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…

Fasting then, by the decree of those six hundred and thirty fathers, grounding their determination in this matter upon the sacred scriptures, and long continued usage or practise, both of the prophets and other godly persons before the coming of Christ, and also of the apostles and other devout men in the new Testament: is, a with holding of meat, drink, and all natural food from the body for the determined time of fasting. Thus much is spoken hitherto, to ⟨p. 179⟩make plain unto you what fasting is. Now hereafter shall be showed the true and right use of fasting.

Fasting then, by the decree of those sixe hundreth and thirtie fathers, groundyng their determination in this matter vppon the sacred scriptures, and long continued vsage or practise, both of the prophetes and other godly persons before the comming of Christe, and also of the apostles and other deuoute men in the newe Testament: is, a with holdyng of meate, drinke, and all naturall fodde from the body for the determined time of fastyng. Thus muche is spoken hytherto, to ⟨p. 179⟩make playne vnto you what fastyng is. Nowe hereafter shalbe shewed the true and ryght vse of fastyng.

Good works are not all of one sort. For some are of them selves, and of their own proper nature always good: as to love God above all things, to love my neighbour as my self, to honour father and mother, to honour the higher powers, to give to every man that which is his due, and such like. Other works there be, which considered in themselves without further respect, are of their own nature, mere indifferent, that is, neither good nor evil, but take their denomination of the use or end whereunto they serve. Which works having a good end, are called good works, and are so in deed: but yet that cometh not of them selves, but of the good end whereunto they are referred. On the other side, if the end that they serve unto be evil, it can not then otherwise be, but that they must needs be evil also. Of this sort of works, is fasting, which of it self is a thing merely indifferent: But is made better or worse by the end that it serveth unto. For when it respecteth a good end, it is a good work: but the end being evil, the work it self is also evil. To fast then with this persuasion of mind, that our fasting, and our good works, can make us perfect and just men, and finally, bring us to heaven: this is a devilish persuasion, and that fast, so far of from pleasing god, that it refuseth his mercy, and is altogether derogatory to the merits of Christs death, and his precious blood