A Fruitful Treatise, Chapter 18
¶The .xviii. Chapter.
ANd heare begin we to learn the true vse of fastinge, and to know vntounto what end our fastes ought to be directed. The fyrste true and godlye vse of fastynge is to subdue the fleshe, to mortifye her beastelye affectes, and to represse the wilde & ranck mocions thereof, that it maye be subiecte and obediente to the spirite as an handmaide to her mastres, or a seruaunte to his Lord. For al be it God hathe made vsus of two partes, that is, of bodye and spirite, yet hath he ordayned the spirite to bee ruler, and the fleshe to bee in subieccion to the spirite.The rebellion of the fleshe against the spirite. But not wyth standynge the fleshe (suche is her wylde disobedience and disobedient wyldenesse) canne by no meanes abide to submyt her selfe to the rule of the spirite, but continuallye stryueth to hauehave the vpper hand, and contrarye to gods appoinmente to make the spirit subiect vntounto her The spirite prouoketh vntounto humilitie, Charitie, Pacience, quyetnesse, continencye, purenesse of lyfe, moderate eatynge and drinkinge. &c. The flesh contrariwise calleth vntounto pride, hautynesse of mynde, enuye, malice vengaunce discord, whordō, auoutry, glotoni dronkenship. &c. So that ther is a continual con…icte betwene the spirite & the fleshe▪ who shal hauehave the victorye as. S. Paule saieth If the flesh subdueth the spirite, then pearyshe wee,Galath. v but if the spirite accordynge to goddes ordynaunce beareth rule, and hathe the fleshe in subieccion, then well are we. Nowe that thys maye be broughte to passe, godly & Christen abstinence shall healp greatlye.Fastynge tameth the flesh. For there is nothinge that so tameth and bringeth vnderunder the wylde and vnrulye lustes of the flesh, as fasting and abstinēce, euen as there is nothing that maketh a wilde and fearce horsse so tame and obedyent to his master as the withdrawing of his haye, otes, breade, and suche other prouender. They therefore that wyl vse theyr faste a ryghte and vntounto a godlye ende, muste fyrste directe it vntounto this purpose, that by the exercyse thereof they may brydle the wantonnes of the fleshe, and refraine theyr bodyes frō sin that the spirite,i. Pete. iii. whiche is a precious thinge before God, maye be quiet, or els all other exercises & trauails although neuer so painfull, are vayne. To thys vse serued the fastes of manye godlye bothe men and women in tymes paste, that the bodie beinge mortified, the spirite might the more frely attend on God. The prince like Prophet saieth, I putte on sacke cloth and humbled my soul with fasting.Psa. xxxv This holy Prophet and kinge vsed fastinge to thys ende, that hee mighte bringe his bodye lowe and in subieccion to the spirit, that the vngodli lustes thereof myghte no more rage & rule in hym as they dyd,… …eg. xi what time he tooke Bothsaba the wyfe of Urias & laye wyth her, & that he myghte freelye enioie her, caused her husbande to bee slayne in battell.Psal. cix. In another place hee also sayeth, my knees are weake thorowe fastinge, my fleshe dryed vp for want of fatnes. We reade lykewyse,Esthe. xiiii that that mooste vertuous Quene Esther broughte her bodye verye lowe wyth fastinge Agayne.…. Cori. ix. S. Paul sayeth of him selfe, I chastise and tame my bodye, and bring it into subieccion, least bi any means it come to pas that when I hauehave preached to other, I my self shuld be cast awai These with manye other chastysed and tamed theyr bodyes with fastinge, that the spirite myghte hauehave free course vntounto God and bee occupyed aboute heauenlye thynges. After thys manner oughte all true Christians to do, that the bodye being kept in subieccion, the spirite maye rule and hauehave the ouerhande, and by no meanes to follow the wycked maner of the papists, whych in theyr fastes abstain frō grosse fleshe, & deuoure all kynde of deinty and fine fishe, whiche make theyr bodies muche more prone to lewdnes, then the eatyng of flesh, and also bringeth the spirit into miserable seruitute & bondage. O vngodlye manner of fastinge.