Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

But neither public nor private ¹fastings can abide to be enforced. For they will not be compelled, but desire to proceed of a free, cheerful, and voluntary mind. Unwilling men do nothing well. God requireth a cheerful giver. Moreover, let fastings be moderated according to the quality of places, persons, perils, and temptations, if they be not continual yet let them be often, till such time as we be delivered and rid utterly of them. Let them be without superstition and feigned hypocrisy, as our Lord in the sixth of S. Matthew's Gospel hath taught us. Herewithall do the words of S. Hierome agree very well, which he wrote to Nepolianus touching fasting, as followeth: Prescribe to thee self so long a time to fast in, as thine ability will suffer thee to bear. Let thy fastings be pure, uncorrupt, simple, moderated, and not superstitious. What availeth it to eat no oil, and to seek out such seldom sound cates, as are hard to be come by, as figs, pepper, nuts, dates, pure flour for overfine bread, and honey? The gardens with digging for novelties, are turned over and over, because we will not eat common cribble bread, and so while our dainty mouths seek after delicates, our souls are pulled from the kingdom of Heaven. I hear moreover that some men there are, which (contrary to nature) refuse to drink water and feed upon bread, but suck up and swallow very costly suppinges, dainty herb broths, and the juice of Beets, not out of a cup, but out of a shell. O shame, blush we not at such fond toys, and are we not ashamed of such superstition? Thus much saith Hierome. And it is evident that even at this day this vice is especially received among our wealthy and religious men.

But neither publique nor priuate ¹fastings can abide to be inforced. For they will not be compelled, but desire to procéede of a frée, chéerefull, and voluntarie minde. Vnwillinge men doe nothinge well. God requireth a chearefull giuer. Moreouer, let fastinges be moderated according to the qualitie of places, persons, perills, and temptations, if they be not continuall yet let them be often, till such time as wée be deliuered and ridde vtterly of them. Let them be without superstitiō and fayned hypocrisie, as our Lord in the sixte of S. Matthewes Gospell hath taught vs. Herewithall doe the words of S. Hierome agrée very wel, which hée wrote to Nepolianus touching fasting, as followeth: Prescribe to thee selfe so longe a time to faste in, as thine abilitie will suffer thee to beare. Let thy fastinges be pure, vncorrupte, simple, moderated, and not superstitious. What auayleth it to eate no oyle, and to seeke out such seldome sond cates, as are harde to bee come by, as figges, pepper, nuttes, dates, pure flowre for ouerfine breade, and honie? The gardens with digging for nouelties, are tourned ouer and ouer, because wee will not eate common cribble breade, and so while oure deintie mouthes seeke after delicates, oure soules are pulled from the kingdome of Heauen. I heare moreouer that some menne there are, which (contrarie to nature) refuse to drinke water and feede vppon bread, but sucke vppe and swallowe verie costlie suppinges, deintie hearbe brothes, and the iuyce of Beetes, not out of a cup, but out of a shell. O shame, blush wee not at such fond toyes, and are wee not ashamed of such superstition? Thus much saith Hierome. And it is euidente that euen at this day this vice is ospecially receiued amonge oure wealthie and relligious menne.