Hitherto have I rehearsed the words of S. John Chrysostom, of whom we may easily learn, that the true & christen ⟨image 47⟩fast is not only to abstain from meat, but also from sin. But let 1us hear the minds of some other doctors, Origene saith wilt thou that I show unto thee, what fast thou oughtest to fast? Fast from evell de des, abstayne from evil words, refrain from evil thoughts, touch not the thievish breads of perverse doctrine. Covet not, nor lust not after the deceivable meats of philosophy, that may seduce & turn the from the trueth. Such a fast pleaseth God. S. Austen saith, the 2fasts of christen men are rather to be observed spiritually than carnally. In consideration whereof, let us fast principally from our since, unless our fast be refused of the LORD, as the fasts of the Jews were. What a fast is this, that an 3impostor or deceivable person, I can not tell who, should abstain from meats, which the LORD hath ⟨image 47⟩created, & yet ware fat with the fatness of since? Have I chosen such a fast, saith the LORD? Read the eight and fifty Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah. And a little after 4he saith, the fast which the most highest doth approve & allow, is not only to leave of to refresh the body, but also to depart from evil acts or deeds. Also i another place 5he faith, the great & general fast is to abstain from •iquites & unlaw full pleasures of the world, which is a perfect fast, that we sorsakige 6ungodliness & the lusts of y• world, should live in this world soberly, righteously & godly. To this fast what reward doth the Apostle give It followeth & he saith, Looking for that blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of y• great god, & of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In this world as a Lent of abstinence 7do we celebrate, when we live well, ⟨image 48⟩wham we abstain from wickedness, and unlawful pleasures. But because this abstinence shall not be with out reward, we look for that blessed hope of the revelation of the glory of the great God, & of our saviour Jesus Christ. I could rehearse unto you innumerable places both of these Doctors & of many other, if I had leisure, which declare evidently, that the true & christen fast doth not only consist in the abstinence of meats, but also in the for sakyng of sin. But these at this time may seem abundantly to satisfy.
Hytherto haue I rehersed the wordes of S. Iohn Chrisostome, of whome we maye easly learne, that the true & christē ⟨image 47⟩faste is not onlye to abstayne from meat, but also from synne. But let 1vs heare the myndes of some other doctors, Origene sayth wylt thou that I shewe vnto the, what fast yu oughtest to fast? Fast from euell de des, abstayne from euel wordes, refrayne frō euell thoughte•, touche not the theuish breades of peruerse doctryne. Couyt not, nor luste not after the deceyuable meates of phi losophye, that maye seduce & turne the from the trueth. Suche a faste pleaseth God. S. Austen sayth, the 2fastes of christen men are rather to be obserued spirituallye than carnally. In consideraciō wherof, let vs fast principally srō our synnes, vnlesse oure faste be refused of the LORDE, as the fastes of the Iewes were. What a fast is this, that an 3impostore or deceyuable person, I cā not tel who, should abstayne frō meates, whiche the LORDE hathe ⟨image 47⟩created, & yet ware fatte with the fatnes of synnes? Haue I chosen such a fast, sayth the LORDE? Rede the eyght and fifty Chapter of the Prophet Esaye. And a lytle after 4he sayth, the faste which the moost hyghest dothe approue & allowe, is not only to leaue of to refresshe the body, but also to departe frō euell actes or dedes. Also i another place 5he fayth, the great & generall faste is to abstaine frō •iquites & vnlaw ful pleasures of the worlde, which is a perfecte fast, that we sorsakige 6vngodlines & the lustes of y• world, should lyue in this worlde soberly, righteously & godly. To this faste what reward doth the Apostle giue It followeth & he saythe, Lokynge for that blessed hope and the apperaunce of the glory of y• great god, & of our Sauiour Iesu Christ. In this worlde as a Lent of abstinēce
- 1In Levit. Homel. x. cap. vi.In Leuit. Homel. x. cap. vi.
- 2Ex ser• •e. c•xxii.
- 3Esa. lviii.
- 4Math wi•:
- 5Extra•. xv• […] Joan.Extra•. xv• 〈…〉 Ioan.
- 6Titus. ii.
- 7Note.