April 1649
[23 April, 1649]
Whereas by a Proclamation the Eighth of January, in the
Seventeenth year of the Reign of the late King, a general
Publique and Solemn Fast was appointed to be kept and holden,
as well by abstinence from Food, as by publique Prayers, hearing of
the Word of God, and other sacred duties in England and Wales,
on the last Wednesday of the Moneth of February then next
following, and from thenceforth to continue during the Troubles
in the Kingdom of Ireland; which was strictly commanded to be
observed, upon pain of punishments to be inflicted upon all such
as should contemn or neglect so religious a work: And whereas
several Ordinances or Orders of Parliament have since been
made, for the holding and observing of the said Fast on the
same day;
The Parliament of England finding by sad experience, how
much the observation of the said Monethly Fast hath been for
divers years last past, in most places of this Commonwealth
wholly neglected, and in other places where the same hath been
retained, it hath declined by degrees from that Solemnity and due
Reverence wherewith the same was at the first Institution thereof
entertained, and as is suitable to such an Ordinance of Christ,
wherewith the same hath been much prophaned, the Spirits of
those that truly fear God, and desire to Worship him in sincerity
and truth, been grieved, the Lord highly dishonoured and
provoked, and much guilt contracted, by the taking of Gods
Name in vain: And seriously considering how apt such set times
for extraordinary duties of Worship are to degenerate into meer
Formality and Customary observances; and that it is more
agreeable to the nature of such extraordinary Worship, and to
the approved and successful Examples of the people of God in
Scripture, to set apart special times for such Solemn Duties,
according to the particular occasions, to the end the same might
be observed with greater care and intention: For the better
reforming of which abuses, and prevention thereof for the future,
Be it Enacted and Ordained, and it is Enacted and Ordained by
this present Parliament, and by authority thereof, That the said
Proclamation be declared Null and void; and that all Orders
and Ordinances of Parliament, touching the observation of the
said Fast on the day or days afore mentioned, be and are hereby
Repealed and made void: And that it shall and may be lawful
for all and every the Courts of Westminster, and all other Courts
to sit; and all other person and persons whatsoever, to follow
the works of his or their lawful Calling upon those days, without
incurring any penalty thereby.
And forasmuch as the multiplyed sins of this Nation, the
contempt of God and his Ordinances, that general prophaneness,
opposition to Reformation, murmuring at the various and
gracious Providences of God and the general unthankfulness for
the mercies and preservations this Nation hath received, together with a proneness and endeavor to relapse into that
former condition of Tyranny and Superstition, out of which God
hath in much Mercy lately brought us, do minister just cause of
Humiliation; together with the present miseries and straights
of our poor Brethren in Ireland, through the Apostacy and
Perfidiousness of some, and the united Malice and Power of
others; and the Parliament being resolved, by Gods assistance,
to send some Forces for the speedy Relief of the Parliament
Forces there, and the reduction of the Enemy unto the Obedience
of the Parliament and Commonwealth of England; Be it therefore further Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament,
and the authority of the same, That Thursday the third day of
May, Anno Dom. 1649 be set apart and appointed for a publique
and solemn day of Fasting and Humiliation, to be observed in all
Churches and Chappels within the cities of London and Westminster, and all places within the late Lines of Communication,
and Bills of Mortality, earnestly to seek unto Almighty God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, that he will be graciously pleased
to pardon the Sins of this Nation, and in a special maner the
Sins beforementioned, and the Iniquities of the former Monethly
Fast-days; and that he will be pleased to heal the Divisions
and Breaches of this Land, and give a blessing and success to
the Forces of the Parliament now in Ireland, and such as are
shortly to be sent thither, and at the last to establish his pure
Worship, and Righteousness and Peace in the Nation. And be
it further Enacted and Ordained by the authority aforesaid, That
Thursday the Seventeenth day of the same Moneth of May, 1649,
be set apart and appointed for the like publique and solemn day
of Fasting and Humiliation, upon the grounds and to the ends
aforesaid, to be observed and kept in all other Churches and
Chappels, in all other Cities, Boroughs, Towns, Parishes and
places within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick:
And all Pastors and Ministers, of and in all and every the Cities;
Boroughs, Towns and places aforesaid, be enjoyned and required
to publish this present Act, in the several Churches and Chappels
in and under their several and respective charges, on the Lords-day
next before the day by this present Act appointed for the
observation of the said Fast, and to take care that the same be
Solemnly and Religiously observed: And that all Majors, Justices
of the Peace, Bayliffs, Constables, and all other Officers within
their several and respective Liberties and Precincts, be hereby
authorized and required to restrain all persons from the
publique doing of any work, or using any exercise of a wordly
nature, either contemptuously or unnecessarily, to the
prophaning or neglect of the said Fast on the
days aforesaid respectively by such penalties, or as were
heretofore by any Ordinance of Parliament to be inflicted for
prophaning the said Monethly Fast.
And be it further Enacted and Ordained by the authority
aforesaid, That this present Act be forthwith printed and
published; and that the Sheriffs of the several Counties and
Cities in England and Wales, do cause the same to be proclaimed
and set up in the usual and publique places within the said
several Counties. And all the people of this Nation are hereby
required and enjoyned, with all due Reverence and Devotion to
observe the said Fast at the days aforesaid respectively, as they
tender the glory of God, and the good and peace of this
Commonwealth.