A06502:91
A commentary or exposition upon the two Epistles general of Saint Peter, and that…A commentarie or exposition vppon the twoo Epistles generall of Sainct Peter, and that…
A commentary or exposition upon the two Epistles general of Saint Peter, and that of Saint Jude. First faithfully gathered out of the lectures and preachings of that worthy instrument in God's Church, Doctor Martin Luther. And now out of Latin, for the singular benefit and comfort of the godly, familiarly translated into English by Thomas NewtonA commentarie or exposition vppon the twoo Epistles generall of Sainct Peter, and that of Sainct Jude. First faithfullie gathered out of the lectures and preachinges of that worthie instrumente in Goddes Churche, Doctour Martine Luther. And now out of Latine, for the singuler benefite and comfort of the godlie, familiarlie translated into Englishe by Thomas Newton
London: printed by John Kingston for Abraham Veale dwelling, 1581London: printed by John Kingston for Abraham Veale dwellyng, 1581
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.
He appointeth no certain time, as the Pope hath done, how long we must fast, but leaveth it to every ones judgement, so to fast that he be always sober, that he do not so surcharge his body with overmuch eating and drinking, but that he may have the perfect use of reason, and know how to use his senses aright, and how to live profitably and beneficially to others in his vocation. For it is a very preposterous, absurd, and unprofitable thing, to give a general precept hereof unto the whole people, or to the Church: forasmuch as we are unlike among our selves, one hath a strong body, another a weak, so that it is needful for one to abstain much, for an other to abstain little, that the body may nevertheless remain in health, and be fit to do good works.
Hee appointeth no certen tyme, as the Pope hath doen, how long wee must faste, but leaueth it to euery ones iudgement, so to fast that hee bee alwaies sober, that hee doe not so surcharge his bodie with ouermuche eatyng and drinking, but that he maie haue the perfect vse of reason, and knowe how to vse his senses aright, and how to liue profitably and beneficially to others in his vocation. For it is a very preposterous, absurde, and vnprofitable thyng, to giue a generall precept hereof vnto the whole people, or to the Churche: for asmuche as wee are vnlike among our selues, one hath a strong bodie, another a weake, so that it is needefull for one to absteine muche, for an other to absteine little, that the bodie maie neuerthelesse remaine in health, and bee fit to doe good workes.
Again, there be some that deal clean contrarily, and think they do very well in fasting nothing at all: supposing that they may without respect of time, eat what they will. But herein they do not well, for albeit they have somewhat tasted of the Gospel, yet have they profited little or nothing, like unto the former. For they have profited no further, but only to contemn the Laws of the Pope: They will not gird up their mind and senses, as Peter here biddeth, neither do they bridle the desires of their body, that the sluggishness and lasciviousness thereof may be repressed. It is good to fast, howbeit the right Fast in deed is, to give the body no more nourishment, then is needful to preserve it in health: also