Two treatises. 1. The holy exercise of a true fast, described out of God's…

If we think then, that this exercise of fast, be too ceremonious, because it was tied to a certain day: the commandment to hold it without any such restraint, unto a certain time, ought to correct that thought of ours. If we stand in fear, that it should be too Jewish; the doctrine of the Gospel is ready to pull us out of ⟨p. 11⟩that fear. If presumption of greater graces, then those which should need such a supply, do bring this Fast out of conceit with us: the practise of it by the holy Apostles, at the highest top of their perfection in this world, will easily set up the credit thereof again. But if Fasts, neither standing nor sitting, neither under the Law, nor under the Gospel, neither of the weaker, nor of the stronger, can draw us into love, and (in love) into practise thereof; it must needs be confessed, that there is a marvellous poison of rebellion in our natures, which all this treacle of the Lords high authority, and of such authorized examples of the children ⟨p. 12⟩of God, will not cast forth. Howbeit, the Lord leaveth us not here, but unto his Lordly authority, of commanding this exercise of Fast, hath added fatherly promises, to allure us unto the same: as towards the end of this Treatise, shall plainly appear.

If wee thinke then, that this exercise of fast, be too ceremonious, because it was tied to a certaine day: the commaundement to hold it without any such restraint, vnto a certaine time, ought to correct that thought of ours. If we stand in feare, that it should be too Iewish; the doctrine of the Gospell is ready to pull vs out of ⟨p. 11⟩that feare. If presumption of greater graces, then those which should neede such a supplie, doe bring this Fast out of conceit with vs: the practise of it by the holy Apostles, at the highest toppe of their perfection in this world, will easily set vp the credite thereof againe. But if Fastes, neither standing nor sitting, neither vnder the Law, nor vnder the Gospell, neither of the weaker, nor of the stronger, can draw vs into loue, and (in loue) into practise thereof; it must needs be confessed, that there is a maruellous poison of rebellion in our natures, which all this triacle of the Lords high authoritie, and of such authorized examples of the children ⟨p. 12⟩