Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 27
LVK. chap. 5. verſ. 3…. &c.
33 Then they ſaid vntounto him. Why doe the diſciples of Iohn faſt often, and pray, and the diſciples of the Phariſes alſo, but thine eate and drinke?
WHat is conſidered out of this text?
The doctrine of faſting: where firſt wee learne, that the outward exerciſe of faſting is not alway a certaine marke of a godly man for the Phariſes which faſted came not to our Sauior Chriſt to learne of him (as the diſciples of Iohn did, although it were in weakeneſſe) but to diſcredit him: namely, to make the world beleeue that our Sauiour Chriſt was a bellie-god: as the Church of Rome doth charge the children of God now, to open a ſchoole to all liberty of the fleſh, following the ſteps of their old fathers the Phariſes.
VVhat is faſting?
It is a religious abſtinence, commanded of God, from all the commodities of this life,Act. 14.23. & 10.30.31.32. Ioh. 3. 2. Chron. 20. Ioel 1. &. 2. ſo farre as neceſſitie and comelineſſe will ſuffer; to the end that thereby in the due conſideration of our ſinnes and puniſhment; wee being afflicted in our ſoules, may (grounded vponupon the promiſes of God) more earneſtly call vponupon God, either for the obtaining of ſome ſpeciall fauor we hauehave need of; or for the auoiding of ſome notable iudgement hanging ouer our heads, or already preſſed vponupon vsus.
It ſeemeth by that hath beene ſaid generally of extraordinarie prayer, beginning in the morning and continuing vntill the morning, that the law of fasting will not ſuffer a man to ſup the night of that day when the fast is holden.
The faſt is ſo long continued; but ſo, as there bee that refreſhing, whereby health may be preſerued: as before hath beene obſerued.
What are the parts of fasting?
They are outward, and inward: the outward exerciſe is noted heerby that it is ſaid,Luk. 5.33. The Diſciples of Iohn and of the Phariſies faſt; but thine eate and drinke: and the word doth ſignifie an vtter abſtinence from all meats and drinks, and not a ſober vſe of them, which ought to bee all the times of our life.
VVhat is heere to be conſidered?
A charge vponupon Poperie: for the greater ſort of people amongſt them, in the day of their faſt, fill their bellies with bread and drinke; and the richer ſort with all kind of delicates (fleſh, and that which commeth of fleſh only excepted:) ſo that the faſtings of the one, and the other is but a fulneſſe; and the latter may bee more truely ſaid to feaſt then to faſt.
What other things are outward?
The wearing of the homely and courſer apparell;Exod. 33.4.5. Jona. 3. Dan. 10.1.2.3. alſo the ceaſing from labour on the day of the faſt; to the end they might the better attend vntounto the holy exerciſes vſed in faſting; and this abſtinence is required of all that celebrate the faſt:Numb. 29.7. Joel 2.16. but of married perſons there is further required a forbearance of the companie each of others.
What is the meaning of the abstinence from theſe outward things?
By abſtinence from meate and drinke;1 Cor. 7.5. by wearing of our courſer apparell; by ceaſing from labour in our calling, and by ſeparation in maried perſons for the time; we thereby profeſſe our ſelues vnworthie of all the benefits of this preſent life; and that we are worthie to be as farre vnderneath the earth as we are aboue it; yea, that we are worthie to bee caſt into the bottom of hell: which the holy fathers in times paſt did ſignifie, by putting aſhes vponupon their heads: the truth whereof remaineth ſtill, although the ceremony be not vſed.
What is to be obſerued for ſuch as are ſicke or weake?
That they are to take ſomewhat for their ſuſtenance, thereby to be better able to ſerue God in the faſt; prouided, that they do not abuſe this to licence of the fleſh.
What perſons are meere for this exerciſe of faſting?
By the vnfitneſſe of his owne Diſciples for it,Joh. 3.8. Luk. 5.33. our Sauiour Chriſt teacheth, that they that are meere for this exerciſe, muſt not be nouices in the profeſſion of the truth: no more then he that is accuſtomed with the drinking of old wine, can ſuddenly fall in liking of new wine.
Is it ſo hard a matter to abſtaine from a meales meat, and ſuch bodily comforts for a ſhort time; which the yong ſucking babes, and beaſts of Nineuie did, and diuers beasts are able better to perform thou any man?
No verily: but hereby appeareth, that there is an inward ſtrength of the mind required, not onelyonly in knowledge of our behauiour in this ſeruice of God; but alſo of power and ability to go vnderunder the weight of the things wee humble our ſelues for: which ſtrength, if it be not, the faſt will be to thoſe that are exerciſed in it, as a piece of new cloth ſewed into an old garment; which becauſe it is not able to beare the ſtreſſe and ſtrength of, hath a greater rent made into it, then if there were no piece at all.
What gather you heereof?
That it is no maruell, if where there is any abſtinence and corporall exerciſe in Poperie; yet that the ſame made them nothing better, but rather worſe: hauing not ſo much as the knowledge of this ſeruice of God; much leſſe any ſpirituall ſtrength and abilitie to performe it with.
What is that inward power and ſtrength?
Firſt, anguiſh and griefe of our hearts, conceiued for our ſins, and iudgements due vntounto them, grounded vponupon the meditation of the law and threats of God: alſo ſorrow for the puniſhment of God vponupon vsus, for which we ought to bee humbled in faſting. Where we ſee the great abomination in Poperie; for that in ſtead of humbling themſelues and afflicting their ſoules, they pride themſelues, and lift vp their minds, in thinking they deſerue ſomething at Gods hand for their faſting.
VVhat further are we to performe?
Wee are earneſtly and ſtrongly to call vponupon the name of God,Iona. 3.8. Iſa. 58.4. grounded vponupon the meditation of the promiſes of God, touching the remouing of our ſins and Gods iudgement vponupon vsus for them.
VVhat is the time of faſting?
In that our Sauiour Chriſt teacheth,Luk. 5. that it muſt not be, when he, who is as it were the bridegrome, is with his diſciples, to furniſh them with all maner of benefits they had neede of; wee are taught, that the time is, when any great calamitie is hanging ouer vsus, or fallen vponupon vsus; whereby the gratious preſence of Chriſt is taken from vsus; or when there is any weightie matter to take in hand.
VVhat gather you hereof?
That the faſt in Poperie is fooliſh, which is holden at ſet times, whether the time bee proſperous, or not proſperous; whether the affaires bee common and ordinary: or whether they be ſpecial & extraordinary of al which it may appeare, how ſmall cauſe ye Papiſts hauehave to boaſt of their faſting, which in all the warpe therof hauehave not a thred which is not full of leproſie.
But all this while there ſeemeth not to hauehave appeared any neceſsitie of this exerciſe of faſting?
Yes verily, in that it is neceſſarie to humble our ſelues vnderunder the mightie and fearefull hand of God; and to afflict our ſoules with the conſcience of our ſinnes, and the puniſhment due vntounto them: vntounto which, this outward exerciſe of faſting is a good aid. And our Sauiour Chriſt doth expreſly ſay, that the time ſhall come, when his Diſciples ſhall faſt: where both by the circumſtance of the perſons, and of the time, the neceſſitie of faſting is enforced.
How ſo?
By the perſons; for that the Apoſtles themſelues had need of this helpe of faſting for their further humiliation. And by the time; for that euen after the aſcenſion of our Sauiour Chriſt, when the graces of God were moſt abundant vponupon them, they ſhould hauehave need of this exerciſe.
VVhat is gathered heereof?
That it is a ſhamefull thing for men to ſay, that faſting is Iewiſh or ceremoniall.
VVhat doe you gather in that our Sauiour Chriſt would not hauehave his Diſciples fast vntill after his aſcenſion?
His ſingular kindneſſe, in that he would ſuffer no great trouble and cauſe of faſt to come vntounto them, before they had ſtrength to beare them, and were prepared for them.
Thus much of the exerciſe of faſting generally. What are the kinds thereof?
It is either publicke, or priuate.
VVhat is the publicke?
It is when for a general cauſe the Churches do faſt: and it is either more publicke, when all Churches faſt generally; or ſome particular Churches are humbled by faſting.
What is the priuate faſt?
It is more, and leſſe priuate; as when a particular houſe; more priuate, when a particular perſon is humbled in faſting.