A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 4 The ends of a true fast.

And these are the causes which may move us to fasting. The ends at which we must chiefly aim in this action, are of two sorts. The first and principal is the glory of God, which we then most magnify, ⟨p. 669⟩when we vilify and abase our selves, acknowledging our great unworthiness of his least mercies, and extolling his grace & goodness, in that he doth not inflict upon us those fearful Judgements which our sins have deserved. In which respect it is quite contrary to the nature of a true Fast, if we propound this as the main end of it, that we may satisfy Gods Justice, and merit by it at Gods hand the pardon of any of our sins, or the joys in heaven in any part or degree. For such a Fast is fit for none but Pharisees and proud Justiciaries, who would rob God of the glory of his free grace and mercy, and our Saviour Christ of the all-sufficiency of his merits and satisfaction, that they may in some part arrogate it unto themselves, by having some share in the praise of their justification and salvation. And they who thus fast, the Lord may justly charge them, as he did the hypocritical Jews, that they fast to themselves, and not unto him, for their own glory, ¹and not for his. But so far should we be from thinking that by our fasting, we merit justification and salvation, that we should not by the deed done, suppose that any thing is added to our Justice or Sanctity, seeing Fasting it self is no essential part of Gods service or religious duty, but only a help and means to enable and fit us for them; neither is abstinence in it own nature more acceptable unto God then eating and drinking. To which purpose an ancient Writer ²speaketh excellently: Take heed (saith he) when thou beginnest to fast and abstain, thou do not now think thy self holy: For this virtue is but an help, and not the perfection of Holiness. And thou art the rather to take heed, lest this (when thou contemnest things lawful) do make thee secure in doing things unlawful. Whatsoever is offered unto God over and above justice, ought not to hinder justice, but to help it. And what doth it profit to make the body thin and lean with fasting, if thy mind swelleth with pride? The subordinate ends which respect our selves, are divers.