The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.

The Five and Fortieth accused Point.

That Fasting and abstinence from certain Meats, is not grounded on Holy Scripture, nor causeth any Spiritual good.

Ans. Still deceitful Confusion: Protestants hold, 1. Fasting is a needful Duty to seve∣ral Persons in several cases. As, 1. To take down the Flesh when it groweth too strong in Lust. 2. For the cure of many Diseases from fulness. 3. To exercise our Humiliation in times of publick Dan∣ger and Calamity, or of personal repen∣tance for some great Sin, or under some affliction that calleth for great Humilia∣tion.

2. They hold that Abstinence is need∣ful in it's time and place, as Fasting is in it's: And that all Eating and Drinking is unlawful, which gratifieth the Appetite by Quantity or Quality against Men's health, and the just Rules by which we should judge what is healthful: Yea, that bare Eating and Drinking to please the Appe∣tite, which doth not some way conduce to fit us for our Duty, is Sin.

3. We know that the same Meat and Drink for Quality and Quantity which is best for one, is hurtful and mortal to ano∣ther: And we know that Fasting is as Phy∣sick, whether for Health, or for the Soul: and if we are fallen into the hands of such Physicians, as will tye all the Land and all the World to take the same Physick, and on the same days, to take a Purge or a Vomit every Wednesday, Friday, and Holy Evens, we shall obey them when we are a-weary of our Lives. I think our London Colledges would deride such pre∣scribers.

4. And if any will tell us that we shall merit of God, and save our selves by for∣bearing the coursest sort of Flesh, and eat∣ing the more costly Fish, Junkets, Sweet∣meats, and drinking Wine and strong-Drink, we abhor such Mock-Fasts, for

God will not be mocked: But Hipocrites turn all Religion into a Mockery. I have heard those called strict precise Protestants, accused as being against abstinence and Fasting; and upon enquiry I found that those of my acquaintance, eat and drink less all the year, than their accusers of my acquaintance do on their Mock-fasting days. To such their Diet would seem a strict Fast, even Calvin that macerated his bo∣dy, with eating but a few bits once a day, is by some Papists called a sensual Glutton, (though Massonius saith the contrary.)