A fruitful treatise of fasting

Furthermore the Christen fast riseth of an hart contrite and sorrowful for the sins committed against God, as we have heard ⟨image 32⟩heretofore. The popish fast riseth either of custom or else of superstition. For the Papists in their chief & solemn fasting days are led with no true fear toward God, neither do they lament their since, nor study by hearty repentance, true faith & amendment of life to appease the wrath of God kindled against them for their abominable living on those days that they fast, more them any other time. What Papist among them forsaketh his papistry, hypocrisy, superstition, and idolatry, and gladly receiveth the truth of Gods word? What covetous worldling leaveth his covetousness & exerciseth mercy toward the pore members of Christ? What proud man giveth over his pride, and embraceth humility? ⟨image 32⟩What adulterer forsaketh his adultery, and leadeth an honest conversation? what glutton or drunkard giveth over his gluttony or drunkenness, and leadeth a sober life? what usurer leaveth his usury? what briberer his bribery? what catchpole his extortion? what tyrant his tyranny? what whore her whoredom? what ribald his ribaldry? what blasphemer his blasphemy? what envious man his envy? &c. As they begin their fast with an unrepentant & wicked heart, even so do they continue & end the same, so far is it of, that they have any sorrow in their heart for their since committed against God, which should earnestly move them to forsake their meat, and to give them selves wholly to be reconciled unto god by repenting and calling ⟨image 33⟩on the name of God for mercy in Christ Jesus our lord. Their fast therefore is abomination before God, forasmuch as in the time of their fasting they give not over their wickedness, and earnestly seek to please God.

FUrthermore the Christen fast ryseth of an hart contrite and sorowful for the sins cōmitted against God, as we haue heard ⟨image 32⟩heretofore. The popish faste ryseth either of custome or els of supersticyon. For the Papystes in theyr chiefe & solempne fastinge dayes are led wyth no true feare toward God, neyther do they lament theyr syns, nor study by hartie repentāce, true faith & amendment of life to apease the wrathe of God kindled against them for their abominable liuing on those dayes that they fast, more them any other tyme. What Papiste among them forsaketh hys papistry, hipocrisy, supersticion, and idolatry, and gladly receiueth the truth of Gods word? What coueuetous worldling leaueth his couetousnes & exerciseth mercy toward the pore mēbers of Christ? What proud mā giueth ouer his pride, and embraceth humilitie?