Of Lent. Chap. 30.
LEnt is called Quadragesima, and is the space of fortie daies, as Isidore sayth: And beginneth from the first-sun∣day of lent, and stretcheth and lasteth to ye Cene of our Lord,* 1.1 that is shere thurs∣day. In the which Cene and supper our Lord beganne the Sacrifice of the new Testament, and fedde vs with Angells bread. Therin is betokened, that he that doth full penaunce of Lent, and full en∣deth ghostly this lyfe, shall haue ioy and company finally of contemplation & sight of God. Quadragesima, Lent, is the time of chiualrye of christen men: in the which time wée fight sharplye against vices and sinnes. For this number of dayes we take to our chiualrie, not one∣ly by ensample of Moses and of Elye, but also by following of Iesus Christ, that fasted so many dayes as it is read. And well in these number of dayes wée fast. For this number ten doubled foure times, presenteth and betokeneth the ten commaundements, and the foure Go∣spells, by the which Gospells armes and weapon nowe of our aduersary is putte off, and lande of life is there got by lawe of heritage, as the lande of behest was graunted to the children of Israel after that battaile and fighting of fortie yéere, in desert and wildernesse. Also the fruite of our chiualrye is shewed vnder this number. For this number of for∣tye, if the partyes that depart it bée ga∣thered togethers, make the number of fiftie. The which number betokeneth forgiuenesse of death, & restitution of heri∣tage that was lost. And héerby it is shew∣ed that in fighting against vice & sinnes, we get mercy and forgiuenes of sinnes, & be made heires of euerlasting good and riches. And in this number wée hallowe to our Lorde tithings and first fruites, for the tithing of thrée hundred dayes and sixtye. wée fast sixe and thirtye daies; and for the tithing of fiue dayes and sixe houres that be ouer of an whole yéere, wée fast one daye that the summe bée payed to GOD for tithinges of a yéere, seauen and thirtye fasting dayes: and the dayes of our foure times bée there offered for first fruites. And this we doe, that wée that offer to God first fruites of our time in fayth of the Tri∣nitye, and the first fruites in contem∣pletion and fulfilling of the terme com∣maundementes by faith and good déedes, may come to the worthinesse of the first birth, and to the pennye of euerlasting wealth.
4 1.2In the Tract bée shewed foure man∣ner of impugnations and of temptati∣ons. Of the which the first is lyght and priuie, that is night dreade. The second is lyght and openlye knowne, that is an Arrowe flyeng by daye: The thirde is heauie and open; that is the méeting of the middaye féende. The fourth is pri∣uie and heauie, that is the dooing and walking in darknesse. Against those so manye impugnations, wée bée warded and succoured with spirituall armour, to the which the Apostle in the Epistle tea∣cheth & calleth vs, where he sayth: Put wée be foorth, as seruauntes of God by armour of righteousnesse and of vertue of God. And among all times of the yeare, the Lent time is most worthy and noble. For Lent is time of quickening. For the earth that séemed as it were dead in Winter time, quickeneth againe and waxeth greene in Lent. Also Lent is time of renewing: for the earth is ar∣rayed and renewed with hearbes and flowres, and tréees with braunches and leaues.
Also Lent is time of conceiuing. For then the vertue of generation is most strong in beasles, trées, and hearbes. Therefore all thing that springeth on the earth, groweth and burgeneth that time. Also Lent is the time of making nests, and of bréeding. Therfore Turtles and Storks, and other fowles and birds, that be vnséene in Winter, come in Lent and bée busie to make theyr neastes. Al∣so Lent is time of medicine and of pur∣gation. For then in bodyes bée humours mooued most to passe out: and there∣fore it is couenable time of medicine: also Lent is time of winning and of chaffer.