THe Scribes and Pharisees saith St. Luke , St. Iohn's Disciples saith St. Matthew , St. Iohn's Disciples and the Pharisees together saith St. Mark , came to our Saviour , and by way of exception said , Why do the Disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) but thine fast not ? They did not , because they could not say ; but thou fastest not . Not the Devil himself might deny , what he had felt , that the Lord had ( as Iohn himself had not at any time , and Moses and Elias but by his strength ) fasted 40. daies and 40. nights . His frequent exercise of fasting is witnessed in two mystical Psalms understood of Christ , Psal. 69. v. 9 , 10. The zeal of thy house hath even eaten me , &c. I wept and chastened my self with fasting , and that was turned to my reproach . And Psal. 109. v. 23 , 24. My knees are weak through fasting , my flesh is dryed up for want of fatness ; I became also a reproach unto them . The context of which verses and the ancient Fathers Commentaries on those Psalms are our warrant that David in spirit spake them of Christ . On Psal. 69. St. Hilary thus writeth : This Psalm contains the prophesie of the sufferings of our Lord , where ( besides the gall they gave him to eat and the vinegar to drink , v. 21. ) the abstinence of his fasting was turned to his reproach , when tempted by the Devil , he is bid turn stones into bread , and carried up into a mountain , he is contumeliously tempted to worship the Devil . Arnobius also saith , those words are spoken of our Lord Iesus Christ , whom the zeal of Gods house did eat ; and his abstinence from eating , receiving nothing 40. daies and as many nights , was turned to his reproach . St. Hierom and Theodoret in the like manner understand the Text of Christs fasting . The other Psal. 109. v. 23. Theodoret thus understands of Christ , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) of his abstinence and severities to himself : witness also saith he the bar . ley loaves and the ears of corn in his Disciples hands : St. Hierom also upon that Text , bids such as were conversant in fasting to be comforted , Siquidem & Dominus hoc fecit — Non habebat delitias corporis , sed Dei Spiritús — Tales diligit mil●… Christus , qui jejuniis vacent quia in jejunio victoria est : for that the Lord himself , saith this Psalm , did fast , and was not filled with the delights of the body , but of the Spirit of God ; and Christ delights in such souldiers of his which give themselves unto fasting , because such overcome when they fight ▪ St. Augustine and Bede confirm this interpretation . So true it is , saith St. Basil , a a S. Basil Ser ▪ 1. of Fasting . that our Lord Iesus fortified the flesh which he took on him for us by fasting , and taught us by fastings to overcome . Ut in sponso nostro investigemus , &c. saith St. Hierom , b b S. Hierom Epistold ad Eustochium . that in the Bridegroom himself we may see what vertue holy fasting hath . Howbeit in both those Psalms no sooner is mention made of our Lords fasting , but 't is added , that it was turned to his reproach . And here in my Text his Disciples not fasting is turned to his reproach . Why do the Disciples of Iohn fast often , and likewise the Disciples of the Pharisees , but thine eat and drink ? Reprehendenda jejunii jactantia , saith St. Hierom : The answer to them might have been a just reproof for not fasting from vain glory . But our meek and gracious Lord , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith St. Chrysostome upon the words . He gives them no such rebuke as O ye vain-glorious and impertinent persons . But he who had in much gentleness forborn to command his Disciples such severities , as himself practised , with the same lenity returns only this gracious answer , Can you make , &c. v. 34 , 35. together mildly defending himself and his Disciples ( though as yet they fasted not , ) and yet the holy duty of fasting also . But doing all this by remitting the Pharisees 〈◊〉 Iohn's Disciples whom they had brought with them , and advanced their example in the first place , and remitting Iohn's Disciples as it were tacitly to their Master Iohn , to something which they might remember Iohn had said unto them ( Joh. 3. 28 , 29. ) ye your selves bear me witness , that I said I am not the Christ , &c. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom . The case was much different 'twixt the Disciples of the Law only , ( the Scribes and Pharisees ) yea those of Iohn also , and the Disciples of Christ . The Law was a Schoolmaster of severities , but to bring them unto Christ ; Iohn was an Harbinger sent by preaching of penance to prepare the way for the Bridegroom ; neither 's Disciples were the children of the bride-chamber , or the honourable followers of the Bridegroom , but Christs only . Iohn came neither eating nor drinking , and sometime the Pharisees therefore say he hath a Devil , and now ye upbraid his Lord with Iohn's Disciples and discipline as more divine ; howbeit he that is least among the children of that bride-chamber is greater then Iohn himself : His office , his honour , his priviledge , and assistances greater . What many Kings and Prophets and righteous men desired to see , and rejoyced in spirit to foresee , but had not with their eyes beheld , the King in his beauty ; nor heard his wisdome , and what Iohn your master , saw and told you that he rejoyced to see , and to hear the Bridegrooms voice , Blessed are their eyes for they see , and their ears for they hear ; And you have not considered this mysterious marriage of the Church to the Messias , her Maker and Husband , her Redeemer and Spouse ; the Prophets of old negotiated , invited , and as it were , wooed , and search'd what , and what manner of time this blessed season and fulness of time should be , and what the joy of these espousals . The Bridegroom himself is now come down from heaven in his wonderful Incarnation , in his Nativity he came forth fairer then the children of men , as a Bridegroom forth of his chamber rejoycing ( for the love of his Spouse ) as a Gyant to run his course . His coming forth was ( à summo coelo ) from the highest heaven in the hour of the WORD 's being made flesh , and his running about is ad summum coelum , to the height of it again , to the right hand of his Father , in his Ascension . Mean while the solemn contract and espousals a a Theophy lact . upon the words , Mat. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( quam dixerat , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . betwixt him and his Church is in his present preaching proclaimed . And he spake this parable , A certain King made a marriage for his son , ( Matth. 22. 2 , &c. ) and he sent forth his servants , ( Wisdome sent forth her maidens ) not fasting now indeed , as that 's not seasonable for nuptial invitations , saying , I have mingled my wine , &c. All things are now ready . And when those servants for such their employment have scarce time to eat , quarrel you them , that they find no season to fast ? Sent I am to Publicans and sinners a Physician , and therefore I eat with them . To my Disciples and as many as receive me believing on me , the Bridegroom of their souls ( the expectation , desire and joy of all nations ) and therefore at present they fast not with you : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith S. Chrysostom upon the words , By these things our Lord sheweth , that their not fasting then was not an Indulgence to their belly , but a matter of wonderful oeconomy . But the time will come when this solemnity of joy of these espousals shall be turned into a funeral mourning ; when the Bridegroom shall be even for the debts of his Spouse and redemption of her life taken from them : And they shall weep and lament and fast , and the world shall rejoyce . But he being returned , and having taken to himself a kingdome , these present espousals which God foretold by the prophets Hosea and Isaiah , which had been treated by all the Prophets that had been since the world began , and now proclaimed in the acceptable year of the Lords preaching , and sealed to by the Father at his resuscitation from the dead , expect their consummation in the marriage of the Lamb at the last day , when he shall gloriously bear his Spouse with myriads of holy Angels into his Fathers house , there to reign with him in his Kingdome everlasting ; mean time as upon the Espousals he became chargeable with his Spouses debts , and hath discharged them on his Cross , and after that discharge , was taken from Prison and from Judgment , and hath washed her in his own Blood , and hath given her the pledge of his Holy Spirit , and cloathed her with the double garments of his Righteousness ; so also is she called by a new Name which the mouth of the Lord did name , from his name Christ she is called Christian first at Antioch ; and farther , our Lord Jesus knowing , that after his taking from her , religious fasting also is a necessary guard for her safety , and a salutary means for the further purifying and adorning of his Spouse , therefore as upon the allegation of Iohn's Disciples Christ taught his Disciples also how to Pray ; so here as Iohn's Disciples had been taught to fast , he teacheth his the time and season when they should fast , yea and they will fast ; only in this solemnity of his Espousals and of his Bride-chamber , these the principal guests and friends of the Bridegroom , sons of the secretest admission , a a But without a parable spake he not unto them ( the multitude ▪ ) and when they were alone , he expounded all things to his Disciples Mar. 4. 34. & v. 10 , 11. and when they were alone , they that were about him with the Twelve asked of him the parable , and he said unto them , Unto you it is given to know , &c. but unto them that are without , all these things are done in parables . his Apostles , no wonder if he do not , and ye cannot make them fast . Their present joy is above it , and their habitual strength as yet beneath it , and their present assistence from the presence of the Bridegroom himself enables and supports them without it . Nevertheless to this marriages celebration , garments every way agreeable , perfectly new , are to be provided , and wine both new and old to be filled , and to be preserved , and vessels of grace and future glory to contain that liquor ; But as yet they are in part old garments , not throughly renewed by the Spirit , they are old bottles b b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some regenerate persons are here ( v. 37. ) so called for their but begun and imperfect renovation , as some babes in Christ are called carnal , ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ ) 1 Cor. 3. 1. Bottles and garments here men are compared to , as Jerem. 13. 12 , 13. Psa. 31. 12. Jer. 43. 12. Epicharmus Comicus ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ and the duty of fasting is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as yet an unwrought , unthickned piece , at least not by the Fullers Art purged and washt from the abuses wherewith the Pharisees had disteined it . c c for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith S. Basil in his first Sermon of Fasting . Fasting is an ancient Gift , elder then the Law — it is a jewel of the ancient Fathers — reverence its gray hairs , it is coaetaneous with mankind . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fullones etiam veteres vestes ac sordidatas renovant ac repurgant , saith Erasmus ▪ in Mat. 9. yea Hesychius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Add hereto , that the fastings of believers in Christ , in so far as they were to answer to their frequent recurring set fasts , were yet an unwrought and unpolisht discipline , as which were to be celebrated chiefly on the times of the Passion of Christ , as S. Chrysostome saith . They are also a new , strong , working , and spiritful wine , apt to break weak vessels . Not therefore because in themselves they need not , but because they cannot yet bear it ; not that the Lord , less then you , approves of that new wine , but because he provides that such good wine should not be spilled which will drink pleasant when it is old , Ecclus. 9. 10. and shall be preserved throughout all ages of the Church on earth ; lest also the bottles should break , and the rent and breach of these garments , instead of being made up , should be made wider by the unseasonableness of this prescription : therefore their Lord and Master , who breaks not the bruised reed , presseth not as yet this discipline . a a S. Chrysostom on these words Mat. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . My Disciples are not yet become strong , but as yet need much condescention , and it is not meet to impose a load of injunctions on persons so aflected . But the time will come when the Bridegroom shall for a time be taken from them , and the Spirit sent down unto them , and when they are renewed with strength from above , then shall they fast in those daies . And both that holy discipline of religious Fasts , and these vessels of honour shall be preserved by each other . And that the Spirit may so come unto them , it is expedient , saith he , that I go away from them , and the time will shortly come .

In the Answer of our Lord so meek and divinely wise , you may observe these three parts :

1. A Declaration , or promulgation of somewhat present which they were not aware of . 2. A Prediction of some things to come , which they as little understood . 3. A mixed prescription in part and prediction in p●… , a constitution , counsel , and encouragentent of a holy , religious exercise of fasting .

I. A Declaration of the present Espousals of Christ , Behold a greater then Solomon is here , a crown weightier then that wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his espousals , also a greater then Pharaoh's daughter is here , the holy Church of God : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , saith St. Chrysostome and Theophylact upon the words . And the least of these despised Apostles great above him , then whom there had not risen a greater among them that were born of women . He was sent before to cast up and prepare his way , these the nearest friends and followers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as those 30 companions brought to be with Samson the Bridegroom , ( Iudges 14. v. 11. ) and as the Spouse the Queen of Heaven ( Ps. 45. 15. ) hath her virgins that bear her company in the bride-chamber : These are they that ride as it were in the same chariot with the Bridegroom , saith Phavorinus , that walk in company with , and nearest to him in the way , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The sons of the bride-çhamber are the Apostles , as vouchsafed partakers of their Masters joy , and of every heavenly good gift , and of all pleasure , Theophylact on Mat. 9. and this the acceptable year of the Lord , the very time of love , ( Ezek. 16. 8. ) so upon the words of the Lord , Mat. 9. Christianus Druthmarus . Quando ista loquebatur , tunc ipsa fiebat conjunctio , quoniam per suam praedicationem colligebat eandem sponsam suam : When Christ spake these words , then was this conjunction made , for by his preaching he gathered together that his Spouse ( the Church . )

II. The Prediction or presignification of some things to come , a a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Chrysostome on the words Mat. 9. as ,

1. That the time should come when the Bridegroom should be taken from them , Ablatus & oblatus quia voluit , Him the Scribes and Pharisees shall kill and crucifie , and he shall lay down his life for his sheep , give himself for his Church , and grave her on the palms of his hands , and set her as a seal on his heart , and on his arm , and hide her in the clefts of the rock , and vanquish death and hell , and him that hath the power of hell in her behalf .

2. That soon after that the time of the true Pentecost shall come , when these Disciples as they shall need these arms ; so shall be made new and strong garments , new and strong bottles , and shall be filled with new wine like the bowls of the Altar , ( Zech. 9. 15. )

3. That therefore he must go away , that the Holy Spirit may come , and then shall they be indued with power from above .

III. A mixt constitution or Precept in part , and Prediction in part , of what these Scribes and Pharisees came to expostulate with him , The holy duty of Fasting .

1. In its Substance , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , most certainly they shall fast .

2. In the circumstance of its due season and time , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , then , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in those daies , or in those very daies .

3. In its settlement upon its right basis and reason , which gives the indication also of its true season , viz. the taking away the Bridegroom from them for their sins , and for the sins of the whole world .

4. The imprudence and danger in importunity both to the substance of the duty and to the subject ; from the incapacity of the subject as yet , and improportion to the duty .

As to the 1. The substance of the duty , our Lords care of establishing this holy exercise of Fasting , is described here 5. waies :

1. By leaving it under his prescript Law ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) they shall fast , ( as , thou shalt not steal ) ( they shall hear my voice , Joh. 10. 16. shall render him the fruits in their seasons , Mat. 21. 41. )

2. His prediction also that the Christian Catholick Church would be willing , forward , and observably eminent in that exercise , ( else it had been no answer satisfactory to their alledged visible practise ) they will fast , as ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) Him ye will receive , Joh. 5. 43. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , they will fast ; as ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) v. 35. the daies will come ; both are predictions when the chief servants of his house will see this holy exercise exemplified in set rules of practise .

3. By laying a further necessity of prudence , both here v. 38. & Mark 2. v. 22. ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) Men must put up this new wine into fitted vessels , saith the Master of the houshold , and of the vineyard , lest in after ages men being lovers of pleasures , and their love of God waxing cold , some servants of the house might be for casting away this wine , for that there is indeed in their Masters house other that is better and drinketh pleasanter ( in whose house is both new and old ▪ )