278 Q Is Stlfrevenge and Penanceial our felves may be a lower end, fubfervient to this. 3. It muft alfo be fo far humbled as is neceffary to exprefs Repentance to the Church when Abfolution is expefted upon publike Repen- tance. 4. As alfo to concur with the foul in fecret or open hu- miliation. But i .He that fhall,think that whippings,orfa.ckcloth,or go- ing bare-foot or other felf-punifhing ' are of themfeives good works, and meritorious with God, or fatisfie his juftice, or are aRace of perfeftion, dothoffer God a hainous fin, under the name and conceit ofa good work. z.And. he that ?hall by fuch fell- afflitiingunfit his Body for the fervice of God, yea that doth not cherifh it fo far as is neceffary to fit it for duty, is guilty of felf-murder, and defrauding Godof his fervice, and abufmghis creature, and deprivingothers ofthe help we owe them : fo that in one word, the Body muft be fo ufed as may beltfit it for Godsfervice. And to think that felt-affliding is a goodwork, meerly as it is penalty or fuffering to the body, or that we may go further herein ' is to think r . That we fhould de ourBody worfe then our beaft ; for we will no further afflift him then is neceffary to tame him , or ferve our felves by him and not to difable him for fervice. 2. Andit will teach men to kill themfelves : for that is a greater penalty to the body then whippingor fatting. 3. And it is an offe- ring God-a facrifice of cruelty and robbery, which we com- mit againfl himfelf and man. But I mutt needs add that though fome Fryars and 'Melan- . choly people are apt togo too far in this, and pine their bo- dies or mifufe them with conceits of merit and fatisfaftion yet almoft all the common people rnn into the contrary ex- tream, and pamper and pleafe their flefh, to the difpleafing of -God, and the ruine of their fouls. And I know but few that have need to be refrained from affliding or taking down the &Chu() much. CHA P.
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