§. Sect. 1 What a true fast is, and how it diffe∣reth from all other fasts.
THe other extraordinary meanes of a godly life, is, an holy fast, of which it is my purpose to speake briefly, though the vse and benefit of this duty is so great, that it well deserueth a more full discourse; because it is already so excellently and exactly handled in diuers Treatises purposely written of this argument, and especially in one, which is called, The holy exercise of a true fast: and in another, intituled, The Christian exercise of fasting, written many yeeres since, by the right Reuerend Father and my most deare brother, that nothing materiall can be added vnto it. And there∣fore I will content my selfe to set downe, after mine owne manner, some of those poynts briefly, which are most essentiall and necessary vnto this exercise, (for how should I in a Chapter, expresse all fully, which would require a whole Treatise?) referring the Christian Reader vnto those lear∣ned Treatises, if he desire more thorow satisfaction, and particular dire∣ction in any of them. And first, that wee may begin with the description of this duty: A fast, as we here vnderstand it, is a voluntary, religious and solemne action, vndertaken vpon some extraordinary occasion, wherein we seriously humble our selues before God, in the sight and sense of our sinnes, and the Iudgements of God due vnto them; testifying our repen∣tance for them, and our vnworthinesse of his least mercies, by resting from all bodily labour in the day of our fast, and wholly abstaining from our food, and all other comforts and delights of this life, so farre foorth as it will stand with necessity of nature, charity, and comelinesse; and much more by forsaking all our sinnes, and doing the workes of piety and cha∣rity; that by this renewing of our humiliation and repentance, wee may increase the feruency of our prayers, and strengthen our faith in this assu∣rance, that they shall be graciously heard and granted vnto vs. In which description this religious fast, being principally intended as an exercise of repentance, by which it is increased, and as a helpe to our prayers that they may bee more feruent, is sufficiently distinguished from all other kinds of fasts. As first, from the fast of necessity, for want of sustenance, or appetite to it; seeing this is voluntary and at our free choyce. Second∣ly, from that ordinary abstinence whereby wee temperately, soberly and sparingly feed vpon Gods creatures, for the satisfying of nature, and not the pleasing of our carnall lusts and appetite (which is most commenda∣ble, as being of common and daily vse, and the other onely to be vsed vp∣on extraordinary occasions) seeing in this fast we restraine our selues but in respect of some part of our food: whereas that whereof wee intreate, is a totall abstinence for the time, both from all food, and the most of our worldly comforts. Thirdly, from a physicall fast, which is prescribed and vsed for the cleansing of the stomake and body from ill humours, and the preseruing or recouering of our health; and from a politique fast ap∣poynted by the Magistrate for ciuill ends, and the good of the Com∣mon-wealth;