A27107:749
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
A27107:749
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly,d A civil Fast, which the Magistrate enjoineth for the better main•• nance of the Common-wealth, that by […] Fish as well as Fl•sh, there may be greater plenty of both.
Thirdly,d A civil Fast, which the Magistrate enjoyneth for the better main•• nance of the Common-wealth, that by 〈…〉 Fish as well as Fl•sh, there may be greater plenty of both.
Fourthly,e A miraculous Fast, as the forty days fast of Moses and Elijah, the Types; and of Christ, the substance. This is rather to be admired than imitated.
Fourthly,e A miraculous Fast, as the forty days fast of Moses and Elias, the Types; and of Christ, the substance. This is rather to be admired than imitated.
Fifthly,f A daily Fast, when a man is careful to use the Creatures of God wit• such moderation, that he is n•t m•de heavier, but moreg cheerful, to serve God and to do the duties of his calling, This is especially to be observed of ministers andh Judges.
Fifthly,f A daily Fast, when a man is careful to use the Creatures of God wit• such moderation, that he is n•t m•de heavier, but moreg chearful, to serve God and to do the duties of his calling, This is especially to be observed of ministers andh Judges.
Sixthly,i A religious Fast, 2which a man ⟨p. 288⟩voluntarily undertakes, to make his body and soul the fitter to pray more fervently unto God, upon some extraordinary occasion. And of this Fast only we are to treat. The Religious Fast is of Two sorts, either private or public.
Sixthly,i A religious Fast, 2which a man ⟨p. 288⟩voluntarily undertakes, to make his body and soul the fitter to pray more fervently unto God, upon some extraordinary occasion. And of this Fast only we are to treat. The Religious Fast is of Two sorts, either private or publick.
That we may rightly perform a private Fast, Four things are to be observed: First the Author: Secondly, the Time and Occasion: Thirdly the Manner: Fourthly, the Ends of private Fasting.
THat we may rightly perform a private Fast, Four things are to be observed: First the Author: Secondly, the Time and Occasion: Thirdly the Manner: Fourthly, the Ends of private Fasting.
The first that ordained Fasting, was God himself ina Paradise: and it was the first Law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write hisb Law without fasting, and in his Law commands all his people to fast. So doth ourc Saviour Christ teach all his Disciples under the New Testament likewise. By religious fasting a man comes nearest the life of dAngels, and to do God's will on Earth, as it is done in Heaven.
Yea, Nature seemeth to teach man this duty, in giving him ae little mouth, and a narrower throat; for Nature is content with a little, Grace with less. Neither doth Nature and Grace agree in any one act better than in this Exercise of Religious Fasting; for it strengtheneth ⟨p. 289⟩the memory, and cleareth the mind; illuminateth the understanding, and bridleth the Affections; mortifieth the flesh, and preserveth Chastity; preventeth sickness, and continueth health; it delivereth from evils, and procureth all kind of blessings.
Yea, Nature seemeth to teach man this duty, in giving him ae li•tle mouth, and a n•rrower throat; for Nature is content with a little, Grace with less. Neither doth Nature and Grace agree in any one act better than in this Excercise of Religious Fasting; for it strengtheneth ⟨p. 289⟩the memory, and cleareth the mind; illuminateth the understanding, and bridleth the Affections; mortifieth the flesh, and preserveth Chastity; preventeth sickness, and continueth health; it delivereth from evils, and procureth all kind of blessings.
By breaking this Fast, the Serpent overthrew the first aAdam, so that he lost Paradise. But by keeping a Fast, the second Adam vanquished the Serpent, and restored us into Heaven. Fasting was she who covered Noah safe in the Ark, whom Intemperance uncovered, and left stark naked in the Vineyard. By fasting, Lot quenched the flame of Sodom, whom Drunkenness scorched with the fire of Incest. Religious Fasting and talking with God, made Moses's Face to shine before Men; when Idolatrous eating and drinking ca•sed the Israelites to appear abominable in the sight of God. It rapt Elijah in an Angelical Coach to Heaven; when voluptuous Ahab was sent in a Bloody Chariot to Hell. It made Herod believe that John Baptist should live after death by a blessed Resurrection, when after an intemperate life, he could promise nothing to himself, but eternal death and destruction. O divine Ordinance of a divine Author!
By breaking this Fast, the Serpent overthrew the first aAdam, so that he lost Paradise. But by keeping a Fast, the second Adam vanquished the Serpent, and restored us into Heaven. Fasting was she who covered Noah safe in the Ark, whom Intemperance uncovered, and left stark naked in the Vineyard. By fasting, Lot quenched the flame of Sodom, whom Drunkenness scorched with the fire of Incest. Religious Fasting and talking with God, made Moses's Face to shine before Men; when Idolatrous eating and drinking ca•sed the Israelites to appear abominable in the sight of God. It rapt Elias in an Angelical Coach to Heaven; when voluptuous Ahab was sent in a Bloody Chariot to Hell. It made Herod believe that John Baptist should live after death by a blessed Res•rrection, when after an intemperate life, he could promise nothing to himself, but eternal death and destruction. O divine Ordinance of a divine Author!
Theb holy Scripture appoints no Time under the New Testament to fast; but ⟨p. 290⟩but leaves it unto Christians own free choice, Rom. 14. 3. 1 Cor. 7. 5. to fast as occasion shall be offered unto them, Mat. 9. 15. As when a man becomes an humble and earnest suitor unto God for the pardon of some gross sin committed; or for the *prevention of some sin, whereunto a man feels himself by Satan solicited: or to obtain some special blessing which he wants: or to avert some Judgment which a man fears, or is already fallen upon himself or others: Or, lastly to subdue his flesh unto his spirit, that he may more cheerfully pour forth his soul unto God by prayer. Upon these occasions a man may fasta a day orb longer, as his occasion requires, and the constitution of his body, and other needful affairs will permit.
Theb holy Scripture appoints no Time under the New Testament to fast; but ⟨p. 290⟩but leaves it unto Christians own free choice, Rom. 14. 3. 1 Cor. 7. 5. to fast as occasion shall be offered unto them, Mat. 9. 15. As when a man becomes an humble and earnest suiter unto God for the pardon of some gross sin committed; or for the
The true manner of performing a private fast, consists partly in outward, partly in inward actions.
The outward actions are, to abstain, for the time that we fast: First, from allc worldly business and labour, making our fasting day, as it were a Sabbath day, Lev. 23. 28. for worldly business will distract our minds from holy devotion. Secondly, from all manner of food, yea, fromd bread and water, so far as health will permit: 1. That so we may acknowledge our own indignity, as being ⟨p. 291⟩unworthy both of life, and all the means for the maintenance thereof. 2. That by afflicting the Body, the Soul, which followeth the constitution thereof, may be the more humbled. 3. That so we may take a godly erevenge upon our selves, for abusing our liberty in the use of God's Creatures. 4. That by the hunger of our Bodies, through want of these earthly things, our Souls may learn to hunger more eagerly after spiritual and heavenly food. 5. To put us in mind, that as we abstain from food which is lawful, so we should much more abstain from* Sin, which is altogether unlawful.
The outward actions are, to abstain, for the time that we fast: First, from allc worldly business and labour, making our fasting day, as it were a Sabbath day, Lev. 23. 28. for worldly business will distract our minds from holy devotion. Secondly, from all manner of food, yea, fromd bread and water, so far as health will permit: 1. That so we may acknowledge our own indignity, as being ⟨p. 291⟩unworthy both of life, and all the means for the maintenance thereof. 2. That by afflicting the Body, the Soul, which followeth the constitution theref, may be the more humbled. 3. That so we may take a godly
Thirdly, From good and costly fapparel; that as the abuse of these puffs us up with pride; so the laying aside their lawful use may witness our humility. And to this end in ancient times they used (especially in public Fasts) to putg on Sackcloth, or other course Apparel. The Equity hereof still remaineth; especially in public Fasts, at what time to come into the Assembly with starched Bands, crisped Hair, brave Apparel, and decked with Flowers or Perfumes, argueth a Soul that is neither humble before God, nor ever knew the true use of so holy an exercise.
Thirdly, From good and costly fapparel; that as the abuse of these puffs us up with pride; so the laying aside their lawful use may witness our humility. And to this end in ancient times they used (especially in publick Fasts) to putg on Sackcloth, or other course Apparel. The Equity hereof still remaineth; especially in publick Fasts, at what time to come into the Assembly with starched Bands, crisped Hair, brave Apparel, and decked with Flowers or Perfumes, argueth a Soul that is neither humble before God, nor ever knew the true use of so holy an exercise.