FOR the better obſerving and keeping of this our great and Generall Faſt, commanded by His Majeſty and both Houſes of Parliament, for the generall good of the whole Kingdome, in which is found much neglect by many ſorts of people to the great diſhonour and diſobeying His Majeſties Command, and the Command of both Houſes of Parliament herein.

It is thought fit and requiſite therefore, that all Good Chriſtians and true Subjects, of what nature ſoever, that are Houſholders, to order themſelves and their affaires, ſo that upon that day or dayes wherein they are commanded to faſt, they have not any let or hindrance to withdraw them from ſo good a worke, but for that time or times to lay aſide all manner of worldly affaires, and tend onely to the ſervice of God, and to be carefull to ſee that their Children, Servants, and all ſuch as be under their charge, may truly and duely, keeping the Church, hearing Divine Service and Sermons, abſtaining from all manner of Fleſh, or delicious meats, and likewiſe from all manner of vices or any thing that is contrary to the keeping of a tru • faſt, or may any waies hinder our deuotion or draw us from the true ſervice of God, To the breach of the command of his Majeſty and both the Honorable Houſes of Parliament.

and for the better underſtanding of the true faſt is that as I had ſaid before, we muſt firſt abſtain from fleſh and all maner of Delitious meats; hot wines, or ſtrong drinke or the like, whereby the fleſh is pampred and made high, that many times it rebels againſt the ſpirit, cauſing in us a neglect of the ſeruice of God, and carleſnes of our duty towards out parents, and Prince, or regardleſſe of the loue we ought to beare to our neighbour, and make us more apt daily and hourly to run into all manner of viees which is the cauſe that at ſueh times of faſt we ought to abſtane from fleſh not for that it is hurtfull to the body to eate, but hurtfull for the ſoule, in that we are hereby drawne into temtations and ſo herehy looſe the benefit thereof which is the grace and fauour of God, for when are men more apt to ſinn then in the heate of fleſh the heate of blood, and the like.

Then if we will faſt from ſinn as we pretend let us firſt faſt from the cauſers of ſinn which is delitious meats, hot drincks and the like as I ſaid before and by that doing we may with out doubt the better faſt from ſinn and ſo faſting from ſinn, gain the grace and faiuor of almighty God his eternall love, and in love of our Neighbor which are the things required of us in this Faſt, it is good alſo that all Innes, Tavernes, and Alehouſes be more ſtrictly lookt unto, and that they be not ſuffered on theſe dayes appointed for Faſt, to open their doores to let in any company to drinke, more then upon neceſſity, as to Strangers, Travellers, or the like.

For it hath beene obſerved and noted, that many diſorders have been and daily are ſeene in this Faſt, commitred by divers people on thoſe dayes, as extraordinary eating, drinking, ſwearing, and divers other abuſes or abſurdities, not fitting the time, nor indeed not fitting any time, eſpecially upon ſuch a time as we are commanded to offer to God the ſacrifice of our hearts, by Faſting and Ptayer, which are workes to bee done with a true and ſincere devotion, in a godly and moſt Chriſtian-like way, ſuppreſſing our wonted untam'd wills, and not to run on headlong, not minding what wee goe about and like bruit beaſts make all dayes and times alike, which is no faſt at all.

Therefore if wee meane hereby to gaine the Grace and Favour of God, the love of our King and Parliament, and our owne generall good; Let us obey their Commandements, and if commanded to fight, let us faſt; if to pray, let us pray, but in this we are ſtrictly commanded to faſt and pray not for the good and benefit of them in particular, but for the generall good and benefit of the whole Kingdome, the eſtabliſhing of the true faith, and the obtaining of true peace and unity amongſt us all.

For which we are commanded to offer to Almighty God in recompence of our diſobedience to his eternall Maieſty every month a day, and that day to be ſeriouſly kept according to the promiſes it being not ſufficient, as is afore ſaid, to faſt all day and to feaſt at night, or to faſt all day and to be drunke at night, as too many in this City and Kingdome doth, but we endeavour to keepe it duly and truly, not violating and prophaning any part of it, but that the night as well as the day being obſerved from all manner of vices, dedicating our ſelves for that time wholly to the ſervice of God, otherwiſe it is no Faſt at all, but a deceiving of our ſelves, and a robbing of God of his Honour and Glory, for which it was inſtituted and commanded.

Surely we have more need to offer to God every weeke a day, and every day an houre to be ſpent in prayer and good workes, whereby to appeaſe the wrath and anger of God, which we are ſo daily like to fall upon us in this dangerous time of war, being altogether uncertaine how long wee ſhall live, or how ſoone we ſhall be cut off; therefore if we duly conſider with our ſelves the dangers that wee now live in, we ſhall finde that we never had more neede to Faſt and pray then now.

Wherefore let us all with one aſſent ſubmit our ſelves to His Majeſties iuſt Command, and the iuſt Command of both Houſes of Parliament, in the true keeping of this great and generall Firſt, as a worke of piety, craving the aid and aſſiſtance of Almighty God herein, that we may the better diſpoſe our ſelves thereto, to His honour and glory, and ſo doing there is no queſtion but wee ſhall thereby gaine the Grace of God with his love and Fauour in all that we deſire a true unity betweene Mis Maieſty and the Parliament, an eſtabliſhment of the Lawes Spirituall and Temporall, the aboliſhing warre, and the ſetling of peace throughout the whole Kingdome, Almighty God grant it.