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...

To the Reader.

BOth Scripture and experience hath made it manifest to the world, that a Religious Fast, when duly attended, is a Duty of no small importance and advantage to the people of God. But those spiritual performances, which if right∣ly managed, are the most beneficial, have a special difficulty and contrariety to flesh and blood accompanying them. So is it an hard work to keep a Fast in such a manner, as that it shall become an ac∣ceptable Day unto the Lord: whence also it cometh to pass, that ve∣ry few even amongst those that outwardly observe Fasting Dayes, are acquainted with the inward, spiritual, & acceptable part of the duty. There have been that as to what is external in such servi∣ces regard not the divine precept; Some think the Prophet Isaiah (in that Chapter (which is partly and judiciously opened in the ensuing Sermon) reproveth Enormities in that kind. And although mercy is better then Sacrifice, nor may we urge any severities beyond what the word of God doth impose, yet it is to be feared that many a∣mongst us do not make due conscience of that outward abstinence which the rule, and which the nature of the duty doth require. It is most true, that the Kingdome of God doth not consist in meat and drink; nor is Fasting in it self any part of Religion; when it is called worship, it is by a Trope, as being a special adjunct of some extraordinary worship yet for men to exact labours, or to find their own pleasures upon such daies is an high transgression. Others there are, that as to externals will be very exact, nay, over-righteous. Whenas all that they do is before the Lord no better then loath∣some formality & hypocrisie. The Evangelist informs us that it was customary amongst the Jews to fast twice a week. And the Jewish ma∣sters tell us particularly, that it was upon the 2d. and 5th. day of the week, decreverun•• magistry nostri utjejunaretur diebus secundo et quin∣to, propter tres res, viz. propter destructum Templum, propter legem Con∣flagratam, & propter probrum divini nomini••. In imitation of whom some Christians call two dayes of the week Fast dayes, albeit that they might not be thought to Judaize, they have not fixed upon the same dayes the Jews did. But to what end is a multitude of these

ons, if con••••ded in? Do men think that their voice will be heard on high, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. e. that they shall have acceptance in Heaven meerly be∣cause they fast; Certainly, if there be not serious preparation for such dayes, unseigned Humiliation, and Contrition in them, Re∣formation after them, dayes of Humiliation will become dayes of provocation, before that God, who will never suffer himself to be mocked by any of the Sons of men. When the most solemn and extraordinary duties of Religion degenerate into Formality, it cau∣seth the God of judgement to come near. Historians have ob∣served, that Pompey seized upon the Temple on the Jews solemn Fasting day; Also that upon one of their publick Fasts Sofius took Ierusalem; the Lord thereby testifying against the Formality of that degenerate generation. And indeed dayes of Humiliation without Reformation, are no other, nor no better then a Form of godliness without the power of it. So the formal Jews in Isaiahs time. Notwithstanding their frequent facts they persisted in do∣ing their own wills, (and are therefore said to find their own plea∣sure) though contrary to the commanding will of God. They con∣tinued to oppress, and exact Labours of those that by the Law of God should have been set at liberty, Ier. 34. 17. Vexatious Law suits, (smiting with the fist of ••ickedness) and other Contentions were ri••e amongst them, after dayes of Humiliation; If a poor man were by any injurious Contract fallen into their hands they would not loose those Bonds of wickedness. The Lord therefore by his Prophet tells them, that as ever they desired God should re∣gard their Fasts, those prevailing iniquities should be reformed, and the contrary duties practised. To the same purpose Ieremiah upon a solemn Fasting day, Ier. 36. 6, 7.

Now that the Lords people amongst us may be awakened and warned against resting in any lifeless Formalities, or in Humiliati∣on•• without Reformation, is the design of the Reverend and worthy Author in this practical and useful Sermon of his Discours••s of his nature are never unseasonable since no Age passeth wherein there is not afforded matter & ground sad enough to warrant the perfor∣mance of the duty urged.

Although the New Testament speaketh nothing for stated Fasts or Festivals, Tertullian before his Montanisme wrote truly, that religi∣ous Fasts are to be observed pro temporibus & causis, as the Lord shall providentially call thereunto ••ndeed A••rius was sometimes charged with Heresy, because he withstood the Imposition of those

and the like Formalities, but that was in an Age when the dark∣ness of Superstition began to over spread the Christian World. Ne∣vertheless the word is clear, that at sometimes frequency in the ob∣servation of this service ought to be attended, Iohns Disciples kept many dayes of Fasting and Prayer, probably (as a learned In∣terpreter conceiveth) upon occasion of their Masters being Impri∣soned, which providence was a sufficient call unto them, to be much in extraordinary seekings unto God, and Humiliation before him that (if possible) they might not be deprived of such a faithful and eminent Teacher. And although the tenderness of Christ to∣ward his own Disciples was such as that he would not at first enjoyn frequent Fastings upon them who had not been accustomed to such severities, le•••• as new wine is ungrateful, and will be rejected by those who have tasted that which is more Pleasant) being suddenly put upon precepts too strong for weak Disciples, they should be discouraged; yet the Lord doth intimate that dayes of persecution and general affliction would at last befall them, when they should be providentially called (and their practice be suitable) unto fre∣quent Fastings.

It is marvellous to consider (for his Spirit knoweth what shall come to pass in the world, and inclineth the hearts of his Messen∣gers accordingly) how God many times causeth the words of his Servants in their publick Ministrations to fall in with his providen∣tial dispensations; of which we have some Instance in the Sermon herewith emitted, which was delivered some years agoe, even a little before our late troubles. The Lord knew that Boston, yea, that New-England would have cause for many dayes of Humiliati∣on, and therefore stirred up the heart of his Servant, before hand to give instructions and Directions concerning the acceptable per∣formance of so great a duty. Some that were affected in hearing the Word preached, and that did in short hand take what was de∣livered, have Importuned the Reverend Author to give way unto its publication, unto whose desires he hath at last conceded. And I know not but that the publication of what is in this way presented may be as seasonable as the preaching of it at first was For if my Conjectures fail not, the dayes are at hand when New-England will have as great cause as ever to attend Humiliations and suppli∣cations before the most High. There is no general Reformation vi∣sible in New-England, nor so much as an heart to comply with the Scripture expedient for that end We have seen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Horse

amongst us, even bloody judgements and desolations, but are not bettered thereby: Now there is a pale Horse come, and his Name that sits thereon is Death; Stars are falling, our Heaven, and our Earth are shaking; What will come next, who can say? The De∣cree hath not as yet brought forth, wherefore such a Fast as the Lord hath chosen, would be a blessed means to lengthen out our Tranquility; And O that New-England knew in this her day th•• things that belong to her peace.

Increase Mather.

Boston 2. mon. 1678.

Notes

• Thes. Sal∣mur part ult. Camero in Mat. 17. 21. Ames Answ to Burgess. p••. 1. pag. 145.
• Volumen Je∣junii, Fol. 54
• Thorndike of Serv•••• Re•• Assemb. c. 8
• Ios••phus de A••tiq. Inde∣or. l. 14. c. 8
• Mr. Gata∣k•••• Annot••••n Isai. 58.
• Tertullian de ••ejun. Epiph. Ha∣ris. 75. Au∣gust de He∣res. c. 53.
• Grotius in Math. 9. 14
• Cradock Harmon. c. 3 Sect. 20.