2. Let all endeavour to help forward the expected
day—
[God will make use of instruments, just as he did in the apostolic age : and we apprehend he is evidently preparing the way for the fuller diifusion of his Gospel by the various efforts which his people are now making in every quarter of the globe. He is causing his word to be translated into the dif- ferent languages of the world, that all may be able to " read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God." He is sending forth missionaries into different and distant parts ; and is uniting myriads of people in the blessed work of instructing the benighted heathens. Let all these works then be dear to you ; and help them forward to the utmost of your power : so may we hope that ere long " the crooked places may be made straight, and the rough places plain, and that all flesh shall see the salvation of God."]
Dan. ix. 3. I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.
THE season of Lent has been long observed in the Church, as a time for peculiar fasting and prayer. By our Church has the appointment of it been adopted, as well suited to promote the eternal inte- rests of her members. But, in the present day, and amongst Protestants in particular, the subject of fast- ing is but rarely and lightly touched upon in our public addresses. Yet it ought to be considered : and I will therefore take occasion, at the present time, to state,
I. How far it is our duty to observe seasons of fast- ing and prayer —
Loaded as the Jewish Law was with burthensome enactments, there was but one fast appointed in the whole Mosaic ritual —
[This was on the great day of annual expiation a; and it was the only fast that was fully recognised in the Apostolic ageb.
a Lev. xxiii. 27 — 32. b Acts xxvii. 9.