The Soul of Fasting
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A90760.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE SOULE OF FASTING: OR AFFECTIONS Requisite in a Day of, solemn Fasting and Humiliation.
According to the Pattern,
Neh. 9.5. &c.
By H. P
Imprimatur.
Charles Herle.
LONDON; Printed by M. Simmons for Thomas Underhill at the Bible in Woodstreet. 1644.
Christian Reader,
F Rom the Experience, that oftentimes a little thing helps the Weak, and specially the Willing; and from the Desire to prevent the great Evil of Formalitie in our solemn Humiliations; These few Advertisements are offered to thy Eye and heart. Confident that the Substance of them is beyond Depising, except among those, who not only Deny, but Despise all the Power of Godliness. I have ventured to send them out, thus naked and alone. If they Profit thee anything, thy Prayers may help to quicken to Some further endeavor for thy Good, him who is devoted
Thine and the Churches servant in Christ altogether, H. P.
The Soul of Fasting. Nehem. 9.5, &c.
1. A N Awful Regard and Reverence of the Glorious Majesty of the Great God, with whom we have to do by a through Apprehension of His Infinite and Incomprehensible Perfection, in all His Attributes, and of His Absolute Soveraigntie, as Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of Us and all things in the World, ver. 6.
2. Thankfulness for all the Goodness of GOD vouchsafed to us, by a Large Apprehension of all His manifold Favor, General to His Church, to Our Nation, Particular to Us, and our Friends, Temporal, Spiritual; Illustrated marvelously by our Deservings, not only of no good, but of extreme ill, ver. 7. &c.
3. Sorrow for Our Sins, and our Nations, and Forefathers Sins, by a deep apprehension of the cursed Nature of Sin in General, and vileness of such Sins in Particular; Aggravated by all circumstances that may be; Specially by GOD'S Mercies and Chastisements, ver. 16. &c.
4. Sence of Our Misery, Felt and Feared, all proceeding from GOD'S Hand, from His Displeasure, Provoked by Our Sins, and Impossible to be avoided, but by His Favor, which is not to be presumed upon, if We continue in Our Sins, ver. 32. &c.
5. Faith in the Covenant, Truth, Goodness, and Power of GOD, for all times and purposes, ver. 32.
6. A Covenant renewed with GOD of all Observance and Fidelitie, specially to Amend what we have acknowledged amiss in ourselves, and professed Sorrow for, and Fear of, before GOD or Men, or both, ver. 39. and Chap. 10. throughout.
Directions about these.
1. IN the Word read or preached, those things are to be most carefully observed, which may quicken and confirm any of these.
2. All these are to be presented in Prayer, Summarily in every solemn Supplication such a day, private or public: but the enlargements may be varied, and one while more of one; and another while of another.
3. Before-hand it would be greatly helpful to have written by us; 1. Amplifications upon GOD'S Attributes; 2. Catalogues of Choicer Mercies; 3. Catalogues of Sins; 4. Aggravations of Sins.
4. The Day is to be begun with those thoughts, specially which relate to ourselves, though taking in others also.
5. And it is not to be ended without some secret, yet solemn review of the souls behavior, from first to last; and an earnest Labouring to fasten all the good thoughts it hath had, upon it, and to reinforce the suit to GOD, to settle them upon it, firmly and lastingly.