The HIS T 0 RY of the PuRITANS~ VoL. II. K. Charles J. tualing, or ale-holffes, or any other ways iliould not duly obferve the ~ fame ; and to return their names to the committee for examination, that they might be proceeded againft for contempt. The fail was obferved the !aft Wednefday in every month, the public devotions continued with little or no intermiflion from nine in the morning till four in the after– noon, and (as has been already obferved) with uncommon fhiClnefs and Occafional Jajls. H u!b. Col. p. 534· rigor. Befides the flated fafts, it was ufual upon extraordinary emergencies to appoint occajional ones; as when the army was going upon any hazar– dous enterprize, or were within fight of the enemy, or under very dif– advantageous circumfl:ances. When the earl of E.lfex was iliut up in Cornwal, the two houfes appointed a day of fafl:ing and a prayer in fix churches within the lines of communication, and in fuch other churches where it iliould be defired ; and the crowds of ferious and attentive hear– ers on fuch occafions is almoil incredible. King diff?lves The king apprehending the parliament's monthly faft was perverted t he parlzafrom its original defign, and turned into a nurfery of rebellion, was ;~;1/pf.i~ts pleafed to diffolve it, and appoint another, for the reafons contained in another. the following proclamation fromOxford, dated Oelob. S· 1643. "When Hu!b. Col. " a general faft was firfl: propounded to us in contemplation of the mife– p. 353· " ries of our kindom of Ireland, we readily confented to it.- But when Rulbw. Vol. V. P· 38o. " we obferve what ill ufe has been made of thefe public meetings, in pul– " pits, in prayers, and in the fermons of many feditious lecturers, to ftir " up and continue the rebellion raifed againft us within this kingdom.– " We thought fit to command that fuch an hypocritical fafl:, to the dif– " honour of God, and ilander of true religion, be no longer continued " and countenanced by our authority.--And yet we being defirous to ' ' exprefs our own humiliation, and the humiliation of our people, for " our own fins, and the fins of the nation, are refolved to continue a " monthly faft, but not on the day formerly appointed.--We do there– " fore hereby command, that from henceforth no fafl: be held on the !aft cc Wednifday in the month, as for many months it has been ; nor any " other day than is hereby appointed by us.-But we do exprefsly " charge and command, that in all churches and chapels, &c. there be a " folemn fafl: religiouily obferved on the fecond Friday in every month, " with public prayers and preaching where it may be had, that as one " man we may pour out our prayers to God, for the continuance of " his gracious prefence and blefling upon us, and for eftabliiliing a " happy peace; for which purpofe we have caufed devout forms of cc prayer to be compofed and printed, and intend to difperfe them, " that they may be ufed in all parts of our kingdom." Agreeably to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=