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

We make confession of sin, but if there be no sorrow, we feel not what is spoken, and what will words of confession avail? Ephraim is said to bemoan himself, Jer. 31.18. And God is said to hear it, and he bemoaned him also; But how can we think God's heart should be affected with our confessions, when our own are not. The Jews upon their solemn days had their solemn sacrifices. A fast day is a solemn day, and it is not to be without its sacrifices, and the great Sacrifice or Sacrifices of the day, is a broken and contrite spirit.¹

1. 1psal. 51.

3. Filial fear. Natural fear hath sometimes brought a people to the duty, and a filial fear is to be exercised in the performance of it, as Jehoshaphat feared, and then proclaimed a Fast, 2 Chron. 20.3. And so did the King of Nineveh, Jonah 2. when God's judgments are abroad we ought to fear, and this fear should lead us to meet him in the ways of his judgment by prayer and fasting, for all our serving God is to be coupled with fear, Psal. 2.11. our rejoicing is to be with trembling, much more our mourning.

3. Filial fear. Natural fear hath sometimes brought a people to the duty, and a filial fear is to be exercised in the performance of it, as Jehoshaphat feared, and then proclaimed a Fast, 2 Chron. 20.3. And so did the King of Nineveh,