422 The Principles of Fasting.
is gained by the fast at dinner ought not to be turned into a feast at supper, but should be expended on the belHes of the poor.^ And if a person was too weak to fast without injuring his health he was admonished to give the more plentiful alms.^ Tertullian expressly calls fastings "sacrifices which are acceptable to God."^ They assumed the character of reverence offerings, they were said to be works of reverence towards God.'* But fasting, as well as temperance, has also from early times been advocated by Christian writers on the ground that it is " the beginning of chastity," ^ whereas " through love of eating love of impurity finds passage," ^
Edward Westermarck.
1 St. Augustine, Sermones supposititii, cxli. 4 (Migne, op. cit. xxxix. 2021). See also Canons enacted tinder King Edgar, 'Of Powerful Men,' 3 {Ancient Laws of England, p. 415); Ecclesiastical Institutes, 38 {ibid. p. 486).
2 St. Chrysostom, In Cap. I. Genes. Honiil. X. 2 (Migne, op. cit. Ser. Graeca, liii. 83). St. Augustine, Sermones supposititii, cxlii. i (Migne, xxxix. 2022 sq.).
^ Tertullian, De restirrectione carnis, 8 (Migne, op. cit. ii. 806).
- Hooker, Ecclesiastical Polity, v. 72, vol. ii. 334.
5 St. Chrysostom, In Epist. II. ad Thessal. Cap. I. Homil. I. 2 (Migne, op. cit. Ser. Gr. Ixii. 470).
- Tertullian, De jejuniis, i (Migne, op. cit. ii. 953). See also Manzoni,
Osse^-vazioni sulla morale cattolica, p. 175.
