John Trapp on Isaiah 58:5

Ver. 5. Is it ſuch a fast that I have choſen] No: for God hates that mar-good formality: and diſpleaſing ſervice is double diſhonour.

A day for a man to afflict his ſoul] i. e. His body a whole day at leaſt, from evening till evening, Rous his Archaeol. Attica. Levit. 23.32. or from morning till evening, Judg. 20.26. 2 Sam. 3.35. Yet ſo as that nature be chaſtiſed, not diſabled for ſervice; and that we take not the more liberty afterwards to pamper the fleſh which we have pined, as thoſe dames of Athens did in their Theſmophoria, a feaſt of Ceres; to the which they prepared themſelves with faſting: but after that, took their liquor more freely then was fit. And as the Turks do at this day in their ſolemn Faſts: they will not ſo much as taſte a cup of water,Turk. hiſt. 777. Voyage into the Levant. or waſh their mouths with water all the day long, before the ſtars appear in the sky: but then they lay the reins in the neck, and run riot.

Is it to bow down the head as a bulruſh] Whiles the heart is unbowed, and ſtands bolt upright. Hypocrites, like bulruſhes, hang down their heads for a day, while ſome ſtorm of trouble is upon them. But when a fair ſun-ſhine day is come, to dry it up again, they lift up their heads as before. Fitly, ſaith a grave Divine, is formality compared to a bulruſh; the colour is freſh, the skin ſmooth; he is very exact that can find a knot in a bulruſh: but if you pill it, what is under, but a kind of ſpungious unſubſtantial ſubſtance, of no uſe in the world worth the ſpeaking of. Such are hypocrites; a fair outſide, ſpecious pretences of piety &c. all the reſt not worth a ruſh. Pictures ſaith another, are pretty things to look on: and thats all they are good for. Christ looked on, and loved the young Phariſee, &c.

And to ſpread ſack-cloth and aſhes under him] The Jews did ſo uſually in their ſolemn mournings, Eſth. 4, 3. Jer. 6.26. The Heathens alſo did the like, Jonah 3.5. Matth. 11.21.

Wilt thou call this a faſt?] Is it not a meer mock-faſt as was that of the Phariſees? and is that of the Papiſts, who pride themſelves that day with opinion of merit, for their meer outward abſtinence. Some Proteſtants alſo faſt, but they had need to ſend, as God ſpeaks, for mourning-women, that by their cunning they may be taught to mourn, Jer. 19.17. and for reformation (the main buſineſſe of a faſt) they mind it not.

And an acceptable day to the Lord] Heb. a day of good-will, or well-liking: therefore called elſewhere a day of Atonement, or Expiation; and hath moſt excellent promiſes made to it, Joel 2.12, 18. Only there muſt be withall a turning from wicked work[illegible: 1 letter]; without which, God ſeeth no work or worth in a Faſt, Jon. 3.10. nor can it be an acceptable day to the Lord.