SECT. 1. Of preparatives to Fasting.
HItherto of duties ordinary; now follow the extraordi∣nary, Fasting and Feasting: but because the Book is swollen bigger then I had purposed it, and that much of the extraordinary is contained in the ordinary du∣ties, I shall therefore deliver in few words what I have to say of these duties.
The first of these is Fasting, in which there is required something
- Antecedent.
- Concomitant.
- Subsequent.
1. The Antecedent, or preparation thereto, consists in these particulars:—
1. Take but a moderate supper the night before; for if a man glut himself over night, he will be more unfit for the duty of hu∣miliation the next day.
2. Immediately after supper, all servile works of our calling laid aside, begin the preparation, and continue so long as we can conveniently sit up, even longer and later then on other days: From even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath, saith God; and therefore then set the time allotted apart for that holy work, propounding to our selves the end of our intended Fast, resolving to keep it to God according to his will, adding serious petitions to God in our prayers in that behalf.
3. When we awake that night, let not our thoughts be upon worldly business, much less upon any wicked thing, but let them be holy, such as may tend to the furtherance of the holy actions to be done the next day.
4. Arise early the day of our Fast, this agrees well with a fast∣ing day; it is probable, that for this cause some lay on the ground, others in sackcloath, in the nights of their fasts, not onely to ex∣press, but to further their humiliation, by keeping them from sleeping overmuch or over sweetly.
5. In the morning (after some renewing of our preparation,