A06783:113
A fruitful treatise of fasting
A fruitful treatise of fasting wherein is declared what the Christen fast is, how we ought to fast, [and] what the true use of fasting is. Newly made by Thomas Becon.A fruitful treatise of fasting wherin is declared what ye Christen fast is, how we ought to fast, [and] what ye true vse of fastyng is. Newlye made by Thomas Becon.
printed by John Day, 1551printed by Ihon Day, 1551
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Fourthly and finally forasmuch as the word of God is the singular and unspeakable gift of God,1 given of him to be a lantern to our feet and a light to our pathways,2 to turn souls from idolatry unto true god lines, to give wisdom to the humble, to make the faithful penitent hearts glad, to lighten the eyes of the ignorant, to teach the true religion, to improve errors and heresies,3 to amend sinners, & to instruct all degrees in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect and prepared unto all good works: it is convenient, whither we hear •t of other or read it our selves, that we both hear and read it with great ⟨image 66⟩reverence and all humility, seeing that not man, but the holy ghost is the author of it, which breathed into the hearts of holy m•nnethe knowledge of it, and put in their minds what they ought to wright as .S. Paul sayeth, the whole scripture was given of God by inspiration.4 And .S. Peter recordeth the same,5 saying. The scripture came never by the will of man, but holy men of God spake, as they were moved by y• holy ghost. If the holy scripture then cometh from god, & god be the author of it, who dare presume either to hear or to read it, but with an humble reverence and reverent humility?6 As .S. Austen sayeth, by the books of the holy scripture God him self and our lord speaketh unto us, and showeth ⟨image 67⟩unto the effect of a godly will▪ Let us then consider and mark well, with what honour the message of that god and Lord ought to be received of us. What if a message came unto us very early in the morning from a king, would we not straight ways (all other cares laid aside) receive the letters with a ready will & withal devotion, and after we had red them, labour to fulfil the kings request to y uttermost? And behold from the heaven of heavens the King of kings and Lord of Lords, yea and our redeemer hath vouched safe to direct his letters unto us by the Prophets and Apostles, not that he should commit unto us any service necessary for him, but signify, what things may do us good unto salvation