And that the fasting of one man may do good unto
another, our Saviour showeth himself where he saith that some kind
of devils cannot be cast out of one man by another "without prayer
and fasting." And therefore I marvel that they take this way
against fasting and other bodily penance.
And yet much more I marvel that they mislike the sorrow and
heaviness and displeasure of mind that a man should take in
thinking of his sin. The prophet saith, "Tear your hearts and not
your clothes." And the prophet David saith, "A contrite heart and
an humbled"--that is to say, a heart broken, torn, and laid low
under foot with tribulation of heaviness for his sins--"shalt thou
not, good Lord, despise." He saith also of his own contrition, "I
have laboured in my wailing; I shall every night wash my bed with
my tears, my couch will I water."
But why should I need in this matter to lay forth one place or
twain? The scripture is full of those places, by which it plainly
appeareth that God looketh of duty, not only that we should amend
and be better in the time to come, but also that we should be
sorry and weep and bewail our sins committed before. And all the
old holy doctors be full and whole of that opinion, that men must
have for their sins contrition and sorrow in heart.
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