The Christian Exercise of Fasting, Title page – Dedication
THE CHRISTIAN EXERCISE OF FASTING, PRIVATE AND PVBLIKE:
Plainly ſet forth by teſtimonies of holy Scriptures, and alſo of old and late writers:
Wherein is ſhewed how religious families priuatly, and the congregations publikely, hauehave humbled themſelues before almightie God, making vſe of iudgements paſt, auoyding euils preſent, and preuenting future calamities, &c.
Together with ſundrie abuſes of faſting in three generations of hypocrites: the firſt in the dayes of the Prophets: the ſecond in the dayes of Chriſt: the third in the dayes of Antichriſt.
Hereunto alſo are added ſome meditations on the 1. and 2. chapters of Iob, to comfort and inſtruct all ſuch as be afflicted with any croſſe, either inwardly in minde, or outwardly in bodie.
By H. HOLLAND Minister and preacher of Gods word.
Pſalm. 141. verſ. 5.
Let the righteous ſmite me (for that is) a benefit, and let him reproue me, (and it ſhall be) a pretious oyle, that ſhall not breake mine head.
AT LONDON, Printed by the Widow Orwin for William Young, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Canon lane neere the great Northdoore of Paules Church, at the ſigne of the white Horſe. 1596.
The principall poynts and queſtions handled in this booke.
1. What kinds there be of faſting.
2. What the religious faſt is.
3. How the religious abſtinence is diuided into two branches:
1. Priuate.
2. Publike.
4. What priuate faſting is.
5. What the publike faſt is.
6. The corruption and abuſe of faſting.
7. Some obſeruations vponupon the 1. and 2. chapter of Iob.
To the right worſhipfull and his very Christian good friend, master Robert Cheſter, Eſquier, &c. merciemercy and peace in Ieſus Chriſt.
THe pure worſhip & ſeruice of God (right worſhipfull) hath two dangerous extremes, ſuperſtition is the one, impietie is the other. The people of this age ſeeming wiſe, to auoide the vnſauerie leauen of popiſh corruption, are fallen aſleepe in carnall ſecuritie & prophanenes. If the prince of darknes had not ſo blinded men, that they can not ſee the beautie of Gods houſe, nor reape any comfort by his ſeruice, this exerciſe of faſting ſhould little need any letters of commendation. For the booke of God ſo commendeth it in the practiſe of the Saints, Patriarches, Kings, Prophets, Apoſtles, and Church ſtories in the fathers and ſeruaunts of God in all ages: that I can thinke a man but meanely acquainted with Gods worſhippe, which doth not otherwhiles exerciſe himſelfe herein. This wil good Bucer teſtifie with me in theſe very words:Bu…er de regno Chriſti lib. 1. cap. 12. Cum ieiunia Dominus ipſe & Apostoli tantoperè Eccleſiijs commendârunt: de Christi certè ſpiritu, & regno gloriari non poſſunt, qui omninò nulla ſeruant ieiunia. That is, Seeing the Lorde himſelfe and his Apostles hauehave ſo commended fasting to the Churches, ſurely they can not glory of Christes ſpirite and kingdome which fast not at all. I hauehave endeuoured in this treatiſe to lay open this exerciſe to the vnderſtanding of the ſimple, in the beſt maner that I could. I muſt look for many aduerſaries, for the greateſt part hath euer declined from pietie to ſuperſtition and prophanenes. Therefore (right worſhipfull) I come vntounto you for protection of Gods trueth: being the more bolde to aske this fauour, becauſe I am ſo well aſſured of your louelove thereunto, and full reſolution to defend the ſame with al your might during life. Againe, I hauehave nowe for many yeares knowen your Chriſtian louelove towards me for the truths ſake, I deſire to teſtifie my hearts affection towardes you in the beſt manner that I can. The moſt bleſſed ſpirit of Ieſus Chriſt guide and gouerne your ſpirit, keepe and comfort you and all yours. Februarie. 12. 1596.
Yours aſſuredly euer to vſe in Ieſus Chriſt during life. HENRY HOLLAND.