The Holy Exercise of Fasting, Sermon 6

The Holy Exercise of Fasting · Sermon 6

p. 168HOMIL. VI.

The ſixt Homilie ſheweth what is the proper time for faſting, namely, the time of affliction & ſorow: and then how God requireth it, and his ſeruants hauehave practiſed it: and ſo how the Lord requireth it of vsus in this time of our ſorow: and how long the time of a fast ſhould continue: and how the ſame time ſhould be ſpent.

HAuing ſhewed in the former Treatiſes (as you hauehave ſeene) that this holy ordinance of faſting is groūded vponupon the commandement of God, and that he ſtraitly vponupon our allegeance that wee owe vntounto him requireth it of vsus, and ſo it can not be left vndone of vsus without a manifeſt diſobedience and contempt p. 169of his Word: and moreouer, that the whole action conſiſteth both in that outward bodily exerciſe of abſtinence and forbearing of thoſe things for a time, which we hauehave heard of: and alſo and eſpecially in thoſe inward vertues of the minde and graces of the ſpirit, to be then attained vntounto, vſed, and profeſſed, which hauehave laſtly beene intreated of: and therefore is to be obſerued of vsus after that maner that hath beene declared, if we will hauehave our ſeruice therein acceptable vntounto God, and profitable to our ſelues: it remaineth to ſhew, what is the time proper and peculiar vntounto this exerciſe, and when the Lord eſpecially requireth it of vsus. For it is not an ordinarie and common ſeruice of God,Faſting is not an ordinary ſeruice of God fit for all times. & that which ſhuld be practiſed eueryevery day, as ſome others are, and ſo it is not fit for eueryevery time: but an extraordinarie part of his worſhip, and of our dutie vntounto him, and ſo more meet for ſome times than for other. Solomon by the wiſdome of Gods ſpirit p. 170ſayth in the booke of the Preacher (as we hauehave heard before) that there is to all things an appointed time,Eccle. 3.1.Eccl 3:1 & a time to euerie purpoſe vnderunder the heauen: and ſo a time to weepe and a time to laugh,verſ. 4. a time to mourne and a time to dance, and therefore a time to faſt and a time to feaſt. So then, as it were a verie prepoſterous thing for any to make great feaſts when they ſhould faſt, and in the times when the Lord by his word and works of iuſtice calleth to faſting, that then they ſhould giuegive themſelues to all kinde of cheering vp of themſelues: which kinde of prophaneſſe the Prophet greatly complaineth of in his time,Eſa. 22.12.Isa 22:12 ſaying, And in that day did the Lord God of hoſtes call vntounto weeping and mourning, and to baldneſſe, and girding with ſackcloth, and beholde ioy and gladneſſe, ſlaying oxen and killing ſheepe, eating and drinking, and mocking the doctrine of the Prophet with theſe words, For to morow we ſhall die: ſo on the other ſide, p. 178it were a thing of very great diſorder,We muſt be able to diſcerne betweene the time of faſting and of feaſting. for any to afflict themſelues & to faſt, when God would hauehave them to reioice and feaſt: as we ſee ſome of thoſe that returned from the captiuity of Babylon, of a good deuotion, but of great ignorance, and ſo were rebuked for it. For when in the feaſt of Tabernacles they did heare the Law of God read (whereof they had beene ignorant a great while) and thereby perceiued, how they had offended God, they wept for their ſinnes, and began alſo to abſtaine from their meat, as appeareth by the anſwere of Eſra and the reſt of the Leuites, who ſayd vntounto them,Neh. 8.9.Neh 8:9 This day is holy vntounto the Lord your God, mourne not, neither weepe; but goe and eat of the fat, and drinke the ſweet, and ſend part vntounto them for whom none is prepared: for this day is holy vntounto our Lord: be ye not ſorie therefore, for the ioy of the Lord is your ſtrength. So that it is, as if they had ſayd, This is a time of great ioy for our p. 172deliuerance, and other great benefits of God beſtowed vponupon vsus, and therefore not of faſting. But this is the great blindnes and ignorance of many, that this way they know no difference of times, but all are alike to them, if they may hauehave meat.

Heerein the Lord hath beene mercifull vntounto vsus, and hath directed vsus aright by his worde, which as it is a light vntounto our pathes,Pſal. 119.105.Ps 119:105 and a lanterne to our feete in all other things, ſo alſo in this: when he hath ſhewed vsus both by expreſſe commandement, and alſo by the common practiſe of al the godlie in all ages,The time of affli…ion & ſ…rrow is the m…ſt …r…per time of faſting. that the time of affliction is the moſt fit and conuenient time for faſting, and as it were moſt proper vn…o it: when as we hauehave cauſe of ſorrow, either for ſome great benefit, that we want, or others whom we louelove in the Lord, or ſome iudgement of God preſent, as moſt like ſhortly to come vponupon our ſelues, or vponupon them: and as any of theſe be greater, ſo hauehave we p. 173more cauſe alwaies to faſt, and God doth then require it of vsus eſpecially at that time. And this is that which our Sauiour Chriſt ſheweth in the Goſpel, where, to this captious queſtion of the Scribes and Phareſies, ſaying, Why doe the Diſciples of Iohn faſt often and praie,Luk. 5.33.Luke 5:33 and the Diſciples of the Phareſies alſo? but thine eate and drinke, he made this anſwer: Can yee make the children of the wedding chamber to faſt, as long as the bridegroome is with them: but the daies will come, euen when the Bridegroome ſhall be taken away frō them, and then ſhall they faſt in thoſe daies. Where he excuſeth his Diſciples for not faſting at that time, becauſe the Bridegroome was with them as yet, and ſo by Chriſts preſence it was a time of ioy vntounto them; but ere it were long, he ſhould be taken from them, and they ſhould want him, and there ſhould come ſome great trouble vponupon them, which ſhould cauſe them to page missing p. 176phet, euen that their deſerued deſtruction was ſo neere at hande, vnleſſe they did ſpe…dily repent, and ſo put on ſackecloth f…om the greateſt of them, euen to the leaſt of them: Thus in this time of great heauineſſe they tooke vponupon them this exerciſe of faſting, which in the proſperitie and wealth, and flouriſhing eſtate of the citie they knew not of, neither were acquainted with it before: but nowe they ſaw that the time it ſelfe did call them to another kinde of behauiour, and ſo they did practiſe it willingly.

The like may be ſaide of the people of the Iewes in the daies of Queene Heſter, when Haman, for the malice he bare againſt Mordecay, ſought the deſolation of all them, and had diueliſhly, plotted for it, that he obtained the kings Decree in writing againſt them for it; which for the more ſpeedie executing of the ſame, was ſent by poſtes into all prouinces of his kingdome, where the Iewes were, to roote p. 177out and to deſtroie them all in one daie; both yoong and old, children and women:Heſt. 4.1. heereupon it came to paſſe, that not onelyonly Mordecay himſelfe, when he perceaued all that was done, he rent his clothes,And all the I…wes when they mourned for the deuiſe of Haman. and put on ſackcloth, and aſhes, and went out into the middes of the citie, and cried with a great crie and bitter: but alſo in euerie prouince and place, whether the king… charge and his commiſſion came, there was great ſorrow among the Iewes, and weeping & mourning, and many laie in ſackecloth and aſhes.verſ. 16. Now in this time of ſo great heauines & ſorrow, as was not heard of before, by the aduiſe of H…ſter al the Iewes that were found in the chiefe citie Suſhan, were commanded to aſſemble themſelues together, and to faſt and praie vntounto God by the ſpace of three daies and three nights, and ſhe promiſed that herſelfe, and her maides woulde doe the like: and Mordecay & the Iewes did according to this commandement. p. 178So all of them at this time ſeeing what cauſe they had of mourning more then before, knew that nowe faſting and praier was moſt requiſite for them: for though Haman and the king ſat drinking, and making merie, as fearing nothing; yet the citie of Shuſhan was in perplexitie, and ſo had cauſe to doe, as they did. So did the Iewes alſo in Ieruſalem and all Iudah, in the like caſe in the raigne of Iehoſ…aphat, when a great armie of the Ammonites, 2. Chro. 20.3.2 Chr 20:3& Moabites came vp againſt him, they feared greatly ſome ouerthrow, euen the loſſe of their liues,And when they were in feare of forraine enimies. and goods, and all that they had, if the Lotde were not mercifull to them to defend them: and this feare of danger ſo neere at hande, and ſo likely to come vponupon them, cauſed great ſorrow, for they confeſſe and ſaie, there is no ſtrength in vsus to ſtand before this great multitude,ver. 12. that cometh againſt vsus, neither doe we knowe what to doe: Then the king proclaimed a faſt throughout all Iudah, and p. 179they gathered themſelues together, to aske counſell of Lord, they came out of all the cities of Judah to inquire of the Lord. When they were in this diſtreſſe for feare of their enimies, that they knew not themſelues what to doe, they humbled themſelues before the Lord in faſting and praier, that he would ſhew thē what they ſhould do. And to be ſhort in ſo large an argumēt, this is that which the prophet Ioel ſheweth the people that the Lord required of them in that time of their miſerie, that they were fallen into, & that the verie preſent ſorrow, that they were iuſtly fallen into by reaſon of the hand of God lying ſo heauily vponupon them, did require, and call vponupon them for at that time: for when he had ſpoken of the great ſcarcitie, that was among them by reaſon of catterpillers, and other vermine, which had eaten vp, and deſtroied the fruites of the earth, and ſo for this preſent affliction they had all cauſe to mourne, euen as p. 180he calleth all ſortes vntounto it, euen them that were moſt ſenſeleſſe, ſaying, awake yee drunkards and weepe,…el. 1.5. and houle all yee drinkers of wine, and againe, Mourne like a virgine girded …ith ſackcloth, for the husband of her youth, and againe, Girde your ſelues, and lament yee prieſtes, houle yee miniſters of the altar:…. 1 …. Thereupon he giueth them this charge, to ſanctifie a faſt, and to call a ſolemne aſſemblie, to gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the lande into the houſe of the Lord…,…ourning … …g…ther. and crie vntounto him. So he ſheweth them that in this time of common ſorrow they had all cauſe to ſeeke vntounto the Lord in faſting and praier, and after…ards he ſheweth more plainely, that at …his time by reaſon of the common calamitie and griefe for it, the Lord did commaund them ſo to doe: in theſe words;…. 1 …. Therefore nowe the Lord ſaith; Turne vntounto me with all your hearts, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning, p. 181where he ioineth theſe two together, faſting, weeping and mourning, and ſaith that the Lord doth require both of them, and the one ſhould not bee ſeuered from the other; but ſeeing the Lord had giuen them ſo great cauſe of weeping and mourning, hee would hauehave them ſeeke vntounto him for merciemercy by praier and faſting. Seeing then the Lord hath with his owne voice appointed out the time, namely that the time of mourning ſhould be a time of faſting; and alſo holy men and women in the wiſedome of Gods ſpirite hauehave ſo obſerued the difference of times, that as there hath fallen out any great cauſe of ſorrow in their time, ſo they hauehave put this in practiſe, as wee hauehave ſeene by manie examples: wee muſt thinke, that the ſame commandement bindeth vsus to the like practiſe, when any ſuch occaſ…on of time ſhall befall vsus, and that their practiſe muſt be our imitation.

This is, and hath beene a long time, p. 182of great ſorrow vntounto vsus,…hat cauſe … common …rrow we …iue in our …ne. if we did rightly conſider of things, as we ſhould: for if there had beene nothing elſe, but the loſſe of ſo gratious, vertuous, & peaceable a Queene, of whoſe religious, wiſe, & peaceable gouernmēt we hauehave had experience theſe 45. yeeres, that one thing might hauehave put ſufficient ſorrow into vsus, to cauſe vsus to hauehave humbled our ſelues before God in faſting and praier for our great vnthankfulneſſe, and other ſinnes, which were the cauſe of it: But when vntounto that loſſe which yet it hath pleaſed the Lord moſt mercifully to ſupplie, by cauſing our ſoueraigne Lorde King Iames ſo quietly to poſſeſſe his heritance of this crowne, whoſe royall perſon, and noble progenie the Lord preſerue and bleſſe for euer) when vntounto this loſſe (I ſay) there hath beene added preſently vponupon the necke of it, ſo great a plague and peſtilence, as wee hauehave not knowen, nor hath beene heard of in the daies of our forefathers, p. 183that, it ſhould continue ſo long, and in that extremity that it hath done, as to die weekely ſo many thouſandes in this lande, and thus from weeke to weeke; and the ſame not onelyonly to be in one chiefe and mother citie of this realme, but alſo in al other almoſt of account, and in townes corporate, yea in the ſea-coaſt townes alſo exceeding much, ſo that many houſes in them are left empty and deſolate without inhabitant:Eſpecially … reſpect of this great and long co… tinued peſt… lence. and it is alſo in many villages, and ſmall townes: ſo that it is diſperſed almoſt all the land ouer, eſpecially in theſe ſoutherne parts, and ſcarcely anie ſhiere or countrey is free from it: Such a thing as almoſt hath not beene heard of among vsus: So that wee ſay of it, as the prophet Ioel ſpeaketh of that great affliction, that was in his time: who to mooue them to a moſt ſerious and deepe conſideration of that hande of God, that was then verie heauily vponupon them, ſaith on this wiſe:Ioel. 1.2.Joel 1:2 Heare p. 184O yee Elders, and harken all yee inhabitants of the lande, whether ſuch a thing hath beene in your daies, or in the daies of your fathers; tell your children of it, and let your children ſhew it to their children, and their children to another generation: and then he doth at large deſcribe the calamitie that was vponupon them: but before hand hee telleth them, as wee hauehave heard, that it was ſuch a ſtrange thing, as neither themſelues nor their fathers had ſeene, nor their poſteritie ſhould after them, but he memorie of it was to be kep… from age to age, euen to all poſteritie.

So we may ſay of this mortall peſtilence▪ and peſtilent mortalitie, that the like was neuer in our dayes, nor in the dayes of our f…thers, the ol…eſt man or woman that liueth can not of their owne knowledge make relation of the like: ſo that we hauehave great cauſe neuer to forget it, but to keepe the memorie of it with profit to our ſelues: and alſo p. 185to tell it to our children & to our childrens children, that they may thinke of it alſo, & wiſely to applie it to themſelues, and ſo to profit by our harmes: that we all the ſonnes and daughters of faithfull Abraham may do,Gen. 18.19Gen 18:19 as it is ſayd of him, namely, Command our ſonnes and our houſeholds after vsus, that they keepe the way of the Lord, and doe righteouſneſſe, that God may not only keepe from them all his plagues, but bring vponupon them all that good which hee hath promiſed to thoſe that feare him. Seeing then that the hand of the Lord is more heauie vponupon vsus, and vponupon our brethren this way, then euer we or our fathers hauehave felt or knowen it, we muſt needs confeſſe, that vnleſſe we be ſenſeleſſe and hard-hearted,And ſo, ho… iust cauſe th…re is of publike faſting and prayer. we hauehave great cauſe to ſorrow, and to mourne, and ſo to know the day of our viſitation: & ſo to acknowledge this to be the very time, that God requireth of vsus faſting and prayer, and all kinde of humiliation, that poſſibly can be. So that p. 186if euer we ſhould do it, now we ought; and if there be any time fit for it, this time of ſo great and ſo long affliction, and ſo conſequently of ſo great ſorow, weeping and mourning, is moſt fit for it. Therefore if now we ſhould neglect it, and ſpend away the time in feaſting & in all kinde of mirth and iollitie (as it is to be feared,Eſa. 22.12.Isa 22:12 that too many do) euen as the wicked in former times hauehave done, there would be more than too great likelihood, that not onelyonly this plague ſhould continue and increaſe, but ſome more grieuous puniſhment ſhould come vponupon vsus heereafter: and all of vsus muſt needs hauehave iuſt cauſe to feare it. In the time of the law, they were not onelyonly commanded to celebrate the Paſſeouer yeerely, but to keepe it at the time that God had appointed, and this he required ſo ſtraitly, that if any had no let and impediment (as if he ſhould be cleare,…euit. 9.13. and not in a iourney) and yet ſhould be negligēt to keepe the Paſſeouer, the ſame p. 187parſon ſhould be cut off from his people: becauſe he brought not the offering of Lord in his due ſeaſon, that man ſhould beare his ſinne: if we then do not at this time, when God requireth it of vsus, bring to him the obedience of faſting and praier, and offer vntounto him in all humilitie (as the time requireth) the ſacrifices of broken hearts, and contrite ſpirits, we can not onelyonly not looke for any mercy according to our great need, but we may aſſure our ſelues of ſome further great puniſhment, if wee be not wholly deſtroyed, and cut off from his people. Therefore let vsus not be like vntounto thoſe fooliſh Iewes, who knew not, nor regarded the time of their viſitation, and ſo did not conſider, either what merciemercy God offered vntounto them, or what dueties he required of them in that time; of whō our Sauiour Chriſt iuſtly complaineth in the Goſpell, and vttereth his complaint out of the abundance of his louelove with many teares, ſaying,Luk. 19.42Luke 19:42 O if thou p. 188hadſt euen knowen at the leaſt in this thy day thoſe things that belong to thy peace, but now are they hidden from thine eyes. So wee ſhould now be ignorant, what God requireth of vsus at this time, and not do it.

Let vsus then be perſwaded vponupon the former reaſons, commandements, and examples, that howſoeuer God at other times giueth vsus libertie, to feaſt, and to reioyce, and to vſe his benefits not onelyonly for neceſſity, but for delight, according to the ſundrie cauſes of mirth (which by his bleſſings is beſtowed vponupon vsus) he ſhall offer vntounto vsus: yet at this time, it being a time of ſo great affliction, and ſo of ſorrow euerie where, as hath not bene knowne or heard of, whiche they doe beſt know that hauehave beene vnderunder the hande of God, and we our ſelues cannot altogither be ignorant of it; let vsus bee perſwaded I ſay, that the Lord requireth of vsus faſting, and mourning, and great humiliation, that ſo we may doe that p. 189that we doe in faith, and in obedience to his holy commandement, and that moſt willingly alſo, that he might accept it at our handes and reward vsus for it.

And heere againe by the waie we may eaſily iudge of the faſtes held in the time of poperie and ignorance,In poperie this difference of time for faſting was wholly neglected. namely that they were according to the blindneſſe of that time both ignorantly impoſed vponupon mens conſciences, and alſo verie ſuperſtitiouſly obeied: when as they made no difference or choiſe of times, but without all diſcretion appointed the time of Lent, and all Ember weekes, (as they call them) and eueryevery Saints eeuen yeerelie to be faſted; let the times be then as they will be: not conſidering whether the time be or ſhall be a time of ioy or ſorrow, of weeping or of reioicing; as a time of peace or of warre, a time of ſickneſſe or of health, a time of dearth or of plentie, or generally a time of proſperitie or of aduerſitie: & this they p. 190doe, not for ciuill pollicie (as we keepe them) but of meere conſciene, inioyning all men vnderunder the paine of ſinne, and fearefull curſe of the Pope, vponupon ſuch and ſuch daies, yeerely to faſt, euen vntounto their dying daie; when as it may fal out, for ought that they know, that ſuch times may be full of cauſes of reioicing publikely or priuately, & ſo feaſting were more fit for them then faſting. Euen as a Phyſitian ſhoulde preſcribe vntounto his patient, & that yerely vponupon ſuch a day of the monethmonth, or weeke hee ſhould take ſuch a purgation; when as it may fall out, that then hee is in conſumption, and ſo had more need of ſome cordiall electuary, or reſtoratiue medicine, than of anie purgations: and if any ſhould ſo vnaduiſedly preſcribe, we woulde count him a foole rather then a Phyſitian. But as he that is skilfull in his arte, and conſcionable toward his patient, will miniſter nothing vntounto him, either for purging or blood-letting, but he will p. 191conſider not onelyonly the ſtate of his bodie at that preſent, but alſo the time and ſeaſon of the yeere, whether it be the ſpring or the fall of the leafe, winter or ſommer, whether it bee hot or colde, or temperate, and accordinglie he will give his direction:But we must hauehave a care diligently to obſerue it. So the gouernours of the Church, (who in this reſpect may bee called the ſpirituall Phyſicians of our ſoules) in preſcribing of this abſtinence, and diet as it were, for the curing of our ſoules, that is, for the bringing of vsus to humility and repentance for our ſinnes, muſt hauehave principall regard to the time, and to the qualitie of the time: as whether it be a time of ſorrow or of ioy, that ſo they may know, which is the ſitteſt ſeaſon for it: which we hauehave heard to be the time of affliction: and then it muſt not onelyonly be in wiſedome preſcribed of them, but alſo diligentlie vſed of the people, if they will recouer the health of their ſoules; euen as Phyſicke muſt not onelyonly be preſcribed p. 192of the wiſe Phyſitian in time conuenient, but …e patient in taking of it muſt not neglect the …ime appointed by him. So that in this holie exerciſe, as in all other things the godly wiſe, and they that looke to get anie good by it, muſt regard what is the time, that God hath appointed them to vſe it: And heerein they muſt learne wiſedome of the children of this worlde, who obſerue the times for harueſt and for ſeed, and know what is fit for eueryevery time: ſo they muſt know what is the time for euerie dutie, and accordinglie practiſe the ſame.

But to proceed in this doctrine of faſting, as we hauehave hitherto ſeene the time when this holie exerciſe ought to be vndertaken of all Chriſtians, euen the time of ſorrow for the want of ſome benefit, or preſence or feare of ſome puniſhment; ſo now we are farther to conſider in few wordes, howe long it ſhould continue; that is, when we ſee that we hauehave cauſe to faſt, and p. 193minde to doe it, how long the time of our faſt ſhould laſt:The time o… a faſt must be longer or ſh…rter according to the greatneſſe of the cauſe. And for this one point I doe generally anſwere thus much, that it muſt be alwaies according, to the greatneſſe of our affliction, or according to the need, than we hauehave to be humbled more or leſſe, and ſo ſomtimes it ought to be longer, and ſometimes ſhorter, according to the diſcreet wiſedome of thoſe to whom it belongeth to appoint the ſame: this alwaies prouided, that when it is the ſhorteſt, wee muſt continew it at the leaſt for one whole day: that is from euening to the next day at the ſame time. In which time we muſt wholly abſtaine from any breakefaſt in the morning, or dinner at noone, & from the morning at the leaſt to the euening they muſt giuegive themſelues to all good exerciſes of the word and praier, ſinging of Pſalmes,And it must be alwaies held one daie at the leaſt. meditating vponupon their ſinnes, and vponupon the preſent affliction and ſuch like: publikely and priuately. And thus is the time of faſting limited p. 194vntounto vsus, in the worde of God: for Moſes ſpeaking of that yeerely day of faſting, which was preſcribed vntounto the Iewes, calleth it a day of reconciliation,…eu. 23.27. ſaying, the tenth of the ſeuenth month ſhall be a day of reconciliation: ſo that it was not a worke of an houre or two: but of an whole daie: and oftentimes in the ſame place hee ſpeaketh of a daie, and not of a peece of a daie, and further addeth, that they ſhould keepe it from eeuen to eeuen, ſaying,ver. 32. This ſhall be vntounto you a Sabbath of reſt, and yee ſhal humble your ſoules: in the ninth daie of the month at eeuen, from eeuen to eeuen ſhall yee celebrate your Sabbath: to ſhew that it ought to be a naturall day conſiſting of ſower and twentie houres. And when we thus ſtraightly require an whole daie,An excep…ion. it is to be vnderſtoode with that limitation, that wee hauehave heard of before, wherein liberty hath beene granted for eating and drinking ſome thing for all thoſe perſons, p. 195which through age or infirmitie, or ſome ſickneſſe, are not able to continue faſting ſo long. So that as the Sabbath is an whole day, and muſt ſo be kept,Exod. 20.Exod 20 (for it is called the ſeuenth daie) and in the creation and ſo ſince, it conſiſted of euening and morning, that is, of day and night, as well as anie other: ſo is the time of faſt; this is the leaſt time for any ordinarilie: in ſome caſes ſome are excepted, as hath beene ſaide, and they may ſomwhat abridge of this time, but yet the generall rule is for a daie. For the daie of faſt is of the nature of the Sabbath, and it is alſo ſo called, and hath that name giuen vntounto it,Leu. 23.32.Lev 23:32 as in the forenamed place of Leuit…cus▪ in the ninth day of the month yee ſhall celebrate your Sabbath from eeuen to eeuen: where hee ſpeaketh not of the ſeuenth daie (commonly called the Sabbath) but of the yeerely daie of faſting, called the day of reconciliation.

Wherein againe moſt euidentlie p. 196appeareth the fooliſhneſſe of popiſh faſtes,…he popiſh …ſts were …t for a …ece of the …ay. who did limite them not to a daie, but to a peece of a daie, and vntounto the leaſt part of the day, as namelie to ſupper: ſo that they held it a very good faſt, if a man went to bedde ſupperleſſe vponupon their faſting daies: inſomuch that if hee tooke a good breakefaſt, and dined well with all kinde of fiſh, & other dainties, (fleſh onelie excepted) & then whē their bellies were well filled tooke no ſupper, they were counted well to hauehave kept their faſt. But we ſee that it muſt not be a faſting night, (as they commonly called it) but a faſting daie: euen an whole day, vntill euening. Therefore if wee will keepe it aright, we muſt abſtaine, not a peece of a day, as in the foorenoone onelyonly, but vntill euening, and ſo the whole daie. And this muſt be ordinarie for all faſtes.

But if the affliction be greater, and the wrath of God appeere to be more ſeuere, and ſo we hauehave greater cauſe of p. 197deeper humiliation,Sometimes faſt muſt continue t… or three daies together. then the faſt muſt continue longer: as ſometimes two daies, or three daies, at the diſcretion of thoſe that hauehave ſuch cauſe to vſe it. And this appeareth by the faſt of the Iewes, which they kept in the time of their captiuitie, of whom it is ſaide in the booke of Hester, that when Mordecay ſent vntounto her the copie of the Kings commiſſion ſealed with his own ſignet for the rooting out of all the Iewes in one daie, ſo that it was decreed that the whole Church of God ſhould bee raſed wit from the face of the earth at once:H…ſt. 4.1… then ſhe promiſed that ſhe would aduenture her life for them, and goe into the King to make ſuite for them, and that ſhe and they might finde fauour with the Lord and with the King, ſhe willed them all to faſt and praie three daies and three nights, and neither eate nor drinke; and ſhe promiſed that her ſelfe, and her maides woulde doe the like, and it is ſaid moreouer in the text, that Mordecay p. 198went his way, and hee, and the Iewes did as they were commanded: So that in this great extremitie of theirs, they continued their faſt for the ſpace of manie daies together: and ſo ought we to doe, if the like affliction were vponupon vsus. But for this preſent though by the grace & mercy …f God it be otherwiſe with vsus, yet vndoubtedly in reſpect of this viſitatō which is verie grieuous, wee ought to continue our faſt one daie weekely, ſo long as it ſhall be continued vponupon vsus: and ſo though wee doe not keepe it ma…e daies together: yet we may and ought to doe it manie daies, one after an other. For ſeeing that it is appointed for the time of affliction, and then one whole daie at the leaſt is alotted for it, ſo long as this time of affliction ſhall continue, we ſhould not be vnwilling weekely to beſtow one day this waie, that ſo the Lord may bee intreated with vsus at the laſt. And thus much for the time how long any faſt ſhould p. 199be held.

Now further we are to conſider how we ſhould beſtow this time of faſting, and wherein we are to be occupied in the daie of faſt.The time of fasting is … the … of th… Sabbath. And for the better vnderſtanding of that, wee muſt knowe thus much, that the time of faſting, how long ſoeuer, whether it bee but one daie, or more, is alwaies of the nature of the Sabbath: therfore looke how we ought to beſtow the Sabbath in reſting from the ordinarie labors, and workes of our callings, and from all kinde of recreations and paſtimes much more, and come to the Church, and be occupied in Gods ſeruice, publikely and priuately, ſo ought we to do vponupon the day of faſting. And that we might be aſſured heereof, firſt we doe read, that this day as it is of that nature, ſo it hath that name giuen vntounto it, for it is called a Sabbath:Leu. 23.23Lev 23:23 This ſhal be vntounto you a Sabbath of reſt, yee ſhal humble your ſoules: in the ninth daie of the month at eeuen, from eeuen to p. 200eeuen yee ſhall celebrate your Sabbath: where twiſe in one verſe Moſes calleth it a Sabbath. Secondlie it is called a Sabbath of reſt, and they are willed to reſt their Sabbath, to ſhewe that vponupon that daie, (as vponupon the ordinarie Sabbath day) they ſhould reſt from the labours of their calling: and more particularly they are forbidden to doe anie kinde of worke vponupon that daie:Leu. 23.28.Lev 23:28 as it is ſaide, Yee ſhall doe no worke that ſame daie, for it is a day of reconciliation, to make attonement for you before the Lorde your God. And this euerie perſon is forbidden,And therefore then we ought to r…st from the ordinary worke …f our …aking. & that vnderunder the puniſhment of Gods high diſpleaſure to bee poured vponupon them to their vtter deſtruction, as it is ſet downe in the next verſe following: and euerie perſon that ſhall doe anie worke, that ſame day, the ſame perſon wil I deſtroy from among his people. Therefore vponupon this day all men ſhould carefully giuegive ouer all ordinary workes of their calling, and hauehave nothing p. 201to doe with them, and not onelyonly from their hands, but their mindes from them, according to the ſame ſtrictneſſe that they are bounde vntounto vponupon the Sabbath daie. Inſomuch that if there bee occaſion to keepe a faſt in the time of harueſt, or ſeed-time, or any other time of buſineſſe, ſo manie as doe profeſſe to keepe it, muſt altogither abſtaine from all ſuch workes, as were otherwiſe not onelyonly lawfull, but neceſſarie. Which that we might the rather moſt yeeld vntounto,Workes of neceſſitie ar… then permitted. wee acknowledge and teach, that in this daie of reſt, there is that liberty granted vntounto vsus, both for the preparing of meat and drinke at the euening, yea and at other times alſo of the daie, if it be neceſſarie (as for thoſe that bee weake and ſickely) and for all other works of neceſſitie, as anie occaſion ſhall be offred, that we hauehave vponupon the Sabbath daies. As for example, if any be ſicke, it is lawfull to take paines about them, yea to ride & go for them: p. 202if any ſudden caſualtie fall out by fire or water, or theeues, or ſuch like, it is lawfull to take all paines to repreſſe the rage and furie of them. But ſetting all ſuch caſes of neceſſitie aſide, all men ought wholy vponupon theſe daies to reſt from their labours; which the Lorde hath ſtraightly forbidden, with the denunciation of a fearefull curſe, that he will aſſuredly bring vponupon al thoſe that breake it, euen that he will cut them off from his people.

And beſides this reſting from worke (which is neceſſarily required) wee ought to beſtow the whole day in the publicke and priuate exerciſes of the worſhip and ſeruice of God;We muſt be…tow that lay wholly on the ſeruice of God. as in hearing the Word of God read and preached, confeſſing our ſinnes, and praying vntounto the Lord; and in all other meanes that might further vsus thereunto: and moſt of all which may quicken vsus vp vntounto true humilitie, and feruency in prayer. And therefore the Prophet Ioel Ioel 1.15.Joel 1:15thus ſpeaketh of it, exhorting them p. 203to keepe a ſolemne day of faſt, ſayeth, Sanctifie a faſt, call a ſolemne aſſembly: he doth not will them to appoint a day of faſting, but to ſanctifie it, and keepe it holy; to ſhew that it ought to be kept euen as an holy Sabbath. So that as the ſeuenth day was ſayd to be ſanctified from the beginning, becauſe it was not appointed for the works of our calling, but for the worſhip of God,Exod. 20.Exod 20 and we are willed to remember it, to keepe it holy: ſo we ſhould thinke of this day of faſt, as of an holy day, and ſo rem…mber it, and thinke of it before hand, that we take order for, and ſo diſpoſe of all our worldly buſineſſe and affaires, that that day we hauehave nothing to hinder vsus from beſtowing it wholly vponupon the worſhip and ſeruice of God.Leu. 23.27.Lev 23:27 So likewiſe Moſes ſpeaking of the day of faſt, ſayth, It ſhalbe an holy conuocation vntounto you, and you ſhal humble your ſoules, and offer ſacrifices made by fire vntounto the Lord: where he doeth not onelyonly ſay, that their aſſemblies p. 204then ſhould be to an holy end, as vponupon the Sabbath, and that they ſhuld not meet about worldly matters, but ſpeaketh of ſacrifices, as a part of Gods worſhip then to be vſed. Therefore concerning the ſeruice of God this day to be vſed; as vponupon the Sabbath day, beſides the dayly morning and euening ſacrifice, there was a peculiar kinde of ſacrifice appointed for that day,Num. 28.9.Num 28:9 namely, two lambes of a yeere olde, &c. and ſo all things were then doubled, and thus they ſpent the greateſt part of the day in we publicke ſeruice of God: ſo ought it to bee vponupon the day of faſt. And this was the practiſe of the people of God, as we reade in the booke of Nehemiah, Neh. 9 1.Neh 9:1where it is ſayd, That all the Iſraelites aſſembled, with faſting,Therefore longer time then ordinary ſhould be ſpent in the publike aſſemblies. and with ſackecloth, and earth vponupon them; & the Leuites ſtood vp in their place and read in the booke of the law of the Lord their God foure times on the day, and they confeſſed, and worſhipped the Lord their God p. 205foure times. So that both for the exerciſe of the word, and for prayer all was extraordinarie: and ſo ought it to bee among vsus, that we ſhould not onelyonly do as we do, namely, twiſe a day, once in the forenoone and againe in the afternoone, but wee ſhould continue both the times longer than we do, and hauehave more exerciſes of the Word, and of prayer, if wee were able, or had more helpe: as it is ſayd in this Congregation of the Iewes they had: for the Leuites are reckoned vp by name, who ſpake, euen Ieſhua, and Bani, Kadmiel, verſ. 4.5.Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, & Chenani, who cried with a loud voice vntounto the Lord their God: and they ſtood vp, and ſaid, Praiſe the Lord your God for euer and euer; and let them praiſe thy glorious name, O God, which excelleth about al thankſgiuing & praiſe: where wee ſee that there were manie that prayed vntounto God, and exhorted the people, which could not be all at once, becauſe of diſorder and confuſion, p. 206but one after another; whereby alſo it came to paſſe, that they were able to continue ſo long, euen to preach & to pray foure times in the day. And thus we ſee, how this day ought to be ſpent; therefore they that come to the Church in the forenoone, and abſent themſelues in the afternoone, without any neceſſarie cauſe to be approued of God and men, do not keepe this holie day of faſt, as they ſhould.

In the popiſh faſting dayes worke was ordinarily permitted.And here againe we hauehave iuſt cauſe to finde fault with the popiſh pretended faſtes, who as in manie other things they ſwarued from the word of God, ſo in this one point they came nothing neere it: for vponupon their faſting daies there was no reſtraint of worke, but it was lawfull for them to followe their buſineſſe, as vponupon any other day, & they that profeſſed to keepe it moſt deuoutly, yet did not leaue their buſineſſe vntill noone, and then not wholly neither, for beſides dreſſing vp of houſes, preparing of linen againſt the p. 207next daie, if they had any worke of their owne to doe at home within the doores, they thought that they might lawfully doe it, though it held them occupied vntill night: ſo they made no conſcience of not working. And beſides this, they had no ſpeciall ſeruice vponupon ſuch daies, and if they had, few or none came to it, and held themſelues bound to it: but the Churches were as empty vponupon thoſe daies,And the ſeruice of God was little regarded. as vpō any other: and they that were moſt ſuperſtitious in that religion were of opinion, that if they came for a quarter or halfe an houre in the euening, they had done as much as could be required of them, though they vnderſtood not one word of that that was ſaid or done: ſo far were they from hauing any holy aſſemblies, or doubling of their ſeruice that day, that they had none at al for the moſt part: but all was differred vntill the day following; as though they ſhould faſt vpō one day, and ſerue God vponupon an other, and not p. 208doe them both together. And thus much of the time, when, and howe long we ſhould faſt, and how the ſame time ought to be ſpent.