Fourthly for y• reasons abovesayd, we call with s. Paul nin the for bidding of marriage and by consequent the vow of perpetual ⟨p. 119⟩virginity, a devilish doctrine & diabolical. Forasmuch as it is invented flat against y• word of god oAnd also y• fruits thereof declareth very evidently with what spirit it was brought into the world, & how all the earth is by that means defiled & almost changed into a Sodom & Gomor. By y• same reason also we condemn & punish all whoredom without exception, & we think y• it is in no wise tolerable in christendom to tolerate & suffer brothels or open whorehouses. Yet nevertheless we see y• y• great fair or market of bawdry is kept most nearest to y• see which they call (falsely) the catholic & apostolic church, and by those which would be seen to be the protectors of virginity. As concerning fasting first we commend it in all sobriety, not for certain days, but for all y• life of a christian. Secondly, we call not fasting to fill us at once for two days, nor for to eat fish in stead of flesh or such like mysteries. But to restrain our diet & fare, more then it hath been accustomed, and to use a more strait temperance in feeding ⟨image 137⟩then was ordinary used before. Thirdly we allow not fasting simply as a work that maketh us acceptable or pleasing to God of it self, but because it serveth us to three good ends, the first to press down our flesh, abating y• strength thereofp, touching many violent and evil affectionsq: the second, the earnestlier to make and dispose our prayers and spiritual thanks giving to Godr. The third, to be an exterior testimony of our in ward humility before God, and before men as is expedients. Fourthly, we make no laws for certain fasting days & times, knowing that this were even to bring in again the Jewish lawt, but for particular fasting, it sufficeth us to exhort all persons to fast in sobriety, and do their duties: and as for such causes as concern the whole church, we remit it to the discretion of the Governors of the Church, for to ordain and appoint fastings according as the case and time requirethv. Concerning the distinction or difference of days, ⟨p. 120⟩we say that it is a beastly superstition, to esteem one day more holy then another, or to think that abstaining from work were a thing of it self that pleaseth Godx.
Fourthly for y• reasōs abouesayd, we cal wt s. Paul nin the for bidding of mariage and by consequent the vow of perpetuall ⟨p. 119⟩virginity, a diuilish doctrine & diabolical. Forasmuch as it is inuented flat against y• word of god oAnd also y• fruits therof declareth very euidently wt what spirite it was brought into the world, & how al the earth is by that meanes defiled & almost chaūged into a Sodom & Gomor. By y• same reason also we condēne & punish all whordome wtout exception, & we think y• it is in no wise tollerable in christēdom to tolerate & suffer brodels or opē whorehouses. Yet neuertheles we see y• y• great faire or market of ba•dry is kept most nerest to y• se which they cal (falsly) the catholike & apostolike church, and by those which wold be seen to be the protectors of virginity. As concerning fasting first we cōmend it in al sobrietie, not for certain daies, but for al y• life of a christian. Secōdly, we call not fasting to fyl vs at once for two daies, nor for to eate fish in stead of fleshe or such lyke mysteries. But to restrayne our dyete & fare, more then it hath bene accustomed, and to vse a more strayte temperaunce in féedyng ⟨image 137⟩then was ordinarye vsed before. Thirdlye wée allowe not fasting symplye as a woorke that maketh vs acceptable or pleasing to God of it selfe, but because it serueth vs to thrée good endes, the first to presse down our flesh, abating y• strēgth thereofp, touching many violent and euil affectionsq: the second, the earnestlier to make and dispose our praiers and spiritual thankes geuing to Godr
- n•. Timo. 4.
- o1. Cori. 7. 9 1. Timo. 3 Hebr. 13. 41 ber. 2. Historia tripertit. • 14. canon. 5. of the Canons Apostolic, Canon. 10. of the counsell of Ancite. Look dist. 26. where is recited the words of Innocent. the first, and Augustine in disti. 27. canon. 13. of the counsell of Constantinople which was called the 6. universal counsell.1. Cori. 7. 9 1. Timo. 3 Hebre. 13. 41 ber. 2. Historia tripertit. • 14. canon. 5. of the Canons Apostolyke, Canon. 10. of the counsell of Ancite. Looke dist. 26. where is recyted the wordes of Innocent. the fyrst, and Augustine in disti. 27. canon. 13. of the counsell of Constantinople which was called the 6. vniuersall counsell.
- p1. Timo. 4
- qLuke. 2 1. Cori.
- rActs. 13. 1. Cor. 7.Actes. 13. 1. Cor. 7.
- sJudges. 20. 1. Samu. 1 Jonah. 3Iudges. 20. 1. Samu. 1 Ionas. 3
- tLook the history ecclesiastical 5. book. •Looke the hystorie ecclesiasticall 5. booke. •
- vJoel. 3. and. 3. •.
