Yet were there many fasts afterwards enjoined on particular occasions. Joshua, when repulsed by the men of Aic; the whole eleven tribes, after their repeated defeats by the tribe of Benjamin d; all Israel, when oppressed by the Philistines; and Jehoshaphat, when invaded by the united armies of Moab and Amnion e; all had recourse to fasting, as the means of ob- taining favour from the Lord, and succour in the hour of their necessity f. Nor were these national fasts only observed ; but, in private the most eminent saints adopted this measure, for the purpose of deepening their humiliation, and of quickening their devotion e. In fact, the case of Esther alone will suffice to shew how important a measure this was esteemed, for the obtaining of relief from God in any great extremity11.]
Nor, under the Christian dispensation, was there any stated fast appointed by the Lord —
[Our Lord indeed intimated, that there would arise occasions which would call for solemn fasts'; and he gave directions for the acceptable observance of themk. We find, too, that on some particular occasions, such as the setting apart of Paul and Barnabas to a special work, and the ordaining of elders for the service of their God, fasts were observed in the Christian Church1.
Hence, then, I should say of such observances, that they are approved of the Lord, rather than absolutely ordained; and proper for seasons of peculiar emergency, rather than fixed to any precise time or measure. St. Paul, who was ex- posed to far more severe trials than any other of the Apostles, tells us, that he served God " in labours, and watchings, and fastings1":" and therefore we cannot doubt the expediency of such observances, whilst we admit that they are not imposed on us as rites of indispensable necessity. Yet, indeed, consider- ing all that has been said, we think that no person, who truly desires to attain any eminence in the divine life, will judge it either prudent or proper wholly to neglect them.]
Having spoken thus candidly respecting the ne- cessity of such observances, I proceed to shew, II. What benefit we may hope to derive from them —
Beyond all doubt, such seasons are truly beneficial to the soul —
[In a mans first entrance on the divine life, he cannot do better than to address himself to God in fasting and prayer.
c Josh. vii. 6. d Judg. xx. 26. e 1 Sam. vii. 6—8.
f 2 Chron. xx. 3. s 2 Sam. xii. 16. Ps. cxix. 24. Luke ii. 37. h Esth. iv. 16. i Luke v. 33—35. k Matt. vi. 16— IS.
1 Acts xiii. 2, 3. and xiv. 23. m 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5.