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…

But here beloved let us note, that our saviour Christ, in making his answer to their question, denied not, but confessed that his disciples fasted not, and therefore agreeth to the pharisees in this, as unto a manifest trueth: that who so eateth and drinketh fasteth not. Fasting then, even by Christs assent, is a with holding of meat, drink, and all natural food from the body, for the determined time of fasting. And ⟨p. 178⟩that it was used in the primitive Church, appeareth most evidently by the Chalcedon council, one of the four first general counsels. The fathers assembled there, to the number of. 630. considering with them selves how acceptable a thing fasting is to God, when it is used according to his word: Again, having before their eyes also the great abuses of the same, crept into the Church at those days, through the negligence of them which should have taught the people the right use thereof, and by vain glosses, devised of men: To reform the said abuses, and to restore this so good and godly a work, to the true use thereof, decreed in that council, that every person, aswell in his private as public fast, should continue all the day without meat and drink, till after the Evening prayer. And whosoever did eat or drink before the Evening prayer was ended, should be accounted and reputed not to consider the purity of his fast. This cannon teacheth so evidently how fasting was used in the primitive Church, as by words, it can not be more plainly expressed.

But here beloued let vs note, that our sauiour Christe, in makyng his aunswere to theyr question, denyed not, but confessed that his disciples fasted not, and therefore agreeth to the pharisees in this, as vnto a manifest trueth: that who so eateth and drynketh fasteth not. Fastyng then, euen by Christes assent, is a with holdyng of meate, drinke, and all naturall foode from the body, for the determined tyme of fastyng. And ⟨p. 178⟩that it was vsed in the primatiue Churche, appeareth most euidently by the Chalcedon counsell, one of the foure first generall counselles. The fathers assembled there, to the number of. 630. consydering with them selues howe acceptable a thing fasting is to God, when it is vsed accordyng to his worde: Agayne, hauing before theyr eyes also the great abuses of the same, crept into the Churche at those dayes, through the negligence of them whiche shoulde haue taught the people the right vse thereof, and by vaine gloses, deuised of men: To refourme the sayde abuses, and to restore this so good and godly a worke, to the true vse therof, decreed in that counsell, that euery person, aswell in his priuate as publique fast, shoulde continue all the day without meate and drinke, till after the Euenyng prayer. And whosoeuer did eate or drinke before the Euening prayer was ended, shoulde be accompted and reputed not to consyder the puritie of his fast. This cannon teacheth so euidently howe fastyng was vsed in the primatiue Churche, as by wordes, it can not be more plainely expressed.