III.

(An over-fed Christian, p. 114.)

"Are we not carnal" (psychics) in our days? May not the very excesses of Tertullian sting and reproach us with the charge of excessive indulgence (Matt. ix. 15)? The "over-fed Christians" whom he here reproaches are proved by this very treatise to have observed a system of fasting which is little practised anywhere in our times--for a mere change to luxurious fish-diet is the very mockery of fasting. We learn that the customary fasts of these psychics were as follows: (1) the annual Paschal fast, ¹ from Friday till Easter-Day; (2) Wednesdays and Fridays (stationary days ² ) every week; and (3) the "dry-food days," ³ --abstinence from "pleasant bread" (Dan. x. 2),--though some Catholics objected to these voluntary abstinences.