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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

undoe the heavy burthens and to let the oppressed go free c. Hence we may observe Doct. That a Fast of Gods chusing or such a Fast as God hath chosen will certainly bring seasonable pledges of Gods gracious acceptation When the heart is right for God and the Fast is ordered according to God it shall certainly obtain mercy and bring home help and succour from God Prayer especially extraordinary prayer is not only the Key of all earthly Treasures of Goodness which God hath laid up for the Sons of men on Earth but the Key of heavenly Treasures in Christ Jesus also I shall observe this method in managing this Subject 1. I shall open unto you the nature of a Fast and such a Fast as God hath chosen 2. I shall shew you those Testimonies which God will give of his gracious acceptation unto such a Fast 3. I shall endeavour to show you the seasons wherein God is wont to give and his people may expect such manifest Testimonies of his gracious acceptation 4. I shall labour to help your Faith with some invincible Arguments and demonstrations of this Truth and then the Reasons of the point and Lastly how much this concerns us a people so Circumstanced as we are 1. For the nature of a Fast you may take this imperfect diffinition or description of it not taken strictly only for an adjunct or means of worship but more largely as I suppose in my Text and so a Fast is an extraordinary part or act of Gospel worship wherein for a convenient Season we abstain from the comforts of this life and upon due examination of our wayes towards God and consideration of Gods wayes towards us we make a solemn and real profession that we justifie God and judge our selves we justifie God for the evil of affliction that we either feel or fear and judge our selves for the evil of transgression which we find within us or that ●ath passed from us we solemnly profess godly sorrow and repentance for the evil of sin we solemly profess that we seek mercy and grace from God in Jesus Christ to save us from our sin● and sorrows we solemnly profess that we with all readiness forgive others that have offended us as we hope to be forgiven of God and lastly we solemnly engage and bind our selves to reform the evil of our wayes and to walk before God in new obedience according to his word for the time to come There is much of Religion lyes in the right understanding of a Spiritual Fast Therefore I say first a Fast The very notion of a Fast speaks abstinence a Fast is that wherein a man denyes himself the use of ordinary things whereto he is accustomed and necessitated for some certain ends and for a certain season if there be not a denying your selves ordinary comforts there is no Fast and if not in order to worship it is not a religious Fast And therefore though this be but an adjunct of worship yet its an adjunct appointed by God to abstein from your ordinary comforts and that in three things 1. To abstein from meat and drink wholly if strength of nature will bear it if not so much as mercy and necessity will permit This at least is commanded of old Esth 4. 16. neither eat nor drink three dayes night nor day c. she appointed a three dayes Fast which those Countries might better bear and upon that extraordinary occasion they might not eat nor drink night nor day so Nineveh they must not eat nor drink they are forbidden not only wine but water Jonah 3 7. 2 It is a part of the abstinence requisite to this duty to abstein from our wonted Ornaments To adorn the body in the day of Fast is a transgression of the Rule of fasting Exod. 33. 4 5 6. there they are commanded to put off their Ornaments and they were wonted also to cloath themselves in Sackcloth now the rigour of this according to the darkness of those shadowing times is not exacted from us yet there is a proportion to be observed The King of N●niveh though but the King of N●niveh and not the King of Israel yet he layes aside his Robes and put on Sackcloth and that was a prevailing Fast for it was a self humbling Fast And they were wont also to sprinkle dust and ashes upon their heads and to express all manner of self despisings and self abomination If you be loth to put off your Ornaments then its an humbling and if it be an humbling you ought to abstein from them with other your ordinary comforts in an extraordinary humiliation 3. An absteining from all your lawful imployments and sports and recreations yea even the pleasures of a Married life 1 Cor. 7 5. Joel 2. 16. Let the Bridegroom come out of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet c. there must be no sports nor pastimes In a word such abstinence is required wherby the body may be afflicted Isa 58. 3 Lev. 23 29. 30. and Dan. ●0 2 3 12. Ezra 8. 21. And this abstinence must continue at least from Evening to Evening for so must you keep the Sabbaths c. not only your weekly Sabbaths but Fasting and Feasting Sabbaths Lev. 23. 32. from Evening to Evening shall you celebrate your Sabbath Its a vain shift to say this is spoken concerning Sabbaths only upon special occasions for it concerns weekly Sabbaths Lev. ●3 2 3. and these also 2. Now this very outward abstinence as an help to the worship in the day and so the whole Fast is a Gospel duty that is it is a duty directed unto under the Covenant of grace and not apperteining to the Covenant of works for the Covenant of works did not admit of any day of Atonement But it is the Gospel that appoints dayes of Atonement and it is required in the Gospel as our Saviour saith when the Bridegroom is absent the Children of the Bride-Chamber shall Fast the Bridegroom is Christ and the Children are Believers under the Gospel and when he is absent that is in Heaven before he returns again there shal●●e times of Fasting Math. 9 15. Can the Children of the Bride-Chamber mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them but the dayes shall come that he shall be taken from them and then they shall Fast and the Apostle gives direction how they should manage themselves in Fasting and Prayer 1 Cor. 7 5. and therefore it s a Gospel duty 3. But yet though a Gospel duty it is an extraordinary duty Fasting is not an every weeks duty in a constant Course as the Pharise thought Luk. 18. 12 saying I Fast twice a week God hath appointed six dayes for labour and one for a Sabbath and therefore for men to appoint to themselves constant Sabbaths besides the Sabbath of the Lord is will-worship and not acceptable to God This then is not for Ordinary but special occasions as first when there is some notable or eminent

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

practice be suitable unto frequent Fastings It is marvellous to consider for his Spirit knoweth what shall come to pass in the world and inclineth the hearts of his Messengers accordingly how God many times causeth the words of his Servants in their publick Ministrations to fall in with his providential dispensations of which we have some Instance in the Sermon herewith emitted which was delivered some years agoe even a little before our late troubles The Lord knew that Boston yea that New-England would have cause for many dayes of Humiliation and therefore stirred up the heart of his Servant before hand to give instructions and Directions concerning the acceptable performance of so great a duty Some that were affected in hearing the Word preached and that did in short hand take what was delivered have Importuned the Reverend Author to give way unto its publication unto whose desires he hath at last conceded And I know not but that the publication of what is in this way presented may be as seasonable as the preaching of it at first was For if my Conjectures fail not the dayes are at hand when New-England will have as great cause as ever to attend Humiliations and supplications before the most High There is no general Reformation visible in New-England nor so much as an heart to comply with the Scripture expedient for that end We have seen 〈◊〉 Horse amongst us even bloody judgements and desolations but are not bettered thereby Now there is a pale Horse come and his Name that sits thereon is Death Stars are falling our Heaven and our Earth are shaking What will come next who can say The Decree hath not as yet brought forth wherefore such a Fast as the Lord hath chosen would be a blessed means to lengthen out our Tranquility And O that New-England knew in this her day th● things that belong to her peace Increase Mather Boston 2. mon. 1678. Isaiah 58. 5 6. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen a day for a man to afflict his Soul c. Is not this the Fast that I have chosen c IT is my beloved hard work yea one of the hardest parts of the work of the Ministry to awaken a people that are rocked a sleep in sin especially a professing people that are lifted up to eminent degrees in profession exalted with great priviledges and have their hearts raised with these things unto great pride this I say is a great and difficult work of the Ministry to awaken such But such a People this Prophet had to do withal and therefore you see what be must do ver 1. Cry aloud spare not stretch thy throat spare no pains lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my peopl their transgressions the house of Jacob their sins They had Watchmen amongst them but they did not watch Dogs that did not bark Isai 56. 10. and therefore the Prophet must cry aloud and shew them their sins Why were they so vile a people they were eminent in profession exalted in priviledges and arrogant in both as appears in five or six things 1. They seek me daily ver 2. 2. They delight to know my wayes 3. They did Righteousness and they forsook not the Ordinances of God they were a practicing People as well as a knowing people and further they enquire and ask after the Ordinances of Justice and profess great delight in approaching to God and that not only in common and ordinary duties but extraordinary ver 3. We have fasted and we have afflicted our Souls in our Fast and yet saith God to the Prophet Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and make them to know their transgressions c. They were yet a people that did need awakening notwithstanding all this But when was this people in this frame and when was there such matter of complaint against them I Answer in general it was when they did keep hypocritical Fasts which are here described ver 3. 4. they did Fast but yet they did not Fast It was a Fast as to the external observation when it was not a Fast as to the spiritual Efficacy and right performance of this holy Service They were lifted up with their Service performed and quarrelled with God and complained as if some notable injury were done them in that they used Gods remedy for their malady and yet their malady was not removed More porticularly This seems to me to have reference to the dayes of Hezekiah You knew what glorious dayes they were and how zealous he was in Reformation insomuch that he brake in pieces the brazen Serpen● which Moses had made which they had so long admired and burnt Incense to 2 King 18. 4. and what solemn Fasts did they keep and what delight had they in approaching unto God 2 Cron. 30. 21. the Children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of unleavened bread seven dayes with great gladness and the Priests and Levites praised the Lord day by day singing with loud Instruments unto the Lord. There was great joy But alas as soon as these things were well over and they had purged out Idolatry in Chap. 32. 1. After these things and the establishment thereof Senacherib comes up against them and their wound as to their Civil affairs is not healed And in the sixth year of Hezekiah the ten Tribes are led away by Shalma●●●ir 2 King 18. 10. that is in the ninth year of Hoshea King of Israel Samaria was taken c. because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his Covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded and would not hear them nor do them Now ver the 13. In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah Zenacherib took all the fenced Cities of Judah c. Here was Israel carried Captive before and did not Judah fast then in good Hezekiahs dayes here also is Judah set upon and the fenced Cities taken and was Hezekiah and the people asleep all this while did they not fast and pray yea but in the Issue Jerusalem is besieged and Rabshekah blasphemes c. was not here matter of fasting and prayer yet notwithstanding all this Jerusalem is in danger of destruction why then wherefore have we fasted say they and thou seest it not wherefore have we afflicted our Soul and thou takest no knowledge here is their quarrel with God and God Answers this in ver 3. 4. He gives I say the Reason of it 1. By discovering their sins that still remain notwithstanding their Fasts so that their Fasts were indeed no Fasts 2. The benefits they should have obteined if their Fast had been a Fast indeed Is it such a Fast as I have chosen for a man to afflict his Soul for a day and to hang down his head as a bulrush and to spread sackcloths c. oh no! but this is the Fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickdness to

of God a flattering of him with your lips a lying unto him with your Tongues if your Spirits be not thus disposed and inclined in such a solemn duty Therefore further to distinguish there is a Fast that God hath chosen and a Fast that he hath not chosen It this the Fast that God hath chosen to hang down the head like a Bulrush for a day c. and is this all that God requires to put on a sad face and sad Clothes and sad thoughts for a day or to fetch a sigh or two in your Closets and pray in your Familyes and go to the publick worship and when the day is over to be as you were before not making Conscience of answering the expectation justly raised upon your profession but the proud is proud still and the filthy is filthy still this is not the Fast which God hath chosen if you will shew me your Fasts where are the fruits thereof but sin is getting ground upon us notwithstanding our Fasts Schisme Heresy Envy Malice and strife notwithstanding your Fasts and all our dayes of Atonement they prevail not to consume wast and destroy these abominations out of the Land these are not the Fasts which God hath chosen Gods Fasts will break the heart for sin and from sin But your Fasts keep the heart whole and the life of sin whole within you never look for a tender he art if you can but fast away the sense of your sin and sorrow for sin your care diligent endeavours to walk with God My heart akesto think of the unfruitful Fasts that are amongst us as to the body of this people though I know there are precious Souls amongst us that mourn for these things But ah New-England New-England how wilt thou be able to bear the burthen of thy Fasts There is not a Soul that hears me but fasts either the Fast that God hath chosen or that he hath not chosen You doe fast and therefore this is your profession that you are sensible of the displeasure of God hanging over your heads and that you are sorry with all your hearts that you have provoked God this is the profession of your actions or else what do you here You profess that you doe with all your heart entertain motions of love and kindness where there hath been strife and doe profess you forgive them as God hath forgiven you and that your hearts are full of k●●passion to afflicted ones and that your hands shall be open to relieve them according to your ability Can any of your souls come to seek mercy from God and have your hearts shut up against the poor and needy without great hypocrisie How doe your hearts work toward these things Consider it in the fear of God Q. What is the Fast which God hath chosen Answ It is when the Heart is sincerely and intirely carried forth in a holy Conformity to that which the duty makes profession of my Son give me thy heart sayes God God cares not for external performances without the heart they are but as the cutting off a Dogs neck c. Isa 66 3. It is an high abomination when you come without a suitable heart to a day of Humiliation There are four things which show a suitable heart to a day of Humiliation First When the soul comes with brokenness contrition of heart when a holy trembling seizes upon such a man when he draws nigh lest he provoke God and procure his indignation a broken heart and contrite spirit begins the day and goes along through the day when the spirit is indeed suited to the duty 2. There is a penitent self abasement before God in and by the duty These Jews that is the false hearted amongst them though there were some among them that were upright they quarrel with God wherefore have we fasted say they and thou seest not but the sincere soul is humbled in the acknowledgment of this That it were a just and righteous thing with God to cast away his prayers and services for God owes him nothing c. and there is a strong and firm resolution that the Grace of God assisting he will no more return unto vanity 3 In a Fast that God hath chosen the soul de●ers not nor delayes nor puts off the doing of that work which concerns it to promote the end of its Fasting You draw nigh to God that your hearts and wayes may be reformed do you doe it forthwith The delaying soul that i● putting off his Reformation and Renovation doth not keep such a Fast as God hath chosen If it be not time for you to doe your duty it is time for you to suffer affliction If it be not time for you to carry on a thorow Reformation it 's time for God to carry on your sorrows and afflictions toward your desolation These delaying souls do not keep a Fast unto God when you resolve a Fast you must resolve to begin and prosecute this work of turning unto God that very day and carry it on to the end Lastly A Fast which God hath chosen alwayes leaves a warm impression of love one towards another and to all mankind as God gives opportunity Oh when you have tasted mercy from God how mercifull will it make you to be to others Therefore when men are hard-hearted cruel and harsh and their spirits not inclined to mercy they have been very little with God to what they ought to be Again Why is this called the Fast which God hath chosen I answer briefly Reas 1. Because that such a Fast doth exactly answer the counsel of Gods will about it which he had eternally in himself and which he gives forth to us in his holy Word therefore it is referred to its first pattern and exemplar unto the will and choyce of God Reas 2. It s a Fast that God hath chosen because God prefers this above any other kind of Fast There are Fasts many but this God prefers above all There are Fasts which obtain some answer from God yet are not like these You know what Ahab obtained from God by fasting 1 King 21 27 28 29. God had respect to his Fasting and humbling himself and Ahab obtained a Reprieve thereby so that the Judgment threatned was not executed in his dayes but yet Ahab did not fast with such a Fast as God hath chosen and delights in and accepts of Reas 3. Because God takes pleasure and hath a gracious respect to his people in it and after it the service is acceptable to him when it is a day he hath chosen and it ascends as the offering of a sweet smelling Sacrifice this is noted in that the other is not an accepted day to the Lord but this is a day wherein God takes pleasure in Heaven if there be joy in Heaven when one sinner is converted how much more when a whole Congregation is thus doing to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a

for it hath refeference to Gods conduct of Israel thorow the wilderness God went before them in the pillar of Cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and in time of danger the Angel removed and went behind them as at the Red Sea Exod. 14. 19 20. So that their Righteousness was the Lord in the Cloud They were a people full of all manner of iniquity perverssn●ss and Rebellion Ay but sayes God I have seen no iniquity in Jacob nor perverssness in Israel Jehovah went before them as a God pardoning iniquity transsgression and sin and so he proclaims his Name Exo● 34. and 7. he had never lead them through the wilderness but that as their Righteousness he went before them so when God accepts you graciously through the Righteousness of his Son Christ Jesus and so goes before you this is a benefit whereby he manifests his gracious acceptation and the phrase signifies three things 1. That he goes before you to seek a place of rest for you and so our Lord Jesus Christ is gone before us to Heaven for that end H●b 6 20 whether the Forerunner is for us entred even Jesus When you see that the Lord Jesus hath gone before you and hath born affliction for you though he was holy and righteous he hath born the curse and dyed for you and rose again and ascended into Heaven c. he is gone to prepare your rest Joh. 14. 2. I go to prepare a place for you 2. He goes before you in his word guiding you in the way wherein you ought to follow him that you also may attain to rest and thus he did to Israel in the wilderness when God sends forth his Light and his ●ruth to inform your understandings and bows your hearts to obedience according to that proportion of spiritual Light manifested then he goes before you as your Righteousness 3. When the Lord goes before you to secure the way unto you as the great Captain of your Salvation he leads you as he did Israel into Canaan Josh 5. 13 14 15 the Lord Jesus goes before you as the Captain of your Salvation This you shall obtain at the Lords hand when you Fast such a Fast as he hath chosen and he will tread your Enemies under your feet shortly the Devil and the world and what ever else And so for a common wealth in time of war if they fast sincerely he will go before them and make their way victorious and their end Triumphant Jehoshaphats Fast brought them to the Valley of Blessing 2 Chron. 20 6. 26. 4. He will also be your Rereward ve 8. that signifies the gathering Host that comes after the rest of the Army to gather up the weak and the feeble And those that are not able to secure themselves this is called the gathering Host as in the March of Israel through the wilderness there was the tribe of Dan they were the gathering host Numb 2. v. 25. to the 31. and this is that which David refers to Psal 27. 10. When my Father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up When thy own heart shall fail and all succour from friends and thine expectations are cut off from creature helps then the Lord will gather you up you are fatherless or widows or the like that is in such or such a case of affliction or under temptations and you cannot resist them and the Devil sets upon you with mighty force and you cannot obtain help from any other in such a case when you fast the Fast that God hath chosen God himself will be your Rereward he will come between you and the enemy Exod. 14. 19. 20. Isa 59. 19. 5. He will satisfie your souls in drought and make fat your bones and you shall be like a watered garden c. v. 11. A time of drought is a time of general want of rain and thereupon follows not only want of water as in Ahabs dayes but want of food also now in this time of drought God promises to satisfie your souls to make you as a watered garden that is whatsoever wants necessityes have been or may be feared to come upon a person or people yet when they fast the Fast which God hath chosen he will satisfie their souls in drought make● at their bones alluding to Gods dealing with Israel in the wild●rness in giving them water out of the Rock Manna from heaven which was not only food water for their bodyes but spiritual food and water for their souls so God will deal out a sufficient supply of all that good that is needfull for soul or body in this present life Psal 33. 19. To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in Famine 6. He will make your soul as a watered garden and as a spring of water whose waters fail not As a watered Garden that is you shall be inclosed and secured from them that might spoil your roots or your fruits or that might make any sad and wofull impression upon your foundation in matte● 〈◊〉 civil policy or personal considerations and you shall not be barre●● unprofitable in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ A Fast which God hath chosen is the way to all fruitfulness in all precious fruits like to the garden inclosed Cant. 4. 12. And lest you should fear scarcity after this saves God They shall be as a living spring of water whose waters fa●l not Joh. 4. 14. the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life you shall have springing supplies of outward and spiritual consolation as the matter may require and when I say consolation I intend the ground of it as well as the sense of it that is such supplies of grace seasonable knowledg of those supplies that you shall not but acknowledg in them Gods everlasting loving kindnes 7. There shall be a blessing to your posterity as well as to your selves ver 12 and there are three things in it 1. They shall build the old wasts this wilderness for ought I know hath lain waste from the beginning and there were never a Civilized people here before now fasting and prayer is the way to build the old wasts of Judah and Israel 2. Thou shalt raise up the Foundations of many gnnerations that is thou thy seed 3. Thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach the restorer of paths to dwell in many breaches are made in Churches and in common wealth and upon mens Souls many breaches upon the visible Church of God in the world who are they that shall repair such breaches those that observe such a Fast as God hath chosen and the restorer of paths to dwell in in the times of confusion those hurries that are amongst men about the matters of Religion people loose their paths and know not how to order their wayes before him to gracious acceptation you that

Souls never reach after spiritual Baptisme if there be the washing with water without the Laver of Regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost can you rest in that or will God take pleasure in it What is it for you to eat the Lords Supper and not to eat the Lord who is that Supper that is to receive Christ therein by Faith mind the Spirit with which and the end for which you wait upon God in holy Ordinances What is your prayer if it be not the prayer which God hath chosen it's but the expression or voyce of a lust that will not be accepted of God Jam. 4. 3. you ask and have not because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lusts there are many mock services whereby mock-Christians mock God in their profession This is a sad mistery but necessary to be known there is a form of godliness without power this is to make an Image to your selves and to feed upon husks and to deceive your own Souls with shadows which will profit nothing If you think to put off God with outside services such have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof 2 Tim. 3. 5. from such turn away 2. It concerns us to know how hard it is to awaken a secure sinner that is covered under a form of godliness take a profane person and the whole power of common Light and common principles of humanity will fall in with the conviction of his miserable lost condition tell a Drunkard that he shall drink in Hell for this his conscience tells him so when he is sober So an Adulterer his Conscience being awakened tells him he shall suffer Eternal Torment for his moments pleasure So a griging person his Conscience falls in with the Conviction but a man under a form of godliness without the power thereof hath a ready salve for every sore he stops his Ears with his Tongue and becomes as the deaf Adder hence saith God unto this people Is this the Fast that I have chosen and inculcates it again and again It is not the Fast that I have chosen c. and calls upon the Prophet ver 1. Cry aloud cry out in thy throat spare not lift up thy voyce like a Trumpet that thou mayst awaken them to the consideration of their sin 3. It concerns us to know that all our spiritual duties services must come to the trial God will not only call us to account for all our open wickedness gross acts of Transgression but will try every service we perform Is this the Fast that I have chosen sayes God was it such a prayer such a participation in this or that Ordinance Is this your Conference are these the holy meetings are these the Sabbaths thus God will ask you and God will accept none of your Services but they must pass through Gods tryal Therefore we have need to examine our own Services and our hearts in them you are in your Closets meditating but is this the meditation God hath chosen for Spirit for matter for manner you are crying and praying but is this the prayer that God hath chosen you are reproving counselling admonishing your Children or others but is it in the way that God hath chosen you are dealing with your Neighbour or brother for some Transgression but is it such an admonition as God hath chosen remember that all your actions must come under this question whether or no they are such as God hath chosen I chuse out their way for them sayes Job of the time when he was as King among them so if Christ be your King he shall chuse your way for you and you will chuse the things that please the Lord and will not take any contentment in that which doth not answer the Lords expectation 2. As it is of great concernment for our knowledge so it concerns us for our examination trial to try our wayes before the Lord our God if God will try our fastings prayers other services we had need to try examine our selves To judge our selves is the way to prevent Gods Judgements Briefly examine we our selves concerning this our present Fast is it a Fast which God hath chosen as to our preparation for it have you had solemn and serious thoughts concerning the way of Gods providence concerning your persons your Families your Relations c. have you considered your own Transgressions before God the great cause you have had of deep humiliation before God in respect of them The defect of this is a failing of Gods expectation in the beginning however you may obtain in the procedure have you been careful to abstain from natural necessary comforts refreshings further then necessity in respect of infirmity calls for and hath your abstinence proceeded from inward self-abhorrency because of your sins Extream grief takes away the appetite to eating and drinking All the self denying acts that are required in a Fast are to proceed from a deep affliction of heart otherwise it is but a shallow performance of no worth with God It is therefore called the afflicting of the soul and if it doe not come from Soul-affliction it will be very unprofitable unacceptable Again are we real are our hearts through with God in that solemn profession we make in such a day as this Are you indeed sensible of your sins whereby you have provoked the Lord Our particular sins the sins of our Familyes towns Churches and the sins of the Country Doe we sincerely look out to God in Jesus Christ for the Spirit of Repentance Is it his grace indeed that we look unto for help and succour and that in the very mediation of Christ Jesus through his death and blood-shed Where is that spiritual self-abhorrency that should act and carry an end these holy services Is there indeed a forgiving spirit When you come before God are not your hearts many of you full of wrath anger are you meekened like lambs before the Lamb of God in your holy offerings Doe you present your selves upon that Altar which is the Lamb Or do you fast for strife and debate longing to be at it again that you may manifest your displeasure when the time is over And is there in you a spirit of compassion and working of bowels toward the poor and needy whilst you are seeking mercy from God Do you oblige and ingage your hearts to return to God and to reform what is amiss in your persons Families Churches c. according to the object of your work where you may have influence to the utmost of your power The Lord help us solemnly to examine our selves for if it be not thus with us it 's not the Fast which God hath chosen and mind what your sin is 1. It 's like the worshipping of an Idol you have turned an holy Ordidinance into loathsome Idolatry as I may speak with holy reverence you have carried it towards God as if