The Holy Exercise of Fasting, Sermon 3
HOMIL. III.
The third Homil…e intreateth of the inward vertues of the minde to be attained vntounto, and profeſſed in fasting; without the which the outward abstinence is no…hing woorth: namely of true humilitie and caſting downe of our ſelues before God, and wherein that conſiſteth, and how neceſſary it is, and by what meanes we may atttaine vntounto it.
The out…ard abſti…ence is to …urther vsus …n the in…ard graces …f the ſpirit.IN the former Treatiſe we hauehave ſhewed, wherein the firſt part of faſting conſiſteth: which thogh it be firſt in order, yet is laſt in account, & that which in it ſelf is referred to an other end, euen to the true humbling of vsus before God for our ſins, which if we do not attaine vntounto by theſe meanes, it is not onelyonly not accepted, but further prouoketh the wrath of God. For God is a ſpirit, and will be ſo worſhiped, and though men iudge of vsus after the outward appearance, yet God looketh to the heart: and when this outward abſtinence hath beene vſed without theſe inward graces of humilitie and ſuch like, the Prophets hauehave iuſtly found fault with them: and namely the Prophet Eſaie. Eſai. 58.3.Wherefore hauehave we faſted (ſaie they) & thou ſeeſt it not? we hauehave puniſhed our ſelues, and thou regardeſt it not: Behold in the day of your faſt you will ſeeke your owne will, and require all your debtes. Behold yee faſt to ſtrife and debate, and to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſſe; yee ſhal not faſt as yee doe to daie; is it ſuch a faſt that I hauehave choſen,Without th… which it is nothing woorth. that a man ſhould afflict his ſoule for a day, and to bow downe his head as a bul-ruſh, and to lie downe in ſackcloth and aſhes: wilt thou cal this a faſting, or acceptable day vntounto the Lord? and ſo foorth, as it followeth at large in that place: Where the hypocrites complaine that they had faſted, and had that way puniſhed their bodies greatly, and God regarded it not; but he anſwereth, that if they were neuer ſo weake with faſting, euen like a bul-ruſh, that can not hold vp the head againſt the winde, yet becauſe they were as cruell and hard-hearted to their brethren, as full of contention as before, and had not profited to the inward vertues of humilitie and contrition of heart, which was the principall end of it, therefore he did not accept of it: And indeed if we content our ſelues with this outward abſtinence, the very brute beaſts and cattell, euen the bullocks and ſheepe at Nineue did keepe as good a faſt as we,…ona. 3.7. for they were couered with ſackcloth, and did neither feed nor drinke water. Therefore we ſee what muſt make all our faſting acceptable vntounto God, euen that we be furthered by them in al ſuch graces of his ſpirit in our ſoules and conſciences, as the Lord in ſuch caſes requireth.
For as in the Sabbath bodily reſt is firſt commanded, yet the ſanctifying of the day of reſt in the holy worſhip of God is chiefe,As the reſt of the Sabbath is to be referred vntounto the ſanctification of the day. and that whereunto the other is referred, and without the which the other is nothing worth; els they that ſleepe all day, or the cattell that are not wrought, might keepe as good a Sabbath as we. So in the day of faſt, though abſtinence from meat be firſt required, yet in it ſelfe ſuch bodily exerciſe profiteth little, as the Apoſtle ſaith, but is vſed to another end. Therfore as if we wil keepe that fourth commandement, we muſt ſo reſt, that hauing our minds & bodies drawn frō all worldly things, we might in both be wholly occupied in gods ſeruice: ſo if we will celebrate a faſt vntounto the Lord, we muſt ſo vſe the outward ceremony, as thereby we might be furthered in the inward vertues of the mind. We are then to conſider what they be, for in them reſteth the ſecond part of faſting:The ſecond part of faſting conſiſteth in the inward grace of the m…nde. for as it was ſayd before, the whole action conſiſteth in two things, the one outward concerning the body, whereof we hauehave hitherto ſpoken; the other inward apperteining to the ſoule, which now remaineth to be intreated of. And that is all thoſe inward vertues of the minde, and graces of the ſpirit, which this way the Lord would hauehave vsus furthered in: all which are ſo much the more excellent, and therefore the more diligently to be laboured after than the other, by how much the ſoule is better than the body, and how much it is better to approoue our ſelues and our doings vntounto the Lord, as we ſhall do in the one, then vntounto men, as we may doe in the other.
Theſe are of two ſorts.Heere then we are to conſider, what theſe inward vertues be, whereto by this outward abſtinence we ſhould labour to be furthered: which though they be many, yet for breuitie and memories ſake, we will principally conſider of two. The firſt is, the true humbling and caſting downe of ourſelues before the high Maieſtie of God with ſorrow and griefe of heart for all our ſinnes in the conſcience and feeling of them, and of the miſerie due vntounto vsus for the ſame. The ſecond is the aſſurance and good hope that we ſhould hauehave, through the free mercy of God in his gratious promiſes, of the pardon and forgiueneſſe of eueryevery one of them for Chriſt Ieſus his ſake vponupon our true repentance and vnfained turning from them: and ſo that we being thus reconciled vntounto God, ſhall obtaine the things that we ſtand in need of, and by earneſt prayer (alwayes ioyned vntounto faſting) wee make ſute vntounto him for: whether it be the turning away or remouing from vsus ſome grieuous iudgement and puniſhment of his, or the beſtowing or continuing of ſome great bleſſing of his vponupon vsus, or vponupon others. And theſe two,Eſra 8.21. as they be chiefe and principall, ſo they are both of them mentioned in that faſt that Ezra kept with the reſt of his companie.As appeareth in the fast of Ezra and his companie. And there at the riuer by Athana I proclaimed a faſt, that we might humble our ſelues before our God, and ſeeke of him a right way for vsus, and for our children, & for all our ſubſtance: for I was aſhamed to require of the king an armie and horſe-men to helpe vsus againſt the enemie in the way, becauſe we had ſpoken to the king ſaying, the hand of our God is vponupon al them that ſeeke him in goodneſſe, but his power and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him: So we faſted & beſought our God for this: and he was intreated of vsus. Where we ſee how he in his returne from Babylon to Ieruſalem after the captiuity with many other, at ſuch a place proclaimed a faſt to theſe ends, both that they might humble themſelues before God for their ſinnes, which were the cauſe of their captiuitie, and might now hinder them from ſuch bleſſings as they ſtood in need of: and that they might by praier ſeeke earneſtly vntounto God with hope, that he would direct and bleſſe them in the waie, and defend them from their enimies: So in their obedience they did aime at theſe two inward vertues; firſt …o bee thoroughly humbled for their ſinnes, and then by earneſt praier to ſeeke to God with hope, that hee would giuegive them the thing, that then they ſtood in need of, euen defence from their enimies in the way, and a proſperous iourney to Ieruſalem. And ſo in this practiſe of theirs as in a glaſſe we moſt cleerely ſee, whereunto this faſt of ours muſt be referred, I meane the outward abſtinence, and what we muſt ſpecially labour after in it, namely that wee may be humbled before God for all our ſinnes, which hauehave ſo greatly prouoked the wrath of God, that it may eaſily be ſeene of all; and that we ſeeke to him by feruent praier for the turning away of his heauie hand that hath a long time beene moſt greeuouſly vponupon many parts of this lande: if we ſeeke not after theſe and by this abſtinence finde our ſelues furthered in them, our faſting is nothing woorth, becauſe wee come not vntounto the chiefe part of it, nor vntounto the marrow and ſubſtance of it, but content our ſelues with the ſhell, and as it were the bare ſhadow fo it. For as it is ſaid in the common prouerbe, and as it is true in all other things, as good neuer a whit, as neuer the better, ſo in this in like maner.
The first vertue is true humility, and what that is.To ſpeake therefore in order firſt of the humbling and caſting downe of our ſelues: this humilitie of minde is a vile eſteeming, and baſe iudgeing, or thinking of our ſelues before God and men in reſpect of our innumerable great ſinnes, wherewith we hauehave defiled our ſelues, and offended God, and prouoked his heauy wrath and diſpleaſure againſt vsus: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that wee are diſpleaſed with our ſelues, and offended and grieued at our ſelues, yea are (as it were) at vtter defiance with our ſelues, becauſe of our ſinnes, and the curſe of God, and all miſerie due to vsus for the ſame. And this humilitie is contrarie to that pride and hautineſſe of minde,Contrary to pride. which is in many, whereby they thinke too highly of themſelues, and are puft vp, and full of ſelfe louelove, iudgeing better of themſelues then there is cauſe: being alſo thereby ready to iuſtify themſelues before God, and men, like vntounto that proud Phariſie, that Chriſt ſpeaketh of in the Goſpell, who thus vaunteth of himſelfe before God through hypocriſie, and want of due examination of himſelfe, and alſo deſpiſed the Publicane who praied by him: ſaying, I thanke thee O God,Luk. 18.11. that I am not as other men, extortioner, vniuſt, adulterer, or euen as this Publicane▪ whereas the other ſtanding a farre of, giueth many tokens of their humility, for he would not lift vp ſo much as his eies to heauen; but ſmot his breaſt, and ſaide, O God be mercifull to me a ſinner.This humbling of our ſoules is, and muſt be anſwerable to the afflicting of our bodies. And this caſting downe of our ſelues in our owne iudgement, as it is required, ſo it is very fit and anſwerable to the outward exerciſe of faſting: for therefore doe we abſteine from the outward comfort and maintenance of this life for a time, that wee might hauehave a quicker feeling of our vnwoorthineſſe, namely that for our ſinnes we are vnworthy of all of them, and of any comfort by them, yea of life it ſelfe: and thus we bring downe the bodie, that the minde might bee brought downe, and we afflict the bodie, that the deſerued death of ſoule and body might be the better knowen and felt of vsus. We therefore abſtaine from all pleaſures and delights thereof lawful in themſelues, that thorough conſcience of our ſinnes, and the deſerued wrath of God for them not onelyonly preſent, but that that may come heereafter we might be drawen to a greater ſorrow: which inward affliction and griefe of the ſoule if it be ſeuered from the other, it is as a dead carkaſſe without a ſoule, yea a ſhadow without a bodie, that is, it is nothing woorth.
For this ſorowing and mourning is ſo vnſeparablie proper vntounto the time of faſting, and ſo fitly anſwereth to the outward ceremonie of it, that the thing it ſelfe is thus noted out by Chriſt himſelfe.Math. 9.1… Can the children of the mariage chamber mourne, as long as the Bridegroome is with them?Therefore vntounto faſtin… is alwaies ioined mourning. but the daies will come, when the Bridegroome ſhall be taken from them, and then ſhall they faſt. Where Chriſt defending his diſciples, that they did not then faſt, ſpeakes of faſting as of a time of mourning: for in the one place hee ſaith Faſt, and in the other Mourne,Luk. 5.34.35. to ſhew what we muſt come vntounto in the day of faſt, euen to mourne. And this hath alſo beene the practiſe of the ſeruants of God, that in the daies of faſting they hauehave thus caſt downe themſelues, and hauehave not onelyonly inwardly ſorowed, but hauehave outwardly teſtified the ſame by weeping, as indeed great ſorow many times cauſeth teares. For ſo is it ſaid of Dauid, when tidings was brought him of the death of Saul, that he ſorowed, and wept, and faſted▪ both himſelfe and his company.1. Sam. 1.12 Then Dauid tooke holde on his clothes, and rent them, and likewiſe al the men that were with him: and they mourned and wept, and faſted, vntill euen for Saule and for Ionathan his ſonne, and for the people of the Lord, and for the houſe of Iſrael, becauſe they were ſlaine with the ſword. Heere there faſting was ioined with mourning and weeping. So likewiſe did all the people of Iſrael, when they were twiſe ouerthrowne by the Beniamites, they ſorowed and wept, and faſted vntounto the euening; as it is ſaid in …e book of the Iudges. Then all the children of Iſraell went vp,Iudg. 20.… and all the people alſo came vp vntounto the houſe of God, and wept, and ſate there before the Lord, and faſted that day vntounto the euening, & offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And againe in the daies of Samuel, when they were oppreſſed by the Philiſtims, he exhorteth them to confeſſe their ſinnes to God, and leaue them, and ſeeke vntounto God, that they might find mercy with him; and they then faſted and praied, and wept ſo aboundantly, that it is ſaide, they drew out whole buckets of water out of their eies. For Samuel 1. Sam. 7ſaid, Gather all Iſrael together to Mizpah, and I will pray for you vntounto the Lord: and they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water and po…red it out before the Lord, and faſted the ſame day, & ſaid there, We hauehave ſinned againſt the Lord. Thus in this faſt of theirs alſo they confeſſed their ſinnes, and ſorowed woonderfully, as appeared by the plenty of teares. And to bee ſhort, this is that, which the Prophet Ioel ſpeaketh of, and exhorteth them vntounto,…el 2.17. as a thing neceſſarie: Let the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lorde weepe betweene the porch and the altar, and let them ſay, Spare thy people O Lord: whē as he had ſaid in the verſesverſ. 13. going before, Thus ſaith the Lord, Turne you vntounto me with all your hart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rent your hearts, and not your clothes. So that he not only ſpeaketh of faſting, as that wherunto the Lord did then cal them, but of ſorrowing & mourning, which in it he required of them.…heſe faſt…s …urs wee ſt lab …r this true …ilitie … contrit… … …f minde. And by all theſe we may eaſily vnderſtand how greatly in theſe faſtings of ours we alſo ſhould deiect our ſelues in our own eies, & what ſorow and griefe of mind ſhould be in vsus, becauſe of our ſinnes, and of the wrath of God ſo manifeſtly appearing againſt them. And truely if eueryevery man and woman would enter into a ſerious conſideration of their liues paſt, and examine themſelues, their deeds, words, and thoughts in al the commandements of God, wee might be more humbled then we are: eſpecially if we did wiſely conſider alſo the puniſhments due to vsus for them, and thoſe not onelyonly threatned, but alreadie in great meaſure vponupon vsus, by this great mortalitie in manie places, which ſtill increaſeth. Therefore let euerie one pray to God, that he would worke this in him, that hee may hauehave a ſoft and tender heart, a broken and contrite ſpirit, which is an acceptable ſacrifice vntounto him, and which he will not deſpiſe (as the Prophet ſaith) that is, will moſt fauourablie accept:Pſal. 51.17▪ that I ſaie, hee may be wounded and prickt at his heart for his ſinne: and let vsus all pray that this abſtinence and faſting might be bleſſed to euerie one of vsus to theſe endes: ſo ſhall it be acceptable vntounto God, and profitable to our ſelues.
And this muſt be profeſſed by our deeds, and confeſſed in our words.Furthermore as this abſtinence is vſed to this ende, euen to bring vsus to this ſorow for our ſinnes, which wee hauehave ſpoken of: ſo alſo that we might profeſſe to the glorie of God, that we doe thus iudge of our ſelues indeed.1. Cor. 11.24. For as the Sacrament of the Lordes Supper is appointed not onelyonly that we might remember the death of Chriſt by it,verſ. 26. according as it is written, This doe yee in remembrance of me, but that we might ſhew it foorth vntill his comming againe, as it is ſaide in the ſame place, As often as yee ſhall eate this bread, and drinke this cuppe, yee ſhew the Lords death till he come: euen that wee looke to be ſaued by it onelyonly, to the condemning of all thoſe that put their truſt in any thing elſe: So this abſtinence is vſed not onelyonly to bring vsus to this vile eſteeming of our ſelues for our ſinnes, but that in the feeling of it, we might by our practiſe and in our praiers make open profeſſion of the ſame: euen as Benhadad king of Aram, ſent his ſeruants girded with ſackcloth about their loines,1 King. 20.32. and with ropes about their heads, to Ahab king of Iſraell, to intreat for his life, ſaying, Thy ſeruant Benhadad ſaith, I praie thee let me liue, that he might ſee, that he iudged himſelfe woorthie of death. So the children of God in times paſt by abſtaining from meate and drinke, did confeſſe with their mouthes, and by this practiſe did openly ſhew it, that they thus iudged of themſelues, euen that they were vnwoorthy of a crumme of bread, or of a droppe of water, or of any ſuſtenance whatſoeuer: and by putting on ſackecloth they profeſſed that they were vnwoorthie of any raiment euen of the leaſt ragge, and therefore alſo but for ſhame they would hauehave gone naked: and by watching, that they were vnwoorthy of ſleepe or any reſt: and ſo of other things, as that they were vnwoorthy of the benefite of mariage, and of any comfort in it, and of any pleaſure or delight in any creature or ordinance of God, but that it ſhould be iuſt with God, if hee did cauſe them to ſpend awaie their daies in heauineſſe. And when they put duſt and aſhes vponupon their heads, that they were vnwoorthie to breath vponupon the face of the earth, or to tread vponupon the ground, yea ſo vnwoorthy of life, that if they had their deſerts, they ſhould be as deepe vnderunder the ground, as they were aboue it. And if there had beene any thing elſe in the world that would hauehave repreſented and ſet foorth the euerlaſting paines of hell, & eternall condemnation, that would they hauehave borne the image of in their bodies, to teſtify openly againſt themſelues, that they iudged themſelues woorthy of that alſo.…hat we …ay iuſtifie …d and …ndemne …rſelues. And ſo they hauehave in thus doing iuſtified the Lord in that vengeance of his, that hath beene either threatned, or alreadie vponupon them: ſo farre hauehave they bene from murmuring or charging the Lord with anie hard dealing againſt them. As the prophet Daniell Dan. 9.3.in the time of the captiuitie when in the end of the 70. yeeres foretold by Ieremy hee praied for deliuerance, and (as it is ſaide in the text) turned his face vntounto the Lord, and ſought by praier and ſupplications, with faſting, and ſackcloth and aſhes, and made confeſſion of his ſinnes, and of the ſinnes of all the people, in his praier hee breaketh out into theſe words:verſ. 7.8. O Lord righteouſneſſe belongeth vntounto thee, & vntounto vsus open ſhame, as appeareth this day vntounto euerie man of Iudah, and to the inhabitants of Ieruſalem, yea vntounto all Iſrael, both neere and farre off, through al the countries, whether thou haſt driuen them, becauſe of their offences, that they hauehave committed againſt thee. O Lord vntounto vsus appertaineth open ſhame, to our Kinges, to our Princes, and to our fathers, becauſe we hauehave ſinned againſt thee. Thus by his faſting from meate, and putting aſhes vponupon his head, hee profeſſed that himſelfe and al the people were not onelyonly vnwoorthy of any deliuerance (which he ſued for) but euen of life: yea that they were altogether moſt worthy both of this captiuitie and of the ſhame and reproch of it, and alſo of vtter deſtruction and death it ſelfe becauſe of their ſinnes, which they had committed againſt the maieſtie of God. Ezra alſo in the like practiſe maketh the ſame confeſſion.Ezra 9.6. O my God I am confounded, and aſhamed to lift vp mine eies vntounto thee my God, for our iniquities are increaſed ouer our head, and our treſpaſſes are growen vp vntounto the heauen.
If we will …eape any fruite by our …aſting, we …ruſt labour …o be hum…led thereby.We ſee then that if we will keepe a faſt acceptable vntounto the Lord, we muſt be humbled in our ſelues eueryevery one before him for our ſins, and this outward profeſſion that we make in abſtaining from all things it muſt be in truth, and our mindes muſt be anſwerable to our deeds: for if we abſtaine from the creatures of God, and do not iudge our ſelues vnwoorthie of them, if we forbeare the comfort of this life, and doe not iudge our ſelues vnwoorthie of them alſo, and of life it ſelfe, all is but hypocriſie, and God careth not for this outward ſhew.Luk. 18.13. Therefore let eueryevery man labour to come to this, that he may be humbled in himſelfe, as the poore Publicane was, when he ſtoode aloofe off, and durſt not lift vp his eies vntounto heauen, but knocked on his breſt, and ſaide,cap. 15.21. Lord be mercifull vntounto me a ſinner: and let him be vile in his own eies, as the prodigall ſonne was, when he came to his father, and ſaid, Father I hauehave ſinned againſt heauen, and before thee, and am no more woorthie to be called thy ſonne. So let vsus iudge and ſay of ourſelues from the bottome of our harts, that we are vnwoorthie of all his benefites, publike and priuate: and moſt woorthie of all his puniſhments, euen of this plague that is among vsus, and that it ſhould ſtill continue and increaſe: and ſo let vsus iudge our ſelues that he may not iudge vsus, or that in his good time he may ceaſe iudgeing of vsus, as he hath promiſed.1. Cor. 11.31. For euen as the father looketh that the childe ſhould humble himſelfe to the confeſſion of his fault before him, when he hath taken the rod of correction into his hand, and then he is ready to ſpare him, and not before: ſo the Lord looketh for this at the handes of men much more: and if we could hauehave done this thorowly long before, wee might hauehave eſcaped happely this preſent iudgement: ſo if we can but euen now doe it, we may come out of it in time, or hauehave it turned into ſome bleſſing: and vntill then he will not ceaſe, or if he do, he reſerueth vsus but to ſome further iudgement. If then we would hauehave any good by this faſting, we muſt humble our ſelues, and the more wee can do it, to ſorrow for our ſinnes, the more merciemercy may wee looke for from God.Ezek. 18.23.31. For he deſireth not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould repent and liue, as he hath witneſſed by his holy Prophet: and the people of Nineue, Iona 3.8.when they turned eueryevery man from his euill way, and from the wickedneſſe that was in his handes, and thus humbled themſelues, then God repented, and turned from his fierce wrath, that they periſhed not, as Jona had conditionally threatened before. But this point is more largely to be conſidered of heereafter, when I ſhall by the grace of God ſpeake of the manifolde fruits of faſting: in the meane ſeaſon, now we onelyonly ſee what meaſure of humilitie then God requireth of vsus.
But if any ſhould not only not humble himſelfe, and be ſory for his ſinne,But if we grow proud by them, then are they vnprofitable and hurtfull vntounto vsus. but vponupon confidence of his faſting wax bolder to ſinne, and in a falſe perſuaſion that through obedience giuen vntounto God in this one point, he may be the bolder to be diſobedient in another: as too many thinke, that becauſe they hauehave done ſome good ſeruice vntounto God to day, they may at other times take ſcope and libertie to themſelues in ſinne, and ſo ſet one againſt another: or if heereupon they grow proud, and thinke well of themſelues, becauſe they do ſo and ſo, as ſome are readie to boaſt and ſay, Oh we hauehave beene at a faſt to day, but you hauehave not, and ſo deſpiſe other that doe not, and iuſtifie themſelues in compariſon of them, like vntounto thoſe proud Phariſies, that ſaide vntounto our Sauiour Chriſt, Why doe the Diſciples of Iohn faſt often and praie,…uk. 5.33. and the Diſciples of the Phariſes alſo, but thine eate and drinke? then this holy ordinance of God is ſhamefully abuſed, and peruerted from the right end of it; and ſo that that ſhould be a ſoueraigne medicine to cure our ſoules, by this horrible abuſe is turned into ranke poiſon to kill vsus. For that that ſhould make vsus ſo to ſorrow for our ſinnes, that we ſhould vnfainedly purpoſe to leaue thē, maketh vsus more preſumptuous and bould to ſinne: and that that ſhould humble vsus before men in reſpect of our vileneſſe, doth make vsus to ſwell, and puffe vsus vp in reſpect of our holineſſe and worthineſſe: therefore we muſt take heed, that we fal not into theſe groſſe ſinnes.
By this alſo it appeareth how farre the Papiſts Church is from the true maner of faſting: for they doe greatly boaſt of their faſtings, as the proud Phariſes did before: and they make them meritorious for the pardoning of their ſinnes: for this is part of the penance that is inioined them to make ſatisfaction: euē to faſt ſo many times, vponupon ſuch & ſuch daies,As all popiſh fasts are, becauſe they are puffed vp in the merit of thē. and after ſuch a maner, more or leſſe, ſtrictly according to the preſcript of their ghoſtly father. Which faſts of theirs how well they hauehave kept, We hauehave ſeene before, but now we ſay, that they make them equall with the bloud of Chriſt, which is onelyonly able to clenſe vsus from all our ſinnes. When they then aſcribe remiſſion of ſins to their faſtings, & thinke that partly they deſerue it thereby: and that God is bounde as it were vntounto them for it: this wickedneſſe not onelyonly bereaueth them of all fruit of it, but maketh them guiltie of horrible blaſphemie: and ſo all their faſts as they were ridiculous and fooliſh, placing them in thoſe things, wherein they did not conſiſt, ſo were they moſt vngodly, when they made them able to merite remiſſion of ſinnes: whereby it came to paſſe, that thereby they were not onelyonly not humbled, but contrarie to the nature of it, exceedingly puft vp by them. We then if we will hauehave anie bleſſing frō God by theſe means, muſt not onelyonly abſtaine from this blaſphemous pride, to thinke the better of our ſelues, becauſe we doe thus, as that euen by this we muſt labour to come to a greater meaſure of humilitie, for our ſinnes, then we had before, or otherwiſe could come vntounto.
Seeing then this humiliation is a ſpeciall vertue and grace of God to be attained vntounto in the day of faſt, it is neceſſarie to be conſidered,The medit… tion of our ſinnes, and the puniſhment of the is a meane truely to humble vsus what is to be done for the effecting of it: that is, how and by what meanes wee may humble and caſt downe our ſelues. And that is done by the conſideration of the greatneſſe of our ſinnes, and the grieuous puniſhment due to vsus for them: for the more that we know and meditate vponupon theſe, the more by the bleſſing of God ſhall we be humbled: and the leſſe wee know or thinke of them, the further ſhall we be from this true humilitie. For this one thing, euen to conſider ſeriouſly, how ma…e waies wee hauehave offended God, and how great wrath and condemnation is belonging to vsus for it, will breake our harde and ſtonie hearts, if anie thing in the world will doe it: and nothing will doe it but this, and ſo farre foorth as it bringeth vsus vntounto this. For let a man hauehave neuer ſo great a croſſe beſides, as be he poore, or ſicke, or in diſgrace, or hauehave ſome worldly loſſe, yet he may hope to recouer that eſtate, or may thinke that he hath ſome other thing in him to recompence anie or al of theſe loſſes, and ſo his heart is not yet humbled: But when he ſeeth how many waies he ſtandeth guiltie before God, and what a great account hee hath to giuegive vntounto him, that hee ſeeth his ſinnes to be more in number, then the heires of his head, or the ſandes of the ſea: and then how many puniſhments and plagues in this world, and in the world to come are dew to him in ſoule and body for euer and euer according to the manifold curſes of the law of God, and his immutable iuſtice contained in them: this ſhall bee able to make him caſt away all his pride & conceit in himſelfe, or in any thing elſe, and to thinke of himſelfe (as he is indeed in himſelfe) to bee a moſt vile creature, and ſo to crie out of himſelfe, as the Apoſtle doth,…om. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from the bodie of this death?
Now the holie ſpirit of God worketh this in vsus by the true vnderſtanding and right vſe of the lawe of God ſet downe in the tenne Commandements:We are brought to the ſight o… our ſinnes by the true vnderſtanding and right vſe of the law. and alſo of the bleſſings promiſed to thoſe that keepe the law: and the curſes denounced againſt them that breake it, which are to this end annexed to the ſame law. According to which lawe, if men not partiallie examine themſelues, they ſhall ſee, both how many duties they hauehave left vndone, and alſo how manie ſinnes they hauehave committed againſt God & men. For that is as a cleere glaſſe, to let vsus ſee the leaſt ſpot or blemiſh in our face, that is the leaſt ſinne committed in our life:Pſal. 119.105. and as a light vntounto our pathes, and a lanterne to our feete, to let vsus ſee how one thing differeth from another, good from euill; euen as the difference of colours is eaſily diſcerned when a light commeth in, which was not before: and to be ſhort, it is a rule to ſhew, what is crooked and what is ſtraight, that is, what is agreeable vntounto, or what differeth from the will of God, which is the perfect rule of all righteouſneſſe.
And we are …rther hum…led by conſidering the …romiſes and …urſes an…exed to the …aw.Then if wee come to the promiſes of the law, we ſhall ſee howe manie good things, which God of his meere mercy had promiſed, and others hauehave inioied, we hauehave loſt through our own default, both for ſoule and bodie, for our ſelues and ours; for this life alſo, and for the life to come; and ſo in what an vnhappie eſtate we are in in our ſelues: And though this be verie much to humble a man to thinke, thus much good hauehave I wilfully loſt, yet if we further cōſider the curſes not onelyonly diſperſed in the whole Scripture, but ſpecially ſet down at large, Deut. 28. for ſin, to to be brought vponupon vsus in ſoule and bodie and otherwiſe, as incurable ſickneſſes & diſeaſes, terror & feare of minde, ſcarcitie and famine, the ſword and ſuch like in this worlde, beſides eternall deſtruction of ſoule and bodie in hell fire after this life; theſe will let vsus ſee our miſerie much more, that ſo we might feele & acknowledge what vile & wretched creatures we be, men and women, that hauehave iuſtly brought vponupon our ſelues ſo great calamity. We are then for the better humbling of our ſelues before God, as at other times, ſo eſpeciallie in the day of faſting to giuegive our ſelues to the ſerious and earneſt meditation of theſe things, namely, of the law of God, and that in eueryevery commandement, and applie it to our conſcience: and the appurtenances alſo of the ſame law, that is, the promiſes made to the obedient, and the puniſhments threatned to the diſobedient; and pray to God for his good ſpirit, that it might worke vponupon vsus, euen vponupon our hearts, that by this meanes wee might come to that meaſure of humilitie, that is meet for vsus ſo great ſinners to come vntounto, and that he would caſt vsus downe vnderunder his holie hande, euen ſo low, as his owne children ſhould be: for want of which our hearts are hardened, though our eſta…e be ſo deſperate and forlorne, as at all other times, ſo euen in the day of faſting, wherein greateſt humiliation is required.
And beſides all this, to further vsus in this moſt excellent vertue of humiliation, which in time will lift vsus vp as high, as wee were caſt downe before, according to the Prouerbe of Solomon, Pro. 15.32. Eſpeciallie how the Lord from time to time hath verified the ſame.Before glory goeth humilitie, we muſt alſo conſider, the execution of theſe iudgements vponupon men from time to time, that we might know God to be iuſt, and will aſſuredly doe as he hath ſaide, and that he hath not threatned in vaine, as many men doe imagine: that ſo wee might feare and tremble, when wee ſhall ſee as it were others beaten for the like ſinnes before our faces. And theſe iudgements wee muſt well weigh both generally brought vponupon whole nations and countries,Gen. 6. as how hee ſpared not the olde world, when all fleſh had corrupted their waies, but brought an vniuerſall deluge vponupon it: and how hee ouerthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, Gen. 19.and the reſt of the cities for their filthineſſe, yea how he ſpared not the ten tribes of Iſrael, 2. King. 17. 2. King. 24. & 25. Lam. 1.3.nor Iudah it ſelfe, but caried them both captiues out of their owne country, for their idolatrie & other ſinnes: And alſo his iudgements particularly broght vponupon priuate men,Geneſ. 25.33. & 27.33 Heb. 12.16.17. Gen. 21.10. Gal. 4.29. as how Eſau was caſt off from Gods people for his profanneſſe, & how Iſmael was put out of his fathers houſe, and ſo out of the Church of God for his ſcorning and mocking, wherewith hee perſecuted his brother:2. Sam. 18.9. and how Abſolon was hanged between heauen and earth by the haire of his head, for rebelling againſt his father;Heſt. 7.8.9. how Haman was hanged vp vponupon an high gibbet for his pride againſt men:1. King. 22.38. and king Herod eaten vp with vermine for his intollerable pride againſt God and men:2 King. 9.35. how Ahab and Ieſabell were ſlaine for their oppreſſion of Naboth, ſo that the dogs did licke the bloud of the one,2. Sam. 12.10.11. and deuour the carkaſe of the other: yea how Dauid was grieuouſly puniſhed for his adulterie and wrong done to Vriah; 1. Cor. 10.8.and 23000. in one day deſtroied for their filthie fornication; and to conclude how the Lord from time to time in all ages and places hath not ſpared men in their ſinnes; that ſo we might not onelyonly ſee in them what wee hauehave deſerued, but how he is readie to puniſh alſo, for there is no reſpect of perſons with him.And not onelyonly vponupon the wicked, but vponupon his owne children. And in all theſe wee muſt aduiſedly conſider, howe God hath not onelyonly puniſhed the wicked for their ſinnes, but that hee hath not ſpared his owne children: as that hee not onelyonly vtterly deſtroied thoſe ſeauen goodly churches in Aſia, becauſe they fell from their firſt louelove, and did not repent in time: but alſo did euen caſt off the Iewes his owne people for their contempt of his word,Mat. 21.43. and tooke away the Goſpell of the kingdome from them vntounto this day, becauſe they did not bring foorth the fruites of it: that (as the Apoſtle ſaith) We by their fall might feare,Rom. 11.20.21. and ſeeing hee ſpared not the naturall branches, we ſhoulde take heed leaſt hee alſo ſpare not vsus. But moſt of all we may ſee the fierce wrath of God againſt ſinne to humble vsus,Euen vponupon his owne ſonne Ieſus Chriſt our Sauiour. and his vnchangeable iuſtice in the perſon of his owne deare Sonne, who taking vponupon him our ſinnes, was in all torments of ſoule and bodie preſſed downe with them to the bottome of hell for a time,Heb. 5.7. Luk. 22.44. no praiers or ſupplications that hee could make euen with ſtrong cries could deliuer him, no agonie or bloudie ſweats, that hee indured in his ſoule and bodie, could pacifie it, and ſet him free, but he muſt needs beare it vntounto the full; and ſo inded (as the Prophet foretolde) he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions,Eſa. 53.8. he was broken for our iniquities, and the chaſtiſement of our peace was vponupon him: that ſo we by the law ſeeing our ſinnes, and by his curſes acknowledging our deſert for the ſame, and by the execution of them his conſtant and immutable iuſtice in them might in feare and trembling caſt downe our ſelues at his feet: and as in faſting we hauehave bereaued our ſelues willingly of all, ſo we might feele, and in feeling confeſſe that we are vnwoorthie of all, and ſo come to this moſt excellent vertue of humilitie, which is the firſt part of thoſe inward graces, which by the outward exerciſe of faſting is to be laboured after, and openly profeſſed. And ſo much of that: now remaineth the other to be ſpoken of.