of old, or still abounds in the Romish Church, there is little danger of it amongst us Protestants, who have run into a con- trary extreme, and despise these observances as much as the Papists idolize and abuse them. Yet, as a ground of confidence before God, we, no less than they, are in danger of founding our hopes upon them. But this error, I again say, will render them, not only not salutary, but absolutely pernicious. Fasting is only a means to an end. We want to have the soul more deeply engaged in prayer, and more fixed in devotedness to God ; and fasting greatly contributes to these ends. But if it be made itself a ground of hope before God, God will say to us, as to the hypocrites of old, " When ye did fast, did ye fast unto me, even unto me ? Was it not to yourselves rather that ye fasted s," ' that ye might have in yourselves a ground of self- righteousness and self-complacency, instead of relying solely on the obedience and sufferings of my dear Son V To have our fasts accepted, they must be accompanied with a deter- mined mortification of all sin, and an unreserved performance of every known duty. " Such is the fast that God chooses ;" and such alone will ever bring his blessing on our souls1. Any other than this will be despised by himu; nor will any other accord with the example set us in my text.]
Application —
[Let none of you, then, think this an unnecessary labour, or imagine that it will interfere with your other duties in life. Of all the holiest men recorded in the Old Testament, there was not one more eminent than Daniel ; nor was there one who had a greater weight of business upon him than he ; yet even he found time for solemn fasting and prayer. Let none, therefore, decline this service, either as unprofitable or need- less. As for those who have ever set themselves like him to seek the Lord God by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, I will ask whether they did not find the exercise truly beneficial to their souls? And, if they have afterwards laid aside that holy service, I will ask them whether they have not suffered loss in their souls ? I can have no doubt what must be the testimony of every living man respecting this. To every man, therefore, I commend the practice as most salutary and beneficial : nor have I any doubt but that those who, like Daniel, approach the Deity with fastings and prayer, shall, like him, receive speedy answers to their prayer, and signal manifestations to their souls, that they are " greatly beloved of their Godx.]
s Zech. vii. 5, 6. * Isai. lviii. 6—8.
u Jer. xiv. 12. * ver. 20 — 23.
1137. J Daniel's confession. 547