4. He was very strict and very serious in observing the Public Fasts appointed by Authority, and called them a delight. He had seldom any one to assist him in carrying on the Duties of those Days, but performed the Service of them himself alone. He began at Nine of the Clock, or quickly after, and never stirred out of the Pulpit till about four in the Afternoon, spending all that time in Praying and Expounding, and Singing, and Preaching, to the admiration of all that heard him, who were generally more on such days than usual. And he was sometimes observed, to be more warm and lively towards the ⟨p. 182⟩latter end of the Duties of a Fast-day, than at the beginning; as if the Spirit were most willing and enlarged when the Flesh was most weak. In all his Performances on Public Fast-days; he did, hoc agere, attend to that which was the proper work of the day; every thing is beautiful in its Season. His Prayers and pleadings with God on those days, were especially for National Mercies, and the pardon of National Sins; How excellently did he order the Cause before God, and fill his Mouth with Arguments in his large and particular Intercessions for the Land, for the King, the Government, the Army, the Navy, the Church, the French Protestants, &c. He was another Jacob, a Wrestler, an Israel, a Prince with God, Before a Fast-day he would be more than ordinarily inquisitive concerning the state of public affairs, as Nehemiah was, Neh. 1. 2. that he might know the better how to order his Prayers and Preaching: for on such a day (he hath sometimes said) as good say nothing, as nothing to the purpose. He made it his business on Fast-days, to show People their Transgressions, especially the House of Jacob their Sins. 'Tis most proper (said he) to Preach of Christ on Lord's days, to Preach of Sin on Fast-days, and to Preach Duty on both. He went over the third Chapter of the Revelation, in the Fast Sermons of two Years. Another Year he Preached over the particulars of that Charge, Zeph. 3. 2. Hypocrisy in Hearers, and Flattery in Preachers (as he would sometimes say) is bad at any time, but it is especially abominable upon a day of Humiliation.
4. He was very strict and very serious in observing the Publick Fasts appointed by Authority, and called them a delight. He had seldom any one to assist him in carrying on the Duties of those Days, but perform'd the Service of them himself alone. He began at Nine of the Clock, or quickly after, and never stirred out of the Pulpit till about four in the Afternoon, spending all that time in Praying and Expounding, and Singing, and Preaching, to the admiration of all that heard him, who were generally more on such days than usual. And he was sometimes observed, to be more warm and lively towards the ⟨p. 182⟩latter end of the Duties of a Fast-day, than at the beginning; as if the Spirit were most willing and enlarged when the Flesh was most weak. In all his Performances on Publick Fast-days; he did, hoc agere, attend to that which was the proper work of the day; every thing is beautiful in its Season. His Prayers and pleadings with God on those days, were especially for National Mercies, and the pardon of National Sins; How excellently did he order the Cause before God, and fill his Mouth with Arguments in his large and particular Intercessions for the Land, for the King, the Government, the Army, the Navy, the Church, the French Protestants, &c. He was another Iacob, a Wrestler, an Israel, a Prince with God, Before a Fast-day he would be more than ordinarily inquisitive concerning the state of publick affairs, as Nehemiah was, Neh. 1. 2. that he might know the better how to order his Prayers and Preaching: for on such a day (he hath sometimes said) as good say nothing, as nothing to the purpose. He made it his business on Fast-days, to shew People their Transgressions, especially the House of Iacob their Sins. 'Tis most proper (said he) to Preach of Christ on Lord's days, to Preach of Sin on Fast-days, and to Preach Duty on both. He went over the third Chapter of the Revelation, in the Fast Sermons of two Years. Another Year he Preached over the particulars of that Charge, Zeph. 3. 2. Hypocrisie in Hearers, and Flattery in Preachers (as he would sometimes say) is bad at any time, but it is especially abominable upon a day of Humiliation.
