There is a double manner of doing this duty, 1one wholly public, which should be from morning till night in public by the whole land, that all together might confess and humble themselves for the sins of it; which is more extraordinary. 2But secondly, as for these days which are kept from week to week thus, it is well ordered, that the time is so limited for these public exercises, as that there is time left for the private: for the 3business of particular humiliation goes forward better then; and these public exercises tend but to that end, and what is the means without the end be attained? that is, that every man should mourn apart: so Zach. 12. when it was a business of mourning, every 4family did it apart, and the wives apart: the wife and the husband are the nearest, and if any 5should be together, one would think they should; and yet they must be then apart: and the reason is, because nothing humbleth so much as particular ⟨p. 39⟩sins, those wound the heart, which in public are not so much confessed, but in general only; but when you are every one in private, then you may consider what your lusts, your actions have been, and the circumstances of them; then you may search your hearts and ways, look back and reflect upon your selves; and that is the main business and duties of these days. Some of you it may be, will say; I know not how to spend my time in private, when I am from the Church: but consider, hast thou not committed many sins? consider them, canst thou not speak and confess them? and say, Lord I confess I have fallen back into this again and again. But secondly when you 6have done this, seek reconciliation and beg it earnestly, which the heart will do when it is touched with the sense of sin, and the enumeration of them will work your hearts to it; when you see the multitudes, the circumstances, the aggravations of them; and because this is the greatest of all your requests, therefore you must be the most earnest in it; and therefore God doth purposely with-hold assurance often, to teach men, what it is to be reconciled to him; and fasting serves to intend your prayers, that they may be the more earnest. Thirdly renew your covenants also, consider what sins 7you are most inclined to, and what occasions draw you most to those sins, and vow against them.
THere is a double manner of doing this duty, 1one wholly publike, which should bee from morning till night in publike by the whole land, that al together might confesse and humble themselves for the sinnes of it; which is more extraordinary. 2But secondly, as for these dayes which are kept from weeke to weeke thus, it is well ordered, that the time is so limited for these publike exercises, as that there is time left for the private: for the 3businesse of particular humiliation goes forward better then; and these publicke exercises tend but to that end, and what is the meanes without the end be attained? that is, that every man should mourne apart: so Zach. 12. when it was a businesse of mourning, every 4family did it apart, and the wives apart: the wife and the husband are the nearest, and if any 5should be together, one would thinke they should; and yet they must be then apart: and the reason is, because nothing humbleth so much as particular ⟨p. 39⟩sinnes, those wound the heart, which in publick are not so much confessed, but in generall onely; but when you are every one in private, then you may consider what your lusts, your actions have beene, and the circumstances of them; then you may search your hearts and wayes, looke backe and reflect upon your selves; and that is the maine businesse and duties of these dayes. Some of you it may bee, will say; I know not how to spend my time in private, when I am from the Church: but consider, hast thou not committed many sinnes? consider them, canst thou not speake and confesse them? and say, Lord I confesse I have fallen backe into this againe and againe. But secondly when you 6have done this, seeke reconciliation and beg it earnestly, which the heart will doe when it is touched with the sence of sinne, and the enumeration of them will worke your hearts to it; when you see the multitudes, the circumstances, the aggravations of them; and because this is the greatest of all your requests, therefore you must be the most earnest in it; and therefore God doth purposely with-hold assurance often, to teach men, what it is to be reconciled to him; and fasting serves to intend your prayers, that they may be the more earnest. Thirdly renew your covenants also, consider what sinnes
- 1Double performance of Fasts.Double performāce of Fasts.
- 21 Public.1 Publike.
- 32 Private.
- 4Zach. 12.
- 51 By confession of sins.1 By confession of sinnes.
- 62 Seeking reconciliation.
- 73 Renewing covenants.
