be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger Zeph. 2. 1. 2. 3 2. The obseruatiō of good people of euery sort falleth vpon this necessitie and cryeth for a publicke humiliation The causes are so manifest and vveightie that anie who is not blinded may perceiue them vvhat is this else than a mutuall exhorting one of another Come let vs returne to the Lord For he hath spoiled and he will heale vs Hee hath wounded vs and hee will bind vs vp Hos. 3. 6. 1. Gods prouidence is a reall calling a commanding of vs to this Fast. Hee hath begun his Iudgements in other places we are vnder the same sinnes and hee is shaking that rod vpon vs. It vvas time for Dauid to pray for Ierusalem vvhen hee saw the Angell stretch his Sword ouer it Hee prayed and God made the Angell stay his hand 2. Sam. 24. Seeing then vvee are ladened with so many sinnes and compassed vvith so many troubles and God by his vvord and vvorkes and our Conscience calleth vs to Repentance Fasting vve may not neglect this Fast. For he who will not afflict his Soule in the day of expiation that Soule shall bee cut off from his people Leuit. 23. 29. And in that day sayeth the Lord I called to weeping mourning to baldnes girding with sackcloth And behold ioy gladnesse slaying Oxen and killing Sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine Let vs eate and drinke for tomorrow wee shall die And it was reuealed to mee by the Lord of Hostes Surelie this iniquitie shall not bee purged from you till you die sayeth the Lord. Isa. 22. 12. 13. 14. Neither let vs keepe the Fast of Hypocrites who disfigure their faces and looke sowrlie that they may bee knowne of men to fast Matth. 6. 16. They afflict their Soules for a day hing their heads as a bulrush and yet they finde pleasure and oppresse their Neighbour in the day of their Fast. Isa. 58. 5. Neither let vs keepe the Papists Fast who are Hypocrites in their externall shewe and Epicures in the dyet of their Fasting There can bee no afflicting of their bodie where for qualitie they haue libertie to eate bread Confections Conserues Fruits to drinke all sorts of Wine for quantitie to tak their satietie fill of them and yet in so doing they breake not their Ecclesiasticall Fast. This is a mocking of the Christian Fast a scorning of the VVorld the feeding of the flesh and a deceate of themselues in that wil-worship a Feasting for Fasting But let vs keep the Christian Fast in a simple abstinence frō all that may comfort the bodie in true and vnfained Repentance and forsaking of our euill wayes turning to the Lord our God with all our hearts that he may haue mercie on vs. If vvee seeke the Lord vvhen hee may bee found then vvee shall cry and hee will answere wee shall call hee shall say Behold heere I am if thou take away from the midst of thee the yocke of sinne Isa. 58. 9. And for this ende wee muste first inquire where these sinnes are that so grieuouslie offend God that not by prying in our Neighbours to lay all the blame on them and transferre it from our selues and so to foster a conceate of our owne innocencie in this common guiltinesse It is a deepe policie of Sathan to cousen men in this case to cleanse themselues and blame their Neighbours This is one olde lesson wee haue of our first Parents Adam layed the sinne vpon the Woman and the woman on the Serpent Wee are forward to commit sinne but are ashamed of it when it is committed and would father it on another Wee defile our selues reallie by the guiltinesse of it and labour to cleanse vs by a conceate But God will not bee so put off and that shifting is a doubling of our guiltinesse So after that Core and his complices were punished the people murmured against Moses and Aaron saying Yee haue killed the people of the Lord. Nu. 16. 41. The cause of Corahs punishment was not in Moses and Aaron but in Corahs sinnes who inuying their credite ambitiouslie affected the like and seditiouslie made a faction and drew the people after him against them whom God had set ouer them But the foolish people not considering his sinne nor their owne factious following of him layed all the blame vpon Moses and Aaron This is to harden our selfe in our sinne impenitencie and to freeze on our dregges Zeph. 1. 12. But euerie one of vs ought to examine first most our selues and wee shall finde seuen abominations in our hearts If we looke in the glasse of Gods Law we shall see our leprosie bee forced with the Lepers to cry out I am vncleane I am vncleane So Dauid albeit GOD beeing angrie at Israel suffered him to number the people said to the Lord I haue sinned and I haue done wickedlie but these sheepe what haue they done 2. Sam 24. 1. And Ieremie putteth himselfe in with the rest vvee haue sinned and thou hast not spared Lament 3. And Daniel Wee and our Fathers haue sinned Dan. 9. It is a token of true Grace in the censure of our selfe with the Apostle to count our selues the first of all sinners and a token of true Repentance 1. Tim. 1. 5. In the appearance of sin with Ionah to say I know that for my sake this storme is come vpon you Ionah 1. 12. Euerie one of vs hath broght his coale to this great fire of Gods wrath so let euery man come and take out the coale hee hath cast in it draw waters out of his brokē heart and powre out the teares of true Repentance to quench it withall Let vs search and try our vvayes and turne againe to the LORD Lament 3. 40. As on the one part wee ought not Pharisaicallie to lay all the fault on others so neither should weelazelie waite vpon the Repentance of other Euerie one ought indeede to stirre vp another to this holie Exercise But if other remaine in their hardnesse and will not bee stirred vp to seeke the Lord wee ought not to delay Repentance by their euill example Euerie one is bound to keepe his owne Soule If yee vvill not repent my Soule shall mourne in secrete for your pryde Ierem. 13. 17. As the multitude of the godly cannot secure an euill man from Gods justice hee found out Achan among the thousands of Israel and punished him So the multitude of impenitent Sinners shall not hyde one mourning Sinner from his mercie He sendeth not out his wrath till first hee marke them that sigh and cry for the abomination of Ierusalem Ezch. 9. And promiseth to Baruch his life for a prey Hee had the Arke readie to saue Noah and a Zoar to receiue Lot 2. Next for this holy Exercise let vs rent our hearts and that by a true and godlie sorrow for our
two but for all our lifetime thereafter The purposes vowes of obedience which we make in our Repentance must be practised and performed Though the act of Repentance indure not euer in it selfe yet the vertue of it remaineth constantlie in the godlie In Baptisme we are Sacramentallie changed and at the time of our effectuall calling wee feele that Sacramentall grace in justification and sanctification and all our following dayes vvee are bound to goe forward in them Since Repentance then is nothing but Sanctification contracted And sanctification all our life is nothing but Repentance inlarged and continued it will follow that if sanctification doe not kyth constant after our Fasting there hath beene no true Repentance in it Remission of sinne proueth the same For though Iustification and Sanctification be two seuerall graces in themselues and bring seuerall respects dispositions in vs yet they are inseparable for God neuer pardoneth the guilt of sin but iontlie therewith he slayeth sin originall As he washeth away the blot of all sinne so he woundeth deadlie the roote of sinning sin in vs And the cōscience of our washing in the blood of Christ doeth euer beget in vs a care to keepe these garments cleane which God hath cleansed Therefore if there be not after our Fastings a visible amendement of life neither haue wee repented nor God pardoned our sinne but we haue added greater and worse sinnes to the former and brought vpon vs a degree of judiciall induration and hardnesse of heart When Christ had healed the sicke man at the Poole of Bethesda hee commanded him Sinne no more lest a worse thing befall thee Ioh. 5. So when we are washed in the house of the Lords aboundantlie powred out mercie let vs keepe our selfe from sinne thereafter If God be with vs accept our Prayers then we may be sure of these following fruits 1. Of Remission of sinnes in Iesus Christ So when Dauid confessed his sinnes and said I haue sinned against the Lord hee was answered by Nathan The Lord hath also put away thine iniquitie he had a warrād more speedilie to absolue him thā he had to accuse him ◠Sa. 12. And whē the Publicane knocked on his breast said The Lord haue mercy on me a sinner he went home justified Lu. 18. And whē the forlorne Son came in Repentance to his Father he receiued him in his fauour house againe Luk. 15 He seeth no sin in Iacob nor transgressiō in Israel Our God pardeneth iniquitie passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his Inheritance hee retaineth not his anger for euer because hee delighteth in mercie Hee will turne againe he will haue compassion on vs hee will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes in the bottome of the Sea Mica 7. 18. 2. He will accept of our persons vnder his shaddow nothing holdeth vs out of that secrete refuge but our sinne because hee is of purer Eyes than hee can beholde sine and he pursueth sinne in all and can no more protect an impenitent sinner than hee can denie his justice But when the heart is purged from euerie euill conscience thē his refuge is open to vs. 3. As for our Enemies wee should consider their estate better than themselues they are in Gods worke for our punishment but neither in his fauour nor of his disposition They are more foolish than Sathan hee durst not hurt Iob without a Cōmission of God but they think all possible lawfull to them And when he set on to execute that Commission though malice blinded his desire yet not his minde for hee did fore see a disappointing because hee knew Gods loue to Iob by so manie pledges and testimonies of his sinceritie in Grace But our enemies are not so wise as hee They goe on without Cōmission sought obtained they expound their preuailing as Gods sentence approuing their cause and see not that all their businesse is a prouyding of a Coffine and beare-trees to carrie them out of this combate with shame confusion God will pleade his cause against them Hee hath giuen them a hard but a just commission against vs for our sinnes Assur is the rodde of mine anger I will send him against an hypocriticall Nation against the people of mine anger will I giue him a charge to take the spoile But they passed the bounds of their commission and satisfied their owne wicked heart vpon the people of God For Assur meaneth not as God doeth but his heart is to destroy and cutte off Nations Isa. 10. They say Let vs defile Sion but they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither vnderstand his Counsell Micah 4 12. And when God suffereth them to preuaile for the humiliation of his owne they sacrifice to their owne net and impute all this successe to their owne Idols Habak 2. 11. When God hath humbled vs and pardoned our sinnes then their Commission expyreth and God will plague them in his furie for their own wickednesse in doing his work peruerslie And therefore he will turne him against them plead his cause saying I am verie sore displeased with the Heathen that are at ease For I was but a little displeased with my people the Enemies helped forward the affliction I was angrie with my people and polluted mine Inheritance and giuen them in thine hand But thou hast shewed them no mercie thou hast layed vpon the Auncient a verie heauie yocke Zach. 2. 16. Is. 47. 6. And in his due time hee will turne the rage of the enemie to his praise the remnant of their rage hee will restraine Psal. 76. Hee will stretch out his hand against the wrath of our enemies and his right hand shall saue vs. Psal. 138. 7. So that wee may iustlie say to them Reioyce not against mee O mine Enemie when I fall I shall rise when I sitte in darknesse the Lord shall bee a light vnto mee I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I haue sinned against him vntill hee pleade my cause and execute Iudgement for mee Hee will bring mee foorth to the Light and I shall behold his Righteousnesse Then shee that is mine Enemies shall see and shame shall couer her which said vnto mee Where is the Lord thy God Mine eyes shall behold her now shee shall bee troden downe as myre in the streete Mica 7. 8. 9. 10. They are nowe an instrument in his hand to execute his anger on vs but they shall be the Bute and marke of his greater anger 4. As for the Churches now desolate God will returne to them in mercie in his own time And this time is when they are purged from sinne and the sinnes and insolencie of the Enemie are come to an hight Then God will ryse and haue mercie vpon Sion For the time to saue her euen the sette time is come Psal. 102. 13. It is time for the Lord to worke when they haue made voyde his Law Psal.
SCOTLANDS WARNING Or a Treatise of Fasting Containing a Declaration of the causes of the solemne Fast Indyted to bee kept in all the Churches of Scotland the third and fourth Sundayes of this instant Moneth of May Anno 1628. the Weeke dayes betwixt them as they may be goodly keeped in Townes Together with a Direction how to proceed in the Religious Obseruation of any soleme Fast. Written at the appointment of Superiors By Mr. W. STRVTHER Preacher of the Gospel at EDINBVRGH Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of Andro Hart. Anno Dom. 1628. Ieremiah 36. 5. 6. 7. And Ieremiah said vnto Baruch I am shut vp I cannot goe into the house of the Lord. Therefore goe thou and read in the roule which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the eares of the people in the Lordes House vpon the Fasting day and also thou shalt read them in the eares of all Iuda that come out of their Cities It may bee they present their Supplications before the Lord and will returne euerie one from his euill way For great is the anger and wrath that the Lord hath pronounced against this Place 2. Chron. 34. 27. 28. Because thine heart was tender and thou didst humble thy selfe before God when thou heardest his wordes against this Place and against the Inhabitants thereof and humblest thy selfe before me and diddest renâ— thy clothes and weepe before mee I haue euen heard thee also saith the Lord. Behold I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt bee put in thy graue in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the euill that I will bring vpon this Place and vpon the Inhabitants of the same SCOTLANDS WARNING Or a Treatise of Fasting Containing a Declaration of the causes of the solemne Fast indyted to be keeped in all the Churches of Scotland IT is the duetie of the LORDS Watch-men whom hee hath sette on the Walls of Ierusalem Ezech. 3. 33. To consider diligentlie both the estate of it within and the dangers imminent from without And according as they see to giue faithfull and tymous aduertisement to the people Habac. 2. 1. Isa. 21. 8. That thereby they may both deliuer their owne Soules and direct the people by speedie Repentance to preuent the approaching wrath This their Calling craueth for they stand betwixt God and his people as the Interpreters of his will to them Iob. 33. 23. And as their Remembrancers to God to present them and their necessities to him continuallie Isa. 62. 6. 7. Hee calleth them vp to the Mountaine to see further than other and beside their giftes ând graces as Christians giueth them a Pastorall eye to see and a pastorall heart to consider and a pastorall mouth to declare what they see and consider This also he commandeth them vnder a most heauie paine Sonne of man I haue sette thee a Watch-man vnto the House of Israel therefore thou shalt heare the word from my mouth warne them from mee When I say to the wicked O wicked man thou shalt surelie die if thou doest not speake to warne the wicked from his way that wicked man shall die in his sinne but his blood will I require at thine hand Ezech. 3. 17. 33. 7. 8. And God commnendeth this as wisedome in Pastors according to his heart Who is the wise maÌ„ to vnderstand this and who is hee to whome the mouth of the Lord hath spoken that hee may declare it for what the Land perished Ier. 9 12. Vpon these considerations the Clergie of this â—and taking to heart the Estate of the Church of God both in this Kingdome and other reformed Countries haue thought it necessaâ— Suppreme authoritie commanding also the same That all the Congregations of this Land keepe a solemne and publicke Fast the third and fourth Sundayes of this instant Moneth of May and the weeke dayes betwixt these two Sabbaths To intreat GOD in all humilitie and repentance for pardon of our sinnes and for auerting of his just wrath where it is alreadie begunne and to hold it off these who are threatned with it And for the better informing of euery one in the equitie necessitie of that religious work of Fasting and Prayer and their better stirring vp therevnto The just and weightie causes thereof are to bee considered which may bee reduced to these heads 1. First the most lamentable estate of the reformed Churches of Germanie and other Countries in Europe Where the Gospel did shine and Gods worshippe was exercised fruitfullie to his glorie But nowe by the crueltie of the preuailing Papists fearefull desolation is wrought in these places GODS Sainctes bereft of their liues their blood spilt as water in the streetes their women shamefullie abused their goods taken from them And the estate of them who haue escaped the rage of the sword worse than the slaine Their liberties lost and themselues either driuen from their dwellings or compelled to forsake their God Religion take themselues to Romish Idolatrie or to banishment And vnder the name of an Imperiall reformation there is nothing but a Godlesse deformation setting vp the abomination of ignorance and errour where the light hath beene How many Prouences sometimes pleasant in a peaceable professing of the Trueth as the Paradise of God are now turned in a wildernesse And the Houses of God prepared sometime on the top of the Mountaines and exalted aboue the Hills wherevnto people did flowe are destroyed And the Lords displayed banner vnder which many did merch in comelie order is cast down manie mothers in Israel famous Colledges and Universities are scattered and the abomination of desolation erected in them So wee may say with the Prophet Come behold the workes of the Lord what desolations hee hath wrought in the Earth Psal. 16. 8. The Heathen are come in the inheritance of the Lord his holie Temple haue they defiled and made Ierusalem heapes of stones The dead bodies of Gods Saincts haue they giuen to bee meate to the Fowles of heauen and the flesh of thy Saincts to the beastes of the earth Their blood haue they shed as water about Ierúsalem and there was none to burie them They haue deuoured Iacob and made his dwelling place waste Psal 79. 1. 3. 4. God hath forsaken the Tabernacle of Shiloh the tent which he placed among them He deliuered his strength in captiuitie and his glorie in the enemies hand Psal. 78. 61. And wee may lament with Ieremie How doeth the Citie remaine solitarie that was full of people Shee is a widow Shee that was great among the Nations And Princesse among the Prouince is made tributarie And wee may wish with that same Prophet Oh that mine head were waters and mine eyes a Fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the Daughter of my people Ierem. 9. 1 This worke is a part of Antichrists persecution for now hee is both breathing threatnings slaughter against
the reformed Churches and executeth his crueltie against them because of their obedience to Gods voyce in comming out of Babell and that according to the bloodie decrees of the Counsell of Trent For after that Sathan had for a long space vented his first propertie of lying by Antichrist his first borne involuing and holding these Westerne places of Europe vnder the errours of a false Religion And seeing that Manger his malice God in the appointed time brought in the Light of the Gospel and discouered that darkenesse Then hee tooke him to his other propertie and practise of blood to maintaine by force his discouered Heresies And hee set Antichrist and his supposts to worke to put out the Light of the Gospel in destroying the professours of it So the indyting of the Counsell of Trent beares Ad reformandum Ecclesiam exstirpandas Haeresies To reforme the Kirke and roote out Heresies That is to say in the Romane sense To confirme and establish the deformities and corruptions of their Church and roote out the Trueth which God hath brought in againe by the Gospel And from that tyme hee hath sent out his Emissaries Iesuites and other Locusts from the bottomlesse pit to stirre vp the Kings of the Earth to fight against the Lambe This is the quarrell now debated in Europe And albeit hee hath cast in the mixture of ciuill respects in rights to Kingdomes and Dignities and such like to blind the eyes of the simple as to make them belieue that all these warres are onelie for ciuill and not for Sacred things Yet sure it is that all this matter is directed and sweyed by the Pope For his maine end is to roote out the Gospel and re-establish his false Religion His purpose serueth to the end of his associat Kings Princes and their power serueth his end As they plotte and worke joyntlie in the worke so they share in the end for their seuerall aduantage For the Countreyes subdued fall as a prey and a reward to the enlarging of Princes Dominions and therein Idolatrie is established as the Popes recompence Beside what euer be the mixture of the cause yet their maine intention is manifeste from themselues For one of them in his alarme to this warre stirreth vp the Emperour to destroy the Protestants as Moses did the Moabits And if he did not so his life should goe for their life as Achabs for the King of Syria Sciopp Classicum belli Sacri cap. 1. 2. 18. Next their Cardinals consulting how to restore their Church to her auncient integritie aduised the Pope that there was no better way to doe it than by prosecuting this warre to the rooting out of Protestants Aphorisml Cardinal Anno 1623. And for this end a new order is instituted called the sodalitie of the Christian defence that is to say of Antichristian offence of the Protestants Cancell Hispani Consid. 1. This course as others of the like stampe of the mysterie of iniquitie is drawne deepelie for now Antichrist vnder the Name of Christs Vicar persueth Christ vnder the Colours banners of the Crosse of Christ hee destroyeth the doctrine of the Crosse Vnder name of the Church hee oppresseth the true Church Vnder the name of the pretended Verity he rooteth out the Trueth of God to establish his owne heresie And vnder the name of an old Religion hee setteth vp a new vp-start Religion This is Iudas his betraying of Christ with an Haile Master When his pretended Vicar turneth all his usurped power to the destruction of his Kingdome The Titles and Names that of old were the notes of the Apostolicke Church are claimed now of the Antichristian Synagogue and made signes for the persecution of the Church of Christ. God doeth so afflict his Church not for her Religion but for the abuse of it He hath called vs out of Babell and wee haue obeyed his voyce in comming out and haue vndertaken to walke in the Light of God but wee haue contemned that Light and in the midst of it brought out the workes of darknesse Sinne is grieuous in euery person tyme and place but most grieuous in the Church in the time of so cleare a Light And where euer men sin they are in Gods sight but his eye in a more particular manner is ouer his Church A Father is angrie at faults in his seruant but more angrie at them in his Sonne The more liberall and bountifull God is to a people the greater is their sinne and heauier shall bee their judgement Woe to thee Chorazin woe to thee Bethsaida for if the great works which were done in you had beene done in Tyrus and Sydon they had repented long agoe in sack-cloth and ashes But I say to you it shall bee more easie for Tyrus and Sydon at the last day than for you Matth. 11. 21. 22. And it is a strange forme of reasoning with Israel You onely haue I knowne of all the Families of the Earth sayeth the Lord Therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities Amos. 3. 2. God may justlie compleane of vs as hee did of the Iewes Hee planted a Vineyard in a fruitefull Hill and fencedit and gathered out the stones of it and planted it with the choisest Vines and built a Tower in the midst of it and a Wine-presse in it And hee looked that it should bring foorth Grapes but it brought foorth wylde grapes And now O Inhabitants of Ierusalem and men of Iudah iudge I pray you betweene mee and my Vine-yard What could I doe more to my Vineyard than I haue done And now I will tell you what I will doe to my Vine-yard I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall bee eaten vp and breake down the wall thereof and it shall bee troden downe and I will lay it waste Esa. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. As hee threatned them so hee performed it Hee brake downe her hedges so that all that passed by plucked her The wilde Boare out of the woode destroyed it and the wilde beastes of the fielde did eate it vp Psal. 80. 12. 13. For after that hee had chastened his people by Edomites Moabites Philistims and other bordering Nations and they became incurable In end hee chased them out of the Land And that not at once but by degrees for hee powred out that wrath first vpon the tenne Tribes reseruing to himselfe the Tribe of Iudah And when Iudah was not made wise by the sinne and punishment of Ephraim but Ierusalem did justifie Samaria by her greater sinnes God sent Iudah also away in captiuitie to Babylon And after hee had brought them againe and settled them in the pleasant Land they returned to their olde sinnes till in end God cast them off altogether Thus God dealt with the Iewes and after the like manner hee is now dealing with the Churches reformed to bring them to amendement in time that they may eschew a finall destruction Their heauie calamities who are now vnder that
it and so vnder Gods processe for our sins And it is a great mercie of God that hee hath spared vs so long and giuen vs so large a time of Repentance When hee might haue begunne his Iudgement at vs hee hath begunne at other that by their example we might turne in time preuent his heauie strok If forraine miseries beyond Sea will not moue vs to sorrow let our own home sins dāgers moue vs to repētance And for this ende wee haue to consider our owne state in this Land as the second cause of our Humiliation God hath blessed vs with his Law Gospel but we haue sinned against them both There is no precept of the Law whose breach is not shameleslie practised avowed 1. Euerie one maketh himselfe his owne god and seeketh themselues their owne glorie and gaine directing all their wayes from their own heart and turning all to themselues 2. Idolatrie once alluterlie banished is cropen in and setteth vp the head in this Land and manie who professed the Trueth are gone backe to Poperie They close their eyes from the shining light that is readie to resolue and reforme them And are so possessed by errors and darkenes that they abhorre the light which wold pull them out of their fleshly delights Their case is to be pitied who so wilfullie losse themselues refusing Saluation and running head-long to Hell 3. The abuse of the glorious Name of the Lord our God is growen a popular disease reigneth in all Estats the better sort out-run the common people in so grieuous a sinne And the rifenesse of it hath put it out of the respect of a sinne and hath turned it in the flower of their language as though all speech were but wersh and could neither fill the mouth of the speaker not the eare of the hearer except the Name of GOD bee profaned and God himselfe thereby thrust through If the flying Booke of the curse of God light vpon the house of euerie swearer to destroy the Timber and stone Zach. 5. How few houses shall escape the curse of God in this Land which groaneth vnder the multitude of oathes 4. The profanation of the Lords Day is vniuersall and no difference made betwixt the obseruation of it and other dayes But rather more libertie is taken in vaging in drinking chalmering wantonnesse in idle and profane speaking in it than in other days As if God had set it a part not for his owne honour but for the workes of the flesh Though wee bee not bound to judaize in the Sabbath yet are wee bound Christianlie to spend the Lords day in abstaining from euill and busying our selfe in the works of Pietie Charitie as the Sabbaths proper Exercise as a memoriall of the Resurrection of Christ our Redemption perfected thereby and a token of our eternall Sabbath rest in heauen 5 Disobedience to Superiours is a reigning sinne Though God for their further honouring hath placed the Precept that commandeth their obedience Next to the Precepts of Pietie and calleth the dueties of it by the Name of Pietie yet it is least respected Parents naturall are misregarded Pastours who beget and feede people in Christ are contemned And supreme Authoritie disobeyed of the most part 6. Innocent blood is shedde in many places as water and the Earth groaneth vnder it and the cry of it ascendeth to Heauen to bring down a judgement vpon vs all 7. Filthinesse hath layed off the former vaile of shame and is now impudent Fornication Adulteries Incests out-face the Light and multiplie out of number And the couenant of God in marriage is lesse respected and keeped then light promises amongst men Whereby thogh their were none other sinnes a way is made to ouerthrow families for God cannot blesse Inheritance in the hands of wrongous Heires 8. Secret and open hurting of the lots of men is a common practise and no man standeth in awe to make his Neighbours ruine a stepping stone to his owne exalting The most part without regarde of God Conscience or humanitie lose their Soule and quite the Heauen for the baggage of this life 9. And Calumnies are now so frequent that their is no godlie man who findeth not the scourge of the Tongue And no man almost who lendeth not to Sathan his eare to heare and his heart to belieue lies and his tongue to bee a scourge to his Neighbour 10. As for the abominations of the heart though they bee hidde from vs yet they are manifest to God and by these and the like fruites the world may see that the heartes of the most parte are voyde of God and are vyle puddles to defile themselues and ouerflow this Land with sinne These filthie fountaines are not seasoned with the salt of Grace but send out the deadlie waters of filthienes to burden this Land and make it spew vs out These and the like grieuous sinnes against the Law doe swarme in this Land But the sinnes against the Gospel are more grieuous both because of their kind and because they are sinnes against the remeede of sinne Faith a speciall part of our Euangelicall duetie is rare to bee found God day lie is offering Grace Saluatiō in the Gospel yet few do receiue it by Faith And so his greatest mercie in offering Christ is mett with greatest wickednesse on our parte in not belieuing Wee count Fornication or Thift or Murther to bee sinnes but Infidelitie worse than anie of them is counted no sinne and yet it is among the greatest pardonable sinnes This Infidelitie bringeth out all sortes of Disobedience When the heart by Faith is not purified and ioyned to God it is casten loose to all kinde of iniquitie without any restraint of euill or constraint to good Our hearing and reading is not mixed with Faith and so bringeth not out the obedience of faith if wee neither belieue the promised reward nor threatned punishment wee cannot obey the directing Precept With these sins is a fearefull Apostasie to Poperie in many partes of this Land Many these of the better sort are seduced and drawen away to Romish superstition and that because they were voyde of the Trueth of God and beeing ledde with their owne lustes they haue rendered themselues to that fleshlie Religion which giueth them libertie to sinne I speake of you and to you O seduced Papists how long will it bee ere yee open your eyes to see how your blinde Guides are leading you to damnation If yee will not try this matter by Conscience try it at the least by common sense see what sort of Guides these are who take you by the hand with this condition to close your eyes that yee neither inquire nor care whether they lead you Tell mee if you would commit your selfe in a dark Night to such a Guide as would close your eyes put out the Lanterne in your hand not suffer you to know how what way
Physitian This is fleshlie Securitie 4. And the last are worse they tak not the information of Pastours neither can they abide their Admonitions when they are rebuked for sinne Then they cry out as against Ieremie The Earth dow not beare this mans words and railings And take vpon them to prescriue to their Pastours both mater and manner of Doctrine They say to the Seers See not to the Prophets Prophecie not vnto vs right things But speak vnto vs pleasant wordes prophecie deceites Isa. 30. 10. They will gladlie heare the sweete Doctrine of the Gospel but not of the Law Theorie but not practise discoursing of Doctrine and Controuersies but not usefull application And will heare the sinnes of other men other callings other Countreyes and Superiours but not their owne sinnes reproued This is a desparate resolution not to bee cured at all This is the pittifull state of this Land in all Callings and Persons From the crowne of the Head to the sole of the Foote there is nothing whole therein but wounds and swelling and sores Isa. 1. 4. 5. 6. c. He may justlie pronounce against vs as hee did against the Iewes Shall I not visite for these thinges sayeth the Lord and shall not my Soule bee auenged on such a Nation as this Ierem. 5. 9. Therefore the Lord hath that same plea with vs that hee had with rebellious Israel Heare the Word of the LORD ye Children of Israel For the Lord hath a controuersie with the Inhabitants of the Land because there is no Trueth nor Mercie nor Knowledge of GOD in the Land By swearing and lying and killing and steeling and Whoring they breake out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourne and euery one that dwelleth in it shall languish Hos. 4. 1. 2. 3. Hee seeth vs lying in our sinnes and is going to his Place to see if wee will seeke him I will returne and goe to my Place till they acknowledge their offence and seeke mee in their affliction they will seeke mee earlie Hos. 5. 15. The third cause of our Humiliation is for an happie successe to our Kings Majesties weightie Affaires at Home and abroad both in Peace and Warre To pray to God who hath the hearts of Kings in his hand to multiplie more and more on his Ma. all Princelie Giftes and Graces that Hee may walke before GOD in the Vprightnesse of Dauid the Sinceritie of Hezekiah and Tendernesse of heart like Iosiah That Hee would inlarge his heart more and more like Solomon to goe out and in before his people And because His MAIESTIE is ingaged in a necessarie and dangerous Warre for the defence of Trueth and His Royall Allyance whereby great Princes are become His Enemies and His Kingdomes are threatned with a bloodie inuasion It is the duetie of all to intreate the LORD for preseruation to his Ma. and His Dominions When Iehoshaphat was beset by the Moabites and Ammonites He set himselfe to seeke the Lord with Fasting and Prayer And all his people gathered themselues together to aske helpe of God and all Iudah with their Wiues and little Ones stood before him who commanded them to stand still and see the Saluation of the Lord and gaue them a glorious deliuerie 2. Chron. 20. And when Hezekiah receiued the blasphemous and boasting Letter of Senacherib hee went vp to the Temple and sprede it before the Lord and prayed for saftie and the Lord sent away his enemies with slaughter and shame Wee haue at these times to pray to God that hee would bow downe his eare and heare the blasphemie and boasting of the Enemies and open his eye and behold their bloodie decrees and the plotting of Princes to execute them and their insulting for preuailing against vs. And since God hath put it in our Kings Ma. Heart both to appoint to all His Subiects and to keepe in His Royall Person a solemne Fast wee may the more confidentlie pray that the Lord of Hostes to whom pertaineth the issues of Death would merche before our Armies Psal. 68. 20. That hee would wound the head of our Kings Enemies and thrust them through the thigh And giue to Him their neckes and backes alwayes That hee would cloath them with shame and make his Crowne to flourish on His Head Psal. 132. Two punishments are most to bee feared at this time the remouing of the Gospel and the Sword of man The one to destroy the Soule the other the Bodie 1. God is threatning the remouing of the Word because it hath beene long among vs without fruite Wee haue not receiued it as the word of God to belieue and obey it and to delight and walke in the light of it Though God haue his owne amongst vs yet the most parte doe contemne it and the Preachers of it It is counted an intolerable burden because it curbes their lustes and reproueth their sinnes so plainelie they would bee glad to want it that they might sinne freelie God brought it wonderfullie amongst vs few Martyrs sealing it with their blood and yet great opposition made to it But God by his owne good meanes lighted that Candle amongst vâ— At that time this Nation was as a new laboured ground with little labour it rendered great increase Light was then pleasant to men comming out of darknesse and the taste of Grace was sweete at the first hearing of the Gospel But now after long hearing of it Wee haue lost our first zeale and are become as an out-worne barren ground VVee are as the Earth which drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vpon it but bringeth out nothing but thornes and briers which is neere vnto cursing whose end is to be burnt Heb. 6. 7 8. The Lord hath patientlie waited on our fruits and hath spared vs like that figge tree not for three but three score and seuen yeeres and yet neither is there fruite nor Repentance for want of fruite VVhat remaineth in his Iustice but that hee cutte vs downe and cast vs in the fire Let vs not feede our selues with idle and groundlesse conceates as that the Gospel is pure amongst vs and wee haue a true Religion a glorious Profession c. The lik conceat possessed the Iewes in their greatest guiltines danger They cryed The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord this is the Temple of the Lord Ierem. 7. 4. But ye trust sayeth the Lord in lying words which cannot profite VVill ye steale murther and commit adulterie and sweare falslie and come and stand before mee in this House which is called by my Name and say VVee are deliuered though wee haue done all these abominations But goe yee now into my Place which was in Shiloh where I set my Name at the first see what I did to it for the wickednes of my people Israel Ier. 7. 8. 9. 10. They thought they vvere secure vnder their profession and God would not forsake them but hee tolde them
for that were to tempt God Though the Apostle had an expresse promise that none of his companie should perish in the Storme yet when the Mariners minded to conuoy themselues away hee said Except these men abyde wee can not bee saued Act 27. Neither ought wee on the other part with Asa to put our trust in meanes as to rely on the reede of Egypt or the Arme of flesh for that is to prouocke God to Iealousie Both extremes make God our Enemie either in tempting him by neglect of meanes or prouocking him by trusting on them The midst is his ordinance which hee will euer blesse to wit the use of them in holie wisedome and confidence in God Our maine care should bee to bee at peace with him that so the Lord of Hostes may bee with vs and the God of Iacob may bee our refuge Psal. 46. In this case wee are inclosed in Gods pannall and he is set on his Throne to Iudgement and the decreete will come foorth in the sentence bring forth the own executiō except in time wee agree with our God Long hath hee spoken by his Prophets in his reforming directing and exhorting Word But wee haue neglected all that faire proceeding He is gone to an harder Word euen the worde of Iudgement and Processe And let vs assure our selues hee will not leaue off till hee bring it to some end When I beginne I will also make an end 1. Sam. 3. 12. And there is none end but one of two either our iust destruction or mercifull preseruation If wee dispute with him hee is righteous for we cannot answere to one of a thousand And wee cannot flee from him Whether shall wee goe from his Spirit Neither can we resist him for he is Almightie Since then we can neither answere to him nor flee from him nor resist him our onelie best is to flee to him with the forlorne Sonne and cast our selues in the Armes of his fatherlie mercie Thus God who knoweth best how to bee intreated commandeth vs. Come let vs reason together Isa. 1. 18. Call a solemne Assemblie sanctifie a Fast. Ioel. 2. Onelie acknowledge your iniquitie Ierem. 3. 13. And as hee commandeth so he promiseth a blessing Though your sins were as the Skarlet they shal be as the Snow Thogh they were as the Crimson they shall be as wooll If ye returne and repent Isa. 1. 18. And he will leaue a blessing behind him Ioel. 2. Call vpon mee in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee Psal. 50. And I will bee with him in trouble I will deliuer him I will glorifie him Psal. 91. 15. And as he promised a blessing so in all time hee hath performed it for his people did neuer sincerelie humble themselues before him but hee gaue them a visible blessing The Book of Iudges is full of this practise 1. Israel sinned against him 2. And hee gaue them ouer in the hand of some Enemie 3. And when they felt their miserie they cryed vnto God by Prayer Fasting 4. The Lord raised vp a Iudge or Sauiour who deliuered them When Niniuie was threatned with destruction and humbled themselues in Fasting and praying the Lord spared them Ionah 3. 4. And though Ahab was a wicked Hypocrite yet when hee put on Sacke-cloath and fasted the Lord said to Eliah Seest thou how Ahab is humbled before mee Because hee hath submitted himselfe to mee Therefore I will not bring this euill in his dayes 1. Kings 21. Prayers and Teares are the kindlie weapons of Gods Church which they use in all their necessities and dangers And that neuer without an euident blessing They ouercome God and bow him to mercie because hee hath bound himselfe to accept the Sacrifice of a contrite heart A contrite and a broken Spirit hee can not refuse Psal. 51. 17. And vvhen hee is reconcealed to vs in Christ and our sinnes pardoned hee becommeth our Friende and Protectour So long as sinne remaineth hee is our Aduersarie and our sinnes bind his hand that hee cannot helpe and stoppeth his eare that hee cannot heare Isa. 59. 1 But vvhen God is appeased then he becommeth our deliuerer frō all our dangers And though they seeme but vveake vveapons to the Naturall man vvho would haue his eyes filled with bodilie meanes yet they are most forcible against our enemies And Sathan himselfe is affraied of nothing more than solemne humiliation and Repentance Hee knoweth so long as God is angrie with his people hee will finde both great permissions large commissions against them to their hurt But when God and his people reason together and his mercie pardoneth their sinne then Sathans permissions are restrained and his commissions end and a certaine shame and disapointment is concluded against him There is neuer a solemne humiliation in the Church but it bringeth a notable ruine to his kingdome Our groanes and teares are as great Ordinances to batter and beate downe his building of iniquitie All the Armories in the world haue not so terrible Canouns to Satan as faithfull hearts grieued for sinne Neither so fearefull Bullets as feruent prayer and supplications sent vp with strong cryes and groanes to God Though such hearts bee broken in sending them vp yet they batter Sathans Kingdome and bringe health to themselues To these Prayers and Teares wee haue now a cleare calling As God in his word commandeth so he is by his worke applying that command to vs. 1. By the obseruation of all his Seruants the Prophets who with a pastorall heart and eye seeth the present iniquities of this Land and wrath hanging aboue our head This burden is layed on vs who are Watchmen to stand on our Watch and sitte vpon our Tower and see what God will say to vs Sonne of man if the Watch-man when hee seeth the Sword comming blow the Trumpet and warne the people Then whosoeuer heareth the sounde of the Trumpet and taketh not warning if the Sword come take him away his blood shall be vpon his owne head Hee heard the sound of the Trumpet and tooke no warning his blood shall bee vpon him But hee that taketh warning shall deliuer his Soule So thou O Sonne of man I haue sette thee a Watch-man vnto the house of Israel Therefore thou shalt heare the VVorde at my mouth and warne them from mee Ezech. 33. 2. 3 4. 5. 7. Vpon this heauie charge layed on vs and the care to saue our selfe and our people we cry a loude and spare not wee lift vp our voyce as a Trumpet to shew to Israel his sinne and to the house of Iaacob their transgression Isa. 58. 1. Therefore gather your selues O Nation not worthie to bee loued before the decree come foorth and yee bee as chaffe that passeth in a day before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you before the day of the Lords anger come vpon you Seeke ye the Lord all ye meek of the Earth It may
beaten with the stormie Seas of calamities and the multitude like Ionah in the sides of the Shippe and are fast asleepe in their sinne Wee ought to rouse them vp and cry What meanest thou O sleeper Arise and call vpon thy God If so be God will thinke vpon vs that we perish not Ionah 1. 6. VVhy will yee die in your sinnes O house of Israel Ezech 18. 31. The people also ought to coÌ„sider their dueties heereâ—n 1. To count it a blessing of God to haue Pastours that will waken them for none of themselues can awak out of the sleepe of sin Dauid a Prophet tender hearted had neede of a Nathan to waken his sleeping Conscience 2. Therefore they should heare and receiue information from their Pastours whom God hath set ouer them As hee hath bound Pastours vnder heauiest paine to informe them so are they bound in Conscience to heare them and receiue their instruction 3. To deale with their pastors to interceed for them with the Lord Cease not to cry to the Lord for vs that hee would deliuer vs from the Philistmes said Israel to Samuel 1. Sam. 7. 8. And pray to the Lord for thy seruants that wee die not ibid. 1. 4. To ioyne their prayers with the prayers of their Pastors If they lye still in senslesnesse the prayers sent vp to God for them will not auaile Pharaoh desired Moses to pray for him but prayed not for himselfe Thogh Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my mind could not be toward this people Ier. 15. 1. But when Pastors people joyne their prayers together then God suffereth himselfe to bee bound with the bonds of his owne making euen his mercie and trueth in the promise layed vpon him by faith in feruent prayers A cleare proofe of all these dueties in Pastours and people is in Samuel the Prophet and the Israelites When hee reproued them for their sinne the people drew out water not out of wells but out of their broken hearts and powred it out at their eyes and fasted and weeped that day and said Wee haue sinned against the Lord and besought the Prophet to pray to God for them Then hee offered a sacrifice and cryed to the Lord for them and the Lord heard him and deliuered in their handes the Hoast of the Philistimes which was come vp against them 1. Sam. 7. If wee minde sincerelie to approue our selues to God in Fasting it must bee both publicke and priuate Publicke humiliation at such solemne times is both first and most required for sindrie reasons 1. To iustifie God who hath arrested vs and threatned or begunne judgementes by publicke confession of our sinnes proclaiming that hee hath just cause of wrath against vs and so by that publicke homage done to him to acknowledge our obligement to him for a newe holding of the life that hee spareth to vs. 2. Secondlie to make a more forcible onset on him by all our prayers joyned together For he who hath promised to heare vs in secret apart and to bee in the midst of two or three that are met in his Name will not he be in the midst of some hundreths and thousands when they are come before him Matth. 6. 6. And he who said Moses Let me alone as though Moses prayers did bind him shall hee not suffer himselfe to bee stayed from executing his wrath when many thousands feruent and faithfull prayers lay holde vpon him at once 3. For our mutuall and greater incitation Many who in Congregations meete together possiblie haue gone before other in euill example and some haue offended and stumbled at the fall of other It is therfore moste expedient that these see one another in that solemne Deuotion That they who haue giuen euill example in sinne may giue good example by their Repentance they who haue conceiued just offence of other may lay aside their offence when they see them ryse froÌ„ their sin Dauid offended manie by his sinnes but doubtlesse his Repentance satisfied them and conuerted moe people to God 4. For Sathans greater conuiction hee intendeth no lesse in drawing vs to sinne than to yock God and vs together so to set vs before him as guiltie persons to bee destroyed both in this life and at the day of our last reckoning But in these publicke Assemblies hee seeth the case altered that God hath preuented the terme and in place of a wrathfull meeting to come to a friendlie commoning to end in a gratious reconciliation When God commeth downe in these meetings and melteth the hearts of his people and reconcealeth them to him such a sight is an heart-breake to Sathan VVe ought also to joyne priuate Humiliation in our Houses with that publicke Exercise And they shall mourne euery Familie apart The Familie of the house of Dauid apart and their wiises apart The Familie of the house of Nathan apart c. Zech. 12. And that for sindrie causes 1. We pollute our houses by sinne and therefore ought to sanctifie them to God particularlie in the time of a solemne Fast. Dauid sanctified his House after Absoloms sin and shall not wee much more consecrate our houses for our owne sinne 2. For Preparation to the publicke worship If wee come out of our owne houses to Gods House without anie preparation wee cannot looke for a great blessing in the Sanctuarie Priuate worshippe before wee come out is as a seede for the greater and publicke worke 3. And when we haue beene in the Sanctuarie and returned to our houses wee ought to turne it in an Haruest in them in reaping the fruit that we haue fouÌ„d in publick Our Houses then are both the Barne and the Garner wherein wee prouide the seede that wee take out to the Sanctuarie and to the which wee bring in the Haruest and increase that we haue found in it 4. Priuate worship is a seale of the sinceritie of Grace for manie doe counterfeate Deuotion Repentance in publicke who haue none exercise of it in their houses all their care is to be seene of men and so they are holie in the Church and profane at home But to exercise Gods worshippe feruentlie in priuate is a token of a true and vigorous grace of God 5. For greater libertie to utter groaning weeping humbling and prostrating of our bodie in priuate than wee can in publicke there wee doe manie things which would finde an vncheritable censure if they were seene of men Affections once loosed will breake out in sindrie actions which in publicke wee must suppresse but in priuate wee giue them libertie Hannah vttered griefe of heart in the Temple and was misconstrued by Eli but her priuate deuotion at home though with greater libertie was not offensiue but a cause of her husbands more tender affection to her 1. Sam. 1. Dauid in priuate watered his bedde with teares Psal. 6. And filled his house with roaring which in publicke hee did moderate Psal. 32. And by this
119. 126. So long as sinne remaineth in the Church the commission giuen to our enemies is in force If wee moue the question O thou Sword of the Lord how long will it bee ere thou bee quiet Put vp thy selfe in thy Scabbard and bee still It will be answered How can it bee quyete seeing the Lord hath giuen it a charge And the charge will lest till sin bee repented When sin is pardoned the Lord will speake to his reconcealed people Feare not thou worme Iacob I will helpe thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the holie One of Israel Feare not for I am with thee I will vphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousnesse Behold all they which were incensed against thee shall bee ashamed and confounded and they that striue with thee shall perish Isa. 41. 10. 11. For I know the thoughts that I thinke towards thee sayeth the Lord euen thoughts of peace and not of euill to giue you the exspected end Ier. 29. 11. He will build vp the Tabernacles of Dauid that are fallen downe and make vp the breaches thereof and repaire the ruines thereof as of old Amos. 9. 11. And will say I am returned to Ierusalem with mercie mine House shall bee built in it sayeth the Lord of Hostes and a line shall bee stretched out vpon it Zach. 1. 5. As for vs whom as yet in mercie hee hath spared from cruell persecution hee is now crying to vs Come my people enter into thy Chambers and shute thy doores about thee Hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation be ouerpassed The Lord will ordaine peace for vs when hee hath wrought all our workes euen the workes of true Repentance and Conuersion in vs. Isa. 26. 12. 20. If wee repent truelie the Riuer of his Grace will flow among vs and the Streames of it will make vs glad Hee will dwell in the midst of vs and helpe vs tymouslie Psal. 46. Hee will be a fierie wall round about vs and a glorie in the midst of vs. Zachar. 2. 5. This is the summe of all That wee returne to the LORD our GOD and seeke him vvhen hee may bee found euen in this acceptable time vvhen hee is seeking vs That wee afflict our Soules for sinne and call for remission of them vvithout which wee cannot be saued That euery one of vs forsake our euill wayes and renew our Couenant with him And among the rest let vs mourne for this madnes that wee offended such a GOD who as hee hath power to destroye vs so also hee hath that Grace in his hand vvithout the vvhich vvee cannot repent our sinnes at once both pulling downe destruction and closing the doore of his Grace vpon vs except his vnspeakable mercie open it vnto vs againe The LORD our GOD the Father of Lights from whom euery good Gift and perfect Donation commeth downe And who hath the hearts of all men in his hand worke in vs all in this and all other Humiliations that which may bee acceptable to him That by his Grace wee may bee enabled to offer the sacrifice of a contrite and a broken heart and obtaine at his hand full pardon and remission of all our sinnes And the good LORD pardon all our sinnes and the verie infirmities of that our Repentance for sinne And bee mercifull to euerie one that prepareth his heart to seeke the LORD GOD of his Fathers though hee bee not cleansed according to the purifications of the Sanctuarie 2. Chr. 30. 18. 19. Through IESVS CHRIST our LORD AMEN FINIS The summe of the former TREATISE THe dutie of Watch-men Numb 1 Scotlands Pastours giue warning 2 A Fast appointed 3 1. Cause The Churches affliction 4 It is Antichrists persecution 5 But hee colloureth it with ciuill respects 6 Why God afflicteth his Church 7 Their trouble is our lesson 8 VVee should mourne with them 9 For their Persons 10 And for the Gospel 11 And for our home dangers 12 2. Cause The sinnes of this Land 13 Sinnes against the Law 14 Sinnes against the Gospel 15 1. Infidelitie 16 2. Vniuersall Disobedience 17 3. Apostasie 18 Papists admonished 19 4. Atheisme 20 5. Breach of Brotherlie Loue. 21 6. Contempt of the Word and Preachers 22 7. Sacriledge 8. Impenitencie 23 Foure signes of a deadlie Disease in this Land 24 Gods controuersie with this Land 25 3. Cause Our Kings Ma. Royall affaires 26 Remouall of the Gospel to bee feared 27 An idle conceate refuted 28 Vse of discouerie of the new World 29 The Sword to bee feared 30 God our best defence 31 Right use of lawfull meanes 32 God hath impannelled this Land 33 None escape but by Repentance 34 God commandeth it 35 Prayers and Teares our kindlie weapons 36 Sathan is most affrayd of them 37 How vvee are called to them 38 VVee must fast 39 Not the Hypocrets Fast. 40 Nor the Papists Fast In 41 But the Christians Fast which standeth in 42 1. Inquirie vvhere sinne is 43 And that not laying it on another 44 But taking it to our selues 45 Not to waite on others Repâ—ntance 46 But repent our selues 47 2. Next in renting our hearts 48 The reasons of that renting 49 3. In amendement of life 50 4. In confidence of mercie 51 Fine Grouâ—ds of it from God 52 From his Couenant 53 From Experience 54 How to processe our selues 55 Foure reasons of bodilie Fasting 56 Base Apparrell to bee used 57 Large Almes to the Poore 58 Sixe godlie Exercises ioyned 59 All must repent 60 Pastours duetie in Fasting 61 Peoples duetie in Fasting 62 4. Reasons for publicke Humiliation 63 5. Reasons of priuate Humiliation 64 1. Preparation for Fasting 65 2. Disposition in it 66 3. How vvee close it 67 New obedience a proofe of Repentance 68 True Repentance findeth 1. Remission 69 2. Accepting of our persons 70 3. Punishment of our Enemies 71 4. Releauing of his distressed Church 72 5. Continuance of our Peace 73 A Prayer for Repentance and Remission 74 And for pardon of the faults of our Repentance 75 FINIS 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 10 12 13 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 59 57 58 59 60 61 2 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75