A25478:1194
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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.
And these persecutions began early. First by the Jews, and then the Arians, and then the Heathen persecutions under the Dragon in the Roman Empire, and then under the Beast with the seven heads and ten horns, to whom the Dragon gave his seat and great power, Rev. 13.2. And Christ foretold this to his Disciples before he was taken away, That they that killed them would think they did God good service, John 16.1. And that Nation should rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there should be Famine, Pestilence and Earthquakes, Mat. 14.7. Now in these days should his Disciples fast. Not that in these words Christ doth give an institution for fasting, but declares what eventually would come to pass.