Moreover if we will fast a right, we are not only commanded to anoint our head, that is to say, to show mercy to the pore people, but also to wash out face, that is, to make our hearts clean from all sin ⟨image 41⟩through faithful repentance, that we may have a pure conscience. For it is not enough to be beneficial to other, except we also be beneficial to our selves. This shall come to pass, if we labour withal main to have a mind pure and clean from all carnal affects, a body void of wicked deeds, and a life garnished with good works.1 For what was the cause that God did caste away the fasts and solemn feasts of the Jews, but only that they washed not their face, that is, they went not about to put of their old conversation and to become new men: I hate and abhor, saith God, your sacrifices, your solemn feasts and your fasts.2 Offer me no mo oblations, for it is but lost labour. Your incense ⟨image 42⟩is abomination unto me, I have no pleasure in your sacrifices. I may not away with your new moons, your sabbaths. &c. Why soe For your hands, saith he, are full of blood. Your hearts are full of vengeance, your consciences are spotted and defiled with all kind of sins, your life is abominable in my sight, ye walk having no fear of God before your eyes. &c. What is then to be done▪ Be ye washed, saith he, be ye clean take a way your evil thoughts from mine eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. Seek judgment, help the pore oppressed, be favourable to the comfortless, defend the widow.3 &c. Again God saith, wash thine hart from wickedness, y• thou mayest be helped. How long shall thy noisome thoughts remain with ⟨image 42⟩thee? god hateth those fasts, those prayers those good deeds, as they call them, that come from a bloody conscience, a spotted & pocky soul, a defiled body & wicked life, as a certain▪ man saith,4 It profiteth a man nothing at all to fast & pray & to do other good things of devotion, except the mind be refrained from ungodliness, & the tongue from back bitings. For god hath ever a principal respect to the hart of the doer of the work, as we see in y• history of the sacrifices of Abel and Cain.5 If the hart be pure, clean & faithful,6 then doth god approve the work, but if it be spotted with sin, god casteth it awai• appear it never so glistering and commē dabble in the sight• of the world.
MOreouer if we will faste a righte, we are not only commaunded to annointe oure heade, that is to say, to shew mercye to the pore people, but also to washe oute face, that is, to make our heartes cleane from al sinne ⟨image 41⟩thorow faithfull repētaunce, that we maye haue a pure conscience. For it is not inough to be beneficiall to other, excepte we also be beneficiall to oure selues. Thys shall come to passe, if we laboure withall mayne to haue a mynde pure and cleane from all carnall affectes, a bodye voide of wicked dedes, and a lyfe garnished wyth good workes.1 For what was the cause that God dyd caste awaye the fastes and solemne feastes of the Iewes, but only that they washed not theyr face, that is, they went not about to put of their old conuersacion and to become new men: I hate and abhorre, saythe God, youre sacrifices, youre solempne feastes and your fastes.2 Offer me no mo oblacions, for it is but lost labour. Your incense ⟨image 42⟩is abhominaciō vnto me, I haue no pleasure in your sacrifices. I maye not awaye with your newe mones, your sabbathes. &c. Why soe For your hāds, saith he, ar ful of bloude. Your heartes are full of vengaunce, youre consciences are spotted and defyled with all kinde of sinnes, your life is abhominable in my sight, ye walke hauinge no fear of God before your eies. &c. What is then to be done▪ Be ye wash•d, saith he, be ye clene take a wai your euil thoughts frō mine eies. Cease to do euil, learn to do wel. Seke iudgmēt, healpe ye pore oppressed, be fauourable to the comfortles, defend the widow.3 &c. Again God saith, washe thine hart frō wickednes, y• thou maist be healped. How long shal thy noisome thoughts remain wt ⟨image 42⟩the? god hateth those fastes, those praiers those good deds, as they cal them, that come frō a bloudy cōscience, a spotted & pocki soul, a defiled bodi & wicked life, as a certayn▪ man saith,4 It profiteth a mā nothīg at al to fast & pray & to do other good things of deuocion, except the minde be refrained from vngodlines, & the tung frō back bitings. For god hath euer a principal respect to the hart of the doer of the work, as we se in y historie of the sacrifices of Abell and Cain.
- 1Why god did cast away the sacrifices, feasts and fasts of the Jews.Why god did cast awaye the sacrifices, feasts and fasts of the Iewes.
- 2Isaiah. i.Esaye. i.
- 3Jere. ii•iIere. ii•i
- 4Pius […] Roma.Pius 〈…〉 Roma.
- 5Gene. iiii.
- 6God judgeth the work of t•e heart, and not y• heart of the work•God iudgeth the woorke of t•e heart, and not y• hearte of the work•
