Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	heart_n	holy_a	truth_n	6,965	5	5.2320	4	false

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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

and those that are under the powerfull command of seeking his face should seek his face in vain but saith God I have not said to the seed of Jacob seek ye my face in vain Isa 45. 1● 2. The gracious promises that are before us are a sufficient security that a Fast that God hath chosen shall bring such gracious acceptation as those eight promises mentioned and also Psal 50. 15. Call upon me on the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me And so 1 Kin. 8. 38. with many other verses before and after and Christ himself also promiseth that whatsoever ye shall ask in his name he will do it for you c. John 14 14. 3. The manner of Gods dealing with his servants establisheth this truth unto us Psal 119. 132. 133. c. Be mercifull unto me as thou usost to doe to those that love thy name 4. That God doth not suffer the Fastings and the Prayers of others when they are hearty though not spiritual to goe without their reward The young Ravens shall not cry unto him but he will take care of them he respects a very Ahab that sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kin. 21. 25. and yet v. 29. Because he humbleth himself before me I will not bring the evil in his dayes And so when Nineveh humbled themselves he saved them from destruction though it was against the very grain of the soul of Jonah Jon. 3. 10 Lastly It must needs be so because there is nothing stands in the way to hinder it A Fast that God hath chosen removes all impediments that stand in the way of mercy the great obstruction is some sin committed or some habitual impenitency remaining for when the heart is truly humbled and broken the soul is prepared for some degree of mercy wherein the acceptation of the Suppliant may be made manifest Thus of the fourth general Head V. The next thing is the Reason why God will do thus for his people upon their fasting the Fast which God hath chosen I answer 1. Negatively not for any inherent excellency in their fastings and prayers or services for what benefit hath God by our humbling our selves laying aside our Ornaments so humbling our bodies or by our diligent attention to external actions but positively I shall give you three reasons of it Reas 1. Because it is a Fast that he hath chosen and therefore it is so succesfull were it of mans chusing it might be disappointed and yet God not dishonoured but he chuseth it and appoints it and now Gods honour lyes at stake for a gracious answer It was the glory of God in Israel to be manifestly near to that people in all they called upon him for c. Reas 2. Because the persons are accepted if such persons and therefore their offerings are accepted also The Petition of a favourite is not easily rejected by the Prince especially being such a Petition as his Prince hath chosen and appointed for him They are in a state of favour with God and therefore their Petitions must needs be successful The spiritual Sacrifices of this royal holy Priesthood are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Reas 3. Because there is an admirable misterious Communion between God the Father Son and holy Ghost and the right Suppliant or the person that fasts in the fast which God hath chosen for 1. there is not an holy prayer put up unto God but its Original is God the Father that prayer of Faith which proceeds from the heart of a Christian was 1. In the heart of God the Father and he through the Intercession and Mediation of his Son sends it down by his holy Spirit into the heart of a poor sinner and so stamps the Image of it upon the heart of the poor sinner that he believes and then the Holy Ghost that stamped it there takes it from thence and presents this through Christ unto the Father then the Fathers heart is to give forth the answer through the Intercession of the Son and to give notice of it to the Soul of a Christian by his holy Spirit And when thou hast received the answer the same Spirit works in thy heart to return praise and Thanksgiving by the Son unto the Father so that here is a marvellous spiritual mysterious Communion in this between God the Father Son and holy Ghost the poor believer therefore such fasting cannot be in vain Thus of the fifth general head 6. Of what concernment this may be unto our selves and truly it is of very great concernment We are the people that do succeed Israel We are Jacob. Gods people that are under the same profession as the Lord speaks of them here ver 2. that seek God dayly and delight to know his wayes this is our profession we are a Nation that seek Justice that is our plea that we must do right and not forsake the Ordinances of our God this I say is our profession that we are bound to hearken after Gods will and enquire after the Ordinances of Justice we are they that by our dayly practice in appearing before God in solemn Assemblies profess that we delight to approach to him therefore we are they that have need to take notice of this great and solemn Truth that the Fast that is not of Gods chusing will be ineffectual but that which is of Gods chusing will prevail and that to five or six ends 1. To build us up in knowledge there are great misteries contained in this Truth I shall touch those that are of present consideration 1. It teacheth you that there is a vast difference between duty and duty between religious performances and religious performances that which is spoken of fasting reaches through the whole body of Religion there is a prayer that God hath chosen and a prayer that God hath not chosen and so this or that Ordinance or observation there is that which God will own and accept there is that which he will not countenance nor bless our God is a God that will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth the manner and the end of our worship discovers what the nature of that service is or of that particular religious act which we put forth towards him look then to your own Spirits in your worship of God as it is said of the person worshipping so it is true of the worship he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but he that is one inwardly Rom. 2. last verse whose praise is not of men but of God you may be outwardly a Christian and inwardly an heathen in the sight of God all these are uncircumcised in heart sayes the Prophet when he reckons up the Nations together with Judah you may be a Heathen in heart whilest you are in the outward man a Christian your Circumcision may become uncircumcision before God alas what 's an outward Baptisme if your

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

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

contrite Spirit Isai 66. 2. how much more when it is thus with a people Reas 4. He will take his own time to manifest his own gracious acceptation of his people in such a Fast You are not presently answered you 'l say as you expected Be it so Remember your time is alwayes but Christs hour is not yet come but he that shall co●● will come and will not tarry beyond his own time to Answer Quest II. We are come in the second place to consider what those spiritual or outward benefits are whereby the Lord is wont to manifest his gracious acceptation of such a Fast And in general you may take it as a certain Truth that when God is pleased to Answer the prayers of his people he testifies his acceptation thereof but more particularly there are three things whereby God discovers his acceptance of such a day as this is 1. When he gives them a praying and fasting frame of Spirit such a frame as he requires for this is not in mans power but it is the gift of Gods grace when God prepares the heart of the humble he also hears their Cry Psal 10. 17. when God causes your hearts and your Tongues to pray he will certainly cause his ear to hear for he is the Hearer of Prayer Prayer is a gift of God Rom. 8. 26. We know not how to pray but the spirit helps our infirmities and God knowes the meaning of the spirit in us When a man prayes by his own spirit his own spirit is under his own command and therefore he is uniform in his Prayer he is not sometimes straightned and sometimes enlarged except it be through the distempers of his Body or the like but when a man prayes by Gods Spirit there are some strange out-goings of the heart in prayer which no mortal is able to command such enlargedness of heart such desires after Christ and his grace such affliction for sin earnest longing for deliverance as no man can possibly command in his own heart and when God gives such a Spirit it 's an argument of his gracious acceptation It 's a day of Humiliation when God gives you an humble spirit it 's a day of Abstinence when God puts into thy heart an earnest desire of divorcement from all sin how pleasant and profitable soever this is a pledge of Gods gracious acceptation according to that promise Isai 65. 24. before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear 2. When God gives an heart after fasting and Prayer to put in execution that which concerns our selves in order to the obtaining our spiritual requests supplications presented unto God that is when there is a reforming spirit a purifying spirit a watchful spirit against sin when the soul sets himself with more watchfulness industry to the work of the Lord and so a people as in Nehe. 10. the whole Chapter and the last Chap. of Ezra after their humiliation how active were they for a thorow Reformation when Church and Court and all in their places endeavour the removal of sin and making up the breach between God and them it is a certain demonstration that God is near at hand to Answer them 3. It is a marvellous gracious Argument of our acceptation with God when he gives in any of those spiritual or outward blessings which are here mentioned in the Text there are eight glorious priviledges here engaged to such a person or people 1. Light after darkness v. 8. and 10. then shall thy Light break forth as the morning and thy Light shall arise in obscurity and thy darkness shall be as the noon day c. when God gives a poor 〈◊〉 Light after darkness and Light in obscurity breaking forth as 〈◊〉 morning this is a great benefit Light signifies not only the inlightning of the understanding or quickning you with spiritual Light but all kind of help and consolation and prosperity and so darkness signifies all kind of affliction whether it be sense of sin or other sorrows or the like There are four things in this First it is Light in darkness when you see darkness hath covered your Souls that you have not known what your state condition hath been and thereupon hath been great affliction and Agony of Soul and there hath been also great afflictions outwardly as commonly one affliction goes not alone or when there hath been distress upon a people and now God causes Light to spring after darkness some glimpses of hope some raisings up of your Spirits and expectation of good dayes some comfortable changes of providence as Paul was comforted by the coming of Titus which he ascribed to Gods comforting of him this is Light after darkness 2. When this Light that is promised is gradual like the Light of the morning that shines more and more unto the perfect day you must not say there is no Light because it is not noon at first if it be but the dawning of the day or the Light of the morning star you have cause to acknowledge it as an Answer of Prayers if it do but foreshow the beginning of your return from spiritual Captivity or outward calamity you are to acknowledge it as a spring●ng Light which shall go on to the perfect day in full perfection of glory 3. It is a prevailing and overcoming Light it may be weak at first and obscured through clouds of darkness and temptation but it shall be victorious and overco●ing at the last Lastly this Light is from the rising of the Sun of Righteousness God will manifest his gracious acceptation to your Souls when the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2 that is be it Light in Ordinances or Light in providences it is still a Light from the face of Jesus Christ there is something of Christ in it there are common refreshings that shine upon men which do not exalt Christ in the Soul but that saving Light that comes from Christ leads unto Christ and makes Christ most precious and most glorious unto the Soul now this is the Light God promises whereby he will testifie his gracious acceptation of those that keep the Fast which he hath chosen 2. Thy health shall spring forth speedily that is when God is pleased to make Fastings healings now this is his promise here healing of your Souls of your Families of your Churches of your common-wealths healing to your affairs inward and ou●●●●d spiritual and worldly there is some kind of healing still that God is wont to give f●rth in the Answer of the Prayers of his poor people 3. When your Righteousness shall go before you and the Lord shall guide you continually ver 8. and 11. if it be a Fast that God hath chosen this will be the fruit of it and what is this Righteousness the last expression openeth the first Jehovah your Righteousness shall go before you and the glory of the Lord shall be your Rereward

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