The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

§. 109. Of Humiliation, a third end of Fasting.

Concerning Humiliation, ¹it is well known, that they which look to prevail by Prayer with God, must come before him with an humbled heart. To him (saith the Lord) will I look that is poor, ²and of a contrite spirit. Now by fasting we manifest our unworthiness of the least of Gods blessings, and so testify great humiliation; yea, the very rites of a Fast are a means to humble the soul somewhat the more. By laying aside our best apparel, by our voluntary abstinence from Gods Creatures, by forbearing⟨p. 462⟩ some of our ordinary sleep, and by refusing in other respects to refresh our bodies, we show that we think our selves unworthy of any outward delights, yea of the least crumb of bread, and drop of water. In old time they were wont to wear^a sack-cloth in the time of a Fast, to show that the worst clothing was good enough: and^b to lay dust upon their heads, to show that they thought themselves more worthy to be under the ground, then to tread upon it. Again, when we fast, because God is displeased for our sin, and as a token of his displeasure, inflicteth some judgement upon us, we do not only manifest our great grief for displeasing God, but also after an holy manner take vengeance of our selves, which is an especial point of humiliation, commended in the Corinthians.⁵