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…

Again, so long as we keep ungodliness in our hearts, & suffer wicked thoughts to tarry there, though we fast as oft as did either saint Paul, or John Baptist, and keep it as straitly as d•d the ⟨p. 182⟩Ninevites: yet shall it be not only unprofitable to us, but also a thing that greatly displeaseth almighty God. For he saith, that his soul abhorreth ¹& hateth such fastings, yea they are a burden unto him, & he is weary of bearing them. And therefore he inveigheth most sharply against them, saying by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, Behold, when you fast, your lust remaineth still, for ye do no less violence to your debtors. Lo, ye ²fast to strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Now ye shall not fast thus, that you may make your voice to be heard above. Think ye this fast pleaseth me, that a man should chasten him self for a day? should that be called a fasting, or a day that pleaseth the Lord? Now dearly beloved, seeing that almighty God alloweth not our fast for the works sake, but chiefly respecteth our heart how it is affected, and then esteemeth our fast either good or evil by the end that it serveth for: it is our part to rent our hearts, and not our garments, as we are advertised by the prophet Joel, that is, ³our sorrow and mourning must be inward in heart, and not in outward show only, yea it is requisite that first before all things we cleanse our hearts from sin, and then to direct our fast to such an end as God will allow to be good.

Agayne, so long as we kepe vngodlinesse in our heartes, & suffer wicked thoughtes to tary there, though we fast as oft as dyd eyther saint Paul, or John Baptist, and kepe it as strayghtly as d•d the ⟨p. 182⟩Niniuites: yet shall it be not onlye vnprofitable to vs, but also a thing that greatlye displeaseth almightie God. For he sayth, that his soule abhorreth ¹