Section I. — Prayer may he called extraordinary in a douhle respect. First, lu regard of the time set aj)art for the performance of it: it is extraordinary when some more than ordinary portion of our time is set a])art for the work. Thus we find Jacob wrestling' till break of day, Clcn. xxxii. 21 ; and Joshua with the elders of Israel till even-tide ; the one probably spending the night, the other the day, in this duty : and Israel, in their war with Benjamin, ' w-^ept before the Lord until even,' Judges xx. 23. We also find Daniel many days together in prayer, Dan. x. 2. Secondly, In regard of its adjunct. Then prayer is extraordinary when, fasting is joined to the duty of prayer. Now, fasting is a religious abstinence, whereby we forbear the use of all earthly comforts in the time set apart for this duty, (so far as necessity and decency will permit,) the more to afHict our souls, and enforce our prayers.
First, A forbearance of food, whether meat or drink, (Esther iv. IS ; Jonah iii. 7 :) from this, the whole action is called a fast, which imports not a sober use of food, for this we are at all times bound to observe, but a total abstinence, if necessity of nature, through some infirmity, doth not require otherwise; for, in this case the less duty must yield to the greater : the end of fiisting being to help lis in prayer, which it doth not when nature faints inider it ; for the soul cannot fly if the wings of our bodily spirits flag. Secondly, All costly apparel, and ornaments of the body, on a fast-day, do no better than a light trimming on a mourning suit, Exod. xxxiii. 'I : ' They mourned, and no man put on his orna- ments;' and this by God's connnand, ver. 5 : ' For the Lord had said to Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, — that thej^ put off their ornaments.' In a word, all carnal mirth, music, perfumes, and whatever may recreate and delight the senses, are to be forborne upon this extraordinary occasion, sec Dan. vi. 18, and X. 2, 3 : for though abstinence from food, with the other sevei'ities imjjosed on the outward man, be not in themselves acts of worship, nor intrinsical to the nature of prayer, yet they are required in extraordinary performance of this duty by way of adjuvancy to it, and they have a reference to spiritual ends.
First, By this abstinence we acknowledge our unworthiness to enjoy such comforts, and that God may justly take from us what for a time we voluntarily deny ourselves of. Secondly, We express by our outward abstinence and fasting, the strength and vehemency of those inward affections which are to be exerted in extraordinary prayer. Men use to signify the violent passions of their soul, by forbearing the repast and delights of the body. Is it a passion of grief one is oppressed with ? You will see him often forsake his food; thus David, Psa. cii. 4 : ' My heart is smitten, and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.' Is it fear that possesseth the heart, with the apprehension of some great danger approaching? You will have such a one refuse his wonted repast: so the mariners in the storm. Acts xxvii. 33. Is it anger that vexeth a man? Ahab was in a violent passion upon the denial of Naboth's vineyard, and he threw himself on his bed, and would not cat, 1 Kings xxi. 4. Is it the desire of accom- plishing any great design that the head and heart are taken up and transported with? Such a one will not allow himself lime for his meal: 'Cursed be the man,' saith Saul, ' that eateth any bread until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies,' 1 Sam. xiv. 24. We find the smith, (Isa. xliv. 12,) so earnest at his idolatrous work, that he pinched himself with hunger, and would not eat, though his strength failed, — nor drink, though he was ready to faint. Now, in extraordinary prayer, the Christian is to have all these affections in a spiritual manner, wound up to the highest key possible ; he is to have a deep sorrow for sin, fear and trembling at the judgnumts of God ; a holy anger against sin, with a vehement desire to be revenged on it for the dishonour it hath cast upon (Jod; and a longing desire to that peace with God, and the enjoyment of his favour, which sin hath deprived him of. Now, because the excess of natural passion discovers itself in this way, even to afflict their very bodies, and makes them deny themselves that which nature most craves, therefore Ciod will have
7Q2 WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.