THE SOULE OF FASTING: OR AFFECTIONS Requisite in a Day of, solemne Fasting and Humiliation.
According to the Pattern,
By H. P
Imprimatur.
LONDON; Printed by M. Simmons for Thomas Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodstreet. 1644.
FRom the Experience, that oftentimes a little thing helps the Weake, and specially the Willing; and from the Desire to prevent the great Evill of Formalitie in our solemne Humiliations; These few Advertisements are offred to thy Eye and heart. Confident that the Substance of them is beyond Depising, except among those, who not onely Deny, but Despise all the Power of Godlinesse. I have ventured to send them out, thus naked and alone. If they Profit thee any thing, thy Prayers may helpe to quicken to Some further endeavour for thy Good, him who is devoted
The Soule of Fasting. Nehem. 9.5, &c.
1. AN Awfull Regard and Reverence of the Glorious Majesty of the Great God, with whom we have to doe by a through Apprehension of His Infinite and Incomprehensible Perfection, in all His Attributes, and of His Absolute Soveraigntie, as Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of Us and all things in the World, ver. 6.
2. Thankfulnesse for all the Goodnesse of GOD vouchsafed to us, by a Large Apprehension of all His manifold Favour, Generall to His Church, to Our Nation, Particular to Us, and our Friends, Temporall, Spirituall; Illustrated marvellously by our Deservings, not onely of no good, but of extreame ill, ver. 7. &c.
3. Sorrow for Our Sinnes, and our Nations, and Forefathers Sinnes, by a deep apprehension of the cursed Nature of Sinne in Generall, and vilenesse of such Sinnes in Particular; Aggravated by all circumstances that may be; Specially by GODS Mercies and Chastisements, ver. 16. &c.
4. Sence of Our Misery, Felt and Feared, all proceeding from GODS Hand, from His Displeasure, Provoked by Our Sinnes, and Impossible to be avoyded, but by His Favour, which is not to be presumed upon, if We continue in Our Sinnes, ver. 32. &c.
5. Faith in the Covenant, Truth, Goodnesse, and Power of GOD, for all times and purposes, ver. 32.
6. A Covenant renued with GOD of all Observance and Fidelitie, specially to Amend what we have acknowledged amisse in our selves, and professed Sorrow for, and Feare of, before GOD or Men, or both, ver. 39. and Chap. 10. throughout.
Directions about these.
1. IN the Word read or preached, those things are to be most carefully observed, which may quicken and confirme any of these.
2. All these are to be presented in Prayer, Summarily in every solemne Supplication such a day, private or publick: but the enlargements may be varied, and one while more of one; and another while of another.
3. Before-hand it would be greatly helpfull to have written by us; 1. Amplifications upon GODS Attributes; 2. Catalogues of Choicer Mercies; 3. Catalogues of Sinnes; 4. Aggravations of Sinnes.
4. The Day is to be begun with those thoughts, specially which relate to our selves, though taking in others also.
5. And it is not to be ended without some secret, yet solemne review of the soules behaviour, from first to last; and [Page]an earnest Labouring to fasten all the good thoughts it hath had, upon it, and to reinforce the sute to GOD, to settle them upon it, firmely and lastingly.
The GOD of All Wisedome and Grace, teach us to practise and improve these Remembrances, to His Glory, and Our Eternall Good by Jesus Christ.