THE SOUL OF FASTING: OR AFFECTIONS Requisite in a Day of, solemn Fasting and Humiliation.  
According to the Pattern,  Neh. 9.5. etc. 
By H. P  

Imprimatur.  
Charles Herle.   
LONDON; Printed by M. Simmons for Thomas Vnderhill at the Bible in Woodstreet. 1644.   

Christian Reader,  
FRom the Experience, that oftentimes a little thing helps the Weak, and specially the Willing; and from the Desire to prevent the great Evil of Formality 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 any thing, thy Prayers may help to quicken to Some further endeavour for thy Good, him who is devoted  
Novemb. 20. 1644. Thine and the Church's servant in Christ altogether, H. P.   

The Soul of Fasting. Nehem. 9.5, etc.  
1. AN 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 Sovereignty, 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 Favour, General to His Church, to Our Nation, Particular to Us, and our Friends, Temporal, Spiritual; Illustrated marvellously by our Deservings, not only of no good, but of extreme ill, ver. 7. etc.  
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. etc.  
4. Sense 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 Favour, which is not to be presumed upon, if We continue in Our Sins, ver. 32. etc.  
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 Fidelity, 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. Beforehand 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 soul's behaviour, 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.  
The GOD of All Wisdom and Grace, teach us to practise and improve these Remembrances, to His Glory, and Our Eternal Good by Jesus Christ.  
FINIS.