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THEONAS: Although the pious simplicity of some folks would put aside a
question on this subject, yet because you are more scrupulous in your
examination of those things which another would consider unworthy to be
asked about, and want to know the whole truth of this observance of ours
and the secret of it, you shall have a very clear reason for this also,
that you may still more plainly be convinced that our predecessors taught
nothing unreasonable. By the law of Moses the command propounded to all
the people generally was this: "Thou shalt offer to the Lord thy God thy
tithes and firstfruits." And so, while we are commanded to offer tithes
of our substance and all our fruits, it is much more needful for us to
offer tithes of our life and ordinary employments and actions, which
certainly is clearly arranged for in the calculation of Lent. For the tithe
of the number of all the days included in the revolving circle of the year
is thirty-six days and a half. But in seven weeks, if Sundays and Saturdays
are subtracted, there remain thirty-five days assigned for fasting. But by
the addition of Easter Eve when the Saturday's fast is prolonged to the
cock-crowing at the dawn of Easter Day, not only is the number of thirty-
six days made up, but in regard to the tithe of the five days which seemed
to be over, if the bit of the night which was added be taken into account
nothing will be wanting to the whole sum.
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