A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Especially at this time when their Master was in Prison, they thought fasting might be more seasonable than going to a feast, as Christ and his Disciples did at the house of Levi, as Grotius observes upon the place.

Next we have Christ's reply to the Objection, and he presents it in a parable, as I said; the parable of a Bridegroom, who at his wedding hath his Bridemen and Bridemaids attending him in the wedding chamber, who according to the Hebrew Dialect are here called the Children of the Bride-chamber. And is it then a proper season for their fasting, while they are in the wedding-chamber, and the Bridegroom with them.

Wherein Christ doth represent himself as a Bridegroom, and his Disciples as the Children of the Bride-chamber. And he doth now represent himself thus, the rather to put these Disciples of John in remembrance of their Masters speech when he called Christ the Bridegroom. As we read John 3.29. He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom. And should then his Disciples fast and mourn while Christ the Bridegroom was with them? And their Master John he profest that he was the friend of this Bridegroom, and rejoiced greatly to hear his voice, John 3.29. And therefore why should they be offended at his Disciples that they did not fast and mourn, when their Master John rejoiced, and had his joy fulfilled in hearing his voice; as we read John 3.29.

Wherein Christ doth represent himself as a Bridegroom, and his Disciples as the Children of the Bride-chamber. And he doth now represent himself thus, the rather to put these Disciples of John in remembrance of their Masters speech when he call'd Christ the Bridegroom. As we read