Of the Ember Weeks.
THe Ember Weeks (so called from the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, e. i. Dies) are four in every year, as may be seen in the Calendar, and anciently Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, in each Fasted, according to the old verses.
Post Cineres; Pentec. post••rucem, post{que} Luciam, Mercurii, Veneris, Sabbatho, Jejunia fient.
They are of great Antiquity in the Church, and called by the Latin Fathers, — Quatuor Anni tempora.
For (beside the first Institution of them, for quar∣terly Seasons of devotion, proportioned to each part of the year, as the first Fruits of every Season, that the whole and each Division of it might be thereby blest; and again (beside their answerableness to those Jejunia quatuor, or Solemn Fasting days of the Jews before mentioned, that we Christians may not be inferiour to them in that Duty) an admirable use is assign'd to them in the Church, in imitation of the Apostles, Acts 13.3. Others think they are call'd Ember days, or days of Ashes, from the no less Anti∣ent than Religious Custom of using Hair-Cloath and Ashes in time of publick Piety and Penance: Or, from the Old Custom of eating nothing on those days till night, and then only a Cake baked under the Embers or Ashes, which was called Panem subcineri∣tium, or Ember-bread.