Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/3



''But when Jeſus ſaw the Multitudes, he was moved with Compaſſion on them, becauſe they fainted, and were scattered Abroad, at Sheep having no Shepherd. Then ſaying he unto his Diſciples, the Harveſt truly is plenteous but the Labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harveſt, that he will ſend forth Labourers into his Harveſt''

EXT Lord's Day is Ordination day, that day upon which the learned and religious Men are to be Ordained Prieſts and Deacons; and next Week is Ember week; that week which is emphatically called a week of Embers Aſhes. For theſe two words do only signify, one and the ſame thing.

And the Reaſon why this week is thus called, is this Church has commanded us to faſt and pray upon three days in this week, That God would be pleaſed give us ſuch Miniſters, as are willing and able, both their lives and doctrine, to ſet forth his Glory, and ſet forward the ſalvation of all men'. And theſe three day's have been heretofore ſo ſtrictly kept by holy men and women, that they covered themſelves with ſackcloth and Aſhes, and eat nothing till night nor on neither, ſave only a cake baked under the embers; which was therefore called Ember Bread. And him this ſtrictneſs and ſeverity which was formerly did upon the three faſting Days in this week, the whole week came to be called Ember Week.