A Fast of Gods Choosing, Sermon
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 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 its 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 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, its 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, its 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, its but a mocking 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 hardhearted, 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. Its 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 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 commonwealths, 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 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 Faſt with the Faſt which God hath choſen, God will manifeſt his gracious acceptation of you by making you and your poſterity Inſtruments to hold forth the wayes of God clearly, wherein poor Souls may walk with God, and find peace unto their Souls.
8. Again in the laſt verſe then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelf in the Lord. &c. There are three things in it, & the ſum of all is that ſuch a Faſt as God hath choſen ſhall be powerful and effectual to bring you to the higheſt happineſs; for firſt, you ſhall delight your ſelves in the Lord, you ſhall have God for your chiefeſt good, and he will be your portion to all Eternity. 2. You ſhall ride upon the high places of the Earth, you that are trodden down, ſhall have a time of Exaltation in a Kingdome that cannot be ſhaken, and thou ſhalt be fed with the heritage of Jacob thy Father, for the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it, that is, after all your ſorrows and troubles, you ſhall find ſtill that God is your feeder, and that not with common food, but Jacobs heritage, which was threefold, 1. The bleſſings neceſſary for this life.
2. The bleſſings neceſſary for his precious Soul▪ the feeding Ordinances of God, and 3. The Eternal feeding which is promiſed at the glorious appearance of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Rev. 7. 17. the Lamb ſhall feed them and ſhall lead them unto living Fountains of water, and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes, are not theſe glorious priviledges and admirable advantages? theſe are the ſpecial favours of God, whereby in due time he will manifeſt his gracious acceptation of his people, in their faſtings and prayers which have been ſuch as himſelf hath choſen. And thus we have ſeen the ſecond general point propoſed.
3. The next thing is to ſhow the ſeaſon when God delights to begin to give in the manifeſtation of his gracious acceptation of his people: It is true, the Seaſons God hath reſerved in his own power, and therefore we cannot tell you the day, MonethMonth, or year, but yet there are certain ſigns that are wont to be Forerunners of Gods gracious manifeſtations. Therefore,
I ſhall give you ſome general Characters for help of your faith and raiſing up your expectations as firſt, when the evil of affliction hath done its work, it may be God holds you long under ſome ſpiritual temptation, or outward preſſure, you are as a Sheaf in threſhing upon the Floor, you have ſtroke after ſtroke hardly ever free from Tribulation, yet be content, when affliction hath done its work God will call it back, this was the Centurions Faith, Math. 8. 9 afflictions came not forth without a … from God, and as it hath its Go from God, ſo it hath its Commiſſion, it hath a wiſe work to do, its Do this alſo, now when it hath done its work it ſhall have its Come, it ſhall be called off again. As he afflicts you for your profit ſo when the end is attained, the affliction ſhall be removed, it is to make you partaker of his holineſs; ſee then how the work of God proſpers in your Souls, under tryals, afflictions and Temptations, &c.
2. When your hearts are quickned to urgent importunity for the bleſſing on the affliction, you may cry mightily for deliverance from evills felt or feared, theſe and thoſe diſtreſſes that are upon you; but are your ſouls wreſtling with God importunately for the bleſſing, as Jacob, I will not let thee goe except thou bleſs me. Its not the removing of the rod, but the giving in of the bleſſing that may refreſh thee, is it the bleſſing that thy ſoul is crying for, certainly God will anſwer ſuch prayers, as Jacob, after his earneſt wreſtling with God, ſees the face of God in the face of his brother Eſau.
3. When your ſouls are ready to fail for thirſt. In all the exerciſes and trials of Gods people, God ſtill hath a tender care to prevent this ſad inconvenience, Iſa. 57. 16. I will not contend for ever, neither will I be alwayes wroth, for the ſpirit ſhould fail before me, and the ſouls which I have made: Hence David uſeth this as an argument, Hear me ſpeedily, my ſpirit doth fail.
4. When the enemy is moſt inſolent and violent. If the ſtorm be high and terrible, ordinarily it is not durable, the guſt will ſoon blow over. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a Standard againſt him. Iſa. 59. 19. God himſelf will interpoſe and ingage for your ſouls, his ſpirit againſt your ſpiritual adverſaryes, and the wonders of his providence againſt your outward enemies. When he ſaw that there was none to help, then his own … brought ſalvation; when they ſeem to be under the power of the enemy then it's time for God to work for their deliverance. God will appear (I ſay)
5. When you are come to a deſperate Stand, you muſt have help or periſh; you have already ſuffered Ship-wrack and are in the midſt of the Flood, in the midſt of the fiery furnace, in the lions den, having received the ſentence of death in your ſelves, now is the time to truſt in the living God who quickneth the dead. In the mount of the Lord is ſhall be ſeen.
Laſtly. That which is moſt comfortable, when your ſoul is brought to a quiet and patient ſubmiſſion to the hand and diſpenſation of God, committing your ſelves to his ſoveraign pleaſure and waiting patiently for his ſalvation, certainly your deliverance is near. This is a great myſtery whilſt a ſoul is ſtrugling againſt providence, and is diſpleaſed with Gods diſpen…ation towards it, there is cauſe to fear that deliverance is far off; but when it comes to ſubmit deliverance is near, and pledges of Gods favour are at hand. 2. Sam. 15. 26. If I ſhall find favour in the ſight of the Lord, ſaith David, he will bring me back again, but if he ſay, I have no delight in thee, behold here am I, let him doe to me what ſeemeth good unto him. Now David is not far from deliverance, when he is content that God ſhould fulfill his own pleaſure upon him whatſoever it be; and that this is the method that God is wont to obſerve in the way of his providence towards his people, the Apoſtle tells you, Rom. 5. 3, 4. Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience, …, and … hope, which maketh not aſhamed. It's a miſtake in the myſtery of providence, to look for experience of mercy in deliverance, before the work of patience in ſelfreſignation to the will of God. Thus of the 3d. thing.
4. The next general Head is to demonſtrate to your Faith, that ſuch a Faſt as is of Gods chuſing ſhall have ſuch an iſſue: This is hard to believe in times of temptation, therefore … to bottome our Faith well, upon ſuch a foundation that cannot fail. I ſhall mention theſe,
1. That If God ſhould fail to manifeſt his acceptance of his people upon this account, then theſe 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 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 Soulaffliction, 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 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. 'Tis 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.
End of the text · Thomas Thacher, A Fast of Gods Choosing (1678)