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

The time of Fasting, is the time of affliction, either for want of some great benefit needful, or through feeling of some great judgement present, or to come. Where the Popish Fast must pass an other condemnation, which maketh no difference or choice of time; but appointeth every Friday, and other set Evens yearly, whether the time be prosperous or unprosperous; whether it be peace or war, health or sickness, dearth or plenty: Which is all one, as if the Physician should now appoint his patient, this day twenty or ⟨p. 44⟩forty years hence, to take a Purgation, or to be let blood: In which case, either he must be a Prophet, rather then a Physician, to know that he shall on that day, have need, of it: or else he must be a Physician of no value, ignorant, or unfaithful. As therefore the Physician openeth no vain, but with observation where the sign is; giveth no Purgation, without heed taking to the time of the year, whether it be Spring or Fall; whether it be hot or cold: so it behooveth the spiritual Physician, to have an eye unto the time, when this Medicine is in season: And so much the more, here, rather then there; as the danger is greater. For ⟨p. 45⟩as a new piece of Cloth added to an old Garment, taketh something from the old,¹ & causeth the rent to be worse then before: so Fasting, unfitly applied to the state of those that are enjoined to keep it, maketh them worse then they were before the Fast. Yea, that which more is,² as the new Wine put into old vessels, doth not only make them worse, but break them all to pieces: So this Fast thrust upon those, which are not, either for the time, or for some other cause apt for it; doeth utterly destroy them. Whereby men may perceive, what cause we have to make a great conscience of the Popish Fast, ⟨p. 46⟩as that which is able of it self (if there were no other corruptions amongst them) to drive a man to eternal destruction.

The time of Fasting, is the time of affliction, either for want of some great benefite needfull, or through feeling of some great iudgement present, or to come. Where the Popish Fast must passe an other condemnation, which maketh no difference or choyce of time; but appoynteth euery Fryday, and other set Euens yearely, whether the time be prosperous or vnprosperous; whether it be peace or warre, health or sicknes, dearth or plentie: Which is all one, as if the Physition should now appoynt his patient, this day twentie or