prayer, as an assistance to it, he signifies that fasting is ()f no importance in itself anj' further than as it is directed to this end. Besides, from the direction which he gives in that place to husbands and wives, to ' ren- der to' each other 'due benevolence,' it is clear that he is not speaking of daily prayers, but of such as re- quire peculiar earnestness of attention. That there riiaj' be no mistake respecting the term, let us define what fasting is ; for we do not understand it to denote mere temperance and abstinence in eating and drink- ing, but something more. The life of the faithful, in- deed, ou>!;ht to be so regulated b}' frugality and sobri- ety as to exhibit, as far as possible, the appearance of a psrpetual fast. But besides this, there is another temporary fast, when we retrench anj'thing from our customary mode of living, either for a day or for any certain time, and prescribe to ourselves a more than commonly rigid and severe abstinence from food. This restriction consists in three things — in time, in quality, and in quantity of food. By time I mean that we should perform, while fasting, those exercises on ac- count of which fasts are instituted. As, for example, if any one fiist for solemn praj'er, he should not break Ills fast till he has attended to it. The quality con- sists in an entire abstinence from dainties, and content with simpler and humbler fare, that our appetite may not be stimulated by delicacies. The rule of quantity is that we eat more sparingly and slightlj' than usual, only for necessity, and not for pleasure. But it is nec- essary for us, above all things, to be particularly on our guard against the approaches of superstition, which has heretofore been a great source of injury to the Church. For it were far better that fasting should be entirelj' disused, than that the practice should be dili- gently observed, and at the same time corrupted witli false and pernicious opinions, into which the world is constantly falling, unless it be prevented by the great- est fidelity and prudence of the pastors. The first cau- tion necessar}', and which the}' should be constantly urging, is that suggested b}'' Joel : ' Uend your heart, and not j'our garments;' that is, they should admon- ish the people thut God sets no value on fasting im- less it be accomp inied by a corresponding disposition of heart, a real displeasure against sin, sincere self-ab- horrence, true humiliation, and unfeigned grief arising from a fear of God ; and that fasting is of no use on any other account than as an additional and subordi- nate assistance to these things ; for nothing is more abominable to God than when men attempt to impose upon him bAJ- the presentation of signs and external appearances instead of purity of heart. Therefore he severely reprobates this hypocrisy in the Jews, who im- agined they had satisfied God merely by having fast- ed, while they cherished impious and impure thoughts in their hearts. ' Is it such a fast, saith the Lord, that I have chosen ?' The fasting of hypocrites, therefore, is not onl}' superfluous and useless fatigue, but the greatest abomination. Allied to this is another evil, which requires the most vigilant caution, lest it be considered as a meritorious act, or a species of divine s^rvice. For as it is a thing indifferent in itself, and possesses no other value than it derives from those ends to which it ought to be directed, it is most pernicious superstition to confound it with works commanded bj' God, and necessary in themselves, without reference to any ulterior object. Such was formerly the follj' of the ManichiBans,in the refutation of whom Augustine most cleai-ly shows that fasting is to be held in no other es- timation than on account of those ends which I here mention, and that it receives no approbation from God unless it be practised for their sake. The third error is not so impious indeed, yet is pregnant witli danger, to enforce it with extreme rigor as one of the principal duties, and to extol it with extravagant encomiums, so that men imagine tlieniselves to have performed a work of peculiar excellence when they have fasted. In this respect I dare not wholly excuse the ancient
fathers from having sown some seeds of superstition, and given occasion to the tyranny which afterwards arose. Their writings contain some sound and judi- cious sentiments on the subject of fasting, but they also contain extravagant praises, which elevate it to a rank among the principal virtues. And the supersti- tious observance of Lent had at that time generally prevailed, because the common peoide considered them- selves as performing an eminent act of obedience to God, and the pastors commended it as a holj' imitation of Christ ; whereas it is plain that Christ fasted, not to set an example to others, but in order that by such an introduction to the preaching of the Gospel, he might prove the doctrine not to be a human invention, but a revelation from heaven" (Calvin, Institutes, bk. iv, ch. xii, § 15-20). The Westminster Confession declares that "solemn fastings" are, "in their times and seasons," to be used in a holj' and religious manner (xxi, v) ; and the Westmimter Catechism makes "religious fast- ing" one of the duties required in the second com- mandment (quest. 109).