This exercise therefore of Fasting, being both of such authority, and of so great weight to pull wrath upon us, if it be neglected; let us now see in what things (especially) it doth consist. And they are in number two. The former is of the outward, and (as the Apostle calleth it,1) of the bodily exercise: the other is of the inward virtues, helped forward by the bodily exercises. ⟨p. 13⟩For the outward ceremony, it is an abstinence for a time, from the commodities and pleasures of this life, thereby to make us the apter to the inward virtue. And this outward abstinence is therefore commanded, that we should both feel, and in feeling, profess that we are unworthy either of life, or of any thing that belongeth to the upholding thereof. And albeit, it may appear but a childish thing to carnal men, and a thing unworthy the wisdom of the Gospel, to place any thing in this bodily exercise, seeing that the Lord is a Spirit, & will be worshipped in spirit & trueth; and seeing that they being of their own nature, ⟨p. 12⟩[…] ⟨p. 13⟩[…] ⟨p. 14⟩neither good nor evil, can not make us either better or worse: yet if we consider that it is the Lords ordinance, who hath so commanded it, we can not be but most assured, that the Lord who hath so instituted it, will give it a blessing, and cause it to prosper, to that end whereunto he hath ordained it; if we undertake it in his fear, and in a conscience of obeying the Lords commandment. Those which came either to run,2 or to wrestle for the best Game, were wont to abstain from such things as might hinder their exercise, or make them less able to perform them with praise: And whatsoever, either pith in their arms, or swiftness ⟨p. 15⟩in their legs, they had otherwise; yet as they neglected not that abstinence, so they found that it greatly profited them, to the better breathing and other enabling of them, to their exercises. And shall we think, that the diet which the Lord him self hath appointed, to the fitting of us towards the spiritual wrestling with our fleshly mind, shall not have a singular fruit? And if there were no other fruit of this Abstinence, but that the enemies mouth should thus be stopped, which charge the Gospel, to set open a school to all licentiousness of eating, and to give (as it were) a sauce to provoke mens appetites thereunto, ⟨p. 16⟩which are otherwise too sharp set of them selves:
This exercise therfore of Fasting, being both of such authoritie, and of so great weight to pull wrath vpon vs, if it be neglected; let vs now see in what things (especially) it doth consist. And they are in number two. The former is of the outward, and (as the Apostle calleth it,1) of the bodily exercise: the other is of the inward vertues, helped forward by the bodily exercises. ⟨p. 13⟩For the outward ceremonie, it is an abstinence for a time, from the commodities and pleasures of this life, thereby to make vs the apter to the inward vertue. And this outward abstinence is therefore commaunded, that wee should both feele, and in feeling, professe that we are vnworthy either of life, or of any thing that belongeth to the vpholding thereof. And albeit, it may appeare but a childish thing to carnall men, and a thing vnworthy the wisedom of the Gospel, to place any thing in this bodily exercise, seeing that the Lord is a Spirit, & will be worshipped in spirit & trueth; and seeing that they being of their owne nature, ⟨p. 12⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 13⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 14⟩neither good nor euill, can not make vs either better or worse: yet if wee consider that it is the Lordes ordinance, who hath so commaunded it, we can not be but most assured, that the Lord who hath so instituted it, will giue it a blessing, and cause it to prosper, to that end whervnto he hath ordeined it; if wee vndertake it in his feare, and in a conscience of obeying the Lordes commaundement. Those which came either to runne,2 or to wrastle for the best Game, were wont to abstaine frō such things as might hinder their exercise, or make them lesse able to performe thē with praise: And whatsoeuer, either pith in their armes, or swiftnesse ⟨p. 15⟩in their legges, they had otherwise; yet as they neglected not that abstinence, so they found that it greatly profited them, to the better breathing and other inhabling of them, to their exercises. And shall we thinke, that the dyet which the Lord him selfe hath appoynted, to the fitting of vs towardes the spirituall wrastling with our fleshly minde, shall not haue a singular fruite? And if there were no other fruite of this Abstinence, but that the enimies mouth should thus be stopped, which charge the Gospell, to set open a schoole to all licentiousnes of eating, and to giue (as it were) a sauce to prouoke mens appetites therevnto,
- 11. Tim. 4.8.
- 21. Cor. 9.25.
