A fruitful treatise of fasting

¶The .xviii. Chapter.

And hear begin we to learn the true use of fasting, and to know unto what end our fasts ought to be directed. The first true and godly use of fasting is to subdue the flesh, to mortify her beastly affects, and to repress the wild & rank motions thereof, that it may be subject and obedient to the spirit as an handmaid to her mistress, or a servant to his Lord. ⟨image 52⟩For all be it God hath made us of two parts, that is, of body and spirit, yet hath he ordained the spirit to be ruler, and the flesh to be in subjection to the spirit.¹ But not with standing the flesh (such is her wild disobedience and disobedient wildness) can by no means abide to submit her self to the rule of the spirit, but continually striveth to have the upper hand, and contrary to gods appointment to make the spirit subject unto her The spirit provoketh unto humility, Charity, Patience, quietness, continence, pureness of life, moderate eating and drinking. &c. The flesh contrariwise calleth unto pride, haughtiness of mind, envy, malice vengeance discord, whoredom, avoutry, gluttony ⟨image 53⟩dronkenship. &c. So that there is a continual convict between the spirit & the flesh▪ who shall have the victory as. S. Paul sayeth If the flesh subdueth the spirit, then perish we,² but if the spirit according to God's ordinance beareth rule, and hath the flesh in subjection, then well are we. Now that this may be brought to pass, godly & Christen abstinence shall help greatly.³ For there is nothing that so tameth and bringeth under the wild and unruly lusts of the flesh, as fasting and abstinence, even as there is nothing that maketh a wild and fierce horse so tame and obedient to his master as the withdrawing of his hay, oats, bread, and such other provender. They therefore that will