John Trapp on Ezra 8:21

Verſe 21. Then I proclaimed a faſt there] A day of reſtraint from food, fine cloathes, and other delights of life. There is a three-fold-faſt, ſaith One; from meat, from mirth, and from ſin: this laſt crownes all. Unleſſe God ſees turning, he ſees no work in a faſt, ſaith another, deſcanting upon that Text, Jon. 3.10. God ſaw their works, that they turned. Of a Faſt ſee the Notes on Joel 2.12.

That we might afflict our ſelves before our God] Not outwardly onely (that's but the ſhell Iſ. 58.3.) but inwardly, alſo, for that's the kernel of this exerciſe, Jer. 16.29. which elſe is but bodily, and profiteth little; ſomething, it may, as it did Ahab: But if rightly performed though it weakeneth the body, yet it ſtrengtheneth the ſpirit, making it vigorous and victorious.

To ſeek of him a right way for us] To edge our prayers and give wings to them: for faſting inflameth prayer, and prayer ſanctifieth faſting: hence they go coupled for the moſt part, Luk 2.37. Matth. 17.21. 1 Cor. 7.5. And ſurely, if with faſting and prayer we can ſeek of God direction and protection as here, we ſhall ſpeed of both.

And for our little ones] Theſe ſhould be a main part of our care, to lay up prayers for them, to commend them to Gods ſafe-keeping, foraſmuch as puerilitas eſt periculorum pelagus, Little ones are liable to a thouſand deaths and dangers.

And for all our ſubſtance] Our ſtock and our ſtore, all the goods that we have got and gathered together. Our Engliſh word Riches anſwereth to the Hebrew Recuſh.