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

As David chastened his soul with fasting, Psal. 69.10. It was its sensitive part he immediately chastened, that the rational and intellectual part might be more vigorous and active.

As David chastened his soul with fasting, Psal. 69.10. It was its sensitive part he immediately chastned, that the rational and intellectual part might be more vigorous and active.

2. In this bodily abstinence there is something of a self-judging in it: for by abstaining for a while we judg our selves unworthy of returning to such refreshings and comforts of nature at all. We are by abstaining from food to reckon our selves unworthy of it.

3. By it we also express our sympathy with the Churches sufferings, I mean in those fasts that are kept upon that account. And nature seems to teach men this: as when David would have had Uriah go to his own house when he was come from the Camp;¹ he answered, The Ark and Israel and Judah are encamped in the open field, shall I thou go to my house, and eat and drink, &c. As by eating and drinking we express our gladness, so by abstaining we properly express our sorrow and sympathy with others suffering. Whiles David's child lay sick, he fasted and would eat nothing, but when the child was dead,² he then would declare his shaking off his sorrow by calling for food and eating.