A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

¹As Christ seems to intimate, when upon this occasion he excuseth his Disciples, as being not yet fit for such spiritual services. No man putteth a piece of new Cloth into an old garment, nor new wine into old bottles, Mark 2.22. It's true they might be able to keep fast days as the Pharisees did; but Christ that values our duties by the frame of spirit exerted in them, would not have them put upon extraordinary duties till they had a suitable measure of the spirit to enable them thereunto.

1. 1Chrysost.

2. Others (and I think more properly) understand the words of Christ with respect to the afflictions and persecutions that would come upon the Church after his ascension into heaven; which would give them great occasions of prayer and extraordinary supplications, and which would reduce them to such great sorrows and distresses, whereby fasting would be not only seasonable, but that principle of grace that would act them in other duties, would also naturally lead them to it. Not to take up again the practice of these Pharisaical Fasts, (as the Montanists would hence infer) but the duty of Fasting as suited to Gospel times.

2. Others (and I think more properly) understand the words of Christ with respect to the afflictions and persecutions that would come upon the Church after his ascension into heaven; vvhich vvould give them great occasions of prayer and extraordinary supplications, and vvhich vvould reduce them to such great sorrows and distresses, vvhereby fasting vvould be not only seasonable, but that principle of grace that vvould act them in other duties, vvould also naturally lead them to it. Not to take up again the practice of these Pharisaical Fasts, (as the Montanists would hence infer) but the duty of Fasting as suited to Gospel times.