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The case of a person's self, or family, the church, or commonwealth, maybe such, that ordinary humiliation and prayer will not suffice. For as there were some devils that could not be cast out, but by fasting and prayer, Mark ix. 29; so it may be that such hardness of heart may be grown upon a person; or some sinful lusts may have gotten so much strength, that they will not be subdued; some evils, private and public, (1 Sam. vii. 5, 7. Judges xx. 18, 23, compared with verse 26) which cannot be prevented or removed; some special graces and blessings, which shall not be obtained or continued, but with the most importunate seeking of God, by fasting and prayer.

Reasons for fasting.

Fasting is contrary to that fulness of bread, which makes both body and soul more disposed to vice, and, indisposed to religious duties, through drowsiness of head, heaviness of heart, dulness and deadness of spirit. Now these being removed, and the dominion of the flesh subdued by fasting, the body will be brought into subjection to the soul, and both body and soul to the will of God, more readily than otherwise they would be.

A day of fasting is a great assistance to the soul, for the better performing of holy duties, such as meditations, reading, and hearing the word, prayer, examining, judging, and reforming a person's self; both because his spirits are better disposed, when he is fasting, to serious devotion; and the mind being so long taken wholly off from the thoughts, cares, and pleasures of this life, he may be more intent and earnest in seeking of God.

"Fasting is an open profession of guiltiness before God, and an expression of sorrow and humiliation; being a real acknowledgment of man's unworthiness, even of the common necessaries of this present life."

But it is not enough that the body be chastened, if the soul be not also afflicted, Isa. lviii. 5; because, it is else but a mere bodily exercise, which profits little; nay, it is but an hypocritical fast, abhorred and con-