We have not red saith .S. Eiprian,1 ye the godly men did ever take any great thing in hand, except they first fasted. So oft as they went about to obtain any thing of God, they fasted, & wept, and watched whole nights in prayer, & wear garments of hear next to their flesh, & so withal humbleness, desired god to be beneficial to them. Nether wanted they of their purpose when they most humbly fell down at the feet of god & offered unto him the sacrifice of a contrite hart, but god was near unto them, that called on him, & reached forth his hand to them that were in danger, & helped them that were in trouble. Again he sayeth, prayer is of great virtue, when fasting goeth afore. Basilius magnus saith also, that fasting is necessary, when we desire ⟨image 65⟩obtain any thing of the Lord The ancient fathers of Christs2 church godly considering how necessary a thing prayer is in the Church of Christ, ordained certain feastful days in the year,3 on the which the people should resort and come together unto the temple for to pray unto the Lord God. And that they might come the more devoutly & pray with the greater fruit, they appointed also that the day before the solemn feast, they should fast that they might be the more apt to pray, when they come together into the temple.4 For where the body is burdened with meat, there the mind can have no free passage unto God. Let them therefore that fast, appoint their fasting also to this use, that by their abstinence they may be the more re ⟨image 65⟩pray, & not only to prepare them selves to pray, but also earnestly to give their minds unto prayer, or else what doth their fast profit them? To fast from meat and to goo about worldly matters, what other thing is it, then a mocking of God, & a derision of christen abstinence as .S.5 Ambrose saith, doest thou think that he fasteth aright, which waking betimes in the morning goeth not unto y• church (to pray & to hear the word of god) but as soon as he is up, gathereth together his servants layeth abroad his nets, bringeth forth his dogs, & goeth running about the forests? Therefore if we fast, let us fast a right, and after the examples of the an cyente holy fathers let us alway couple prayer with our fasting. So shall both we, our ⟨image 66⟩fasts & our prayers please God.
We haue not red saith .S. Eiprian,1 ye the godly men did euer take any great thing in hand, except they first fasted. So oft as they wēt about to obtain any thing of God, they fasted, & wept, and watched whole nightes in praier, & weare garmentes of heare next to their flesh, & so withal humblenes, desired god to be benificial to thē. Nether wanted they of their purpose whē they most hūbly fel down at the fete of god & offered vnto him the sacrifice of a contrite hart, but god was neare vnto them, yt called on him, & reached forthe hys hand to them yt wer in daunger, & holpe thē that wer in trouble. Again he saieth, praier is of great vertue, whē fasting goeth afore. Basilius magnus saith also, yt fasting is necessari, when we desire ⟨image 65⟩obtayne any thyng of the Lord The aūcient fathers of Christes2 churche godly consideryng how necessary a thing praier is in the Church of Christ, ordayned certayne feastful daies in the yeare,3 on the whych the people shoulde resorte and come together vnto the temple for to praye vnto the Lord God. And that they myght come the more deuoutely & pray wyth the greater fruite, they appointed also that the daye before the solemne feast, they shuld fast that they myght be the more apt to pray, whē they come together into the temple.4 For wher the body is burdened wyth meate, ther the mynde can haue no free passage vnto God. Let thē therfore that fast, appointe their fastynge also to thys vse, that by theyr abstinence they may be the more re ⟨image 65⟩pray, & not only to prepare them selues to pray, but also earnestly to gyue theyr mindes vnto praier, or els what doth theyr fast profit them? To faste from meat and to goo about worldlye matters, what other thing is it, then a mockinge of God, & a derision of christen abstinence as .S.5 Ambrose saith, doest yu thincke yt he fasteth aright, whiche waking betymes in the morning goeth not vnto y• church (to prai & to hear the word of god) but as sone as he is vp, gathereth together hys seruauntes laieth abrode his nets, bryngeth forth his dogs, & goeth running about the forestes? Therefore if we faste, lette vs faste a ryghte, and after the examples of the aū cyente holye fathers lette vs alwaye couple prayer wyth our fastinge. So shall boothe we, oure
- 1Ser. detent et jeiunio. Christi.Ser. detēt et ieiunio. Christi.
- 2In regular Mona. Capi. •.
- 3Why fasts were appointed of y• fathers of Christs Church.Why fastes wer apointed of y• fathers of Christs Church.
- 4Note.
- 5Ambrose.
