A Word to ENGLAND Touching their FAST. Sent in a Letter, from a godly Christian to his private Friend, to be presented to the public view of the Magistrates, Ministers, and People of this Kingdom. ISA. 58.5, 6, 7. Is it such a Fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head like a bulrush?— wilt thou call this a fast, and an aceeptable day to the Lord? Is not this the Fast that I have chosen? to lose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and that thou hid not thyself from thine own flesh? London: Printed by R. Austin. 1648. A word to England touching their FAST. OH England! look upon the face of thy fastings in God's word. How is it, that having so plain a word to direct thee, thou fastest so much in vain? Dost thou not yet see what the fast is which God hath chosen? How it stands in easing all that are oppressed, and refreshing such as are distressed? Dost thou not see that it is Mercy that pleaseth the Lord? that is the fast that he hath chosen. Bring no more vain * That is forms without the true work of a fast. Oblations; but do the work of the fast which God hath chosen. Untie the bands of wickedness; hast thou, or thy forefather's made any bands which cause wickedness? Lose those bands; are thou sensible of any burdens that lie heavy upon the neck of thy Brother? undo those burdens; seest thou thy Brother under oppressions: set him free. Break every yoke. And having eased their shoulders of heavy pressures; then go on to refresh such as need thy refreshments: Thy Brother is hungry, and thou hast bread, give to him, and satisfy his hungry soul: Thy Brother is cast out, and thou hast harbour, bring him to thy house; Thy Brother is naked, cover him. Look upon the wants of thy Brother, that is, every one that stands in need of thee; go not on the further side to avoid the sight of thy needy Brother, as the Priest and Levite did; Luk. 10.31.32. But look on his needs, draw out thy soul to him, hid not thyself from him, for he is thine own flesh. Act. 17.26, 27. Mal. 2.10. We are all one offspring, we have all one Father; one God hath created us. Let the Magistrate do his part, take off the Laws that lie heavy upon the Consciences of men, as bands and yokes: and ease also the outward condition of all oppressed ones. Let the great man of the earth do his part, Cease to grind the faces of the poor, by straining all out of them that he can get. Let the mean man cease to interpose between the meaner man, and the greater; and cease to sit a greater Oppressor over the poor than the mighty, by enriching himself, in enlarging the oppressions of the mighty ones. Let the Teacher do his part, Isa. 51.20, 21.22, 23. let him cease to put the cup of affliction into the hands of the people; and let him declare the nailing up of the hand-writing of Ordinances upon the Cross, Col. 2.14. and the taking thereof out of the way: Tit. 2.11. Luk. 2.10 14. Heb. 2.9. Col. 1.23. Isa. 28.16. Rom. 9.33. john 3.16. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19 Let him declare the perfect mercies of God in Christ to every creature: Let him declare the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the sure foundation that is laid in his death for every Creatures Faith: and let him declare Gods being in Christ; and not imouting of sin unto the world: Let him deal that bread that came down from Heaven, to the hungry; let him bring the cast-out ones, wanderers from Christ, unto Christ, our house and habitation; Let him endeavour to cover their nakedness with his garments; let them declare glad tidings to every creature, Mar. 16.15. Mal. 2.10. and no longer deal treacherously with their Brother, by being partial in the Covenant; for we have all one Father, and so shall he ease the oppressed, and refresh the distressed in spirit. Oh ye Magistrates, ye mighty men, ye mean men, ye Teachers of others, let these works of mercy delight you. Oh ye inhabitants of England, thou noble Island, how would thy God bless thee, and delight in thee, if once thou wert weaned from the multitude of thy vain imaginations, and wouldst follow his counsels. If the work of a right fast were found in thee, (which is all merciful dealing, Isa. 58.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. a fruit of God's mercifulness to thee) then should thy light break forth as the morning, thine healing should spring forth speedily, thy righteousness should go forth, the glory of the Lord should be thy reward, thou shouldest call and the Lord would answer. The Lord will satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones. Thou shouldest be like a watered Garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee, should build the old waist places: Thou shouldest raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shouldest be called the repairer of the breach, and the restorer of paths to dwell in. But if you refuse to obey the counsel of the Lord, than these things will come upon you. Ye Magistrates shall be purged away as dross and tin, that the Lord may be eased of you; Isa. 1.24, 25, 26, 27. and others shall be restored, who shall redeem Zion with judgement, and her Converts with Righteousness. Ye mighty ones of the Earth, Isa. 5.15, 17. Isa. 14.4.26. and ye mean or middle men, shall be brought down, that the oppression of the poor may cease, and that the Earth may be eased of you: for you are too heavy a burden for it to bear much longer. And whereas your pride causeth you to oppress, therefore will the Lord of hosts strike home at such pride, and stain all your glory, and bring all your earthly honourable into contempt, who seek honour of men, Isa. 23.9. and would have their honour rise up out of the Earth, and seek not honour of God only. Ye Teachers of others, if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to the Name of the Lord, by exalting his free, and full, and faithful mercies in his Son to every Creature, that so all men may see a sure foundation for their Faith; Then hear this word, The Lord will make your solemn things as dung and dirt, and spread that dirt upon your faces, and one shall take you away with it. The Lord will make you base and contemptible before all the people, for being partial in his Covenant of life and peace. Mal. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. SIR, I Herd that you were full of trouble in your spirit, and how it is with you now I know not, it is needful it should be so with us sometimes, that our faith may be tried and exercised, and we may learn to give more heed to our comforting guide the Holy Spirit, and we may be kept still coming unto that living stone the Lord our Saviour, from whom flows all our clearness of conscience, and consolations: and that we may be taught to keep in memory what he hath done for us, How that he hath died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and even from hence ariseth our comfort, that Christ hath died for our sins: 1 Cor. 11.2, ●. he that understandeth and believeth this in faith, is comforted by it, and rejoiceth in the Lord; for those plain and simple tidings, are tidings of great joy, and therein have the Saints rejoiced together in former times, praising God that their sins were not imputed, being laid on his Son Jesus Christ, and that this Jesus was risen and ascended, thereby giving assurance of a lively hope for us. Wherefore in the multitude of other affairs and notions, and knowledge, let not this be overlooked or forgotten (though it seem a common or low notion, and be in the mouths of such as little understand it) That it is very truth, and there is no lie in it, that our Jesus hath borne our sins, and there is given into his hands eternal life for us, for this is tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; and therefore it is to be preached to every creature, and where it hath been received, remember with what peace, and joy, and consolation, and hope, it hath raised up the beleivers of it, as in Acts 2. it is recorded touching the great number that believed: and in the sixteenth Chapter, touching the Jailers believing, he rejoiced in God, as also in other Scriptures. I have sent you enclosed in this Letter a writing touching England's Fast, you may peruse it, and as you have opportunity, communicate it as you think it may be profitable: I commit it to you, and leave it to the success which God shall give it. I take my leave, and rest, Your loving friend and fellow-servant, T.W. FINIS.