pireC. XIII. Cf &It- iij cation. 277 xvii. 21. I Cor. vii. 5. And we have examples of it, APIs xiii. 2. 3, and xiv. 23. Under the Old `I'ef- tament, there were frequent commands for it, and examples, chiefly upon occafion of extraordinary afá flielions, a Sam. vii. 6. Neff. ix. I. Dm. ix. 3. and X. 2, 3. 2 Sam, xii. 16, Pfal. xxxv. 13= 2 Sam. iii. 31. Joel. ii. 13. betide the anniverfary great day of atonement, Lev. xvi. 29, 3r. when every one was to fall on pain of being cut off. There is a prophecy of the fame for the times of the NewTeftament, Zech. xii. 12. It was tired molt on extraordinary occa- fions ; and it is a help to holinefs by faith, becaufe it is a meet help-for extraordinary prayer"and humi- liation, Joel i. 14. and ii. 12. But the great matter is, to ufe it rightly, as folioweth. (I.) Trull not in it, as meriting or fatisfying, as Papifts and Pharifees do, Luke xviiï. i I. putting it in the place of Chrift ; or as a means of itfeif con- ferring grace. and mortifying lufts, as many dQ, who may fooner kill their bodies than their lufts; or as a- ny purifying rite ; yea, or in or for itfeif acceptable to God, 1 Tiro. iv. 8. Heb. xii. 9. Col, ii. 16, 17, 20, .23. Imagine not, that prayer is not acceptable without it; for this is againft faith. Faits, as well as feafts, are no fubftantial parts of worfhip, becaufe not fpiritual, but bodily ; though, under the Old Tefiament, they were parts, as inffituted rites, figu- rative and teaching. But that ufe is now ceafed; as that on the day of atonement, and fo many fgnifica- tìve rites adjoining to fatting, as fáckcloth, afhes, rending garments, pouring out water, lying on the earth. 'Che kingdom of God confifls not in thefe things, Rom. xiv. 17. The -foul is hardened by trad- ing in them, Ifa. lviii. 3, 6. Zech. vii. 5, 6, ro. (2) Ufe it as a help to extraordinary prayer and humiliation; thatthe mindmay not be. unfuited for it, by eating, drinking, or bodily pleafures, Joel ii. 13. Ifa. xxii. 12, 13. Zech. xii io -.14. It is good only as a help to the foal, removing impedirnerits> The
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=