The Holy Exercise of Fasting, Sermon 5
HOMIL. V.
The fifth Homilie doth further intreat of feruencie of praier requiſite in fasting: and to the end we may conſider, what great things God hath promiſed to faſting and praier; and how he hath performed the ſame, not onelyonly to the godly, but euen to the wicked, who hauehave thereby obtained great deliuerances: yea how men by humble ſupplication hauehave preuailed with men, euen with their enemies.
I Am at this preſent to proceede in that argument,To quicke… vsus vp further vntounto feruent pra… er, we mus… conſider. that I entred into the laſt day, and could not then well finiſh for want of time, namely to continue further to declare, how wee may attaine vntounto that feruencie of praier that hath beene ſpoken of, which is ſo neceſſary in the faſting we hauehave in hand. Therefore beſides all that hath beene ſaid to this end, we are laſtly to conſider, that we might be mooued to praie ſo earneſtly as we ſhould, to conſider (I ſay) the gratious promiſes, that God hath made to all thoſe that hauehave, or ſhall heereafter at any time hold this exerciſe of faſting vntounto him in any meaſure of trueth; and how the ſame from time to time hauehave beene performed vntounto them: inſomuch that though the beginning of their faſt hath beene full of heauineſſe, and with much ſorrow for their ſinnes, and for the wrath of God againſt them appearing in ſome grieuous puniſhment; yet the end thereof hath beene with much reioicing and comfort in aſſured hope both of the free pardon and forgiueneſſe of them, with perfect reconciliation vntounto God, and alſo with good hope of obtaining of all ſuch things, as they hauehave ſued for by earneſt and feruent praier.Firſt what pr…miſes God hath …ade to thoſe that ſeeke vntounto him in faſting and praier. And firſt of all concerning the promiſe that the Lord of his great mercy hath made to all thoſe that ſeeke vntounto him in all humilitie by faſting and praier, we may ſee what the prophet Ioel Ioel 1.4.ſaith. Who exhorting the people to faſting and praier, becauſe of that great calamitie, that was vponupon them, by reaſon that the fruites of the earth were ſo wholly deſtroied, (for that which was left of the Palmer-worme the Graſhopper had eaten; and the reſidue of the Graſhopper had the Canker-worme eaten, and the reſidue of the Canker-worme had the Caterpiller eaten:cap. 2.1 exhorting them I ſaie, to turne vntounto the Lord with all their hart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and to rent their hearts, and not their clothes, and to turne vntounto the Lord their God: that is, not their clothes onelyonly, according to the maner of that time in great ſorrow, but their hearts eſpeciallie, that ſo their ſorrow might bee in truth, & not in appearance onelie, ſetteth before them the great mercy of god to al thoſe that ſo come vntounto him, ſaying; For the Lord is gracious and mercifull, ſlowe to anger, and of great kindneſſe, and repenteth him of the euill; who knoweth if he will returne, namely to his accuſtomed mercifull dealing, and repent, that is, of that euill, that he might further bring vponupon them, and leaue a bleſſing behinde him, euen a meat offering, and a drinke offering vntounto the Lorde their God? that is ſome thing to be ſerued with, for the glorie of his name, leaſt his ſeruice ſhould faile▪ as hee had complained before; that the meat offring and drinke offring was cut off from the houſe of the Lorde,…oel 1.7. for which the Prieſtes the Lordes miniſters did mourne.
Then we ſee, how the Prophet in the name of the Lord doth promiſe vntounto them, that if they would thorowly humble themſelues for their ſinnes the cauſe of this great affliction, noted by the rending of their hearts, though the Lord had begunne to puniſh them already, and that moſt grieuouſly, yet he would ſtay his heauy hand and beſtow ſome bleſſing vponupon them: where in ſaying, Who knoweth, or who can tell? his meaning is nothing leſſe than to call it into queſtion, or any wayes to make them doubt of it, but rather to conſider the hardneſſe of the thing, and ſo to ſeeke for it the more earneſtly, that they might hauehave ſome hope of it: as if he had ſayd, Seeing God is ſo mercifull, as he had ſpoken of him before, calling him, Gratious, ſlow to anger, and of great kindnes, and one that repenteth him of the euill, there is no doubt of the thing, but that if they could humble themſelues as he required, and pray earneſtly, though he had begun to puniſh them already, yet hee would repent and ſpare them. As alſo it is ſayd in the Prophet Jona, Iona 3.9.by the King of Nineue (who proclaimed a faſt, and willed all men to put on ſackecloth, and to crie mightily vntounto the Lord, and eueryevery man to turne from his euill way, and from the wickedneſſe of his hands) Who can tell, if God will turne, and repent, and turne away from his fierce wrath, that wee periſh not? which he vttereth after this maner, ſaying, Who can tell? to ſhew the hardneſſe and difficultie of it; that they might crie vntounto God the more earneſtly or mightily, as hee alſo willeth them there. So that as from the forenamed place of Ioel, wee hauehave a commandement to faſt publikely, when Gods hand is heauie vponupon vsus, as it is now, and hath been a long time, when as hee thus ſpeaketh: Thus ſayth the Lord,Ioel 2.12. turne you vntounto me with all your hearts and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning, & ſo forth: ſo from thence alſo we hauehave a promiſe (as we hauehave heard) that if we can humble our ſelues thorowly, iudging and condemning our ſelues, as we ought, which is meant by renting of our hearts, as was ſayd before, and turne with all our hearts from our ſinnes, euen with ſorrow and griefe for them vntounto the Lord, that he himſelfe will in this puniſhment of ours alſo repent, and leaue a bleſſing behinde, as is ſayd there, that is, ſome cauſe to praiſe and magnifie his holy Name: and the reaſon, why we hauehave it no ſooner is, that men hauehave not all this while caſt down themſelues before the high throne of Gods iudgement, as they ſhould, and vnfainedly leaue all their ſins; which if men could come vntounto in that maner & meaſure that they ought, then heere is a moſt gratious & ſure promiſe made vntounto vsus from the Lord by the mouth of his holy Prophet, that hee will be mercifull vntounto vsus, and ſpare vsus; which he will alſo vndoubtedly performe, for he is Trueth it ſelfe.
Therefore that we might doe this that we doe in faith,Which promiſes wee muſt at this preſent ſet before our eyes. I meane continue ſtill to faſt and pray, and not giuegive it ouer, or wax wearie of it, as of our ſelues wee are too prone vntounto it: yea that in thus abſtaining, wee might pray earneſtly vntounto God, to ſtay his heauie hand, and to put an happie end at the laſt vntounto this long and great mortality, Let vsus conſider that euen this promiſe is made to vsus, and written for this very time, and for this purpoſe, that if in this faſting eueryevery man will turne from all his ſinnes with his whole heart, and be ſorie for them euen from the very bottome of his heart: that the Lord himſelfe will repent of all that euill that he hath begun to do vntounto vsus; and though hee hath taken away many thouſands alreadie, yet he will ſpare the reſt, and leaue ſome eueryevery where to praiſe his Name. So many therefore among vsus, as doe thus with true repentance turne from their ſinnes, to ſerue the Lord in holineſſe and newneſſe of life, may praie with great hope and comfort for merciemercy from the Lord, for the promiſe is made vntounto them, whoſoeuer they be: but all they that yeeld to this outward & bodily exerciſe of faſting, but are not thus broken in their harts, nor affected in their ſoules, neither hauehave any care ſo to be, as they cannot call vponupon the name of the Lord with anie earneſtneſſe of praier, but all is done formally and ceremonially of them, ſo they cannot hauehave anie great hope of being heard, but ſhall ſpeede thereafter.
And eſpecially we may ſee plainely from the eighteenth verſe of that chapter vntounto the end of the ſame,Which promiſes are moſt certaine and belonging to vsus, as well as to the Iewes. how plainely and largely he doth promiſe, not onelyonly a remoouing of that great puniſhment, which was verie much; and for the certaintie of it, and to aſſure her faith of it, ſpeaketh of it, as though it were alreadie come, ſaying, then will the Lord be iealous ouer his lande and ſpare his people:Ioel 2.18. and againe,ver. 22. be not afraid yee beaſtes of the field, for the paſtures of the wilderneſſe are greene, for the tree beareth her fruite, the figge tree and the vine doe giuegive their force; be glad then yee children of Sion, and reioice in the Lord your God, for he hath giuen you the raine of righteouſneſſe, that is, as much as is meet for you in this great drought: In al which words he ſpeaking of this benefite to come, as though it were already giuen them, (according to the maner of the prophets) doth ſhew, that he had alreadie receaued this promiſe from the Lorde, that if they did thus throughly caſt downe themſelues in the guiltineſſe of their ſinnes, and conſcience of their deſerts, he would ſpare them and bleſſe them: and beſides hee would poure out his holy ſpirit moſt plentifully vponupon them. And this vndoubtedly is ſet downe for our conſolation, and inſtruction, to ſhew vsus, what in the like caſe we may looke for: And truely it muſt needes be ſo, for there is no reſpect of perſons with God, and the promiſes of his worde though ſpoken vntounto ſome particular people, vponupon ſome occaſion, yet are for all ages and times, and doe generally belong to all alike, vponupon the ſame condition. Therefore when as it ſaide to them, Turne vntounto the Lorde with all your heart, and rent your hearts, and when you are thus humbled, the Lord will returne for your good, and ſo foorth, as it followeth in that place, it is ſpoken not to them onelyonly, but to all ſuch, as in the like caſe ſhall thus do: and ſo vntounto vsus now, that we may be aſſured, that if we thus do, in that meaſure that we doe it in truth, we ſhall finde merciemercy with the Lorde, and ſo may praie for it moſt earneſtlie in faith, as they were willed to doe.
And the rather that we might thus doe,Secondly conſider the fulfilling of theſe promiſes to al thoſe that hauehave vſed fasting and praier. and be confirmed in the truth of this hope, let vsus vntounto this gracious promiſe, that we hauehave heard of, ioine the conſideration of all the faſtes of the faithfull ſeruants of God, ſet downe in the old and new Teſtament, and ſee what hath beene the iſſue of them, and whether they hauehave not obtained the things, that they hauehave thus ſued for, and if the Lord hath not turned their ſorrow into ioy,Iſa. 61.3. their faſting into feaſting, and ſo hath giuen (as the prophet ſpeaketh) to them that hauehave mourned, beatitie for aſhes, the oile of ioy for mourning, and the g…rment of gladneſſe for the ſpirit of heauineſſe. And heere wee may firſt of all conſider, what was the fruite of that faſt, which the Iſraelites helde in the time of the Iudges, when for the wickedneſſe done to the Leuites concubine, they fought againſt the Beniamites, and were ouerthrowne in the firſt battle,Iudg. 20. ſo that there was ſlaine that daie two and twentie thouſand: they faſted and praied, & ſet vponupon them the ſecond time, & yet were ouerthrowne in that battle alſo; for the men of Beniamin ſlew downe to the ground of the children of Iſrael againe, eighteene thouſand, all which could handle the ſword: then they faſted and praied the ſecond time, and got the victory, when they were throughly humbled: So that by faſting & praier they preuailed againſt them at the laſt, though not at the firſt, and might hauehave done ſooner, if they had beene ſufficiently humbled before.As the Iſraelites thereby at the laſt preuailed against the Beniamites. Wee hauehave hitherto with the reſt of our brethren faſted and praied often that this grieuous plague raging in manie places might hauehave an ende, and yet hauehave not thus farre preuailed with the Lord, but the people ſtil die euerie where in great number; yea it hath increaſed greatly ſince wee began: ſo that ours and their eſtate is woorſe then it was before we began, euen as the Iſraelites did fall by thouſands before their enimies after that they had by faſting and praier asked counſell of the Lord: but if wee can hold out in this exerciſe vntounto the end, and not be diſcouraged, though wee ſee little ſucceſſe at the firſt, and the more that wee ſee the hand of God increaſed againſt vsus in iuſtice, the more wee labour to grow in humilitie and feruency of praier, then we doubt not, but at the laſt by the euent, as the Iſraelites did, we ſhall ſee that we hauehave not all this while loſt our labour, and called vponupon the name of God in vaine. Therefore that we might with aſſured confidence, and good hope perſeuer in this holy exerciſe of faſting and praier, beſides the promiſe of God made vntounto it, which we hauehave heard, let vsus ſet this worthy example before our eies to comfort vsus, that though the beginning hath beene full of ſo…owe, as it was with them, yet the end will be full of ioy and conſolation to our ſelues and others, and to the praiſe and glorie of almightie God.
To this we may adioine that notable and famous example, that we hauehave in the booke of Heſter: Heſt. 3.6.where it is ſaid, that Haman for the malice that hee bare againſt Mordecay, ſought the vtter deſtruction of all the Iewes: for he thought it too little to laie handes on Mordecay himſelfe alone, and becauſe they had ſhewed him the people of Mordecay, he ſought to deſtroy all the Iewes, that were through out the whole kingdome of Ahaſhueroſh; and to this end he had obtained a Decree from the king,Heſt. 3.13. to roote out and to deſtroie, and to kill them all, both yoong and old, children and women in one daie. Then all the Iewes, at the aduiſe and commandement of Queene Heſter, Heſt. 4.16.17.did faſt and praie vntounto God three daies and three nights, to intreat the Lord, that ſhe might find fauour with the King, that this wicked deuiſe might bee fruſtrate and diſanulled: whereby it came to paſſe, that the Lord in whoſe hands are the hearts of all men to turne, euen as the riuers of waters, and who hath ſaide that when a mans waies doe pleaſe the Lord,Pro. 16.7. hee will make his enimies his friends, did ſo change the Kings heart, (I ſay) that they had thereby not onelyonly to defend themſelues, and to gather themſelues togither, and to ſtand for their liues: but alſo to roote out and to deſtroy all the power of the people,Heſt. 8.11. and of the prouince that vexed them, both children and women, and to ſpoile their goods:And by this mea…es the Iewes …d ouerthrow the diueliſh pra…tiſe of proud Haman. and ſo alſo they did, and God bleſſed them therein▪ yea and Haman the Iewes great aduerſarie was hanged vponupon the high gibbet, which hee had prepared for Mordecay, and after that tenne of his ſonnes alſo were hanged, and Mordecay and all the Iewes were greatly aduanced and honored,Heſt. 9.28. and the daies of weeping and faſting were turned into great reioicing and feaſting yeerely. Thus we ſee how wonderfully God did bleſſe them, being ſo humbled in faſting and praier before and what great things they obtained thereby, as not onelie the ſauing of their liues & goods thereby, but the vtter ruine and ouerthrow of their moſt deadly and profeſſed enimies: and therefore no doubt if wee could humble our ſelues this way, and praie earneſtly, as they did, if we were as neere deathes doore, as they were, and had receaued euen the ſentence of death in our ſelues, as they had,2. Cor. 1.9. it were poſſible for vsus to eſcape it, and to finde merciemercy with the Lord, as they hauehave done before vsus, and that not onelyonly for our ſelues, but for our brethren, as they did. For as hee hath promiſed, that if we turne vntounto him vnfainedly, in the middeſt of deſtruction, he will leaue a bleſſing behinde him for vsus, as was ſaid before out of Ioel: Ioel. 2.14.ſo heere in this people wee ſee the truth and accompliſhment of it.
Beſides wee may conſider of that woorthy example of Gods mercy this way ſhewed vponupon thoſe that humbled themſelues by faſting and praier in the daies of Iehoſhaphat, that good King of Iudah, as it is ſet downe in the ſecond booke of the Chronicles: 2. Chr. 20.2where it is ſaide that the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the people of mount Seir came foorth to battle againſt him: and hee fearing the danger that might befall him, and his people, proclaimed a faſt throughout all Iudah: and praied earneſtly to God for himſelfe, and for them: which praier of his is there ſet downe: And before they had ended their praier, the ſpirit of the Lord came vponupon Iahaziel a Leuite, in the middeſt of the congregation, who by the ſpirit of propheſie did foretell the victorie, ſaying,2. Chro. 20.17. Yee ſhall not need to fight in this battle, ſtand mooue not, and behold the ſaluation of the Lorde towards you:And king Iehoſhaphat thereby obtained victorie againſt their enimies. O Iudah and Ieruſalem, feare yee not, neither be afraid, to morrow goe out againſt them, and the Lord will be with you. And ſo it came to paſſe: for their enimies ſlew one another, euen the children of Ammon and Moab roſe againſt the inhabitants of mount Seir, to ſlay and deſtroie them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, euerie one helped to deſtroy an other: and ſo the Iewes entred vponupon the ſpoile of them, & found among them aboundance both of ſubſtance, and of bodies laden with pretious iewels, which they tooke for themſelues, till they could carie no more: and were three daies in gathering of the ſpoile, for it was much: and in the fourth day they praiſed God in the valley of Berachah; which from that day had the name of that action, for there they bleſſed and praiſed God for the victorie, which he had giuen them, and ſo called it the valley of bleſſing or praiſe: and ſo they returned home to Ieruſalem with great ioy. Here we may conſider the fruit of their faſting to be this, that when by earneſt praier they ſought vntounto God, being in great feare, as it is ſaide of the King, that he feared, and ſet himſelfe to ſeeke the Lord,2. Chr. 10.3 then he made them to reioice. So if we could thus rightly conſider of this hand of God ſtretched out againſt vsus, that ſeeing our ſinnes to be the cauſe of it, wee would feare God and his wrath, and ſuffer it to work vponupon our conſciences, and ſeeke vntounto God in feare earneſtly to turne it awaie, it, might pleaſe him ſo to bleſſe vsus at the laſt, that we ſhould hauehave great cauſe to reioice. But verie few doe ſo laie it to heart, that they hauehave all this while any thing profited by it in the true feare of God, to repent them of any thing that is paſt, & to determine a better courſe heereafter, and therefore cannot ſo earneſtly ſeeke vntounto God as they ſhould, for the remoouing of it, and ſo it may iuſtly ſtill be continued, till it worke in vsus this true feare: which God grant that it may ſpeedilie doe. But let ſo manie as by the due conſideration of this viſitation hauehave ſet themſelues to feare the Lord, and to ſeeke vntounto him in truth, conſider how God was found of this people, and ſo will be of vsus in his good time: and as hee cauſed them after their great feare, to returne home with as much ioy: ſo he may bring thoſe that for feare hauehave with griefe forſaken their townes and houſes,ſal. 126.5. bring them home againe with as much reioicing: and whereas they hauehave ſowen with teares, they may reap with ioy, and going out weeping, and carying precious ſeede, might returne with ioy and bring their ſheaues, as the prophet ſpeaketh.
Laſtly concerning this mattter we may ſee how the prophet Iona Ion. 3.4.comming to Nineue according to the cō mandement of the Lord, to denounce Gods heauie iudgement againſt them for their ſinnes, euen that within forty daies the whole citie ſhould be ouerthrowne: the King beleeuing this fearfull curſe threatned to bee iuſt and deſerued,By this m…anes the Nineuites eſcaped tha… deſtruction that was threatned against them. proclaimed a faſt to this ende, that euerie one turning from his euill waies, and from the wickedneſſe of his hands, that they might crie mightilie vntounto the Lord, as they did: Wherupon it came to paſſe, that God ſeeing their works to be good, and that they turned from their euill waies indeed, heard their praiers, granted their requeſts, and did repent him of the euill, that he had ſaid hee would doe vntounto them, and did it not. Thus we ſee againe what was the effect of this faſt which they held, (in great ignorance no doubt and much weakeneſſe, yet in truth) namely, that the Lord ſeeing them ſufficiently humbled by the miniſterie of his Prophets, in the guiltineſſe of their ſinne, and the deſerued deſtruction threatned againſt them, & euerie one to forſake their euill waies, for which he was iuſtly offended with them: he ſtaied that plague, which he had threatned, and had otherwiſe moſt certainly brought vponupon them. And this alſo may greatly confirme our hope in this ſeruice of ours, that thogh for our ſinnes we muſt needs confeſſe, that wee hauehave deſerued not onelyonly this beginning and continuance of the peſtilence; but vtter deſtruction; yet if euerie man would ſo wholly leaue his euill waies, that the Lord (who is the ſearcher of the heart and reines) might ſee it, and take knowledge of it, and of that repentance and amendement of life, that ſhould be in all, and ſo then they would crie mightily vntounto God, as theſe did; he would yet repent him of the euill, which he hath otherwiſe further determined to bring vponupon vsus, and not do it: but might ſtay this grieuous plague from ſpreading like a canker, and from further comming into thoſe places where yet it is not: and in thoſe places, that are infected with it, he might ſo diminiſh it from day to daie, that it cauſe not a finall deſtruction, as was threatned to the Niniuites, and we hauehave iuſtly deſerued.
Therefore to conclude this one point,By this exp… ri…nce in oth…rs, wee muſt be confirmed in hope of God goodneſſe to ou… ſelues a… this time. that we might hauehave courage and comfort in this that wee doe by a ſure and certaine expectation of ſome bleſſed fruit of it in time, we hauehave hitherto ſeene, how the Lord of his great mercy and trueth hath neuer failed them, that in faſting and prayer (according to his owne ordinance) hauehave ſought vntounto him in trueth:Heb. 12.1. that we hauing ſo great a cloud of witneſſes (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) to ſubſcribe vntounto this doctrine by their owne experience, might not doubt, but that the Lord in due time wil hear vsus as he hath done them. Yea if we can remember but our owne experience, and that that our ſelues hauehave made triall of through the goodneſſe of God, how in former times he hath heard vsus,Much more your owne …perience … times …ſt. when we hauehave by faſting and prayer thus publikelie ſought vntounto him: as when the Inuincible (falſely ſo called) Spaniſh Nauie was vponupon our coaſts, how wonderfully vponupon our earneſt ſute and ſupplications eueryevery where made to that end, not onelyonly wee were preſerued from that horrible deſtruction which they moſt wickedly intended againſt vsus, but that themſelues were drowned in the ſea, euen the horſe and him that rode vponupon him,…od. 15.1. as the Aegyptians were when they came againſt the Iſraelites. And truly we may remember, what a ſudden and great feare all men for the moſt part were then ſtricken with, and not without cauſe, and ſo how earneſtly they did ſeeke vntounto God, when as there was in all places much faſting and prayer, and the people came willingly to it: if we could do ſo now, when the Lord threatneth deſtruction to vsus, and to all places, as he did then (though after another maner) wee might by our owne experience comfortablie lift vp our heads, and looke with good aſſurance for the like mercy, that we found, for God is the ſame, if we be not changed: when as by former experience like as Dauid ſaid, when he went againſt Goliath to fight with him, whoſe great ſtature, and complet armour of braſſe, and weapons might iuſtly hauehave terrified him: The Lord that deliuered me out of the paw of the Lion,1. Sam. 17.37. and out of the paw of the Beare, he will deliuer mee out of the hand of this Philiſtim: ſo we might all ſay; The ſame God of mercy that hath heeretofore heard vsus, when we hauehave in true humilitie ſought vntounto him, wee doubt not, when wee hauehave ſufficiently profited by this affliction, will now heare vsus alſo, and deliuer vsus. For indeed if we finde both in the Scripture, and by dayly experience in our ſelues and in other,The ordina…y pray…rs …f the faith…ull hauehave ob…ained great …hings, much more their …aſtings and …rayer. that the ordinarie prayers of Gods ſeruants, and namely of our ſelues, are not ſent away emptie, but that the Lord doth dayly according to the ſame bleſſe vsus and them: then theſe prayers which wee now make with faſting, which are more than ordinary, we may be aſſured ſhall bring great bleſſings vponupon vsus. When at the commandement of Herod, …ct. 12.5.Peter was kept in priſon, earneſt prayer was made of the Church vntounto God for him, and when Herod would hauehave brought him out vntounto the people, the ſame night ſlept Peter betweene two ſouldiers, bound with two chains, and the keeper before the doore kept the priſon; and beholde the Angell of the Lord came vponupon them, and a light ſhined in the houſe, and he ſmote Peter on the ſide, and raiſed him vp, ſaying, Ariſe quickly; and his chaines fell from his hands, and ſo he was deliuered. If then the ordinarie prayer of the Church be of ſo great force, and doe ſo greatly preuaile with the Lord, as to fruſtrate the counſels of great Tyrants, to procure the helpe & preſence of Angels from heauen, to open the priſon doores, and to vnlooſen fetters and chaines of iron: then what ſh…ll the extraordinarie prayers of the Church, euen their faſtings and prayers do? Therefore we need not doubt, but if we cōtinue to profit in humility by this fatherly viſitation of the Lord, and in repentance for all our ſinnes, and in continuance and feruencie of praier; but we ſhall ſee ſome great fruit of them at the laſt, euen in that verie thing, that we moſt of all deſire.
And that wee might yet be further comforted in this great heauineſſe of ours with hope of ſome merciemercy from God, euen that he would ſpare vsus at the laſt according to our earneſt deſire, let vsus remember how when King Ahab a wicked and verie vngodlie man faſted for that deſtruction, which the prophet Elijah had by the worde of the Lord threatned againſt him,1. King. 21.21. euen that the Lord would bring euill vponupon him, and take away al his poſteritie, & make his houſe deſolate like the houſe of Ieroboam, what great merciemercy he obtained of the Lord: Which faſt of his,The Lord hath rewarded the wicked, that hauehave vſed this ordinance but in …utward ceremonies. though it was not ioined with true repentance, or any true knowledge, how to ſerue the Lord aright, neither could be (for he was an idolatour) yet being performed in ſome ſort, onelyonly in keeping the outward ceremonie, as putting on ſackecloth, and abſtaining from meat and drinke, and giuing ſome other outward token of ſorrow and griefe, that that faſt of his was not vnrewarded of the Lord. For by that meanes he obtained that the execution of that iudgement againſt himſelfe and all his poſteritie, which we hauehave heard of, concerning the raſing of him and them from the kingdome and throne of Iſrael, was put off and differred vntill his ſonnes daies: as it is ſaide in the wordes of that text, that when he had heard what the prophet had propheſied againſt him,1. King 21.27. hee rent his clothes, and put ſackecloth vponupon himſelfe, and faſted, and lay in ſackcloth, and went ſoftly in token of mourning: and the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Theſhbite, ſaying, Seeſt thou how Ahab is humbled? becauſe hee ſubmitteth himſelfe before me, I will not bring this euill in his daies, but in his ſonnes daies I will bring euill vponupon his houſe. If the Lord then did ſo iuſtify this ordinance of his in the perſon of this wicked man, when he did ſtoope but vntounto the outward ceremonie and bodily exerciſe of it, and was altogither voide of true humilitie and ſound repentance, reſting onelyonly in the bare outward tokens of them, and had not his heart throughly broken by faith: that hee differred this deſerued and denounced iudgement ſo long, that it came not in his daies, which was a great outward bleſſing and honour vponupon him: how then much more if we ſo vſe this outward abſtinence as we doe,Much m…re will he doe it to his ſeruants that vſe it in trueth. that eſpecially we ioine to it the inward vertues of humilitie and repentance, and contrition of hart, and feruencie of praier, will the Lord be appeaſed towards vsus, and at the leaſt bee ſo farre foorth intreated, that hee differre that great wrath of his, that otherwiſe might breake out to our vtter deſtruction. For if the Lorde hath ſhewed ſuch merciemercy to the wicked, as to ſpare them in this world for a time, whē they hauehave ſubmitted themſelues to the outward obedience of this commandement of humbling thēſelues in faſting, though in great hypocriſie: then howe much more will he ſpare his owne children, that vſe it in ſincerity and trueth? Therfore let this example alſo ſomewhat incourage vsus with hope of good ſucceſſe that wee ſhall finde the Lorde mercifull vntounto vsus in thus ſeeking vntounto him in this time of great need.
And wee hauehave great reaſon ſo to doe, if we doe but well weigh the dealing of one man towards another, that when in affliction they hauehave ſubmitted themſelues vntounto them, they hauehave founde fauour with them,By humble ſub…iſſion and p…a…er men hauehave found ſ…uou… with their enimi…s. though they had greatly offended them before: the onelie hope of this hath mooued them to ſeeke after this maner euen to thoſe, which were their profeſſed enimies before, and they hauehave done it not in vaine. For thus it is written of Benadad king of Aram▪ that when he was ouercome in two battels of Ahab king of Iſrael, 1. King. 20.29.and receaued ſo great an ouerthrow in the latter, that in it were ſlaine of the Aramites, an hundred thouſand footemen in one daie, and ſo was out of hope of anie ſafetie for himſelfe, at the length by the aduiſe of his ſeruants, he put his companie into ſackcloth, with roapes about their heads, and ſo came to the kind of Iſrael, and intreated for their liues, hoping by ſubmitting thēſelues vntounto him after this maner to obtaine pardon, as indeed they did. For the meſſengers, when in this araie they came vntounto him,1. King. 2….33. ſaid, Thy ſeruant Benhadad ſaith, I praie thee let me liue, vſing all words and behauiour of great ſubmiſſion: and Ahab anſwered, he is my brother, is he yet aliue? goe bring him to me: and when hee came, hee made a couenant with him, and let him goe. See what is the fruite of true humiliation, and humble ſupplication: and if men will humble themſelues and ſue earneſtly vntounto men in hope of pardon,… G…d. howe much more ſhould they doe it vntounto the Lorde, whom they hauehave more offended, and who hath greater power to puniſh them: and if vntounto thoſe of whom they had no promiſe before of obtaining any thing, but come to them altogither (as it were) at aduenture: then much more to him, of whom we hauehave ſo manie gratious promiſes in the Goſpell to allure and encourage vsus: and if vntounto thoſe, which were their open and profeſſed aduerſaries, then moſt of al vntounto him that is reconciled vntounto vsus by the blood of his ſonne, and is become our father in him: and if vntounto them where we hauehave none to ſpeake and intreat for vsus but our ſelues, then eſpecially to him, where we hauehave an aduocate and mediatour,1. Ioh. 2.2. euen Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is alſo the propitiation for our ſinnes: and if vntounto them, of whoſe louelove we neuer made triall before, then vntounto him much more, who (as he hath firſt ſhewed it aboue all meaſure in giuing his ſonne to die for vsus, and that when we were his enimies) hath ſince confirmed it vntounto vsus many waies, that we need not doubt of it. And on the other ſide if ſo great mercy hath beene thus found of men, who hauehave ſcarce one drop of that compaſſion in them, which is like a great deepe ſea in the Lord; then may we be aſſured that we ſhall not miſſe of it at his hands if we continue ſeeking, and waite vponupon him for it, as we ſhould: and if a man hath found it of his enimy, then much more of his God to whom he is reconciled: and if where none ſpeake for him, but mortall men like themſelues, then much more, where Ieſus Chriſt the ſonne of God maketh continual interceſſion for vsus. So that eueryevery waie we ſee we hauehave cauſe to doe as we do, hoping aſſuredlie, that we ſhall not doe it in vaine.
… praier.Therefore if the commandement of God did not compell vsus to the obedience of this humble ſubmiſſion, as it doth; yet the liberall and moſt certain promiſes which are made to them that ſhall vſe it, and eſpecially the experience that we and other hauehave found of the vndoubted trueth of them ſhould prouoke vsus to this holy exerciſe of faſting and praier: which if men will not come vntounto ſo farre, as they be able, what remaineth for them? and what other thing can they looke for, but that if they will not humble themſelues with the people of God to finde merciemercy, they ſhall taſte of his wrath with the wicked: and if they wil not weepe now for their ſinnes with the one, they ſhould houle in the puniſhment of them, when it ſhall be too late, with the other: and if they wil hauehave no part nor portion in the obedience of Gods commandement giuen to his people, both vnderunder the Law and the Goſpell, that they ſhould hauehave part with them in the promiſes of reward made to them in them both. Euen as the Lord himſelfe in plaine words hath threatned, that they that wil not afflict themſelues with ſorrow for their ſinnes in faſting and mourning at times conuenient, he will deſtroy and roote them out from among his people, ſaying; This is a day of reconciliation,Leu. 23.2… to make an attonement for you before the Lorde your God: and eueryevery perſon that humbleth not himſelfe that ſame daie, ſhall euen be cut off from his people.