasteth not. Thy disciples eat and drink, therefore they fast not. ⟨p. 177⟩Of this we conclude (say they) necessarily, that neither art thou, nor yet the disciples of GOD. Christ maketh answer, saying, Can ye make that the children of the wedding shall fast, while the bridegroom is with them? The days shall come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them: In those days shall they fast.