How often do you fast? It's not a popular subject, but its commanded...

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C. Matthew McMahon

Christian Preacher
Jesus said, "When you fast" not "If you fast..." There are not enough books out there on fasting.

This work is a combination of two treatises. One was written by Peter Du Moulin (1601-1684), an Anglican minister of the Gospel and Reformed French Calvinist, and the other by Westminster Divine, Henry Wilkinson (1566-1647), who was a Reformed preacher and scholar.


In the first treatise Du Moulin explains three important parts to prepare for true fasting taken from Gen. 18:20, “And the Lord said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous…”” He covers who it is that speaks, how God behaves himself towards his enemies, and how gentle and mild God is towards them that fear him, and the care he has of his children. He then applies this to how repentance is a precursor to holy fasting for our spiritual well-being.


In the second treatise, Wilkinson describes the physical act of fasting using Joel 2:12-13, focusing in on, “Turn you unto me… with fasting and with weeping and with mourning…” He demonstrates that fasting is a physical exercise of abstinence for a holy purpose, to enact true repentance in us and spiritually elevate our heart and mind to stand in the grace of God for the glory of Christ.

eBooks at the Puritan Shop
Repentance and Fasting - by Peter Du Moulin (1601-1684) and Henry Wilkinson (1566-1647) | The Puritan Shop

Kindle Version
Amazon.com: Repentance and Fasting eBook: Henry Wilkinson, Peter Du Moulin: Kindle Store

Nook Version
BARNES & NOBLE | Repentance and Fasting | NOOK Book (eBook)

Print Version
Repentance and Fasting by Peter Du Moulin (Paperback)

RepentanceFasting-DuMoulinWilkinson.jpg
 
Doesn't the Puritan Hard drive, sold by Still Waters, have a large collection of puritan fast sermons on it also? My family and I usually will fast when we are seeking the Lord's will in an extraordinary situation or when some tragedy has struck our nation.
 
Henry Scudder includes a section on fasting that I have found helpful. Our church, from time to time, will call for a day of fasting. I also find the practice helpful in seeking the Lord's face while preparing for the Lord's table.
 
I want to fast more often than I do but try to fast at least a couple times a year. This is encouraging me to study this area more and try and incorporate it more often. Thank you.
 
Whenever I feel led to. Usually a few times a year. When I do, it is for a season, like for several weeks or months taking a day or two a week for fasting. When I was a minister in the United Methodist Church I did once a week. I found this to me mundane and not in the true spirit of fasting.
 
I'm with Rev. Eppard; I used to fast almost weekly but now it is more as I sense the need (dealing with sin in my life/congregation, seeking particular wisdom, etc.)

It had become a matter of pride and routine, so I backed off from "my practice" (which was clearly not helping me to be holy) to seek to recapture the true spirit of fasting.
 
Doesn't the Puritan Hard drive, sold by Still Waters, have a large collection of puritan fast sermons on it also?

Mr. Biser, yes, sir. Mine shows 34 volumes of "fast" sermons.

On a side note, I confess that when I first saw those sermons, I thought, "Good grief! Even Puritan fans plagiarize sermons?" (Clearly misunderstanding "fast" as it was being used)! Ha!
 
Doesn't the Puritan Hard drive, sold by Still Waters, have a large collection of puritan fast sermons on it also?

Mr. Biser, yes, sir. Mine shows 34 volumes of "fast" sermons.

On a side note, I confess that when I first saw those sermons, I thought, "Good grief! Even Puritan fans plagiarize sermons?" (Clearly misunderstanding "fast" as it was being used)! Ha!

I'd love to see the "fast sermons" re-published. 34 volumes is a giant undertaking.
 
Fasting is an oft overlooked spiritual discipline. I can remember when the church would call for a day of fasting in response to something that had happened. Where did that go? I freely admit that I fail at fasting even though it is a discipline I would like to have. I look forward to reading more of this thread and learn.
 
Certainly within Scottish Presbyterianism, the Presbytery's are more willing and prepared to hold times of prayer and fasting. In addition, our established churches have led the Civil Magistrate in past times (better times) to call for national prayer and humiliation.

I generally do fast (save for water) on the Thursday of my Congregation's communion season (Thursday-Monday). But this is a congregational effort and one that is made easier by knowing that others in the congregation are praying for you (and you for them!)

I do not set aside two days a week to fast, but I happily obey both the Ministry I'm under and the Presbytery who order days of fasting and prayer often with specific things in mind.

My unintentional fasting "Actually I wont have breakfast I need to pray" is not something I keep note of, but it is a rarer occurrence than is adopted by many of my Brethren who I've known to be more diligent in the practice and I can only ask them to share with me how they manage it.
 
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