Moreouer when ye fast, be not sad as the hipocrites are. For they disfygure their faces, that they myght be sene of men how they fast. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their rewarde.
And the discyples of Iohn and the Pharyses dyd faste; and therfore came and sayde vnto hym. Why do the disciples of Iohn and of the Pharyses fast, and thy discyples fast not.
And when they had ordeyned them elders by election in euery congregacion, and after they had prayed and fasted, they commended them to God on whom they beleued.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hipocrites are. For they loue to stande and praye in the sinagoges, and in the corners of the stretes, and because they wolde be seane of men. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their rewarde.
Whensoeuer therfore thou geuest thime almes, thou shalt not make a trompet to be blowen before the, as the hypocrytes do in the synagoges and in the stretes, for to be praised of men. Verely I saye vnto you, they haue their rewarde.
Go thou thy waye then, and gather together all the Iewes that are founde at Susan, and fast ye for me, that ye eat not & drinke not in thre dayes, nether day nor nyght. I & my Damosels wil fast lykewise, and so wil I go into the kynge contrary to the commaundement: yf I perish I peryshe.
Withdrawe not your selues one from another, excepte it be wyth consente for a tyme, for to geue your selues to fastinge, and prayer. And afterward come agayne to the same thinge, leste Sathan tempte you for your incontinencye.
And she had bene a weddowe aboute .iiij. score and .iiij. yeares, which went neuer out of the temple, but serued God with fastinge and prayer night & daye.
Ye haue sayed. Is it but lost labour, to serue God? What profyt haue we for keping his commaundementes, and for walkinge humbly before the Lorde of Hostes?
Then sayd hys seruauntes vnto hym: what is thys that thou hast done? Thou fastedest and wepest for thy chylde whyle it was aliue, and as sone as it was dead thou dyddest ryse vp, and dyddest eate meate.
And Cornelius sayde: Thys daye nowe .iiij. dayes I fasted and at the nynthe houre I prayde in my house: and beholde, a man stode before me in brighte clothinge,
Take hede to your almes, that ye geue it not in the sight of men, to the intent that ye would be sene of them. Or els ye get no rewarde of youre father whyche is in heauen.