publictly preached And therefore albeit we haue no corporall punishment to inflict vpone the contemners of that Godly exercise yet haue we the spiritual sword which ones will stricke sorer then any materiall sword can or may The Iudgementes and iustice of our God are immutable he abydeth the sâ—me and one God that drowned the world by water that consumed Sodome and Gomorha with syre from heaueÌ„ that plagued Pharo distroyed Ierusalem and hath executed his fearce iudgemeÌ„tes in all ages yea and euen before our eyes It is the same God we say that this day by his faithfull seruandes calleth vs to repeÌ„tance whose voces if we contompne we declare our selues P. ebellious to our God mockers of his threatninges and suche as sometymes in dispyte cryed we will walk according to the lust of our owen heartes and let the counsal of the holy one of Israell cum as it list c. And if so we do then wo yea wo and double damnation vnto vs for then euen as assuredly as God liueth so assuredly shall the plagues that oure eares haue of heard be poured surth vpone vs euen in the eyes of this same peruerst gâ—ne â—itioÌ„ with whome we contempne God and before whome we are â—ether feared nor eshamed stubâ—arnlye to procead from sinne to contempt Our hope is better of yow deare brethrene that haue professed the Lord Iesus with vs within this Realme 〈◊〉 that this we speake to let yow vnderstand what Rebellion hath bene in flesh before vs and how it hath benâ— punished that we may learne to stoupe before our God by vnfeaned repentance and then we shall be assured that according to the promes made by the mouth of Iecâ— Our God shall leaue vnto vs â— benediction albeit that the vehement fyre of his 〈◊〉 shall consume the inobedient But now least that we shoulde thinke that the obseruation of the ceremonie is yneugh to please god â—e must vnderstand what thinges mâ—â—t be ioyned with fruetfull Fasting and what thinges they are thâ—t may mâ—ke our Fasting odiâ—us to our God And first we haue to â—nderstaâ—d that Fasting by it selâ—â— considdered iâ— no suche thing â— the 〈…〉 gined to wit that it is a worke meâ—ritorious and a satisfaction for the sinnes before committed no all they that Faste with that intent renounceth the merites of Christs death and passion in so farre as they ascriue to Fasting whiche is but an exercise vsed by man that whiche is onely proper to lesâ—s Christ which is that he by offering vp him self ones for all hath mâ—de perfyte for euer those that shalbe sanctiâ—ied we mâ—st fâ—rther vnderstand that as the Kingdome of God is nether â—eat nâ—r drink so is nether Fasting by it self sâ—â—plie considdered The cause why that Kingdome is granted to the chosen nether yet eating moderat we meane any caâ—se why the reprobate are frustrâ—t thereof But vnto Fasting there must be somewhat ioyned if that God shall looke vpone it at any tyme in his fauour The Prophet â—oel is witnes hereof who in the persone of God said vnto suche as he had seueirly threatned Turne vnto me in your whole heart in Fasting murning in which wordes the holie Ghoste first requyreth the conuersion of the heart vnto God thereto ioâ—eth Fasting murning â—s witnesses of the sorow that we haue for our former offences and feare that we haue of his seueir iudgementes the releif whereof we publictly professe we can obteane by no vther meanes but by Gods fre mercie from whome we haue before declyned So that the ver ray exercise of Fasting the murning and prayer therewith annexed do solempnedly protest that by our Fasting we merite not for he that still confesseth his offence and in bitternes of heart cryeth for mercy doeth not brage of his merites if the Papistes â–ª â—ply yet god looketh to the Fasting and heareth the prayers of suche as ryghtly huÌ„ble them selues before him we deny not but thereto we adde that rightly did nouer man humble him self before God that trusted or glorified in the merites of his oweÌ„ works for without Faith it is vnpos sible to please God and faith dependeth vpone the promes of gods fre mercy through lesus Christ not vpone the merites of any workes The Pharise in braging wes reiected but the Publican in denying him self and calling for mercie wes iustified not by his workes which he had not but by grace and mercy for the which he sobbed Daniel Fasted confessed his sinnes and the sinnes of the people and thereto he added moste earnest and feruent prayers But doeth he allege any of them as a cause why God shuld ather be mercyfull to him or to the people nay we finde no suche thing but the plaine contrarie for thus he concludeth Now therefore our god â—eare the supplication and prayer of thy seruand showe thy pleasing visage vnto thy Sanctuary that lyeth waiste for the Lordes saik O my God giue thy eare that thow maisâ—e heare and open thyen eyes that thow maiste see the waist places of the cietie which beareth thy name for we alledge not our ryghteousnes in our prayers that we poure furthe before thee but thy moste abounding mercy Lord heare Lord be mercyfull Lord take head helpe delay not for thy owen self my God We may plainely se whereupoÌ„ this excellent seruaÌ„d of God grouÌ„ded him self to purches Godes fauour to wit vpone the Lord that is vpone the Sauiour and Mediator promised vpone the moste abound 〈◊〉 mercie of God and vpone God him selfe for he vnderstoode what God had promised aswell by the mouth of Moyses as by the Prophet Isaias saying Beholde 〈◊〉 yea euen I am the Lord there is no God but I. I kill and I giue lyfe againe I giue the wound and I shall heale For my owen names saike will I do it sayeth the Eternall Apone these and the lyke promises we say did all the Sainctes of God in all there extremities depend and did looke to receoÌ„ue câ—ferte without all respect to their owen workes they dampned the best of their owen workes called them nothing but â—ilthynes before God And therefore yet as of before we boldely affirme that the papisticall Fasting wes not onlie vaine for what Fasting is it to â—bsteane from fleshe and to fill the â—ellie with â—ishe wyne spyce and ther delicates but also it wes odiâ—as vnto God and blasphemous 〈◊〉 the death of Iesus Christ for the causes forewritten And this â—uche shortely for those thinges â—â—at must be ioyned with frâ—tefull â—â—sting Now we haue to consider what thinges may make our Fasting odious besydes this proude opinion of merite whereof we haue spokeÌ„ It is no dout but that infidelitie maketh all the workes of the reprobâ—â— odious before God yea euen when that they do the verray workes that God hath commanded as we may read in Math. 5. 6.
THE ORDOVR AND DOCTRINE OF THE GENERALL FASTE APPOINTED be the Generall Assemblie of the Kirkes of Scotland halden at Edinburgh the 25. day of December 1565. ☞ †☜ Ioel. 2. Therefore also now the Lord sayeth Turne yow vnto me with all your heart and with Fasting with weaping and with murning IMPRINTED AT EDINBVRGH BE ROBERT LEK PREVIK ANNO. DOM. 1566. ⧠THE SVPERINTENDENTES MINISTERS AND COMMISSIoners of Kirkes Reformed within the Realme of Scotland conuened in the Generall Assemblie at Edinburgh the 25. day of Dâ—cember 1565. To all that trewly professâ— the Lord Iesus within the same Realme or els where wishe grace and mercy from God the Father and from his onely Sone our Lord Iesus Christ with the perpetuall conâ—ort of the holie Spirite THE Present troubles being somewhat coÌ„siddered but greater feared shortly to follow it wes thoght expedient dearelie beloued in the Lord Iesus that the whole Faithfull Within this Realme shuld together and at one time prostrat them selues before their God crauing of him pardone and mercy for the great abuse of his former benefites and the assistance of his holy Spirite by whose mightie operation we may yet so conuert to our God that we prouoke him not to take from vs the lyght of his Euangle which he of his mercie hath caused so clearly of laite dayes to shine within this realme But because that suche publicte Supplicationes requyre alwayes Fasting to be ioyned therewith And publict Fastynge craueth a certane time and certane exercises of godlynes then to be vsed with greater streatnes then at vther tymes The whole Assemblie after deliberation hath appointed y â— last Sonday of February and the first Sonday of Marche nixt following the date of the said assemblie to that moste necessare exercise as tyme now standeth of publict Fasting And further did require the same to be signified be all Ministers to their people the Sonday preceading the said last Sonday of Februarie But lest that the Papistes shall think that now we begine to authorise and praise that which some tymes we haue reproued and dampned in them Or els that the ignorant who knowe not the commoditie of this moste godlie exercise shall contempne y e same We haue thoght expedient somewhat to speak to the one and to the vther And vnto the Papistes first we say that as in puritie of conscience we haue refused their whole abhominationes and amongest the rest that their supersticious and Pharisaicall maner of Fasting So euen vnto this day do we continew in the same purpose boldely affirming that their Fasting is no Fasting that euer God approued but that it is a deceauing of the people and a meare mocking of God which moste euidentlie will appeare If in the Scriptures we searche what is the ryght end of Fasting what Fasting pleased God and which is it that his soule abhoreth Of Fasting in the Scriptures we finde two sortes the one priuate the vther publicte The priuate is that which man or woman doeth in secrete before their God for such causes as their owen conscience beareth record vnto them As Dauid during the time that his Sone which wes begotten in adulterie wes struken with mortall seicknes fasted weapâ— and lay vpon the ground because that in the seicknes of the Chylde he did considder Godes displeasure agains him self for the remouing whereof he fasted murned prayed vnto suche tyme as he saw Godes wil fulfilled by the awaytaking of the Chylde Priuatlie fasted Anna wyse to Alcana euen in the verray Solempne Feastes during the tyme of hir barrennes For she weapt and eat nothing but in the bitternes of hir heart she prayed vnto the Lord nether ceased she from sorow and murning vnto suche tyme as Eli the hie Preist concurred with her in prayers by whose mouth after that he had hard her petifull complaint she receaued conforte Of this Fasting speaketh oure Mâ—â—ister Iesus Christ in these wordes when ye Fast be not sowr as the Hypocretes for they disfigure their faces that they may some vnto men to Fast. But thow when thow Fastest anoynt thy heade and washe thy face that thow seame not vnto men to Fast but vnto thy Father which seeth in secrete and will rewarde the opinly Of the same no dout speaketh y â— Apostle when that he sayeth defraude not one another except it be with coÌ„sent for a tyme that ye may giue your selues to Fasting and prayer To this priuate Fasting which staÌ„deth chiefly in a temperat dyet in powring furthe of our secrete thoughtes and necessities before God can be prescriued no certane rule certane tyme nor certane ceremonies but as the causes and occasiones why that exercise is vsed are diuers yea so diuers that seldome it is that many at ones are moued with one cause so are diet tyme together with all vther circumstances requyred to suche Fasting put in the libertie of them that vse it To this Fasting we haue bene faithfully and earnestly exhorted by oure Preachers as oft as the Scriptures which they entreated offered vnto them occasion And we dout not but the godlie within this Realme haue vsed the same as necessitie craued albeit with the Papistes we blew no Trumpetes to appoynt thereto certane dayes The vther kynde of Fasting is publict so called because that it is openlie awowed some tymes of a Realme some tymes of a multitude some tymes of a cietie and some tymes of a meaner company yea some tymes of particulare persones and yet publictlie vsed and that for the wealth of a multitude The causes thereof are also diuers for sometymes the feare of ennimies sometymes the angrie face of God punishing sometymes his threatning to distroy some tymes iniquitie deprehended that ryghtlie before wes not considered and sometymes the earnest zeale that some beare for preseruation of Godes people for aduaÌ„cing of his glorie performing of his worke according to his promes moue men to publict Fasting confession of their sinnes solempned prayers for defence against their ennimies recouering of Godes fauoures remouing of his plagues preseruatioÌ„ of his people setting fordwarde of that workâ— which he hath of his merce promised to finishe as in the subsequent probationes euideÌ„tly shall appeare ¶ When Messingers came to Iosaphat saying there cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea out of Aram that is Syria c. Iosaphat feared and set him self to seke the Lord and proclamed a Faste throughout all Iuda And Iuda gathered them selues together to aske counsall of the Lord they come euen out of all the cieties of Iuda to inquire of the Lord. And Iosaphat stoode in the CongregarioÌ„ of Iuda and Ierusalem in the hou of the Lord before the new court And all Iuda stoode before the Lord with their yonge ones their wyfes and their Chyldrene And Iosaphat said ô Lord God of our Fathers are not thow God in heauen and reignest not thow in all Kingdomes of the
threatninges of God pronounced by the Prophet Elias against him against his wyfâ— and hous he rent his royall garmentes put on Sackcloth sleipt therein fasted and yead baire footed what ensewed the one and the vther of these we shall after heare The fourt cause of publict Fasting and murning for they two muste euer be ioyned is iniquitio deprehended that before wes not ryghtly considdered The testimony whereof we haue in Esdras after the reduction of the captiuitie that the temple the work of the Lordes hous wes stayed It wes shawen vnto Esdras that the people of Israell the Preistes and the Leuites were not seperat from the people of the Nationâ— but that they did according to their abhominations for they maryed vnto them selues and vnto their Sonnes the doughters of the Cananites the Pherisites Hithetes Iebusites Ammorites Moabites and Egiptiens so that the holy sead wes mixt with Prophane Idolateris which thing being vnderstand more deaply considdered then it wes before for then Esdras sawe iust cause why the worke of the Lord prospered not in their haÌ„des This considdered we say Esdras taking vpone him the sinne and offence of the whole people rent his clothes and pulled furth the heares of his head and beard sat as a man desolate of all conforte till the euening Sacrifice and then rysing he bowed his kneis and streached furth his hande before the Lord and made a moste semple humble confession of all the enormities that were committed be the people as well before the captiuitie as after their returning and ceased not his lamentable coÌ„plaint vnto suche tyme as a great multitude oâ— men wemen and childrene moued by his exemple weapt vehementlie and promised redres of that present disordour and impietie Of the last cause of publict Fasting â–ª to wit the zeale that certane persones beare for preseruation of Godes people for aduâ—â—cing of his glorie and performing of his worke according to his promes We haue exemples in Mardochous Daniell and in the faithfull assembled at Antioche for when that Mardocheus hard of that cruell sentence which by the procurement of Human wes pronounced against his Nation To wit that vpone a day statute and affixed shuld the Iewes in all the prouinces of the King Artaxarses be destroyed oulde and yong men and wemen and that their substance shuld be expâ—ned in pray This bloody senteÌ„ce we say being hard Mardocheâ—s rent his clothes put on Sackcloth and Ashes past â—urth in the middest of the cietie and cryed with a great and bitter crye coming to the Kinges gate gaue knoweledge to Ester what crueltie wes decreed against the Nation of the Iâ—wes willing her to make intercession to the King in the coÌ„trare who efter certane excuses said Go and gather all the Iewes that are in Susan and faste for me â—at not nor drinke not thre dayes and thre nyghtes and I also and my haÌ„dmades shall likewyse faste then shall I enter vnto the King although that I shuld perishe In this we may clearely se that the zeale that Mardocheus had to preserue the people of God moued not onely him self to publict Fasting but also Ester the Quene her maides and the whole Iewes that hard of the murther inteÌ„ded and moued Ester also to hasart her lyfe in going vnto the King without his commandement Of the uther to wit that the earnest desyre that Godes seruandes haue that God will performe his promes manteane the worke that he hath begune Exemple we haue in Daniell and in the Actes of the Apostles For Daniell vnderstanding the nomber of the yeares forespoken by the Prophet Ieremie that Ierusalem shuld ly waist to haue bene completit in the first yeare of the Reigne of Dâ—rius turned him self vnto God fasted huÌ„bled him self in Sackcloth and Ashes and with vnfâ—aned confession of his owen sinnes and of the sinnes of the people he vehementlie prayed That according to the promises sometymes made be Moyses and after rehearsed by the Prophet I say Ieremie he wolde suddingly send them deliuerance and that he wolde not delay it for his owen Names sake When the Gentiles began to be illuminated and that Anteochia had so boldely receaued the Euangle of Iesus Christ that the Disciples in it first of all tooke vpone them the name of Christianes The principall men of the same Church thrusting no dout that the Kingdome of Iesus Christ shulde further be enlarged and that the multitude of the gentiles shuld be instructed in the ryght way of Saluation Fasted and prayed whill that they wer so exercised charge wes giuen that Paule and Barnabas shuld be seperated frome the rest to the worke whereunto God had called them c. Of these former Histories and Scriptures we may clearly se for what causes publict Fasting and generall supplicationes haue bene made in the Church of God and ought to be made when that euer the lyke necessities appeare or occasions are offered Now let vs shortly heare what conforte and frute ensewed the same For the ennimie yea the murtherer of all godly exercise is disperation for with what corage can any man with continuaÌ„ce call vpone God If he shall disperatly dout whether God shall accept his prayer or not How shall he humble him self before his Throne Or to what end shall he confesse his offence If he be not perswaded that there is mercy and good will in God to pardone his sinnes to accept him in fauour to grant vnto him more then his owen heart in the middest of his dolour can requyre or ymagine Trew it is that this vennome of disperation is neuer throughlie purged from our heartes so long as we cary this mortall Carcasse But yet the constant promises of our God and the many folde docu mentes of his mercy help show en vnto men in their greatest extremitie ought to animat vs to sollow their exemple and to hope for the same successe that they haue gotten abufe mannes expectation Iosaphat after his humiliation and prayer obtened the victorie with out the lose of any of his Soldioures for the Lord reased Ammon Moab against the inhabitantes of Mont Seir who being vtterly destroyed euerie one of the ennimies of Godes people lift his sworde against another till that of that godles mulâ—itude there wes not one left aliue Iosua and the Israelites after their deiection wer coâ—forted againe Niniue wes preserued albeit that Ionas had cryed destruction yea Achab not withstanding all his vngodlynes loste not the frute of his humiliation but wes râ—compensed with delay of the vttermoste of the plagues during his lyfetyme The murniÌ„g of Esdras wes turned in ioy when that he saw the people willing to obey God and the worke of the hous of the Lord to go fordwart The bitter crying of Mardocheus and the painefull Fasting of Ester were aboundantly rewarded wheÌ„ not onely wes the people
trauell we can not be compared â–ª and yet we look to be partakers of the Kingdome which god hath prepared for such as paciently abyde the gâ—â—â—â—comming of the Lord Iesus And shall we in nothing communicate with them They were some tymes whipped some tymes stoned oâ—t cast in preason and the blood of mâ—ny â—eâ—led vp their doctrine And shall we for pouertiâ— leaue the â—lock of Iesus Christ before that it vtterly refuse vs God forbid deare brethrene for whâ—t shall discerne vs from the Mercenaries and Hyrelings If our coÌ„stancie in aduersitie shal not do it The Hyrelings in tyme of quietues teache the treuth as we do in giftes and vtterance they commoÌ„lie excead vs in lyfe and conuersation they may for a season be irreprehensible What is it then that maketh them Hyrelings Our master Sauiour Iesus Christ answereth saying The mercenarie seâ—th the Wolfe comming and â—leeth because he is a Mercenarie Then the leauing of the â—lock when Wolfes come to innade it proueth suche as were holden Pastours to be nothing but Hyrelings we deny not but if in one Cietie we be persecuted we may laughfully â—lee vnto another yea if one Realme cast vs furth we may receaue the benefite of another But euer still with this condition that we cast not from vs the prâ—fesâ—ion that publictly we haue made nether yet that we cease to fead the flock of Iesus Christ and to gainestand the teachers of fals doctrine so farre furth as in vs lyeth But hereinto standeth thâ— question whether may we whome God hath called to this honour that he hath made vs Ambassadoures of his good will vnto this vnthankfull generation desist frome our vocations Because that we can not be prouided to Reasonable liuinges as God hath CommaÌ„ded and our trauelles deserue The Spirite of God vniformlie through the Scriptures wil answer vs. That Helias wes send to be fed by the Rauens Elizeus and his Scollers were compelled to gather Herbes to make pottage Paule did oâ—t liue by the worke of his owen handes but we neuer finde that they receaued dimission from their vocations Seing then dear brethrene thâ—t God as yet hathâ— tempted none of vs with the extremitie that wâ— finde vthers before vs haue suffered and ouercome let vs be ashamed so suddenly to faint euen in the brunt of the battell The price of Christ Iesus his death and passion is committed to our Charge the eyes of men are bent vpon vs and we must answer before that Iudge who will not admit euerie excuse that pleaseth vs but will Iudge vpryghtly as in his worde he hath before pronounced Let vs therefore stand fast which we can not do if we cease from our publict vocations Let vs deare brethren stand fast in the â—â—â—re commit our bodies to the care of him who feadeth the soules of the aire and hath promysed that 〈…〉 whereof we haue 〈◊〉 He preserued vs in the darkness of our Mothers bosome i.e. 〈◊〉 our foode in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and instructed vs to vse the same when we knew him not he hath nourished vs in the tyme oâ— blyndnes and of impiâ—tie and will he now dâ—â—pyse vs When we call vpone him and preache the glorious gospell of his deâ—re Sone our Lord Iesus Nay deare brethrene he nether will nor can vnles that inâ—ideâ—itie cut vs of from his mercyfull prouidence Let vs considder that the whole earth is the Lordes and all the fâ—lnes of the same that he is able to moue the heartes of men as best pleaseth him He is able to blâ—ssâ— and multiplie thinges that are nothing in the eyes of carnall men It is but pouertie that as yet doeth threâ—ten vs which if we be not able to contempne how shall we abyde the â—urie and terroure of death Which mâ—ny thousandâ—s before vs haue suâ—â—ered for the testimonie oâ— the same treuth which we professe and teâ—che anâ— dispysed all worldly redeâ—ption as the Aposâ—le speakâ—â—â— This is but gentill tryall which our Father taketh of our obedience which if we willingly offer vnto him the bowels of his Fatherly compassion will rather cause the heauens yea the Rockes Riuers to Minister vnto vs thinges necessâ—rie to the bodie then that he shall suffer vs to perishe if we dedicate our whole liues vnto him Let vs be frequeÌ„t in reading which allace ouer many dispise eâ—rnest in prayer deligeÌ„t in watcheing ouer the flock committed to our charge and lâ—t our â—obrietie and temperate lyfe 〈◊〉 the wicked and be exemple to the godly And theÌ„ there is no dout but the Eternall our God shall remeâ—dy this extremâ—tie he shall confound our ennimies and shall shortly conuert our teares murning in ioy and myrth to the glorie of his owen Name and to tâ—e conforte of the posteritiâ— to cum Through the merites and â—â—â—tercession of Iesus Christ oure Lord whose holy Spirite conforte yow and vs to the end Of Edinburgh in our generall Assemblie the last Session thereof ANNO. 1565. ⧠†⧠¶ To the faithfull Reader ALbeit that nether suche as did firste command nether yet those that haue trauelled to set furthe this ordour of publict Fasting and admonitions to the Ministers haue impyre aboue the bodies of suche as vnto whome they wryte yet haue they no dout power from God to rebuke sinne to craue repentance especially of suche as God hath called to his knowledge in the middest of this moste obstinate and corrupt generation And therefore in the bowels of Iesus Christ we requyre all men to ponder and wey what is the estate of this Realme at this present and if they se not clearely iust causes why that God shoulde punishe in his hote displeasâ—re theÌ„ we can be content that men liue at their owen quyetnes But if that iâ—stice be vniuersally â–ª oppressed iniquitie so menteaned that it ouerfloweth this whole realme then dare we be bolâ—e to cry with the Prophet Ezechiell that suche as murne not for the abhominations that now habound shall periâ—he in the iniquitie of this moste stubbâ—rne generation Whill that suche as semplie obey God speâ—king by his moste dispysed Miâ—isters shall avoydâ— veâ—geance bothe temporall and eternall we doâ—t not but suche as think them selâ—es more wyse then they declaire them selues godly shal ask wherefore shall we be subiect to the ordinances of men Haue we not the Spirite of God to teache vs in all thinges We answer that if we as men command any thing lâ—t it not be obeyed but if we in this age command the same things which God in the ages bâ—â—ore vs hath commanded by his â—â—râ—ands let them be ware least that in difpysing of vs they dispyse not also the Eternall God â— whose holie worde is to vs assurance of euerie prâ—cept that we haue giuen And further we feare not to say that suche as murnâ— not with Iâ—cob in his affliction shal not rejoyse with him in the day of his deliuerance but they