Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

This text hath therefore bin appointed to be read in the beginning of the solemn fast, which hath hitherto bin commanded for forty days, that the example of Christ being commended to Christians, they might thereby be provoked to keep that fast so much more religiously, which surely was nothing but a vain trifle. First, for that no man is able to follow the example of Christ, who lived without any meat, forty days, and so many nights. Christ rather followed the example of Moses herein, then gave unto us any example to follow, Moses receiving the Law, was forty days & forty nights in the mount Sinai without meat: so long time would Christ also fast, coming to bring & publish a new law. Again, this fasting is a perverse thing, inasmuch as it was ⟨p. 338⟩ordained of men. For albeit Christ fasted forty days, yet have we no word of his whereby he hath commanded us also to do the same. He did many other things beside notwithstanding he will not have us also to do them: those things that he hath commanded us to do, those things, I say, we must endeavour to do, that thereby we may obey his will.¹ But the most pestilent thing of all herein was, that we took upon us, and used fasting as a good and meritorious work, not to tame the flesh thereby, but to satisfy for since, and to procure the favour of God unto our selves. Which wicked opinion made our fasting so foul, filthy and abominable before God, that no feastings, banquets, gluttony and drunkenness are so filthy and detestable before him, & it were better to drink and bib day & night, then so to fast. And although this ungodly & wicked intent had not defiled our fasting, but that it had bin ordained for chastising yt body,² nevertheless forasmuch as it was not left free, that every one might have taken it upon him of his own accord, but was enforced by the laws of man, so that most which fasted, fasted against their wills, and with a grudging mind, it could not be but vain and unacceptable to God. I speak not what other hurt it did in women with child, in young children, in the weak and aged. Wherefore we will more rightly consider this text, and see what manner of fasting it teacheth by the example of Christ.

THis text hath therefore bin appointed to be redde in the beginning of the solemne fast, which hath hitherto bin commaunded for fortie dayes, that the example of Christ being commēded to Christians, they might thereby be prouoked to keepe that fast so much more religiously, which surely was nothing but a vaine trifle. First, for that no mā is able to follow ye example of Christ, who liued without any meat, fortie dayes, and so many nights. Christ rather followed the example of Moses herein, then gaue vnto vs any example to follow, Moses receiuing the Lawe, was fortie dayes & fortie nights in the mount Sinai without meat: so lōg time would Christ also fast, cōming to bring & publish a new law. Againe, this fasting is a peruerse thing, inasmuch as it was