The Holy Exercise of Fasting, Sermon 4
HOMIL. IIII.
The fourth Homilie continueth to intreat of the inward vertues of the mind; and namely of the hope that we ſhould hauehave of the pardon of our ſinnes, vponupon our true repentance: and that God will giuegive vsus the things that we ſeeke to him for: which hope muſt ſtirre vsus vp to feruent and long prayer, and how by importunitie wee ſhall preuaile with God; and what things els may quicken vsus vntounto feruent prayer.
THe ſecond part of the inward vertues of the mind, and graces of the ſpirit of God, which we muſt not only hauehave,The ſecond inward vertue is, the hope, that by faith we ſhould hauehave of the fauour of God vponupon our true humilitie. but labour to be furthered in by this outward exerciſe of faſting, and to which end we do vndertake it, and which alſo we muſt openly profeſſe, is an aſſurance & full hope, that God for Chriſt his ſake vponupon our true repentance for our ſinnes, and vnfained humiliation for them, and forſaking of them, will pardon them all, and will giuegive vsus all thoſe things that we ſtand in need of, and wee then make humble ſute vntounto him for. So then this is alſo another thing, that as at all other times, ſo moſt of all in the day of faſt we muſt labour after, euen an increaſe of faith, whereby wee may be raiſed vp in our ſoules through the grace of God in Chriſt, as high as the conſcience of our ſinnes, and the deſerued puniſhment of them doth caſt vsus downe: and a full perſwaſion that we ſhall obtaine the remoouing of thoſe euils (through the death & merits of our Sauior Chriſt) which either preſently preſſe vsus, or iuſtly hang ouer our heads. For as true repentance humbling vsus, and as it were caſting vsus downe with one hand, both in ſorow for our ſinnes, and confeſſion of the ſame, leaueth vsus not in that downefall, leſt we ſhould diſpaire, but gratiouſly reacheth the other hand to lift vsus vp againe: and this is the right end of all true humilitie, not to diſmay vsus, but to comfort vsus with the hope of Gods fauour, euen from thence, as it is ſayd. Humble your ſelues vnderunder the mightie hand of God,1. Pet. 5.…5. that he may exalt you in due time. And againe, he reſiſteth the proud, but giueth grace to the humble. So this ſolemne profeſſion of humilitie in faſting and praier, much more doth, and muſt ſo caſt vsus downe, and abaſe vsus in the conſcience of our vnwoorthineſſe euen of the leaſt of Gods benefits, openly in our practiſe by bereauing our ſelues of them for a time profeſſing ſo much, as that it doth giuegive vsus ſo much the more hope of fauour from God, by how much we doe then more then ordinarily iudge our ſelues.
So that heere is another thing to be furthered in by this outwarde abſtinence, namely,In which w… muſt be furthered, by the inward and outward affliction of the body and the minde. that wee may hauehave a greater hope and aſſurance then before, that God for Chriſts ſake will be mercifull vntounto vsus, becauſe we doe according to his commandement more humble our ſelues then before: not for the merite or woorthineſſe of that, but becauſe of the gratious promiſes, which of his free merciemercy he hath made to all thoſe that thus turne vntounto him, and vnfainedly ſeeke him. For as the abſtinence without this humiliation is nothing worth, ſo is the caſting down of our ſelues in the ſight and feeling of our ſins, & our vnworthineſſe for the ſame of no value or profite without this hope in the goodneſſe of God; and therefore as this abſtinence muſt bring vsus to this contrition of heart, ſo that muſt further vsus in our hope. And therefore vntounto this abſtinence there hath beene alwais adioined, as a thing inſeparable, ſupplications & praiers, which cannot be at all in any acceptable maner without ſome hope and aſſurance from God, that we ſhall bee heard.And therefore faſting is neuer without prayer. As then in all maner of faſtes we muſt firſt cleerely ſee our ſins, confeſſe them vnfainedly, and thoroughly iudge our ſelues for them; ſo muſt we then alſo with good hope in the goodneſſe of God for Chriſtes ſake praie earneſtly for the full pardon and forgiueneſſe of them, and for the turning away, or remoouing from vsus all heauie iudgements, which are due to vsus, or vponupon vsus for the ſame. So that this is an other thing required of vsus in the day of faſting, which we now keepe, and to which end we doe abſtaine as we do, euen that with great hope vponupon our great humiliation we might praie to God, to remooue from our brethren this heauy hand of his, that hath a long time lien ſore vponupon vsus, and vponupon them.
And thus we ſhall find in holy ſcripture, that all the beſt ſeruants of God hauehave in their faſtings vſed ſolemne praier: and whereas praier is, & ought to be a daily exerciſe of eueryevery chriſtian man & woman, euen as the Iewes had their daily morning and euening ſacrifice, which were not without praier: and as it is ſaide of Daniell, Dan. 6.10.that it was his cuſtome to praie three times euerie day;Yea earnest and feruent, and continuall praiers in the daies of faſting they hauehave vſed a ſpeciall and extraordinarie kinde of praier, differing from all other, that they hauehave vſed before, both in zeale and ſtrength of praier, and alſo in continuance. Therefore we in the daies of our faſtings alſo ſhould be more zealous & feruent in praier, and alſo longer, and more continuall then at other times, as then we hauehave alwaies ſome ſpeciall cauſe to mooue vsus vntounto it, and the outward abſtinence alſo ſhould further vsus thereunto. And this we read to hauehave beene the practiſe of the Niniuites in their publike faſt, which they kept, that then according to that knowledge that they had, they did all praie verie earneſtly vntounto God, that he would ſpare them: according to that that the king commanded, ſaying,Iona. 3.8. Let man and beaſt put on ſackcloth, and crie mightily vntounto God, that is, praie earneſtly vntounto him for merciemercy: as Dauid vſeth the like phraſe in the ſame ſenſe.Pſal. 130.1. Out of the deepe places hauehave I called or cried out vntounto thee, O Lord. And this feruencie of praier the prophet Eſay Eſay. 58 4.required of the Iewes in their faſtes, when hee ſaith, Behold yee faſt to ſtrife and debate, and to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſſe, yee ſhall not faſt as yee doe to daie, to make your voice to be heard aboue: this latter part of the verſe others doe read thus, (whoſe interpretation and iudgement heere I follow) You doe not faſt, that you might lift vp your voice on high, that is, to God in feruent praier, which is one ſpeciall cauſe of faſting; and therefore it is called a day of reconciliation,L…u. 23.27 becauſe that then the prieſt by earneſt praier did ſeeke to reconcile the people vntounto God. But to returne to the prophet Eſay: he finding fault with them, that they did not faſt to a right end, namely, to humble themſelues, and conuicting them plainly of the want of humilitie and repentance, becauſe there was ſtrife, and debate, and contention among them, which ought not to hauehave beene, neither could hauehave beene, if in the ſight of their ſinnes they had beene rightly humbled to ſeeke vntounto God for mercy: ſaith farther, that they did not faſt (as thoſe times did require) to lift vp their voices earneſtlie to God in praier; they did chide, and were earneſt and aloud one with another, but they were not earneſt and aloud in praier vntounto God as they ſhould hauehave beene: therefore whereas it is tranſlated, Yee ſhall not faſt as you do to daie, to make your voice to be heard aboue; referring this lifting vp of the voice vntounto loud words in contention, (as for the moſt part men will then be heard) others doe read it (as wee hauehave heard) you doe not, or you will not faſt, that your voice might be heard aboue, referring it to the lifting vp of the voice to God in praier, and in more then ordinarie praier, noted by the lifting vp of their voice: as was ſaid before, that the Niniuites did not ſpeake onelyonly, but crie out, and that mightily, or with all their ſtrength vntounto God.Therefore in …he daies of …aſting we …uſt inforce …ur ſelues to …eruent and … So that to faſting muſt bee ioined a moſt earneſt kinde of praier, as the time ſhall then require: and as men muſt not praie coldly and from the teeth outward (as we ſay) at anie time, ſo then eſpecially they muſt not bee wearie, but conſider well what great neceſſitie there is of praier, both in reſpect of their ſinnes, and of the puniſhment of them; and ſo inforce themſelues to an earneſt kinde of long praier: as if a man were fallen into a deepe pit or well, he would crie out aloud and long with all his ſtrength, euen vntill he were hoarſe, or had loſt his voice, that ſo he might be heard, and holpen, and would not fauour himſelfe in ſuch a caſe.
Thus it appeareth that when Ezra, and the reſt that feared God with him, faſted becauſe of the tranſgreſſion of them of the captiuitie, that hee praied verie earneſtly and long, as wee may gather both from his behauiour, and from the wordes that hee then vſed, which were full of great affection:Ezra. 9.4. for it is written of him, that he ſate downe aſtonied vntill the euening ſacrifice, and after the euening ſacrifice he aroſe vp from his heauineſſe, and when he had rent his clothes, & his garments, he fell vponupon his knees, and ſpread out his handes vntounto the Lord God: and ſaide, 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 treſpaſſe is growen vp vntounto the heauen, and ſo foorth as it followeth in that praier of his, full of all humilitie and zeale. The like may be ſaid of the prophet Daniel, who in the end of the ſeauentie yeeres of their captiuitie (vnderſtanding by bookes (as he ſaith of himſelfe) and namely by reading the Prophecie of Ieremie, that the number of yeeres which the Lord would accompliſh for the deſtruction of Ieruſalem were now almoſt expired) and turned his face vntounto the Lord,Dan. 9.3. by praier and ſupplications, with faſting and ſackcloth & aſhes: and then how zealouſly & feruently he praied, as it appeereth in the whole praier, in which he often breaks out into many paſſionate exclamatiōs: ſo eſpecially by the often doubling of the ſame petitions, which was no vaine babling in him, ful of words without any great matter, but did ariſe of the abundance of his earneſt deſire and great feeling that he had of that which he praied for: as when he ſaith;Dan. 9.15. O our God heare the praier of thy ſeruant, and his ſupplications, and cauſe thy face to ſhine vponupon thy Sanctuarie, that lieth waſte, for the Lords ſake: O my God incline thine eare and heare, open thine eies and behold our deſolations, and the citie whereupon thy name is called; for we doe not preſent our ſupplications before thee for our owne righteouſneſſe, but for thy tender mercies: O Lorde heare, O Lord forgiue; O Lord conſider, and doe it, deferre not for thine owne ſake, O my God: for thy name is called vponupon thy citie, and vponupon thy people. Thus both of them praied verie feruently and with great zeale, which argued that they had great hope of obtaining their ſuites, otherwiſe they would ſoone giuen them ouer, and not hauehave beene ſo importunate. For it is moſt certaine, that according to the hope that we hauehave of obtaining any thing at the handes of God or man, ſo are our deſires and requeſtes vntounto them more earneſt, or more cold, therfore when they praied thus importunately, it appeareth that in this great humilitie of theirs,And by importunitie of praier the Lord will be ouercome. declared by their faſting and maner of it, they had great hope of obtaining their requeſts of God, vntounto whom they did ſue. And thus muſt we doe in the day of our faſting, I ſaie we muſt labour for that meaſure of faith in gods goodneſſe through the bleſſed merits of Chriſt our Sauiour, that might mooue vsus to pray earneſtly, and as it were to crie mightily vntounto God for the remouing nowe at the laſt of this grieuous plague: that though wee hauehave iuſtlie deſerued it, and a great deale more, yet for the Lords ſake it would pleaſe him vponupon our true repentance, and earneſt ſeeking vntounto him for merciemercy, to turne it away. Which if wee doe, then he vndoubtedly will heare vsus in his good time, as hee hath witneſſed vntounto vsus in the Goſpell by the Parables, both of the wicked Iudge,Luk. 18.2. who by the importunity of the widow, was ouercome at the laſt, to doe her right; and this was propounded (as Chriſt himſelfe faith) to this end to teach men to pray often, and not to waxe faint; whereupon he inferreth this generall doctrine.verſ. 6.7. Heare what the vnrighteous Iudge ſaith: and ſhall not God auenge his elect, which crie daie and night vntounto him, though hee ſuffered long for them? So God will heare thoſe that crie daie and night, that is that praie earneſtly and continuallie: And againe in the other parable of the man that came to his friend at midnight to borrow three loues,Luk. 11.5. who though he was vnwilling at the firſt, yet becauſe of his importunitie did ariſe, & gaue him as many as he would▪ whereupon hee maketh this generall promiſe to al thoſe that ſhal thus ſeeke vntounto God, that is, earneſtly and without ceaſing, that he will heare them, ſaying: Aske, and it ſhal be giuen you, ſeeke and yee ſhall finde, knocke and it ſhall be opened vntounto you: for euerie one that asketh receaueth, and he that ſeeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it ſhall be opened; that is, if yee ſeeke and aske after this maner. So by theſe examples wee may be aſſured, that God will heare vsus for this thing, if we pray vntounto him eatneſtly, & without ceaſing, though we hauehave hitherto ſeene little ſucceſſe of our praiers, for the plague is not only not taken away, but is greatly increaſed eueryevery where.
He often deferreth to giuegive, that we might bee quickened vp to feruencie of prayer.And truely the Lord doeth manie times deferre of purpoſe, to grant that which we aske, and which alſo he hath promiſed, and is purpoſed to giuegive, that we might be mooued in the feeling of our want to pray earneſtly for it: and that the want of it for a time might quicken vp our dead hearts, and dull ſpirits vntounto greater feruencie of prayer: that alſo when we ſhall ſee that we hauehave ſuch things giuen vntounto vsus, and that wee hauehave obtained them by our prayer, yea by long and earneſt prayer, wee might make the more account of them, and eſteeme them as we ought, and alſo be ſo much the more thankefull vntounto God for the ſame. For the Lord indeed hath of his great merciemercy promiſed, that if we call vponupon him, he will heare vsus, as we hauehave learned euen now out of the Goſpell of S. Luke, and may further learne out of many other places of Scripture beſides, as,Pſal. 50.15. Call vponupon me in the time of thy trouble, and I will heare thee, and deliuer thee; and many other: but he hath ſet downe no time, when we ſhall ſee and perceiue that hee hath heard vsus, ſauing that it is ſayd, I will heare thee in due time,Pſal. 10.1. euen in affliction. Nowe which is the moſt conuenient time for God to help vsus in,Act. 1.7. that we muſt not preſcribe vntounto him, neither is it alwayes meet for vsus to know the times or the ſeaſons which the Father hath put in his own power: therefore as they be beſt knowen to his heauenly Maieſtie, ſo wee muſt leaue the declaration of them to him alone, not doubting, but that he will heare vsus in due time, euen in affliction. Hee doth deferre many times of purpoſe for good cauſes: both that wee might be ſtirred vp thereby to pray to him earneſtly and continually, not doubting one whit of the trueth of his promiſes; and that when we hauehave our requeſts granted, we might eſteeme of ſo great a benefit, and be thankefull to him for the ſame. For aſſuredly if wee did alwayes finde, that the Lord did giuegive vsus eueryevery thing at the firſt asking (though wee graunt that hee giueth vsus continually more than we aske) ſuch is our vnthankefulneſſe, that both wee would come vntounto him very coldly, and pray drowſilie (for wee would make it but an ordinarie matter,Therefore if we continue in feruent prayer, the Lord will heare vsus at the laſt. Aske & hauehave) and alſo wee would not ſo highlie eſteeme of the things giuen vntounto vsus, nor labor to be ſo thankfull to him for the ſame, as our bounde duty did require. Therfore concerning all other things, and namely, this preſent viſitation of the Plague, the more that the Lord deferreth to take it away, the more earneſt let vsus be in prayer, and let not the delay of it quench the heat of our deſire one whit, but kindle it more and more, and I do aſſure you in the word of the Lord, that if we faint not in praier, but lift vp our hearts and hands ſtill vntounto the Throne of his Mercy, that he will in time heare vsus, and ſhew merciemercy vntounto vsus; and that he will not onelyonly do ſo, but he will make it manifeſt and apparant vntounto the very ſoules and conſciences of vsus all.
This therefore is another moſt excellent vſe and end of faſting,The outward abſtinence must quicken vsus vp vntounto feruencie of pra… euen to quicken vsus vp vntounto greater feruency in duplicate page duplicate page prayer: for as we finde by experience, when our bellies are full, and we are in the abundance of all pleaſures and outward bleſſings, wee are not ſo fit for prayer: and therefore a ſober diet, and a moderate vſe of all other of Gods creatures and benefits will alwayes make vsus the more fit for prayer: but when the bodie is pinched with hunger, and the want of other neceſſarie helpes meet for it, the feeling of our want ſhall be a meanes to ſet a ſharper edge vponupon our prayers, to make them more piercing, and as it were to giuegive a wing vntounto them to flie aloft aboue the clouds, euen to make them enter into heauen, and to come before the throne of God. We ought then in theſe daies of abſtinence thus to profit by the feeling of the want of our bodies, ſo to iudge our ſelues vnwoorthy not onelyonly of all that which wee abſtaine from, but of all other things beſides, yea of life it ſelfe, that we thereby be mooued moſt earneſtly to ſeeke to God for his pardon, and for the beſtowing of all vponupon vsus againe: and by howe much the more wee doe ſo, and profeſſe that in our ſelues by reaſon of our ſinnes we are vnwoorthy of any thing in the world, by ſo much the more let vsus hope from the mercy and promiſes of God, and ſeeke accordingly that in Chriſt Ieſus,Heb. 1.2. Rom. 8.1 whom hee hath made heire of all things, we may be founde woorthie of all, and fellow heires of them with him, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh.
And euen as a man if he were condemned to death would ſue earneſtly for his pardon; eſpecially if hee were lead from the iudge to the place of execution, and were alſo vponupon the ladder, and had the rope about his necke: and the neerer he were to death, and had the verie badges and tokens of it vponupon him, the more earneſt ſuter wold he be for his pardon, if hee coulde but conceaue that there were any hope of it. So we the more that by this holie exerciſe of faſting we ſee, and profeſſe that we are woorthy of all Gods puniſhments and plagues, yea of eternal death and condemnation it ſelfe, by ſo much the more earneſtlie wee muſt praie that God would forgiue vsus our ſinnes and ſpare vsus. Therefore in the daies of faſting there muſt be a ſpeciall kinde of ſtriuing with God in praier, and wee muſt as it were wreſtle with him therein, and neuer giuegive him ouer, or ſuffer him to hauehave reſt, vntil he hauehave ſent vsus away with ſome bleſſing: Euen as it is ſaide of the holy patriarke Iacob, …e muſt raſt…e, and riue w th …nd in our …aiers.that in his returne homeward from Laban, as he did praie vntounto God moſt feruently, ſo all night long he wreſtled with an angell in the ſhape of a man, that is,…en. 32.26. with God himſelfe ſo appearing vntounto him, and hee held out with him in wreſtling euen vntounto the morning, and then he ſaid vntounto him, let me goe, for the morning appeareth, vntounto whom he anſwered, I will not let thee goe, except thou bleſſe me, and ſo he held him faſt ſtil: & then he beſtowed vponupon him this great bleſſing by changing his name from Iacob to Iſrael, that becauſe hee had power, and had preuailed with God, hee ſhould preuaile with men much more. So that viſion of the angell wreſtling with him, and the change of his name tended both to one end, namely to aſſure him, that God had heard his praier, which hee made before, and would deliuer him out of the hand of Eſau, Gen. 32.11whom he feared: and therefore whereas hee was called at his birth Iaacob, that is, one that holdeth by the heele, (and ſo ready to ouerthrow him) for thus was he borne holding his brother Eſau by the heele,Gen. 25.26 in token that in time hee ſhould by the power of God preuaile againſt him, and ſo alſo againſt all his enimies: now he is called Iſrael, that is,Gen. 32.28 a prince of the ſtrong God, becauſe (as the interpretation is giuen in the text) he had power with God, and ſhoulde preuaile with men; that is, he had preuailed with God in his praier, as was declared vntounto him in the viſion of wreſtling, and ſhould preuaile againſt Eſau, and al other his enimies, but how he did and ſhould heereafter preuaile with God, and obtaine all things of him the viſion did ſhew, namely, that hee praied ſo feruently and ſo continually that he did not giuegive ouer vntil he had ſome aſſurance from the Lord by his holie ſpirit, that he had heard him, and would defend & bleſſe him, according vntounto his own deſire,Gen. 32.9. & the Lords promiſe. Thus muſt wee alſo ſtriue with the Lord in our praiers, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh to the Romanes, Rom. 15.30and requireth of them, that they would ſtriue with him by praier to God for him: and we muſt put all our ſtrength to it, as Iacob did, when he wreſtled with the angel. And to ſee it againe more cleerly in the ſame compariſon: As a man that wreſtleth for the beſt game will put all his might and skill to it, and wil not giuegive ouer as long as he hath anie thing in himſelfe, that he might preuaile: ſo muſt we in our praiers bee ſo earneſt & importunate with the Lord, that we riſe not vp from praier, or depart away from him, vntill hee hauehave bleſſed vsus: and the harder that we find it to obtaine anie thing becauſe of our ſinnes, the more earneſtly muſt wee ſtriue in praier for it. Therefore now in thee daies of faſting let vsus ſtirre vp our ſelues vntounto praier, and ſtriue againſt all vnfitneſſe, that might hinder vsus, and as for other things, ſo that this great mortalitie might hauehave an end, without which feruencie of praier, all our faſting is nothing woorth.
Seeing then that feruencie and continuance in praier is ſo proper vntounto the time of faſting (as we hauehave heard) and it is ſpecially vndertaken to that end:The papiſts had no ſpeciall praier vponupon their faſting daies. we may ſee by this alſo how farre the church of Rome & al Papiſts, are from the true faſt preſcribed in Gods word, & practiſed of this ſeruants (thogh they would be thought to be the onelyonly men in the world that faſt and pray. For vponupon the Fridaies and other faſting daies there was no ſpeciall time appointed, as alſo not in Lent, appointed for praier: neither did manie of them that profeſſed faſting, come to the Church at all to that end: and if ſome of them did praie vponupon their Saints eeuen at night, yet many did not, which were bound to the faſt: and they that did, all the reſt of the daie were without praier; and vponupon thoſe daies they went about their buſineſſe, as at all other times, eſpecially vntounto noone, or vntounto eeuen-ſong, as they called it. Whereas the whole day of faſt is altogither of the nature of the Sabbath, both for reſting from worke, & alſo for ſanctifying of the time; and therefore vponupon thoſe daies, they had holy conuocations and aſſemblies for the worde and praier: as in the booke of Leuiticus, …eu. 1.6 31. …eu. 23.27.the yeerely day of faſt for the Iewes is called a Sabbath of reſt, and beſides it is further added: therein you ſhall hauehave an holie conuocation, and yee ſhall doe no worke. Therefore when theſe Catholikes (falſely ſo called) did reſt in the bare ceremonie of faſting, and did not giuegive themſelues that daie to praier more then at other times (for the moſt part) they neglected that, that was principall in it, and whereunto it ſhould be referred. And ſo we ſee, what the Lord requireth of vsus al at this preſent, and to what end we abſtaine, euen that we hauing nothing to hinder vsus inwardly, nor outwardly in our bodies to preſſe vsus downe to the earth, our mindes might be lifted vp in all feruencie of praier vntounto our heauenly father in the mediation of our Lord and Sauiour ſo much the more.
To this end we muſt giuegive ourſelues as much as we can to a deepe and ſerious meditation of that that is the cauſe of our faſt,The ſerio… conſiderat… of our preſent eſtate will incre… feruencie … praier. whether it bee anie great puniſhment of God already vpō vsus, or imminent and hanging ouer our head, and ready ſhortly to befall vsus: or it be ſome grace and bleſſing of God, that we want, or we are afraid to looſe, that thereby we might ſee, and feele in what a wofull and miſerable caſe wee are in, or ſhould be, in reſpect of that, if the Lord ſhould not heare vsus, and be mercifull vntounto vsus. As we ſee how the people of Nineue hearing that their deſtructiō was threatned againſt them by the Lords prophet,…ona. 3.5. and that within a ſhort time, euen fortie daies, they beleeued God, (as it is ſaide in that ſtorie) that is, they were perſwaded, that for their ſinnes they had deſerued it, & alſo that God had ſent him to warne them of it; they therefore perceauing themſelues to be in ſuch a wofull caſe, the king proclaimed a faſt, and willed euerie man to crie mightely vntounto God, that is, to praie earneſtly vntounto him, to forgiue them, and ſpare them: ſo that they did not onelyonly praie thus feruently vntounto God, but the conſideration of their eſtate moued them vntounto it, which if by beleeuing the prophet they had not acknowledged, they could not hauehave come vntounto it in this acceptable meaſure.Heſt. 3.13. So in the daies of Heſter, when Haman had obtained a decree from the king, and it was ſealed with his ring, and the letters were ſent by poſtes into all the kinges prouinces: The tenor whereof was, to roote out, to kill, and to deſtroy all the Iewes,Heſt. 4.3. both yoonge and old, children and women in one day, in euerie prouince and place, whether the kings charge, and his commiſſion came: there was great ſorrow among the Iewes, and faſting and weeping, and mourning, and many lay in ſackecloth and aſhes, and three daies and three nights they gaue themſelues to faſting and praier: ſo that the knowledge of this eſtate of theirs that they came vntounto, by hearing of the kings commiſſion granted out againſt them, did driue them to this great ſorrow for it, appearing in weeping and mourning, and it ſo made them to praie thus earneſtly, and ſo long, euen three daies & three nights togither: which they would not, nor could hauehave done, if they had not by taking knowledge of the kings letters, perceaued their eſtate to bee ſo deſperate, and ſo forlorne, as indeed it was. Likewiſe in the time of the Iudges, when the tribe of Beniamin had twiſe ouerthrowne the reſt of the children of Iſrael,Iudg. 20.26 and had in two ſet battels ſlaine 40000. of them: they ſeeing themſelues by the ſlaughter of ſo manie greatly weakened, fell a weeping before the Lord, and faſted that day vntounto euening, and asked counſell of the Lord, not onelyonly by Vrim and Thummim, but by feruent praier, to ſhew them what they ſhoulde doe. Theſe then ſeeing themſelues in ſo ill a caſe, that many of their brethren were ſlaine alreadie, or that they, and themſelues were like to bee ſlaine, thought it their bound duty, to ſeeke vntounto God earneſtly, to turne that deſtruction away, and to ſtaie his heauie hand, and ſo he did.
So muſt we alſo doe at this preſent,The lamentable eſtate of many in reſpect of this peſtilence, may moue vsus vntounto feruent prayer. that we might come to this earneſtnes of prayer ſpoken of, and neceſſarily required in ſuch times of faſting: wee muſt (I ſay) well weigh and conſider of the great calamitie and miſerie that is among vsus, and in what a pitifull caſe many of our deare brethren are, and hauehave beene a long time, without any intermiſſion, how they die daylie and weekly in the chiefe cities and townes of the land, both in theſe parts and other countreis: as in Norwich aboue an hundred a weeke, and in London aboue three thouſand weekely, and thus it hath beene many weeks together, and it ſpreadeth eueryevery where in ſmall villages, and threatens eueryevery where, and none can tell almoſt in what place long to be free. During which time of contagion and peſtilence it hath come to paſſe, that many hauehave had their louing wiues pulled out of their boſoms, ſome their prouident husbands taken from them: others hauehave loſt their parēts the ſtay of their liues, others are left childleſſe; ſome hauehave neither brother nor ſiſter left, maſter nor ſeruant, friend, kinſefolke, nor neighbour: yea euen the whole houſe and familie is ſwept cleane away, ſo that there is nothing but weeping & mourning, ſighing and ſobbing, wailing and wringing of hands, ſpending away their time in ſorow without taſte in any meat, or comfort in ſleepe, or any thing els, looking themſelues eueryevery houre when they ſhould be ſmitten with the ſame hand of God, & ſo follow to the graue them that hauehave lately gone before thē: we I ſay muſt wiſely conſider of theſe things, that ſeeing nothing before our eyes in theſe times of ſo great deſolation, but the vntimely death and deſtruction of our deare brethren, kindred, and friends, yea of our ſelues ſhortly, if God be not mercifull vntounto vsus, might mooue vsus to pray earneſtly vntounto God, both for our ſelues and for them: and truely if we could ſo conſider of theſe things as we ought, it might mooue vsus in greater humilitie before God, and compaſſion toward our brethren, to powre out not only at this preſent, but night and day heereafter, moſt ardent praiers & ſupplications vntounto the Lord, that in his bleſſed time hee would put an happie end to ſo great deſtruction, and that it might be ſufficient vntounto his Fatherly goodneſſe, that he hath thus farre proceeded in iudgement againſt vsus, and againſt them alreadie. I ſay the deepe conſideration & inward feeling of this common miſerie would make vsus to be more often & feruent in prayer vntounto God, and not onelyonly thus publikely, but priuately alſo.
But I can not tell how it commeth to paſſe (the more is the pitie) through the great hardneſſe of mens hearts,As the feeling of all our wants will make vsus earneſt to hauehave thē ſupplied. that many of vsus thinke little of it, or not ſo much as they ſhould, becauſe it is ſo far from them: yet let them know aſſuredly, that it may ſoone come neerer, God knoweth how ſoone; and in the meane ſeaſon, if they will not pitie others, and pray for them, none ſhall pitie and pray for them, when they ſhalbe in the like caſe. So then as they that are in great want of food, and ſee that they hauehave nothing at home, bread nor meat, nor money to buy any thing with, are driuen to ſeeke abroad for themſelues & for their children: & beſides they will be importunate where they come, and hauehave no nay, their neceſſitie is ſo great▪ that it compels them vntounto it, euen ſometimes to goe beyond the bounds of modeſtie and good maners; ſo if we could aſwell ſee and feele this great miſerie that we and our brethren are in, it would make vsus to be ſo importunate with the Lord in our prayers, that we would hauehave no nay at his handes, but ſtill ſtand knocking at the gate of his merciemercy, vntill hee hath opened, and ſent vsus away with a gratious anſwer, as Dauid in the one & fifty Pſalme preſſed downe with the heauie burden of his ſinnes did crie vntounto God againe and againe for merciemercy, and would not hauehave his mouth ſtopped, vntill the Lord had merciemercy vponupon him ſaying; HaueHave merciemercy upon me O God,Pſa. 51.1.2. according to thy louing kindneſſe, according to the multitude of thy cōpaſſions put away mine iniquiti…, waſh me throughly from mine iniquitie, and clenſe me from my ſin, purge me with Hyſope, waſhe me, make mee to heare ioy and gladneſſe, and ſo foorth as followeth: where euerie verſe almoſt containeth a ſeueral petition, earneſtly crauing merciemercy of God for his ſinnes: yea as blinde Bartimaeus cried after Chriſt in the waie:Mar. 10.46. Ieſus the ſonne of Dauid hauehave merciemercy on me, and manie rebuked him, becauſe he ſhould hold his peace, but he cried much more, O ſonne of Dauid hauehave mercy on me, and would neuer leaue calling and crying, vntill Chriſt ſtoode ſtill, and commanded him to be called: ſo we in this caſe ſhould neuer leaue calling vponupon God, vntill by diminiſhing of the plague we might ſee ſome token of his merciemercy. Nay we ſhould be like to the woman of Syropheniſſe, who came ſuing to Chriſt for her daughter,Math. 15.21 and ſaide; HaueHave merciemercy on me O Lord, the ſoone of Dauid, and he by his ſilence ſeemed not to regard her, and when his Diſciples did ſpeake to him for her, he anſwered them, as though ſhe were not to be regarded, ſaying, I am not ſent but to the loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael; & when ſhee came neerer her-ſelfe, and ſaide, Lord helpe me, then he ſeemed cleane to caſt her off, and to leaue her without all hope,…4. 01 … in ſaying, It is not good to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to whelpes: yet for al this ſhe would not giuegive ouer, her need was ſo great, but deſired as a whelpe to eate of the crummes,And by earneſt ſuite we ſhall finde, … ſupplie in time. that fell from her maſters table: and ſo Chriſt heard her at the laſt, and ſaid vntounto her, O woman great is thy faith, be it to thee, as thou deſireſt, and her daughter was made whole at that houre: Euen ſo our ſelues, though we may ſeeme all this while to hauehave praied in vaine, and to hauehave loſt our labour, and the Lorde God not to regard vsus, becauſe the plague is not one whit leſſened, but rather increaſed, yet becauſe our need is ſo great, let vsus not giuegive ouer, but in all feruencie of praier hold out, and waite vponupon God: and how?Pſal. 123. … Euen as the eies of ſeruants looke vntounto the hand of their maiſters, and as the eies of a maiden vntounto the hand of her miſtreſſe, ſo let our eies waite vponupon the Lord our God vntill he hauehave merciemercy vponupon vsus. And let euerie one ſaie,Pſal. 130.5. I hauehave waited on the Lorde, my ſoule hath waited, and I hauehave truſted in his worde; my ſoule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning, and ſo let vsus incourage all Iſrael, euen the people of God to waite vponupon him: for with him is mercy, & with him is great redemption, and he wil redeeme them from al their iniquities: that is, as he hath manie waies and meanes to deliuer thoſe that be his, ſo he will vponupon their repentance forgiue them all their ſinnes, and much more deliuer from the deſerued puniſhment of the ſame.
…he conſci…ce of our …woorthi…ſſe muſt …t hinder …, but ra…er make … more fer…ut in prai….Moreouer that wee might praie ſo earneſtly as we ſhould, let vsus further conſider our great vnwoorthineſſe by reaſon of our innumerable ſinnes, that when wee ſhall ſee, that whether wee looke to our ſelues, or to other, there is no cauſe that the Lord ſhould heare and helpe vsus, for wee hauehave not done our dutie as we ought, wee hauehave not profited by his worde and great patience; nay wee hauehave by the abuſe of them, and by other of our ſinnes prouoked his wrath againſt vsus, and hauehave deſerued that this deadly plague ſhuld continew and make an end of vsus all: we may be importunate with him to ſpare vsus, that ſo, though not for anie thing that is in vsus, of his great merciemercy for Chriſtes ſake by opportunitie hee may be ouercome: as wee hauehave ſeene by the parable of the wicked Iudge how he will be: and as we hauehave ſeene how Iacob would not giuegive ouer wreſtling, vntill he had bleſſed him, at the laſt obtained the bleſſing. So the Lord ſeeing that we are not wearie of calling vponupon him, though he finde vsus vnwoorthie, might heare and helpe vsus. And ſo let not the conſcience of our vnwoorthineſſe ſtoppe our mouthes, & hinder our praiers, but rather mooue vsus to be the more earneſt, confeſſing the ſame, as Ezra Ezra 9.6.doth. I am confounded and aſhamed to lift vp mine eies vntounto thee my God, for our iniquities are increaſed ouer our head, and our treſpaſſe is growen vp vntounto the heauen: and as Daniel Dan. 9.8.doth, O Lord vntounto vsus appertaineth open ſhame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, becauſe we hauehave ſinned againſt thee: yet compaſſion and forgiueneſſe is in the Lord our God, albeit we hauehave rebelled againſt him: and ſo may we truely ſay of our ſelues, and of our land and countrey wherein we liue.
And laſtly for this preſent let vsus conſider, that as in no other thing, ſo in this moſt of all, none can helpe vsus but the Lord;…nd the con…eration of …is, that …e can …lpe vsus but … Lord. there are meanes appointed for eueryevery thing, but vnleſſe hee giuegive them we can not hauehave them, and then alſo the right vſe and ſucceſſe of them is of the Lord: ſo that he can not onelyonly denie them vntounto vsus, but curſe them when we hauehave them, that they ſhall do vsus no good: ſo that we may truly ſaie, My helpe commeth from the Lorde,… 121.2. who hath made both heauen & earth; therefore we had need to praie to him ſo much the more earneſtly: for the truſting to this and that, hindereth our praier. But the time cutteth mee off from this, and ſo I leaue it to be ſupplied by the ſpirit of God, which is able to giuegive you vnderſtanding in all things.