The Holy Exercise of Fasting, Sermon 7

The Holy Exercise of Fasting · Sermon 7

p. 208HOMIL. VII.

The ſeuenth Homilie intreateth of the ſeuerall kindes or ſorts of faſts, whereof the one is priuate, and the other publike: and first of priuate fastings, and how to behaue our ſelues in them: and how they ought to be intertained into mens houſes: and for what cauſes; and what great good may come thereby: and what liberty the Gouernors hauehave in appointing of them aboue all the rest of the familie.

THe nature and thus condition of this holie exerciſe of faſting being thus hitherto deſcribed out of the worde of God, both that it is an ordinance and commandement of almightie God, and not an p. 209humane conſtitution, and brought in by the policie of men, and therefore that which all men muſt ſubmit themſelues vntounto of conſcience: and alſo that it conſiſteth in that outward bodilie exerciſe of abſtinence from all the cō fort of this life for a time, and in thoſe inward vertues of the minde, as true humilitie, and feruencie of praier, (whereof we hauehave heard) and that the time fit for it is ſpecially the time of ſome great affliction, and that then it muſt bee held longer or ſhorter time according to the greatnes of the ſame affliction, whether it bee preſent, or iuſtly to be feared; & that the ſaid time of faſting is of the nature of the Sabbath, and therefore muſt be ſo ſpent of all, as vſually the Sabbath is, & ought to be, both in abſtaining from all the workes of our callings (things of neceſſitie onelyonly excepted) and alſo in being occupied in the ſeuerall parts or Gods worſhip, as the exerciſes of the reading, and hearing of the worde of p. 210God, praier vntounto him, and all meditation and good conference that might further them thereunto:…he ſeuerall …undes of …aſtes. It remaineth now that I ſhoulde in order ſpeake of their ſeuerall ſorts and kindes of faſting, that we might know, how many they be, and what they are; that ſo we might vſe them in their ſeuerall time and place, as the Lorde ſhall require them of vsus, and as we ſhall ſee that wee hauehave cauſe ſo doe: and that when we can not vſe the one, as there is no cauſe for it at all, yet wee might perceaue that there was cauſe of the other, and ſo thinke our ſelues bounde vntounto it, and that we ſhould not thinke our ſelues wholly diſcharged of our obedience vntounto the Lord this way, becauſe wee can not ſerue him in that kinde of faſting that our ſelues doe deſire. All faſtes therefore are of two ſortes, they are either priuate or publike,The one priuate, the other publike. either vſed of one perſon man or woman, or of ſome one familie and houſehold, or of ſome fewe priuate p. 211perſons in one family, or out of diuers, according to the ſeuerall neede that they ſhall finde in themſelues, or ſee to be in other: or elſe vſed of an whole Church & congregation publikely in a towne, or of many Churches in the ſame towne or citie, and ſo is common to them all: or of diuers Churches in a countrie, or realme according to the affliction that is, or like to be vponupon a towne, citie, countrie, or realme, and that not onelyonly their own, but ſome other, as their neighbour townes, or countries, or generally anie part of the Church of God, and ſo are mooued to it, not onelyonly in reſpect of themſelues, but of ſome others, in louelove, and deſire to ſuccour them. And vntounto both there kindes all that hath beene hitherto ſaide of faſting doth truely and properly appertaine, both for the commandement of God binding them to it, and for the nature of it, wherein it conſiſteth, that it ſhould be kept ſtrictly after the maner that p. 212hath beene ſaide, and for the time when, and how long it ſhould be held, and how during that time we ſhoulde be occupied; and ſo it ſhall be ſufficient once to hauehave ſet them downe generally, which muſt be practiſed of all that celebrate anie faſt, either publike or priuate; & ſo it ſhall not be needful in handling of the ſeuerall kinds, to intreat of anie of thē particularly againe.

…hat a pri…ate faſt is.That I might ſpeake therefore orderly, I will firſt ſpeake of a priuate faſt: which is that that is vndertaken and held by ſome priuate perſon, man or woman, rich or poore, of what calling or degree ſoeuer, prince or people; or of a priuate familie, or ſome few in the ſame, or out of diuers houſholds gathered together vponupon their owne priuate motion; yet orderly and in the feare of God, according to anie calamitie, that ſhall be vponupon them, or they ſhall hauehave iuſt cauſe to feare, or as they ſhall be …ouched and mooued in compaſſion more then other with the p. 213calamitie of the Church or commonweale, wherein they liue, or with the miſerie of ſome particular perſons in the ſame, or of other Churches and the members thereof. And that there ought to be ſuch priuate faſtes, it is moſt apparant out of the Scripture: for as the Lord doth by threatning or ſending publike calamities,That there ought to be priuate faſt call whole countries and nations to a publike faſt, that when the cauſe is common to all, all might humble themſelues for it, as we hauehave ſeene in the prophet Ioel, Ioel 2. Ionah 3. Heſt. 4.Joel 2Jonah 3and as was practiſed among the Niniuites, and alſo among the Iewes in the time of Queene Heſter, where becauſe the puniſhment preſent, as of famine; or threatned, as vtter deſtruction of them all, was generall, therefore all were willed to faſt, and all did ſo: So if there be any calamitie vponupon any particular perſon, or priuate perſons, they muſt thinke by the like proportion, that God calleth them vntounto it, and that they ſtand bound to ſubmit themſelues p. 214to this ordinance, though others doe not, neither hauehave they any ſuch cauſe: or as the Lord ſhall giuegive them to ſee, and to feele more then other the afflictions of their brethren, and ſo are more willing as fellow members of the ſame bodie to mourne for them, then others, who through ignorance or hard heartedneſſe are not ſo well affected towards them. And of theſe priuate faſtes doth our Sauiour Chriſt ſpeake in the Goſpell:Math. 6.16.Matt 6:16 When yee faſt, looke not ſower as the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces, that they ſeeme vntounto men to faſt: Verily I ſaie vntounto you, they hauehave their reward: but when thou faſteſt annoint thine head,How we ought to behaue our ſelues in priuate faſt…s. and waſh thy face, that thou ſeeme not vntounto men to faſt, but vntounto thy father, which is in ſecret, and thy father which ſeeth in ſecret, will reward thee openly. Where hee condemneth the hypocriſie of thoſe, who in their priuate faſtes, when they came abroad would make great ſhew p. 215of it, that they might be thought to be verie holie men; & to that end would ſo change by arte, the naturall colour and hue of their face, that they might ſeeme leane and without blood, as though they had greatly pined awaie themſelues, with abſtinence & faſting: and biddes them rather, ſeeing it is priuate, hide it, as much as they can, and to that end hee willeth them to looke cheerefully, & to dreſſe vp themſelues well; for it is ſufficient, that the Lord, who ſeeth all things, euen thoſe that are done in ſecret, taketh knowledge of it, and he will reward them openly, though they hauehave no praiſe and commendation of men: as he had ſaid before of almes:Math. 6.3.Matt 6:3 Let not thy left hande know, what thy right hand doth, that thine almes may be in ſecret, and thy father that ſeeth in ſecret will rewarde thee openly: where he doth not diſallow of almes, but of their vaine oſtentation in it, who this way ſought the praiſe of great charity among the people, p. 216and ſaith that is ſufficient, that God knoweth it, who will openly rewarde euerie man according to his workes.

We hauehave a practiſe and example of this priuate kinde of faſting in the perſon of King Dauid: Sam. 12.when the Lord had ſtricken the childe with ſickeneſſe, that was begotten in adulterie of Bathſhebah the wife of Vriah, becauſe that was a particular puniſhment vponupon himſelfe, and hee did ſee the hand of God vponupon himſelfe very heauie in it, according to that which Nathan the Prophet had threatned againſt him before,…auid kept a …iuate fast, …hen his …ulde lay …cke. (Becauſe thou haſt cauſed the enemies of the Lord to blaſpheme, the childe that is borne vntounto thee ſhall ſurely die) he humbled himſelfe before the Lord alone by himſelfe, and ſought vntounto him by faſting and prayer, that if it were poſſible according to his holy will he would ſpare him: and this he did alone by himſelfe: for it is ſayd, That he faſted,verſ. 16. and went in, namely p. 217into his priuate chamber, and withdrew himſelfe from all company, that hee might be alone, and hee did lie all night vponupon the earth: and when the Elders & chiefe men of his houſe came vntounto him, to perſwade him to riſe from the ground, and to eat meat, he would not, neither did eat meat with them. So that the reſt of his houſeholde did take their ordinarie food, but he faſted: And thus it ſeemeth he did more than one day, during the ſickeneſſe of the child: for when it was dead, they were afrayd to tell him of it, ſaying, while the child was aliue, we ſpake vntounto him, and hee would not hearken vntounto our voice, that is, he would not giuegive ouer faſting, though they earneſtly intreated him. So that whiles the childe laye ſicke hee continued his faſting and prayer vntounto the Lorde for the life of it for the ſpace of diuers daies, for it died not vntill the ſeuenth day after that it fell ſicke. Which godly faſt of his doth ſhew, that if any ſhal p. 218hauehave any af…liction vponupon them, and ſo the Lord giuegive them cauſe of ſorrow, and of humiliation more than others, or which others hauehave not at all, no not they which are of the ſame familie, then they are for a time to put themſelues apart as it were from the reſt, and in priuate faſting and prayer to ſeeke vntounto the Lord for merciemercy, more than others,So did Ahab when Gods iudgement was denoū ced against him. as Dauid did heere. So is it ſayd alſo of Ahab King of Iſrael, that when the Prophet Elijah had ſharplie rebuked him for his ſinnes, & denounced the curſe of God againſt him and his whole familie for it,1. King. 21.20.1 Kgs 21:20 ſaying, Thou haſt ſolde thy ſelfe to worke wickedneſſe in the ſight of the Lord; therefore Beholde, ſayeth the Lord, I will bring euill vponupon thee, and will take away thy poſterity, and wil cut off from Ahab him that piſſeth againſt the wall, as well him that is ſhut vp, as him that is left in Iſrael, and ſo foorth, as it followeth in that place.verſ 27. When Ahab heard thoſe wordes, hee rent his p. 219clothes, and put on ſackecloth vponupon him, and faſted, and lay in ſackecloth, and went ſoftly. Thus becauſe the wrath of the Lord appeared ſpeciallie againſt him for his ſinne, though he proclamed no publike faſt thorow his kingdome, yet he ſaw that it was high time for himſelfe at the leaſt to practiſe it.So ought all other men and women doe in the like caſe. Therefore if any ſhall hauehave fallen into any grieuous ſinne, as theſe two Kings had, whereby the Lord by the miniſterie of his Word threateneth againſt them ſome notable puniſhment, and their owne conſciences tell them, that they hauehave iuſtlie deſerued it, or ſome grieuous thing is alreadie befallen them, then they muſt know it to be their bounden dutie to ſeeke, to turne away the wrath of the Lord from thē ſelues, and from their houſes, by priuate faſting and prayer; and they muſt not onelyonly acknowledge, that the Lord requireth, that they ſhould humble themſelues before him in faſting, and ſo could be contented, that there were p. 220ſome publicke faſts then, whereunto they might reſort, and thinke themſelues diſcharged, becauſe there bee none, and ſo tarie vntill ſome by publike authoritie vponupon ſome occaſion be cōmanded; but becauſe it is their own caſe onelyonly, and none others, they muſt ſee what God requireth of them alone.

Reaſons to perſuade men to priuate faſting.And truly if all men would thus do, they might preuent manie of Gods heauie iudgements, which otherwiſe befall themſelues and theirs: but often times many ſinnes are moſt grieuouſly committed, and Gods holy law broken, not onelyonly by ſome one in a familie, but by diuers, both gouernours, children, and ſeruants; as adulterie, fornication, and other vncleanneſſe, drunkenneſſe and gluttonie, ſwearing and blaſpheming the moſt holy name of God, contempt of Gods word and ſacraments, beſides all ruffianlineſſe and prophanneſſe, pride, oppreſſion and ſuch like, and they doe not ſeeke priuately to humble themſelues before p. 221God for them, when they breake out, and are iuſtly by Gods Miniſters reproued for them, but rather they go on obſtinately, and ſtand in the defence of the ſame; they do not, I ſay, after ſome extraordinarie maner of faſting and prayer ſeeke feruently vntounto the Lord, and ſo his iudgements breake out againſt them, and ſome plague or other entreth into their houſes, which with their ſinnes they hauehave defiled; that as the Cananites were ſpued out of that fruitfull land for their wickedneſſe,Leu. 18.28.Lev 18:28 ſo are they by ſickneſſe and death caſt out of their goodly houſes. Which kinde of wickednes cōmitted cloſely in houſes, as it was the principall cauſe that this late plague firſt entred into them, ſo in that reſpect ſome had iuſt cauſe to begin ſooner and to continue longer their priuate faſt, then by publike authority all were inioyned vntounto it. For if Ahab who was an idolater, & a wicked man did then ſee, that now he had cauſe to faſt, though other did not; p. 222then we, that are taught by the Word of God, ſhould much more diſcerne of the times, and know, when in reſpect of our priuate ſinnes and calamities preſent,The good that might redound to priuate families thereby. or iuſtly to be feared, we hauehave cauſe to faſt and pray, though other do not. And if Ahab in thus doing did obtaine a releaſe from this particular iudgement ſo farre foorth, that it was put off, and came not vponupon his houſe in his dayes, according to that that is ſaid of him by the Lord himſelfe vntounto Eliiah: Seeſt thou how Ahab is humbled before me? becauſe he ſubmitteth himſelfe before me, I will not bring that euill in his dayes, but in his ſonnes daies will I bring euill vponupon his houſe. Then wee much more vſing this holy ordinance in ſinceritie and trueth, might put far from vsus, and from all ours, manie grieuous plagues, which our ſinnes hauehave deſerued. Therefore let vsus bee perſwaded, that it is our bounden dutie ſometimes, not onelyonly to giuegive our ſelues vntounto priuate praier (which ſhuld p. 223be ordinarie and continuall) but euen to faſting and prayer. And this is that, which we reade of Dauid againe,2. Sam. 3.30.2 Sam 3:30 …hen Abner was traiterouſly ſlaine by …oab and Abiſhai his brother, becauſe not only for the loſſe of ſo woorthie a captaine, but eſpecially for that great ſinne in murthering him,Dauid faſt…d priuatly for the death of Abner. which might procure Gods wrath againſt himſelfe and his whole Realme; and that it might appeare, that hee was free from his blood, he not onelyonly ſorrowed greatly for his death, and prouoked the reſt of the people thereunto (as it is ſayd of him, Rent your clothes, and put on ſackecloth, and mourne before Abner: and King Dauid himſelfe followed the beere, and when they had buried Abner in Hebron, the King lift vp his voice and wept beſides the ſepulchre of Abner, and all the people wept) but alſo Dau…d the King did further humble himſelfe by faſting that day, becauſe he ſaw more into the hand of God, and was more touched with it: for it is p. 224written of him, That all the people came to cauſe Dauid to eat meat,verſ. 35. while it was yet day; but Dauid ſware, ſaying, So God do to me, and more alſo, if I taſte bread, or ought elſe till the Sunne be downe: ſo that it is written of him, and of him alone, that in this common cauſe of heauineſſe, hee not onelyonly mourned with the reſt, but faſted alſo, and praied vntounto God (which is to be vnderſtood, as a thing neceſſarily ioined vntounto faſting, though not expreſſed) for this great ſin, and for feare of Gods vengeance againſt it.

Dan. 9.2. Daniel faſted priuately in the time of the captiuitie.Dan 9:2Wee hauehave alſo a very cleere and pregnant example of priuate faſting, in the prophet Daniel, who when hee vnderſtood by bookes the number of the yeeres, whereof the Lord had ſpoken vntounto Ieremiah the prophet, that he would accompliſh ſeuentie yeeres for the deſolation of Ieruſalem: and ſo perceaued that the time of their deliuerance was drawing on, he turned his face vntounto the Lord his God, & ſought p. 225by praier and ſupplications, with faſting and ſackcloth, and after that the Lord according to his promiſe would now accompliſh the ſame. The affliction of captiuitie was common, and ſo all ought to hauehave ſought vntounto God after this maner, aſwell as hee, as they did in the daies of Heſter: and it may be that ſome other that feared God, did ſo then alſo in their ſeuerall families: but as we are vncerteine of that, though charitie bindeth vsus to hope well of them, ſo wee are ſure, that Daniel did priuately ſeeke vntounto God in faſting and praier, both for himſelfe, and for the people, becauſe it is ſo written of him. Whereupon we inferre, that not onelyonly when affliction is priuately vponupon our ſelues, wee ought thus to ſeeke vntounto the Lord, but when it is vponupon our brethren, eſpecially when it is vponupon the church and common-welth, and we ought then priuately to doe it the rather, becauſe we ſhould be more touched with the common eſtate, then p. 226with our owne particular; ſo that if in ſuch caſes there bee no order taken for publike faſting, then they that feare God, and know the day of their viſitation, muſt thus priuately humble themſelues before God, and mourne eueryevery familie a part,Zac. 12.12. yea & their wiues apart, as the prophet ſpeaketh. And ſo at this preſent in reſpect of that great mortalitie, that hath bene a long time in the chiefe places of this land,So ought the god… to do …n the ti…e of any …ommon ca…amitie, as of this peſ…ilence. if there had beene no order taken for publike faſting (as by the grace of God, and the Chriſtian wiſedome of our gouernour there is:) yet it was the dutie of all good men and women, priuately to hauehave done it: and ſo muſt we heereafter doe in like caſes: and I doubt not but ſome or other, yea many at this time, did thus before this godly and religious order publikely came foorth. For though we may not diſorderly vndertake, and ſet vp publike faſts in our churches vponupon our owne priuate motion, but muſt ſue for, and expect the p. 227alowance & commandement of publike authoritie; that al things might be done in the houſe of God honeſtly & by good order,1. Cor. 14.40.1 Cor 14:40 according to the golden rule of the Apoſtle, or rather the ſpirit of God: yet if any do it priuatelie, when there is cauſe, it ſhalbe both acceptable to God, and profitable to themſelues and to others, and no offence vntounto any. And for this alſo God will remember them, and ſhew merciemercy vntounto them in ſuch common calamities, as he ſhall bring vponupon the people in their time: euen as the prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 9.4.Ezek 9:4doth promiſe to all thoſe that mourned in Ieruſalē, for the abhominations of that time: of whom he thus ſpeaketh, that the Lorde called to the mā clothed with linen, which had the writers inkehorne by his ſide, and ſaid vntounto him, goe through the middes of the citie, euen through the middes of Ieruſalem,And God will ſpare them, and bleſſe them for it. and ſet a marke vponupon the foreheads of them that mourne, and cry for all the abominations, that bee p. 228done in the middes thereof: and ſo to the other he ſaid, that I might heare, goe yee after him through the citie, and ſmite, let your eie ſpare none, neither hauehave pittie: deſtroie vtterlie the old, and the yoong, and the maides and the children, and the women, but touch no man vponupon whom is the marke, and begin at my Sanctuarie. Where we ſee, that they are marked out, and ſpared, that mourne for the ſinnes of their time; which muſt needs be vnderſtoode principally of priuate mourning, vntounto which in ſome one or other we may preſume was ioined faſting. Therefore if when we ſee ſinne abound in all ſorts and degrees, (as it doth in our time too much) which threateneth ſome great iudgement vniuerſally to come (as wee hauehave alſo felt and doe ſtill by this preſent peſtilence (if the gouernors ſhould be careleſſe and negligent in their offices, and ſo there ſhould be no order taken for publike faſting to turne awaie Gods p. 229wrath; yet they that priuately ſorrow, and mourne, and faſt and praie, as they then ought, ſhall finde merciemercy at the hand of God, in the day of their viſitation, as theſe in Ieruſalem did.

But to returne to Dauid, 2. Cor. 11.27. Dauid faſte… priuately fo… the afflictio… of his enimies.2 Cor 11:27(of whom we beganne to ſpeake before) as hee was a verie godlie man, ſo hee did much frequent this holy exerciſe of faſting: that it may truely be ſaide of him, as it is of the Apoſtle Paule, hee was in faſting often. And theſe faſtings he vſed not onelyonly for himſelfe, but for others; ſo louing and pittifull was he, and ſo full of compaſſion: and ſo touched with the griefe of others, that when they were in any great miſerie (as ſ…ckeneſſe, or otherwiſe) and theſe not his friends ſo much, but his verie enimies, he beſought the Lorde for them: as we read in the 35. Pſalm.Pſal. 35.1…Ps 35:1 They rewarded me euill for good, to hauehave ſpoiled my ſoule, but I, when they were ſicke, I humbled my ſoule with faſting, and my praier was turned p. 230vponupon my boſome: I behaued my ſelfe as to my friends, or as to my brother, I humbled my ſelfe mourning, as one that bewailed his mother. Where he profeſſeth, that though his enimies reioiced at his fall, and ſought his hurt euerie way, yet hee was ſorie for their affliction, and praied for them continually, as though hee had caried his praier about with him in his boſome, and this hee did, humbling himſelfe with faſting: according to the doctrine of the Apoſtle,Rom. 12.15Rom 12:15 which all of vsus ſhould practiſe. Reioice with them, that reioice, and weepe with them that weepe; bee of like affection one towards an other. And the like practiſe of his wee hauehave in an other Pſalme,Pſal. 69.9.Ps 69:9 where hee ſaith, The zeale of thine houſe hath eaten mee, and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee, are fallen vponupon me:And for the wickedneſſe of the vngodly. I wept, and my ſoule faſted, but that was to my reproofe, I put on ſackcloth alſo, & I became a prouerbe vntounto them. Where hee ſheweth that p. 231hee was ſo greeued with the outragious ſinnes of the wicked againſt God, as if they had beene againſt himſelfe, and ſo gaue himſelfe vntounto faſting and praier vntounto the Lord for them. And truely if we had that zeale in vsus to the glorie of God, and louelove to the ſaluation of our brethren, that wee ſhould; wee might ſee, that beſides this grieuous plague that is and hath beene not onelyonly vponupon our enimies (if wee hauehave anie) but vponupon our neighbours & friends, which requireth publike faſting; wee had many cauſes to hauehave done it priuately often & long before this, in reſpect of the horrible abominations and ſinnes committed againſt God and againſt men eueryevery where.

And that we might be mooued vntounto it indeed, we may further conſider, that we hauehave not onelyonly the example of men, but of godly women in this kind: who hauehave giuen themſelues much vntounto priuate faſting. For we read in the Goſpell of Anna the daughter of Phanuel, p. 232who was a Propheteſſe,Luk 2.37.Luke 2:37 and a widow of a great age, who went not out of the temple, but ſerued God with faſting and praier night and day.Anna the …ropheteſſe …ſed much priuate faſting. This holie woman liuing in thoſe corrupt times a little before the comming of our Sauiour Chriſt, when all things in the Church were out of order, did often humble her ſelfe before God in faſting and praier, and ſought earneſtly vntounto God tor a redreſſe of them, & ſhe did not hecrein looſe her labour, but had the fruite of them; for it came to paſſe, that though ſhe were a widdow. and about foure-ſcore and foure yeres, yet ſhe liued to ſee Chriſt come in the fleſh, to her vnſpeakeable comfort, and confeſſed him likewiſe, and ſpake of him to all that looked for redemption in Ieruſalem to the comfort of many. Thus we ſee how we ought to hauehave faſted priuately oftentimes before: ſo might we happely hauehave eſcaped at the leaſt ſome great things, that hauehave befallen vsus, and obtained manie p. 233great bleſſings, which now wee hauehave wanted: and alſo we ſee, what we muſt doe heereafter, if wee will looke to eſcape many euils, and enioy manie bleſſings with the children of God, and that at this preſent we had neede to doe, as wee doe, euen to continue theſe publike faſts, that ſo wee might make a ſupply of that, which we ſhould often priuately hauehave done before.

Thus alſo in the daies of Queene Heſter the faſt that was kept by all the Iewes in Suſhan, A priuate fast held in manie ſeuerall families at once.for the turning awaie of that great miſchiefe, that was intended againſt them by proud Haman, though it was cōmon in reſpect of the whole Church of God in that citie, that kept it yet it was priuate in reſpect of the ſeuerall places where it was kept, namely not in any cōmon place of aſſemblie, but in their ſeuerall houſes diſperſed heere and there: ſo that Heſter Heſt 4.16.and her maides kept it by themſelues, as ſhe promiſed for herſelfe, and for them, euen as the reſt of the p. 234Iewes were willed to doe it.…he duties of … houſhoul…ers herein. So ought euerie godly houſhoulder at the foreſight of anie iudgement of God like to come vponupon the Church, where they liue, in which if anie ſuch thing ſhould come, they muſt thinke, that they are like to hauehave their part, (as Mordecay ſaide,…eſt. 4 13. to Heſter, Thinke not with thy ſelfe, that thou ſhalt eſcape in the kings houſe, more then all the Iewes) to ſeeke humblie vntounto the Lorde, themſelues and theirs (ſo many as are capable of it) by faſting and praier priuately for the turning of it away, when there is no publike order taken for it, or likelihood that there ſhall be And this is that, which the Apoſtle hath reſpect vntounto, when he thus writeth to the Corinthians, …. Cor. 7.5.Defraud not one another, except it bee with conſent for a time, that you may giuegive yourſelues to faſting and praier, and again come together, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinencie. Where hee ſpeaketh to the maried parties, the houſeband p. 235and the wife, and ſheweth what duties they owe one to another,1. Cor. 7.3.1 Cor 7:3 as Let the husband giuegive vntounto the wife due beneuolence, and likewiſe alſo the wife vntounto the husband: yet for faſting and praier they may and ought for that time & with both their conſents ſeparate themſelues. So that there may be occaſions in all times, for which the husband and the wife themſelues alone, or with the reſt of their familie, or with ſome other of their godly neighbors and friends may and ought to giuegive themſelues priuately to faſting and praier: and then the apoſtle ſheweth, how the maried coople ſhould for a time in one dutie of theirs behaue themſelues one toward an other.

And truely if wee had rightly conſidered of all things that hauehave fallen out in our time, and well weighed them,Priuate faſting ought to be intertained into mens houſes. and laide them to hart, we might eaſely hauehave ſeene long agoe, that God had giuen vsus iuſt occaſion, to hauehave intertained this ſpeciall part of his worſhip p. 236into our houſes, as well as anie other, though hitherto it had little or no intertainment at all with the moſt, nay they hauehave not once ſo much as ſaluted it a farre off: And as by the grace of God wee hauehave in many houſes, where the Gouernours are anie thing religious, priuate praier morning and euening, and at other times, priuate reading of the Scriptures, priuate ſinging of Pſalmes, ſo ought we alſo ſomtimes to hauehave priuate faſting. For whē the Lorde hath laide ſome grieuous ſickeneſſe, euen vntounto death vponupon anie of our children, ſonnes or daughters, (as he did vponupon Dauids) then ſhoulde we hauehave with faſting & praier ſought vntounto the Lord for them,1. Sam. 12.15.1 Sam 12:15 as hee did: 1much more then, when others hauehave beene in that caſe,For what cauſes, and what good might come thereby. who hauehave beene neerer vntounto vsus, as the husband or the wife, who lie in the boſome one of another, and are but one, euen in the 2neereſt bond, as one fleſh. But eſpecially when God hath taken any of p. 237them away, and ſo hath come neerer vntounto vsus with his correction, then had we much more cauſe thus in faſting to caſt downe our ſelues at his feet in the humble confeſſion of our ſinnes which were the cauſe of it:2. Sam. 3.35.2 Sam 3:35 as Dauid did when Abner was ſlaine: if he did ſo for one that was ſo farre off from him, and had ſometime alſo beene his enemie, then we much more for thoſe, that hauehave beene neere vntounto vsus, and alwayes our friends, as of our familie, and of our fleſh. And beſides, when God hath 3laid any ſpeciall affliction vpō our ſeruants:Pſal. 35.12. &. 69.9.Ps 35:12Ps 69:9 for if Dauid did it for his enemies, then wee much more for thoſe, whoſe ſeruice is not hurtfull, but profitable vntounto vsus: yea, when any great 4ſinnes hauehave broken out in any of our houſhold, which hauehave threatned ſome grieuous iudgement of God to enter in vponupon vsus for it: or when wee hauehave ſeene ſinne openly abound in others. And if all men had thus done, it might not onelyonly hauehave kept this great plague p. 238out of many houſes, but many other great puniſhments, wherewith (for want of it) they hauehave beene iuſtly afflicted. 5Yea we ought thus to hauehave done; when wee hauehave wanted ſome great bleſſing of God, or ſought for ſome ſpeciall thing at the hand of the Lord for our ſoules or bodies, for our ſelues or for our children; as in the matter of mariage, or ſome other weighty thing, that we hauehave had in hand, which hath greatly concerned vsus or them, that we might be directed and bleſſed in the ſame: as the children of the captiuitie did when they returned home towards Ieruſalem, Ezr. 8.21.Ezra 8:21for they proclaimed a faſt, and humbled themſelues before God, & ſught of him a right way for themſelues, and for their children, and for all their ſubſtance: and the Lord was intreated of them, for he gaue thē good ſucceſſe in their iourney, and deliuered them from their enimies. So we might doe it priuately, that the Lord might bleſſe vsus in the waightie affaires of p. 239ours, & keepe vsus from all dangers that might otherwiſe befall vsus.

For though we obtaine many things daily at the mercifull hands of our heauenly father by our ordinarie prayers publike and priuate: yet he hath made the largeſt promiſes of bleſſing vntounto faſting and prayer, and greateſt things hauehave been obtained that way of all the ſeruaunts of God.Math. 17.14.Matt 17:14 For as Chriſt ſayd vntounto his Diſciples, to whom a certaine man brought his ſonne poſſeſſed with a deuill, but they could not caſt him out, and they demanded of their Maſter, why they could not doe it:Many thing are not obtained without thoſe prayers, whereunto faſting is adioyned. This kinde is not caſt out but by prayer and faſting: that is, a moſt feruent kinde of prayer, whereunto faſting is to be adioyned, to quicken vsus vp thereunto: that it might be as it were a whetſtone to ſharpen our dull ſpirits, and to ſet an edge upon our blunt hearts. So that wee may eaſily perceiue, that ſome things, yea many things that we ſtand in need of, are not obtained, or euils remooued, p. 240without this kinde of prayer whereunto faſting is adioyned. For as ſome things are not to be had without a great price, nor many ſutes obtained of great men without long and earneſt ſupplication: ſo ſome things are not to bee receiued from God without thoſe feruent prayers and ſupplications which can not be without faſting, nor without that hūble proſtrating of our ſelues, which is wrought in vsus by that meanes. And thus we are taught, that wee ought to hauehave vſed priuatelie this part of Gods ſeruice a great deale more than wee hauehave done; whereby we might hauehave brought into our houſes more bleſſings, and have kept out more afflictions, than now wee hauehave. But indeed the ignorance of the moſt part is ſo lamentable,By reaſon of their great ignorance many are vnfit for priuate faſts. that if they ſhuld not onelyonly hauehave thus done before, but ſhould now vponupon the hearing of this doctrine heerafter determine for ſome good cauſe beſt knowen unto themſelues, to take this exerciſe vponupon them, p. 241they know not how to behaue themſelues in it, or to performe it in anie meaſure ſo, as it might be acceptable vntounto God, and comfortable to themſelues. So that it would fall out with them, as with thoſe, of whom our Sauiour Chriſt ſpeaketh in the Goſpell,Luk. 5.36.Luke 5:36 that they ſhould not only not be bettered thereby, but made worſe: euen as if a piece of a new garment were put into an olde veſture, then the new renteth it, and the piece taken out of the new agreeth not with the olde: or as if new wine were put into olde veſſels, the new wine would breake the veſſels, and it would run out, and the veſſels would periſh. By which parables he teacheth vsus, that faſting unfitly vſed of them that are not meet for it, nor onelyonly maketh them worſe, but vtterlie deſtroyeth them. Therefore better were it for ſuch not to vſe it at all, than by abuſing it for want of skill, further to prouoke Gods wrath againſt themſelues; in which reſpect hee excuſeth p. 242his Diſciples for not vſing this priuate faſting as yet,…ut in this …ng and …leere light …f the G…ſpel …gnorance …xcuſeth …one. though the Diſciples of Iohn Baptist did. But ſurely for vsus, this long time and plentifull preaching of the Goſpel ſo many yeres, might hauehave made all of vsus fit enough for this holie excrciſe, ſo many as are of yeres of diſcretion: and ſo this groſſe ignorance, and thereby wonderful vnfitneſſe that is in men doth not excuſe them, as it did the Diſciples, who were but Nouices in his ſchoole, for hee had beene then but a little with them. Therefore wee ſee what God requireth of vsus priuately as any occaſion ſhall fall out, namely that wee ſhould ſerue him not onelyonly in other holy dueties, but in faſting and prayer: and therfore that we ought all of vsus ſo to profit by the publike miniſterie of the Word, while it is among vsus, that we may be fit for it, when the Lord by his word, or by his worke ſhall call vsus vntounto it.

But to draw towards an end, it is further to bee obſerued concerning p. 243theſe priuate faſts (that we now intreat of) that all ſorts of men and women hauehave not power to appoint vntounto themſelues, what time they wil for this purpoſe, no though they euidently ſee, that they hauehave iuſt cauſe to vſe it. For beſides that the man and woman are ſo neerely vnited by the bond of mariage, as by the couenant of God,Prou. 2.17. Math. 19.5. 1. Cor. 7.5.Prov 2:17Matt 19:51 Cor 7:5 whereby it commeth to paſſe, that they are no more two, but one fleſh, as Chriſt ſayth in the Goſpell, ſo that they can not ſeparate themſelues one from another, no not for a time, and to this end, without continuall conſent (as wee hauehave ſeene a little before:) all they that are vnderunder the priuate gouernment of others,None vnderunder gouernment can make choiſe of daies for priuate faſts without conſent of their gouernors. are at the diſpoſition of their gouernours, by the law and commaundement of God: as ſonnes and daughters, men ſeruants and maid ſeruants, ſcholars, all labourers and hired men for the time, and ſuch like; ſo that none of theſe can without the knowledge and free conſent of thoſe p. 244vnderunder whom they are, make choiſe of what day in the weeke they wil, to obſerue their priuate faſts in. For ſeeing the day of faſt is to be kept holie, and being of the nature of the Sabbath, as hath beene prooued before, in it they muſt wholly reſt from all the works of their ordinarie calling from euening to euening, and muſt ſpend that time in the worſhip of God; they can not at their owne will and pleaſure giuegive ouer theſe workes, and ſo conſequently not appoint vntounto themſelues a day of reſting; but muſt be contented heerein to be ordered by the diſcretion of thoſe, to whom they hauehave either by the bond of nature or by ſome couenant wholly addicted themſelues and all their labours: and therefore they can not make choiſe of a day of priuate faſting (for of that we ſpeake, and not of publike, wherein both maſter and ſeruant muſt be at the appointment of their gouernour) but ſo farre onelyonly, as their ſuperiours ſhall giuegive them leaue. p. 245So that if they can not, or wil not ſpare their labours for a time, they are of neceſſitie to keepe all their priuate faſts vponupon the Sabbath dayes, wherein they are bound to reſt from their labours, and to ſerue God as well as any other: and ſo their maſters and gouernours ſhould not onelyonly giuegive them leaue to doe, but alſo are charged by God ſo to doe, and hauehave authoritie giuen ouer them to that end; according to the expreſſe words of the commandement. Sixe dayes ſhalt thou labour,Exod. 20.9.Exod 20:9 and doe all thy worke, but the ſeuenth day it is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou ſhalt not doe any worke, thou nor thy ſonne, nor thy daughter, thy man ſeruant, nor thy maide: where they are willed, not only not to hinder them from ſanctifying of the day, but to looke diligentlie vntounto them, that they doe religiouſly obſerue and keepe it: and ſo vponupon that day they may at any time (the times of neceſſitie being alwaies excepted) without any offence p. 246to their gouernors (by defrauding thē of their ſeruices) keepe their faſts. And ſo may they doe any day of the weeke els: if they hauehave their leaue; otherwiſe not. For though this be a ſpeciall part of Gods ſeruice, and that which he requireth of all at one time or other, yet becauſe it is not ordinarie, and the ſixe dayes are appointed for all the works of our ſeuerall callings ordinarilie, and they are not their owne men (as we ſay) but at the diſpoſition of others, euen of their gouernours; therefore he hath giuen thē leaue to breake all ſuch purpoſes of theirs, as ſhall vponupon any of theſe dayes hinder them from any of thoſe workes or ſeruices,If they doe, their gouernours hauehave power to breake them. wherein they are to imploy them, and vſe them. And ſo, as they may not vponupon theſe dayes leaue their worke, and go to a Sermon heere & there; which ſome not ill minded might be willing to doe, and ſo leaue their maſters buſineſſe vndone: and thus vnderunder the colour of deuotion and well meaning, p. 247not only idleneſſe might be nouriſhed in them, but many diſorders brought into a familie: ſo, much leſſe are they at their own pleaſure to take vp whole dayes to themſelues for faſting, without the priuitie and good liking of thoſe vnderunder whom they are: and if they ſhould enterpriſe any ſuch thing, they are by them to be reprooued and amended, according to the power that God hath giuen them.

And heerein as in ſome other things doth the law of God take place, that is ſet downe by Moſes: Num. 30.4Num 30:4If a woman vow a vow vntounto the Lord, & binde herſelfe by a bond, being in her fathers houſe in the time of her youth, and her father heare her vow and bond, wherewith ſhe hath bound her ſelfe, and her father holde his peace concerning her; then all her vowes ſhall ſtand, & eueryevery bond wherewith ſhee hath bound her ſelfe, ſhall ſtand: but if her father diſallow her the ſame day that he hereth al her vowes and bonds, wherewith ſhe p. 248hath bound her ſelf, they ſhal not be of value, & the Lord will forgiue her becauſe her father diſalowed her. Where firſt he ſaith, That if any make a vow, or binde themſelues with any bond to God or man, they muſt keepe it: but if a maid in her youth,Becauſe this kinde of ſer…ice is but voluntary. and in her fathers houſe, that is, whiles ſhee is vnderunder his gouernment make a vowe, and when hee heareth it, by his ſilence or otherwiſe approoueth it, then it is in force, and muſt be performed: but if he diſallow of it, then it ſhall be of no value, and God will pardon her, becauſe her father hath broken it. So that they hauehave not power, while they be vnderunder gouernment, to vowe what they will, no not to God, as to faſt, which is a voluntary ſeruice, and may be vowed; but if they hauehave done, the father may breake it. The equitie of this law giueth the ſame authoritie to the father ouer his ſonnes, and to the maſter and miſtreſſe ouer their maid ſeruants and men ſeruants, & bindeth all them to be p. 249obedient vntounto thē in ſuch caſes: eſpecially whē as the Lord himſelfe ſetteth downe the ſame law for the wife making a vowe without the knowledge and approbation of her husband,verſ. 7 ſaying: If ſhe hauehave an husband, when ſhe voweth, or pronounceth ought with her lippes, wherewith ſhe bindeth herſelfe, if her husband heareth, and holdeth his peace concerning her the ſame day he heareth it, then the vowe ſhall ſtand, and her bonds wherewith ſhe bindeth herſelfe ſhall ſtande in effect: but if her husband diſalow her the ſame day, that he heareth it, then ſhall hee make her vowe which ſhe hath made, and that ſhe hath pronounced with her lippes, wherewith ſhe bound herſelfe, of none effect, and the Lord will forgiue her: where wee ſee that the ſpirit of God vſeth manie wordes, to giuegive vsus to vnderſtand, that though they hauehave determined neuer ſo certainly to do it, yet they by their abſolute authoritie may hinder them. p. 250And truely if it were not thus manie might, and would vnderunder this colour & pretence ſomtimes of fained holineſſe defraud their parents and maſters of their ſeruice, when they ſhould moſt need them: but God is the God of order, and therefore hauing ſubiected children vntounto their parents, and ſeruants vntounto their maſters, their perſons and their willes, and hauing commanded them to be obedient vntounto them in the Lord in all things, woulde hauehave them in all ſuch matters,Col. 3.20.22.Col 3:20Col 3:22 as are but voluntarie, to depend vponupon their willes. I confeſſe that it is to be granted,In duties abſolutely commanded, the gouernours cannot reſtraine their inferiors. that in things abſolutely neceſſarie either for the glorie of God, a mans ſaluation, the preſeruation of life, the good of others, and ſuch like: as to worſhip God purely, and to be of a ſound religion, and to bee no heretike, papiſt, ſectarie, or atheiſt; and to be of an holie life and conuerſation, and not to be prophane like Eſau, or like the ſilthie ſowe,2. Pet. 2.22.2 Pet 2:22 that wallowerh in the mire; & p. 251generally to keepe all Gods commandements, and to beleeue all the articles of our faith: theſe things, I ſaie, they are to do, yea although they cannot hauehave their conſent. For heere the wordes of the Apoſtles are in force; who when they were brought before the counſell of the high Prieſts and Elders, and there by them ſtraightlie charged, that in no wiſe they ſhould ſpeake or teach in the name of Ieſus:Act. 4.18.Acts 4:18 anſwered them and ſaide, whether it be right in the ſight of God, to obey you, rather then God, iudge yee. So that Peter and Iohn when they were forbidden to preach, which Chriſt had neceſſarily inioined them by vertue of their office of Apoſtleſhip; and ſo in obeying them therin, they ſhuld hauehave diſobeyed God: they anſwered, as you hauehave heard; and ſo did that, which God neceſſarily commaunded, thogh men forbad thē. And this muſt be the practiſe of all inferiors, when they are forbidden any thing of their p. 252ſuperiours, which God hath commanded them in his worde, either as they be Chriſtians, or otherwiſe; and heere is their defence, in ſo dooing. But yet all theſe aboue-named degrees of perſons,Inferiors may make choiſe of the Sabbath day for their priuate faſtes. in their ſubiection though they be reſtrained from the choiſe of the day, yet are not therefore ſet free from the thing it ſelfe, I meane from the practiſe of priuate faſting, when they ſhall hauehave iuſt cauſe: for they may celebrate them vponupon the Sabbath: in which their maſters ſhould giuegive them leaue to bee wholly the Lords ſeruants, and ſo not incumber them with anie ſeruice excepting things of neceſſitie, which are permitted euen in the day of faſtes. And though there bee few vnderunder gouernement in families of that godlineſſe and conſcience, that they are like to practiſe theſe priuate faſtes; yet neither am I out of hope of all, and I thought it neceſſarie to deliuer the doctrine; for it is their dutie thus to p. 253doe, though the greateſt part be ignorant, or make no conſcience of it. And ſo this ſhall ſuffice to hauehave beene ſpoken of the firſt kind of faſt, which is priuate.