How manifold is fasting?
Twofold: publick which is commaunded by authoritie of them who are gouernours of the Church; and by reason of vrgent ne∣cessitie is celebrated by that Church in some publicke place: of which sort were those fasts in the old Testament, somtimes from one, sometimes from more meales vntill the euening, so that sometimes the verie creatures were denyed foodea 1.1: All which were celebrated either in the Tabernacle, or Temple, or Ecle∣siasticall conuocationb 1.2, or before the temple, or in any other publick place, as in Mitspa, that is, in the watchtower, which place was in the confines of the Beniamites, being situate,c 1.3 as it were in the middest of the countrie, appointed for places of meetingsd 1.4: and in the New Testament. Act. 13.2. and 14, 27.
Priuate fasting is that which is performed by any priuate per∣son at his owne discretion, whether hee doe it vpon priuate, or publick necessitie, as when hee doth acknowledge his sinnes, or feeleth Satans temptations, or when hee will obtaine any thing of God. 2. Sam. 12.16.17. Psalm: 35.13. I put on sackloth, when they were sick, and I did humble my minde in fasting, and my prayer returned into mine owne bosomee 1.5. In obseruation of this fast the antient did confesse their sinnes, did weepe, and cloa∣thed themselues in sackcloaths, they went crookedf 1.6, they did rend their garmentes, they wallowed in the dustg 1.7, and put ashes vpon their headsh 1.8; but these were but a par∣tie of the paedagicall institution of the Olde Testamenti 1.9