A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 41
CHAP. 41.
Of Faſting.
In holy faſting are conſidered
The parts conſiſting in
Bodily exerciſes, as abſtinence
in general from
Food. ſome kind of apparell.
In ſpeciall, from the marriage bed.
Spirituall,
Affections.
Exerciſes.
The kinds
Publike.
Priuate.
LVKF, chap. 5. verſ. 33. 34. 35.
33. And they ſaid vntounto him, Why doe the Diſciples of Iohn faſt often, and make prayers, and likewiſe the diſciples of the Phariſies: but thine eate and drinke?
34. And he ſaid vntounto them, Can ye make the children of the bride-chamber faſt, while the bridegroome is with them?
35. But the daies will come when the bridegroome ſhall bee taken away from them, and then ſhall they faſt in thoſe daies.
Q. WHat is holy faſting?
A. It is a religious abſtinence from aIon. 3. 7. 8. Ioel 2. 16. Leuit. 23. 28. 30all comforts of this life, ſo farre as neceſſity and comlineſſe will ſuffer; to the end that thereby in the due conſideration of our ſinnes and puniſhment, we bLeuit. 23. 27. 29. Mat. 9. 15. Neh. 1. 4. Ioel 2. 12. 13. Judg. 20. 26.being afflicted in our ſoules, may (in faith grounded vponupon the promiſes of God) cIoh. 3. 8. Neh. 1. 4. Eſay 58. 4.more earneſtly call vponupon God, either dIudg. 20. 26. Act. 10. 30-32 & 13. 3. & 14. 23.for the obtaining of ſome ſpeciall fauour we hauehave need of; or e2. Chron. 20. 3. Eſt. 4. 16. Jon. 3. 7. 8.for the auoiding of ſome notable iudgement hanging ouer our heads, f2. Sam. 12. 16. 1. Chron. 21. 16.or already preſſing vsus.
Q. What are the parts of faſting?
A. Firſt, an outward bodily abſtinence: ſecondly, ſpirituall affections and exerciſes, moued and furthered by the outward abſtinence, without which the abſtinence is nothing acceptable to God, but meere hypocriſie.
Q. Wherein doth this outward abſtinence conſiſt?
A. Firſt, in an vtter forbearing of all meates and Eſter 4. 16. Io. 3. 7.drinkes, during the time of the faſt, and not in a ſober vſe of them onelyonly, which ought to be at all times. This is noted here in the text, in that it is ſaid, The Diſciples of Iohn and the Phariſies faſt, but thine eat and drinke. And this kinde of abſtinence the word noteth, and from it the whole exerciſe hath the name.
Q. What is here to be conſidered?
A. Anotorious abuſe in 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 be more truly ſaid to feaſt, then to faſt.
Q. Wherein elſe doth this outward abſtinence conſiſt?
A. In wearing of old, homely and meaner apparell; aExod. 33. 4. 5. Ionas 3. 6.alſo in ceaſing from labour on the day of the faſt; to the end we may the better attend vntounto the holy exerciſes bLeuit. 23. 28. 30. 31. 32. Numb. 29. 7.vſed in faſting; and this abſtinence is required of all that celebrate the faſt: but cIoel 2. 16. 1. Cor. 7. 5.of married perſons there is further required, a forbearance alſo of the companie each of others.
Q. Is there any neceſsity of this outward abſtinence?
A. Yea, as the words of our Sauiour in this place do declare, who ſaith, that the time ſhall come, when his Diſciples ſhall faſt. For euen after the aſcenſion of Chriſt, when the graces of Gods ſpirit were moſt abundant vponupon them, they ſhould need this exerciſe.
Q. What may be noted (by the way) from this, that our Sauiour would not hauehave his Diſciples faſt, till after his aſcenſion?
A. His kindneſſe and care ouer their weakneſſe, that would ſuffer no great trouble, or cauſe of faſting to befall them, before they had ſtrength to vndergoe the ſame, and to make a right vſe thereof.
Q. They then that are ſicke and weake, are not tied to this ſtrict abſtinence?
A. No; they may take ſomewhat for neceſſarie ſuſtenance, thereby to be better inabled to ſerue God in the day of the faſt; prouided that they doe not abuſe this liberty to the ſatisfying of the fleſh.
Q. What are the ſpirituall affections?
A. Firſt, aLeuit. 23. 27. 29. Iudg. 20. 26. Neh. 1. 4. Ioel. 2. 12. 13. Mat. 9. 15.ſpeciall anguiſh and griefe of our harts, conceiued for our ſinnes, and the iudgements of God due vntounto them, grounded vponupon the meditation of the Law and threats of God: ſecondly, a ſpeciall ſorrow for thoſe ſpeciall iudgements of God that are vponupon vsus, or are likely to fall vponupon vsus, with a holy feare of the encreaſe or continuance of them, without ſpeciall humiliation and repentance. Where we may (by the way) note the great abomination in Poperie; for in ſtead of being truly humbled in ſoule, the Papiſts in the day of their faſt bEſay 58. 3.pride themſelues, and lift vp their hearts, thinking they deſerue ſome great matter at Gods hand, for their very outward abſtinence.
Q. VVhat are the ſpirituall exerciſes vponupon this day?
A. Firſt, an acknowledgement and profeſſion of our vnworthineſſe of any bleſſing or benefit from God, either concerning this life, or the life to come, and of our worthineſſe of all iudgements and calamities, euen death it ſelfe, which by the abſtinence aforeſaid wee teſtifie, and which the holy Fathers in times paſt did ſignifie, by putting aſhes or duſt vponupon their Iohn 3. 8. Eſay 58. 4.heads. Eſter. 4. 1. Lament. 2. 10. Dan. 9. 3. The truth whereof remaineth ſtill, although the ceremonie bee not vſed. Secondly, earneſt and ſtrong crying and calling vponupon the name of God for mercy, grounded vponupon the meditation of the promiſes of God, touching the remouing of our ſins, & that iudgement that is vponupon vsus for them, and for the beſtowing of ſuch gifts and graces vponupon vsus as wee ſtand in need of. Thirdly, an humble & carefull harkening vntounto ſuch parts of Gods word, as may further vsus in the affections and exerciſes.
Q. Thus much of the exrciſe of faſting in generall. What are the kinds thereof?
A. Two; either publike, or priuate.
Q. What is the publike?
A. It is when (for a generall cauſe) the Churches do faſt: and it is either more publike, when all, or many Churches faſt generally; or leſſe publike, when ſome Ionah 3. 7. Iudg. 20. 26. Ierem. 36. 9. Ioel 14. & 2. 17. Dan. 9. 3. Neh. 1. 4.particular Church is humbled by faſting.
Q. What is the priuate faſt?
A. It is either leſſe priuate; as when a particular houſe; or more priuate, when a particular perſon is humbled in faſting.