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newing their covenant with God. Now, unless we do join the inward with the outward, we may fast, but the Lord sees it not, Isa. lviii. 3 - 5; we may afflict ourselves, but he takes no notice; we may cry and howl, but cannot make our voice to be heard on high. But when God sees the works of them that fast, that turn from their evil way, Jonah iii. 10; yea, that they strive to turn and seek him with all their heart, then he will turn to them; his bowels of compassion does yearn towards them; and I will have mercy on them, saith the Lord, Jer. xxxi. 18 - 20.

After the time of the fast is ended, eat and drink but moderately. For, if you then over-indulge yourself, it will put your body and soul both out of order.

Secondly, Your fast being ended, hold the strength which you got that day as much as you can; keep your interest and holy acquaintance which you have obtained with God, and the holy exercises of religion. Though you have given over the exercises of the day, yet unloose not the bent of your care and affections against sin, and for God. It is a corruption of our nature, and it is a policy of Satan to help it forward, that (like some unwise warriors, when they have gotten victory over their enemies) we grow full of presumption and security, by which the enemy takes advantage to re-collect his forces, and coming upon us unlooked for gives us the foil, if not the overthrow. We are too apt, after a day of humiliation, to fall into a kind of remissness, as if then we had gotten the mastery; whereas, if Satan fly from us, if sin be weakened in us, it is but for a season, Luke iv. 13, and but in part; and, especially if we stand not upon our watch, Satan will take occasion to return, and sin will revive in us, Matt. xii. 43 - 45.

I will add a few cautions touching this excellent but neglected duty of fasting.

1st. The body, although it must be kept under, 1 Cor. ix. 27, Col. ii. 23; yet it must not be destroyed with fasting. It must not be so weakened as to be disabled to perform the works of your ordinary calling.