Now as touching that fast which springeth of a mind,1 given to godliness, it can not be disallowed of God. For he that seeketh to please God, and to advance his glory by any godly means, and that h• may have the grace so to do, fasteth, prayeth, studieth, laboureth, his fasting his praying, his studying, his ⟨image 23⟩labouring can not but please God, and have good and fortunate success. On this manner fasted Daniel,2 that he might be the more apt to receive the knowledge of God's mysteries, which were afterward declared unto him of the angel. So likewise did Esdras.3 Of this godly man ner of fasting spake Christ,4 when the Disciples of John came unto him. and demanded, why his Disciples fasted not, as they and the Pharisees did. To whom Christ answered and said. Can the bridegroom's children mourn so long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. According to this Prophecy, ⟨image 24⟩when Christ, which is the bridegroom was taken from them, I speak concerning his corporal presence (for by his spirit he is with the faithful unto the end of the world) they mourned, fasted and prayed for the gift of the holy Ghost,5 which was promised to be sent unto them for to be their Comforter and teacher,6 and to lead them into all truth,7 & the holy ghost was given unto them according to y• promise of Christ & their expectation. They fasted also and prayed after they had received the holy Ghost, that they might worthily fulfil that office which was committed unto them, that by their preaching many thousands might be converted and saved,8 and it so came to pas. The holy and devout widow Anna fasted and prayed continually9 ⟨image 24⟩in the temple for the coming of the promised Messiah, & she saw him before her death. Cornelius that godly man being troubled in his mind,10 as it may be thought with the multitude of religions, which at that time reigned in the world, as the religion of the Gentiles, of the Jews, of the Pharisee is, of the Sadducees, of the Essees, and the late sprung up religion of the Christians humbled him self in the sight of God, mourned, fasted, gave alms and prayed, that it would please God to declare unto him, which among them all was the true religion that he might observe the same, frame his life according unto that, and so please God.
NOwe as touchinge that fast which springeth of a minde,1 geuen to godlynes, it canne not be disalowed of God. For hee that seeketh to please God, and to auaunce hys glory by any godly meanes, and that h• may haue the grace soto doo, fasteth, prayeth, studieth, laboureth, his fastīg his prayinge, his studyinge, hys ⟨image 23⟩labouringe canne not but please God, and haue good and fortunate successe. On thys maner fasted Daniell,2 that he myghte be the more apt to receiue the knowledge of goddes misteries, which were afterwarde declared vnto hym of the aungel. So lykewise dyd Esdras.3 Of thys godlie mā ner of fastynge spake Christe,4 whē the Disciples of Ihon came vnto hym. and demaunded, whye hys Disciples fasted not, as they and the Pharises dyd. To whome Christe aunswered and sayde. Canne the brydegromes chyldren mourne so longe as the brydegrome is wyth theym? But the dayes wyll come, when the brydegrome shall be taken from them, and then shall they faste. Accordynge to thys Prophecye, ⟨image 24⟩when Christ, whych is the bridegrome was taken from them, I speake concernynge hys corporal presence (for by hys spirite he is wyth the faithful vnto the end of the worlde) they mourned, fasted and praied for the gift of the holy Ghost,5 whych was promised to be sent vnto thē for to be theyr Comfortour and teacher,6 and to lede thē into al truth,7 & the holye ghoste was geuē vnto thē accordīg to y• promise of Christ & their expectaciō. They fasted also and prayed after they had receyued the holy Ghost, that they myghte worthelye fulfyl that offyce whiche was commited vnto theym, that by theyr preachynge manye thousandes myght be conuetted and saued,8 and it so came to pas. The holy and deuoute wyddow Anna fasted and prayed continaallye
- 1The Fast that cometh of a mind given •o godliness.The Faste that commeth of a mynde geuē •o godlynes.
- 2Daniel. ix
- 3iiii. Esd. v
- 4Math. ix.
- 5Mat. xxviii
- 6Acts. i.Actes. i.
- 7Iho. x•ii•. xv. xvi.
- 8Act. ii. iii.
- 9Luk. ii.
- 10Acts. x.Actes. x.
