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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64466	A fast of Gods chusing plainly opened for the help of those poor in spirit, whose hearts are set to seek the Lord their God in New-England, in the solemn ordinance of a fast : wherein is shewed, 1, the nature of such a fast, 2, the testimony God will give thereunto of his gracious acceptance, 3, the special seasons wherein God will bear witness to such a fast, 4, some helps to faith that is shall be so, 5, why such a fast is so acceptable and succesfull, 6, how much this concerns Gods people in New-England : preached on a fast called by publick authority, on 26, 1[6]74 / by Thomas Thacher...	Thacher, Thomas, 1620-1678.; Mather, Increase, 1639-1723.	1678 (1678)	Wing T830; ESTC R9807	27,462	32

A Fast of Gods chusing Plainly opened For the help of those poor in spirit whose hearts are set to seek the Lord their God in New-England in the solemn Ordinance of A FAST Wherein is shewed 1. The nature of such a FAST 2. The Testimony God will give thereunto of his gracious acceptation 3. The special Seasons wherein God will bear witness to such A FAST 4. Some helps to Faith that it shall be so 5. Why such a FAST is so acceptable and successfull 6. How much this concerns Gods people in New-England Preached on a Fast called by publitk Authority On 26. 1. 74. By THOMAS THACHER Pastor of a Church in Boston BOSTON Printed by John Foster 1678. To the Reader BOth Scripture and experience hath made it manifest to the world that a Religious Fast when duly attended is a Duty of no small importance and advantage to the people of God But those spiritual performances which if rightly managed are the most beneficial have a special difficulty and contrariety to flesh and blood accompanying them So is it an hard work to keep a Fast in such a manner as that it shall become an acceptable Day unto the Lord whence also it cometh to pass that very few even amongst those that outwardly observe Fasting Dayes are acquainted with the inward spiritual acceptable part of the duty There have been that as to what is external in such services regard not the divine precept Some think the Prophet Isaiah in that Chapter which is partly and judiciously opened in the ensuing Sermon reproveth Enormities in that kind And although mercy is better then Sacrifice nor may we urge any severities beyond what the word of God doth impose yet it is to be feared that many amongst us do not make due conscience of that outward abstinence which the rule and which the nature of the duty doth require Thes Salmur part ult Camero in Mat. 17. 21. Ames Answ to Burgess p● 1. pag. 145. It is most true that the Kingdome of God doth not consist in meat and drink nor is Fasting in it self any part of Religion when it is called worship it is by a Trope as being a special adjunct of some extraordinary worship yet for men to exact labours or to find their own pleasures upon such daies is an high transgression Others there are that as to externals will be very exact nay over-righteous Whenas all that they do is before the Lord no better then loathsome formality hypocrisie The Evangelist informs us that it was customary amongst the Jews to fast twice a week And the Jewish masters tell us particularly that it was upon the 2d and 5th day of the week decreverun● magistry nostri utjejunaretur diebus secundo et quinto Volumen Jejunii Fol. 54 propter tres res viz. propter destructum Templum propter legem Conflagratam propter probrum divini nomini● In imitation of whom some Christians call two dayes of the week Fast dayes albeit that they might not be thought to Judaize they have not fixed upon Thorndike of Serv●● Re● Assemb c. 8 the same dayes the Jews did But to what end is a multitude of these ons if con●●ded in Do men think that their voice will be heard on high 〈◊〉 e. that they shall have acceptance in Heaven meerly because they fast Certainly if there be not serious preparation for such dayes unseigned Humiliation and Contrition in them Reformation after them dayes of Humiliation will become dayes of provocation before that God who will never suffer himself to be mocked by any of the Sons of men When the most solemn and extraordinary duties of Religion degenerate into Formality it causeth the God of judgement to come near Historians have observed that Pompey seized upon the Temple on the Jews solemn Fasting day Also that upon one of their publick Fasts Sofius took Ios●phus de A●tiq Indeor l. 14. c. 8 Ierusalem the Lord thereby testifying against the Formality of that degenerate generation And indeed dayes of Humiliation without Reformation are no other nor no better then a Form of godliness without the power of it So the formal Jews in Isaiahs time Notwithstanding their frequent facts they persisted in doing their own wills and are therefore said to find their own pleasure though contrary to the commanding will of God They continued to oppress and exact Labours of those that by the Law of Mr. Gatak●● Annot●●n Isai 58. God should have been set at liberty Ier. 34. 17. Vexatious Law suits smiting with the fist of ●ickedness and other Contentions were ri●e amongst them after dayes of Humiliation If a poor man were by any injurious Contract fallen into their hands they would not loose those Bonds of wickedness The Lord therefore by his Prophet tells them that as ever they desired God should regard their Fasts those prevailing iniquities should be reformed and the contrary duties practised To the same purpose Ieremiah upon a solemn Fasting day Ier. 36. 6 7. Now that the Lords people amongst us may be awakened and warned against resting in any lifeless Formalities or in Humiliation● without Reformation is the design of the Reverend and worthy Author in this practical and useful Sermon of his Discours●s of his nature are never unseasonable since no Age passeth wherein there is not afforded matter ground sad enough to warrant the performance of the duty urged Although the New Testament speaketh nothing for stated Fasts or Tertullian de ●ejun Epiph. Haris 75. August de Heres c. 53. Festivals Tertullian before his Montanisme wrote truly that religious Fasts are to be observed pro temporibus causis as the Lord shall providentially call thereunto ●ndeed A●rius was sometimes charged with Heresy because he withstood the Imposition of those and the like Formalities but that was in an Age when the darkness of Superstition began to over spread the Christian World Nevertheless the word is clear that at sometimes frequency in the observation of this service ought to be attended Iohns Disciples kept many dayes of Fasting and Prayer probably as a learned Interpreter conceiveth upon occasion of their Masters being Imprisoned which providence was a sufficient call unto them to be much Grotius in Math. 9. 14 in extraordinary seekings unto God and Humiliation before him that if possible they might not be deprived of such a faithful and eminent Teacher And although the tenderness of Christ toward his own Disciples was such as that he would not at first enjoyn frequent Fastings upon them who had not been accustomed to such severities le●● as new wine is ungrateful and will be rejected by those who have tasted that which is more Pleasant being suddenly put upon precepts too strong for weak Disciples they should be Cradock Harmon c. 3 Sect. 20. discouraged yet the Lord doth intimate that dayes of persecution and general affliction would at last befall them when they should be providentially called and their

he had been one of the Idols of the Gentiles 2. You have taken the Name of God in vain this day in an extraordinary manner and so put an extraordinary dishonour upon God which is a most horrible profanation of the day which should be kept as a Sabbath to keep it only with outward observance without an heart spiritually disposed and graciously inclined will you call this an acceptable day to the Lord Lastly Consider what will be the wofull issue and evill consequence of it upon your selves except God give you repentance of your formality in your services instead of softening it will harden you Instead of mortifying sin it will quicken it instead of obtaining grace it will bring displeasure it will drive the Spirit of God from you and bring Satan near unto you and instead of the good you desire it will bring about the contrary evill you will be the worse for it not the better where was there greater wickedness effected then hath been done by Fasting Prayer See the horrible wickedness in the matter of Naboth 1 Kin. 21 was ever woman more hardned then Jezebel who like Ahab that sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord whom Jezebel stirred up 'T is the way to be sealed up under the Tomb-stone of an hard heart to celebrate a Fast with another Spirit manner and end then God hath chosen Woeful ill consequents come upon persons and Families upon this account commonly after a Fast or solemn Ordinance if not performed according to God men women and children are the worse in their practice Mal. 2. 13. and this have you done again covering the Altar with tears c. Insomuch that he regards not the offering any more or receiveth it with good will at your hand when men will fast and pray and cover Gods Altar with tears and yet hold fast their carnal corrupt and impenitent frame of heart they will be worse and worse in their places and Relations as there he speaks of the wife of youth against whom they had dealt treacherously c. And alas what outward miseries will it bring upon a Family 1 Cor. 1. 29 30. because in eating the Supper of the Lord they did not eat it therefore one was sick another weak and another fallen asleep so if in fasting you do not fast if in humbling your Souls you do not humble your Souls if in praying you pray not if you perform not such Services as God hath chosen it will bring sickness upon those that are well and weakness and death upon the sick It 's mercy when we are thus judged of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. latter end Again it concerns us to consider what evil Consequents will come upon a people in this case whence comes wars whence comes Famine whence plagues these and those Judgements upon a professing people because their worship is not worship their godliness their fasting and prayer is not such as God hath chosen there is not the life and power of godliness in what they offer up to God and this provokes God to deal dreadfully with them when lighter afflictions will not prevail This brought desolation to Jerusalem because they fasted to themselves and not to the Lord Zach. 7. 13 14. Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried and they would not hear so they cried and I would not hear saith the Lord of Hosts but I scattered them with a Whirlewind c. For they laid the pleasan Land desolate Again it concerns those of us that are true observers of such a Fast as God hath chosen it concerns them for their consolation as here in the dayes of the Prophet Isaiah when God was pleased to set so many precious hopes before them for themselves and their posterity what a comfort was it c. This is like to be your portion if God hath inclined your hearts to seek his Name 1. Object But you will say these promises are indeed very glorious but how can I take comfort in them since I find my self falling so exceeding short in the qualifications required thereto I Answer you must distinguish between ●alling short in degree and in the whole if there be in you no degree of these spiritual qualifications you must even wait upon God in pressing upon your hearts the dreadful consequents thereof but if there be any though the least degree I would not discourage you for when we speak of Evangelical duties we must understand the qualifications in a Gospel sense God looks at sincerity and accepts the uprightness of the heart though accompanied with much infirmity 2. Object Another may say I have laboured many a year and cannot find my prayers thus answered Answ We ought not to judge our selves by the Issues of Divine providence but by the operations of Gods Spirit in us if the work have been gracious in thy heart the Issue shall be glorious to thy Soul in the end and he that shall come will come and will not ●arry 3. Object But if these things be necessary to an acceptable Fast what benefit is there in a publick Fast wherein the most do fall short of what is required thereto Answ Whosoever falls short thou that dost keep this Fast that God hath chosen shalt have the blessing thereof Therefore look to thine own heart and thou shalt receive the Testimony of his gracious acceptation God knows how to save the good Figs when he destroys a whole Nation of bad he can find an Ark for a Noah and cull out eight persons from a whole world to shew them his Salvation Besides publick Fasts procure at least Reprieves God will wait to see the fruit of it and not put a full end to his patience till there is no hope of answering Humiliation by Reformation And lastly it concerns every one of us to look diligently to our own Souls when we have any such service to perform to the Lord our God that it be so done by us as God hath appointed and that we repent of what hath not been according to Gods mind and that we take care that what remains may make it a Fast after Gods own choice Q w●y is that possible Yes if now at last thy Soul truly repents of thy sin and be humbled and melts before God for thy carnality thy unpreparedness for the day and thy unspiritualness in the day And looking unto Christs Mediation for pardon and acceptation trusting in his gracious help you take up resolutions to return to God and to exercise mercy and loving kindness amongst men and to do Justice and Judgement and to walk righteously holily and humbly with thy God it may turn this very Fast into a time of joy and in Gods gracious acceptation may be esteemed such a Fast as God hath chosen I would propound a few things here to your consideration as the Issue of this your Fast and but propound them briefly 1 Look into your own hearts get alone and consider what it is that hath been amiss in hearts and lives for time past and set a narrow watch over your Souls for time to come that you may not provoke God and because you are weak and infirm intreat God to set a watch over you by his holy Spirit 2. Now take up a resolution to walk with God in your house in a perfect way that neither your selves nor your Relations may be the worse for your Fastings and that Judgment may not come upon you in your house because you have not glorified God in his house 3. Use your utmost interest for publick good for the free passage of Justice and Judgment Righteousness and Peace in the Common-wealth and Churches and though you have no power of your selves wrestle with God for it that it may be so 4. Take care that you hold fast the word of Gods patience in the time of your triall hold it fast in Faith and practice remember that word He that continues to the end shall be saved And again Let no man take away thy crown It is a day of tryal but look to it that you may be found upright in the day of tryal Lastly Be open hearted and open-handed to those that are in misery and affliction Blessed are the mercifull for they shall find Mercy Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church of Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen FINIS

publick Danger as in the dayes of Jehoshapha● 2 Chron. 20. 3. So when some notable duty is to be performed which is very difficult and hazardous then is a season for a Fast as it was with Esther Chap. 4. 14 15 16. Again when there is some great sickness lying upon those that are near and dear unto us Psal 35. 13 14. But as for me when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth I humbled my Soul with Fasting and I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother I bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his mother A friend and brother or Mother or near Relations when they are sick and weak and in dangerous condition it calls for Fasting there is then opportunity and occasion for this duty Again when there is some notable blessing wanting or we are in danger to loose it And so when a person or people are fallen under some great transgression whereby God may be provoked to indignation against them it s a time of Fasting and mourning thus Ezra 9. 4 5 6 in the case of their marrying strange wives and polluting the holy seed So when God goes forth against a people in some notable calamity or threatning judgment as when Israel fled before the enemy Joshua and the elders fasted Josh 7. So in any notable change or turn of a mans life as the undertaking of a Calling or some great Voyage then is a time to begin with Fasting and prayer to Implore the aid of Gods gracious presence his guidance conduct salvation Thus did Ezra when he was going up from Babilon Ezra 8. 21 22 23. So that a Fast is not a standing duty but occasional as it is now to be observed in the dayes of the Gospel 2. Concerning the spiritual performance of it and here first in order to the preparation thereto there is examination of our own wayes and consideration of the works of God these are preparatory and for want of these it is that mens hearts are utterly indisposed to such spiritual services Josh 7. v. 6. to 12. Lam. 3 38. to 44. in which you find them considering and bewailing both their own sins and Gods Judgments upon them for sin The next thing to be shown is the very work of a Fast in the very nature of it and so I call it a real Profession to distinguish between an acceptable and an unacceptable Fast I say it is a solemn real profession This people professed great delight in Gods Ordinances and sought the Lord daily and that they did and would cleave to God in his appointments They enquire after his mind they make great profession and so exact were they in their Fasts that they afflicted their soul and bowe● down their heads like a bulrush and walked mournfully and spread sackcloth and ashes under them and what could be more as to an outward profession but their hearts were not ingaged in it it was but a Lye a flattering of God as Psal 78. 34 35 36 37. therfore God upbraids them saying Is this the Fast that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But particularly 1. There is a profession of our justifying God for the evil of affliction that he brings upon us and a condemnation of our selves for the evill or our transgressions against the Lord our God Thus Dan. 9. 7. O Lord Righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of face 〈◊〉 this day● so v 5 8 16. they ascribe righteousness to God though he had ●aid waste Jerusalem burnt the city destroyed the temple scattered the people and made them captives yet saith Daniel Thou are righteous and we have sinned So Ezra makes a solemn and heart-breaking prayer Ezra 9. 6. My God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God for our iniquityes are increased over our head and our trespasses are grown up unto the heavens 2. A solemn profession of godly sorrow and repentance of the evil of transgression which we have committed against the Lord. Joel 2. 12 13. Neh. 9. They confess their sins from the beginning of their being a people and ●ay such a load upon themselves as might make their hearts heavy with godly sorrow 3. There is a solemn profession that we fly for refuge to the hope of grace and mercy that is set before us in the Atonement made by J●sus Christ Thus David 2 Sam. 1 2. 15 16. he upon that occasion laments the plague of his heart and the wickedness of his fact and laments after the blood of Christ for cleansing and cries out for a new Creation of his heart Psal 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me this is the profession of every one that Fasts that he flies for refuge to the precious blood of Christ for mercy to save him from his sin and Gods judgements that he may have peace and grace no more to return unto folly 4. Again there is a solemn profession in Fasting and Prayer that we forgive others as we desire to be forgiven of God Mark 11. 25. when ye stand praying forgive if you have ought against any that your Father also which is in Heaven may forgive your Trespasses Therefore in this Text he convinceth them by want of this not to fast aright Ye fast for strife and debate c. Isai 58. 4. They did not heal but strengthen their divisions by fasting and their Fasts were hypocritical and not according to their profession Lastly There is in it a solemn profession that we bind our selves to reform what is amiss and to walk with God in new obedience especially when you come to God in a solemn way and manner it s a true observation concerning prayer that you can put no Petition to God for mercy but it implies a promise unto God of new obedience especially when you come to God in such a solemn way and manner you either come that you may obtain help for or against your sin help to obey or to continue in obedience in every Fast there is an implicite making and renewing Covenant with God which the Saints of God upon these more then ordinary occasions were wont to express Neh 9th the last verse and the whole tenth Chapter so that in a Fast you solemnly profess that you are grieved for your Transgressions and seek his grace in Christ to pardon and heal you and that all your hope is in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that you freely forgive all that have trespassed against you laying aside all anger wrath malice envy evil speaking and whatsoever may be the fruits of such displicency of Spirit against others you profess that you put the thoughts of these from you as you desire your sins should be put away from Gods sight and you engage not to walk in the former course of iniquity but that you will set upon it to do the will of God in all duties according to the Rules of new obedience it s but a mocking