In the space of four and twenty hours only one ordinary meal is forborne, (the Fast beginning at the end of one meal, and when the Fast is ended, another meal being taken:) but less then one meal in a Fast cannot be forborne. This therefore is the shortest time, which yet will appear to be long enough, if a Fast be rightly and duly observed. For the last meal which is⟨p. 458⟩ taken before a Fast, ought to be a very moderate & spare meal; so moderate, as so soon as it is taken, we may without heaviness, drowsiness, and dullness, set ourselves to examination, meditation, conference, reading, prayer, and such like religious exercises in private, as a preparation unto the more solemn exercises to be performed in a Fast. Most meet it is that this preparation be in the evening, and the Fast then to begin. From even to even (saith the Law) shall ye celebrate your Sabbath: 1meaning a Fast. So as immediately after a spare supper, all servile works of our calling laid aside, the forenamed preparation is to begin, and continue so long as conveniently we can sit up, even longer and later then on other days we use to go to bed. Then after some sleep is taken, in the next morning rising sooner then ordinarily we use to do, after some renewing of our preparation, the rest of the time even till the four & twenty hours from the beginning of our evening preparation, be ended, is to be spent in the solemn exercises of Religion appertaining to a Fast. If a Fast be continued, as hath been before set down, two whole days, it is as much as our weak nature can well endure, without impairing the health and strength of our body.
In the space of foure and twenty houres onely one ordinary meale is forborne, (the Fast beginning at the end of one meale, and when the Fast is ended, another meale being taken:) but lesse then one meale in a Fast cannot be forborne. This therefore is the shortest time, which yet will appeare to be long enough, if a Fast be rightly and duly obserued. For the last meale which is⟨p. 458⟩ taken before a Fast, ought to be a very moderate & spare meale; so moderate, as so soone as it is taken, wee may without heauinesse, drowsinesse, and dulnesse, set ouselues to examination, meditation, conference, reading, prayer, and such like religious exercises in priuate, as a preparation vnto the more solemne exercises to bee performed in a Fast. Most meet it is that this preparation be in the euening, and the Fast then to beginne. From euen to euen (saith the Law) shall ye celebrate your Sabbath: 1meaning a Fast. So as immediatly after a spare supper, all seruile workes of our calling laide aside, the forenamed preparation is to beginne, and continue so long as conueniently wee can sit vp, euen longer and later then on other daies we vse to goe to bed. Then after some sleepe is taken, in the next morning rising sooner then ordinarily we vse to doe, after some renewing of our preparation, the rest of the time euen till the foure & twenty houres from the beginning of our euening preparation, be ended, is to be spent in the solemne exercises of Religion appertaining to a Fast. If a Fast be continued, as hath been before set downe, two whole dayes, it is as much as our weake nature can wel endure, without impairing the health and strength of our body.
- 1Leu. 23. 32.
