PHIL. The true 1& christen faith, as Basilius magnus doth define, is not only to abstain from meats, but also to eschew evil things. Of this definition 2do ye learn two things, y• is to say, that the true & christen fast consisteth not only in the abstinence of meats, but also in the eschewing of evil. Therefore saith 3our golden mouthed Doctor, there is a spiritual and a corporal fast. The corporal fast is to abstain from meats. The spiritual fast is to abstain from since. For as the flesh hath a pleasure in eating, so 4hath the spirit of the flesh a pleasure in sinning. In consideration whereof the wise men call every sin pleasure or lust, because we commit every sin with delectation & plea sure. Again he saith: He that abstaineth from meat, & not from evil works, he appeareth to fast, but ⟨image 46⟩yet he fasteth not in deed. For look 5how much he fasteth unto men, so much doth he eat before God, seeing he goeth forth still to sin. In another place also he saith, I 6call fasting abstinence from vices. For the abstinence from meats is received for this purpose, that it should refrain the rigour & 7fierceness of the flesh, to make it obedient even as an horse is to his keeper.
He that fasteth, must above all thin ges refrain anger, learn meekness & lenity, have a contrite heart, & that may repel & put aback unclean concupiscences & lusts, set before his eyes alway the eye of y• everlasting judge, & the inpravable judging place, by his money to be made better & to have rule over it, to be liberal in giving alms, to admit & receive into his heart no evil against his neighbour, as Isaiah speaking in y• person of God ⟨image 46⟩8saith, have I chosen this fast, saith the LORD? Though thou wriest about thy neck like a circle, & strowest under the sackcloth & ashes, neither shall thy fast be so called acceptable, saith the LORD. What fast than, tell me? Loosen, saith he, the bonds of the wicked bargains break thy bread to the hungry, bring the poor man that hath no house into thy house. If thou dost these things, saith he, than shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring right shortly. Hast thou now seen (my well beloved) what the true fast is? Let us look upon this fast, and let us not think, as many do, y• fasting standeth in this point, if we continue without any diner until it be night.
PHIL. The true 1& christen faythe, as Basilius magnus doth defyne, is not only to abstayne from meates, but also to eschewe euell thinges. Of this diffinicion 2do ye learne two thynges, y• is to saye, that the true & christen fast consisteth not only in the abstinence of meates, but also in the eschewynge of euell. Therfore sayth 3our golden mouthed Doctor, ther is a spirituall and a corporall fast. The corporall faste is to abstayne from meates. The spirituall fast is to abstayne from synnes. For as ye fleshe hath a pleasure in eatynge, so 4hath the spiryte of the flesh a pleasure in synnyng. In consideracion wherof the wise men call euery sin pleasure or lust, bycause we cōmyt euery synne with delectaciō & plea sure. Agayne he sayth: He that abstayneth from meat, & not frō euell workes, he appearethe to faste, but ⟨image 46⟩yet he fasteth not in dede. For loke 5howe much he fasteth vnto men, so muche dothe he eate before God, seing he goeth forth styll to synne. In another place also he saythe, I 6call fastyng abstinence from vices. For the abstinence from meates is receiued for this purpose, that it should refrayne ye rigoure & fearse 7nes of the flesh, to make it obedient euen as an horse is to his keper.
He that fasteth, must aboue al thin ges refrayne anger, learne mekenez & lenite, haue a contryte herte, & that may repell & put abacke vn cleane concupiscences & lustes, set before his eyes alwaye the eye of y• euerlastynge iudge, & the inprauable iudgynge place, by his mony to be made better & to haue rule ouer it, to be liberall in gyuynge almes, to admyt & receyue into his herte no euell agaynst his neighbour, as Esay speakyng in y• person of God ⟨image 46⟩8
- 1Ser. […]. De Jeiunio.Ser. 〈…〉. De Ieiunio.
- 2What Fasting i•.What Fastyng i•.
- 3Hom. xv. i• cap. vi.
- 4[…]:〈…〉:
- 5Note.
- 6In Gen. i. Hom. ix.
- 7Mark wherefore we abstain from meats.Marke wherfore we abstai ne from meates.
- 8Esa. […].Esa. 〈…〉.
