A Golden Chain

Argum. 13. The fast of lent stands by a law and commandment of men• and this law binds conscience simply: for the ancient fathers have called it a Tradition Apostolical, and make the keeping of it to be necessary, and the not keeping of it a sin, and punish the offenders with excommunication. Ans. It is plain to him that will not be obstinate, that Lent fast was not commanded in the primitive Church, but was freely at mens pleasures, and in several Churches diversly both in regard of space of time, as also in respect of diversity of meats. Ireneus in his epistle to Victor cited by Eusebius saith,¹ Some have thought that they must fast one day, some two days, some more, some 40. hours day and night, which diversity of fasting commendeth the unity of faith. Spiridion a good man did eat flesh in Lent, and caused his guest to do the same, and this he did upon judgement, because he was persuaded out of gods word, that to the clean all things were clean. And Eusebius records, that Montanus the heretic was the first that prescribed solemn and set laws of fasting. And whereas this fast is called Apostolical tradition, it is no great matter, for it was the manner of the ancient Church in former times to term rites and orders Ecclesiastical not set down in Scriptures Apostolical orders, that by this means they might commend them to the people: as Jerome testifieth,² Every province (saith he) may think the constitutions of the Ancestors to be Apostolical laws. And whereas it is said to be a sin not to fast in Lent (as Augustine speaketh) it is not by reason of any commandment binding conscience, for Augustine saith plainly, that neither Christ nor his Apostles appointed any set time of fasting: and Chrysostom, that Christ never commanded us to follow his fast; but the true reason hereof is borrowed from the end. For the Primitive Church used not the Popish fast, which is to eat whitmeate alone, but an abstinence from all meats used specially to mortify the flesh and to prepare men before hand to a worthy receiving of the Eucharist. And in regard of this good end was the offence. And whereas it is said that ancient fathers taught a necessity of keeping this fast, even Hierome whom they allege to this purpose saith the contrary.

Argum. 13. The fast of lent stands by a lawe and commandement of men and this law binds conscience simply: for the auncient fathers haue called it a Tradition Apostolicall, and make the keeping of it to bee necessarie, and the not keeping of it a sinne, and punish the offenders with excommunication. Ans. It is plaine to him that will not be obstinate, that Lent fast was not commanded in the primitiue Church, but was freely at mens pleasures, and in seuerall Churches diuersly both in regard of space of time, as also in respect of diuersitie of meates. Ireneus in his epistle to Victor cited by Eusebius saith,