Christian Prayer and Fasting

A public fast is when, by the authority of the magistrate (Jonah 3:7; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21), either the whole church within his dominion, or some special congregation, whom it concerns, assemble themselves together, to perform the fore-mentioned duties of humiliation; either for the removing of some public calamity threatened or already inflicted upon […]

The true ends of fasting are not to merit God’s favour or eternal life, for that we have only of the gift of God through Christ; nor to place religion in holy abstinence, for fasting in itself is not the worship of God, but an help to further us the better to worship God. But […]

2. Of the Rewards of Alms-deeds and Good Works
1. Alms are a special means to move God in mercy to turn away his temporal judgments from us, when we by a true faith, that sheweth itself by such fruits, do return to him (Daniel 4:27).
2. Merciful alms-givers shall be the children of the Highest (Luke […]

1. Rules in giving of Alms and doing Good Works
1. They must be done in obedience to God’s commandments: not because we think it good, but because God requires us to do such and such a good deed; for such obedience of the worker God prefers before all sacrifices, and the greatest works (1 Samuel […]

2. Of doing Good Works
The good works which as a Christian thou must do every day, but especially on thy fasting day, are either the works of piety to God, or the works of charity towards thy brethren.
First, The works of piety to God, are the practice of all the former duties in the sincerity […]