REASONS OF A FAST, Appointed by the Commission of the General Assembly: To be kept through all the Kirks of this Kingdom, on the LORDS DAY; December 22. 1650.  
THe Commission of the General Assembly, seriously considering, That how-so-ever this Land lieth under the Guiltiness of manifold Provocations of all sorts, against the Commandments of the Law of GOD, abounding, in all Ranks & Conditions of People: Yet, that the despising and refusing of the Gospel, and of the Rich Free Grace of GOD in CHRIST held forth therein, is the Great National Sin of this Kirk and Kingdom, against which the LORD is most evidently and remarkably, pleading a controversy in His present judgements upon the Land: And, that this is the very fountain and Cause of so great abounding of all other sins. Considering, also, that this Sin having been often mentioned and held forth amongst the Causes of former Fasts, hath been little, or no ways at all, laid to heart. Yea, nor well understood what it meaneth by the most part of People. And, therefore, having apppointed a Fast and Humiliation to be kept especially for this Sin, on the LORDS Day, December xxij. 1650, throughout all the Congregations of this Kirk, it is thought fit, to the effect, That all may have the more clear and distinct apprehension of the foresaid Sin, and be helped the better, to discern their guiltiness therein; To hold forth unto People, the Main Branches thereof, in this Paper which is desired to be read in all Congregations.  

Sin's relating to the Gospell-Ordinances.  
FIrst: To the WORD. Neglecting to come and attend on the Preaching of the Word, both on the LORDS Day, and on week days, in these places where such Exercises, are on these days.  
2 Not coming to the Preaching of the Word, for the right end, viz to find communion with Christ, and a taste of His goodness and excellency, & to be built up in the most holy faith: but either out of custom or to eschew censures, or to satisfy & hold off the challenges of a natural conscience; or some other by-respect. And not preparing the heart  hand in secret, to come with Godly fear and reverence, humility, spiritual hungering and thirsting after the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, and desiring as new born babes the sincere milk of the Word, to grow thereby,  
3 That when People are at the preaching of the word, besyds great carelessness, overlines sleeping, wand'ring of the heart, & in advertencie to what is preached; the Word is not heard as an Ordinance and mean apppointed of God to work upon, and carry in grace and comfort unto the heart, but is only regarded as other discourses proceeding from men's ability and parts, and is accordingly esteemed by the most part, or at most is only made use of, as a mean of informing the judgement.  
4 That in the preaching of the Word, neither doth Ministers speak the same as the Oracles of God, not remembering themselves to be the ambassadors of Christ, speaking in God's stead: nor doth people present themselves in so immediate a way  God Himself as to receive the Word not as the Word of man, but as the true Word of God; whence it cometh to pass that there is little trembling at the Word, and so little rejoicing in it.  
5 That people in the hearing of the Word, contents themselves with man's teaching, and doth not in the conviction of their own blindness & utter inability of themselves to perceive the things of the Spirit, and of the insufficiency of the outward means without Gods immediate work therewith upon the heart; employ Himself to teach them inwardly by His Spirit, joining with the outward means, according to the promise of the Covenant. They shall be all taught of God: whence it cometh to pass that there is so much Preaching, and so little profiting, so much Learning, and so little speed coming in the knowledge of GOD.  
6 The not mixing of the Word preached with Faith, while as in the hearing thereof; even these who seem to give most heed thereunto do for the most part, rather employ the judgement, to consider and judge of the pertinency, coherence, the way of uttering of the doctrine delivered; or in a mere speculative way to apprehend the matter & truth of what is spoken than they do labour, with the heart to close with, embrace and apply to themselves the Truth preached.  
7 No care to lay up, & hide the words of CHRIST in the heart, to remember the same for use making: But letting them slip and run thorough; which the Apostle accounteth a neglecting of the Great Salvation of GOD, (HEB. 2.1.3.) Nor employing the Spirit to bring the Word that hath been heard; but forgotten, to remembrance: Not making conscience to confer on the Word Preached, and to whet it on, upon an other. Not taking pains, nor delight in it, in private, to read, and meditate on it.  
2. IN relation to the Sacraments. And first in general & common: Not making use of them as Seals of the Covenant of Grace, and promises thereof made to us in Christ; but laying all the weight of confidence upon them selves & being content with the deed done, which was the ordinary sin of the jews in the use of Circumcision, & other Rits and ceremonies of the Law, so often charged upon them in Scripture. Then particularly.  
In Baptism. 1 In Parents bringing their Children thereunto, either out of mere fashion and custom, as merely to have a difference put between them, and unchristned people, or in effect as unto a mere ceremony: and not from any sense that they are  from , born dead in sins, and children of wrath of themselves, defiled with original guilt and corruption, nor from a desire that they may be spiritually regenerated, incorporated unto Christ, to be made partakers of the virtue of His Death & Resurrection, to be washed from their filthiness in the blood of Christ, and to get interest in the Covenant of grace, and promises thereof, sealed up unto them. 2 Not setting themselves in the administration of this Sacrament to consider & prize the free love and grace of God, which hath prevented us, & our seed in providing such a fountain for sin & uncleanness in Christ, making such a Covenant with us, so well ordered in all things, & sure preventing us and our seed with the seal thereof; nor to apply the Covenant and the promises thereof for ourselves and our seed, and this Sacrament as the seal of the same. 3. The great & evident slighting of the administration of this Sacrament, while as few in the Congregation joineth therein either for their own edification, or to hold up the baptised to God, that He might bless His own ordinance to them, and receive them in amongst His Children in Christ: and many withdraweth themselves from the administration thereof, as if it did not concern them▪ and only the Minister and Presenter were to be actors in it. 4 Parents not making conscience, to make known unto their Children when they come to years of Capacity their Baptism, the ends and use thereof, and the obligation thereby layeth upon them as consecrated to Christ. 5 The not making use of this Sacrament all along the course of our, life for renewing & strengthening our comfort in the Faith and assurance of our Regeneration & Adoption; and of our interest in God, as our GOD and Father in CHRIST: and for strengthening through Christ our resolutions & endeavours of Mortification, and newness of life. Which is a great despising of this Ordinance.  
In the Lord's Supper, 1. The great profanation there of, by the coming and admitting there unto: of many gross Ignorants, who cannot discern the Lord's Body, nor knoweth how to examine themselves, many profane Ones, Godless Livers, without the Worship of GOD, in private, and into many places all sorts of persons promiscuously without making a difference between the precious & the Vile: whereby the Blood of Christ, is much profaned (although the constitutions of our Kirk were they well observed▪ doth sufficiently guard against these evils) Which no doubt is one of the main sins, for which GOD hath been provoked to suffer so much of our blood to be shed. See 1, Cor. 11.30.  
2. The little or no care or pains that is taken for preparation to so high and holy an Ordinance, wherein we are called to the nearest and most familiar Communion with Christ, that is: here upon earth: most part contenting themselves giving their presence at a Preparation Sermon, many not making conscience of so much as this. Very few separating themselves, as is needful to examine themselves; that being sensible of their Guiltyness, Spiritual inlacks etc. They might come with humble, broken, and contrite Spirits, with Spiritual hunger and thirst, for Christ Crucified. And sincere purposes of heart, to forsake their former sinful courses, and to renew their Covenant with GOD, in the strength of CHRIST'S Grace.  
3 The great and lamentable Blockishness of the most part, in the participation of this Ordinance, who may be, have some kind of amazement at the Solemnities thereof, but doth no wise therein exercise themselves in remembering the Lords Death, till He come again to apply the same to themselves: for peace with GOD, and mortifying the Body of Sin, for working deep Repentance, and Gospel's sorrow for Sin, and getting the Love of Christ, more kindled in them, and their hearts enlarged with greater thankfulness towards Him, Who loved us, and gave Himself for us. And on the other hand the great heartless sinful Dejection of many sensible Souls, who at no time are readier to be plunged in legal heavyness; & feeding as it were on gall, and Wormwood: then at this Ordinance, wherein they ought to be most rejoicing through Faith, on the propitiation in the Death of Christ, so familiarly set forth therein to them.  
4 That the time and occasion of this Sacrament, is used by the most part, only for some outward restraint of grosser sins, for a day or two before and after; but all such goodness being as a morning cloud, no constancy nor real reformation: but presently turning to wont, natural, worldly, and carnal courses; Notwithstanding renewed remembering of the Death of CHRIST, and Profession of renewing Counants with GOD.  
3. IN Relation, To the Ordinance of Discipline: 1. Which partiality in the administration of thereof, with respect of persons, and according to affection; which appeareth in that, while as Offences and scandals, in meaner persons, are taken notice of, challenged and censured: There is not the like Christian-Freedom, Faythfulness and Zeal used, towards such as are more eminent for Wealth, Place, or Dignity, in the World.  
2 Want of a Spirit of Meekness, sometimes in the administration thereof; whereby men, if GOD peradventure would give them Repentance, might be recovered out of the Snare of Satan. And, on the other hand, want of Zeal often times, to save others with fear, plucking them out of the Fire.  
3 Much Vilifying, Contemning of the Censures & Exercise of Discipline: Yea, hating thereof, and the Officers of the Kirk for it.  
4 Not making use of it, as a Spiritual Medicine, and Means of Salvation: but as a mere Punishment, which as it is in itself a miss-apprehension and abuse of this Ordinance: So is (no doubt,) the cause of so much impatience and indignation against it in people; and of so much inaequality, and mixture of selfish affection, in the administration thereof.  
5 The great Formality, that is every where, in the use thereof, while as, so be it, that persons under censure continue out their set time and days of censure, little care or respect is had of the effects for which it was instituted: To wit, Humiliation of hearr, and Godly sorrow, bringing forth Repentance, not to be repent of; which maketh the administration thereof, to look too like the way of Popish Penance.  
4. IN Relation to Prayer: 1. Great neglect thereof by most part of persons and families throughout the Land in private and secret.  
2 Many more imminent persons in the World, accounting the performance thereof in their families, (although this be incumbent to them, by their Place and Station,) a disparidgement; and therefore turning it over upon others, as a Service be low them.  
3 In the public Prayers of the Kirk, Peoples lying by, from joining therein, all along with their Spirits, which should be stryving together with the Minister; either mutering words of their own; or taking liberty to themselves, to be idle in the work, and raving in their thoughts: As if the Minister only were to be an Actor in that Service.  
4 Not using this Ordinance, as a mean of communion with GOD, and of obtaining blessings from Him: But using it merely as a Duty; and many as a matter of mere task. Whereof many may be convinced by this; That they do not make conscience, nor setteth themselves to observe what cometh of their Prayers; how they are taken off their hand, what speed they have come, and what answer they get.  
5 The little care that is had either by Ministers, or others, to pray in the Spirit; or to employ the Spirit of Grace, and Supplication for this Service: The most part in their performances thereof, too evidently acting merely their own memory, invention, wit, etc. And that often times with apparent affectation.  
5. RElating more immediately to CHRIST Himself, and the Free Grace of GOD in Him, which is the Matter and Object of the Gospel, as:  
1 Gross ignorance in the most part, and great short coming of the best in the knowledge of jesus Christ His Person, offices, His blessings and benefits, of the Covenant of grace; established in Him and the way of making use of Christ and the covenant of grace.  
2 Undervaluing and misprysing of Christ, communion with Him, & His spiritual graces and blessings. Which appears most evidently, by the great neglect of the use of these means and exercyses, public, private & secret wherein He offereth Himself to be sought & found: the great wearying of them: great willingness and readiness to bestow time and pains upon things worldly even vanities & trifls than on these; preferring the interests of creatures to the interests of Christ; and not giving Him the pre-eminence above all: by the readiness which appears in people in times of trial to comply with sinful courses; to the prejudice of Christ's causs and the hazarding of their own peace with God, for maintaining their case; temporary safety and worldly commodities rather than to deny themselves: take up their cross and follow Him.  
3 Not receiving of Christ, nor making use of Him as He is held forth in the Gospel, in His fullness of grace, nor living in faith by Him, more especially in Not receiving and making use of His free gifted and imputed Righteousness for justification, acceptation  God, and for peace of conscience. while as most part securely rest on mere outward church privileges: many confided in their own Moral Honestly, performances,; and Duties. So going about to establish their own Righteousness, and following Duties this way to make their Peace, and Reconciliation there by with GOD: AND even the Best Professors no not so purely & inteirly rest on his righteousness as the Gospel requireth: as well appear by these things amongst many others: heartless fears, miss-be-lieff, I carring to apply Christ, and to make use of the promises, not rejoicing in Christ, and His propitiation with humility, when there is a discovery, challenges and apprehensions of want, short coming & failing of duties, which in effect is in a degree, and in part an establishing our own righteousness and not submitting to the Righteousness of GOD. Not making use of Christ, for Sanctification, according to the promises of the Covenant, and not acting in a way of dependence on Him, in all the performances of our common Christian calling, and of particular lawful vocations, for direction, quickening, strength to mortify corruptions, to every duty and to carry us through against discowragements, & tentations: but acting only or most part by the strength of our own wits, abilities, and pains  
In not making use of the Mediation and intercession of Christ, in approaching to the Throne of Grace, in prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings: while as many doth neglect prayer altogether albeit they have some course of performancce of this duty, yet knoweth not what it is to put their prayers up to GOD thorough the Mediator, though they may perhaps name His Name, but doth as that Uzziah who would offer incense himself, neglecting the high priest: and even believers themselves doth not directly, distinctly, and steadfastly in their approaches to God, eye Christ, to offer in all their service through Him, nor do come with that humble boldness and full assurance of faith in God as a Father, where with the intercession of Christ warrandeth them to come, Heb. 10.19.20, 21, 22  
4 Not walking as becometh the Gospel of Christ, in Righteousness, godliness, and sobriety: many notwithstanding their profession of the gospel, and claming interest in Christ, and His grace, yet living lose, profane, godless, carnal, and earthly in their way, in effect turning the grace of God, unto wantonness & securety, and taking liberty to sin, because grace doth abound. And even best not so constrained with the love of Christ, to live to Him, who died for them, not stryving to keep the thoughts of the love of Christ, and the free grace of God, in Him, upon their hairs, so fresh & constant, as they should be, to keep them watchful, tender zealous, & enlarged for God, and His Honour.  
6. In relation to the operations of the Spirit wherein the Gospel is the Ministration, & maketh it effectual, as:  
1 Profane mocking, miscalling, & misinterpreting the tender & acurat wolking of the Godly in the ways of God; as unnecessary and proud precyseness: And their Spiritual exercyses, as fantastickness, melancholy, or madness. Which is a horrible sin, sib to that which is unpardonable: yet, very frequent amongst carnal and natural people.  
2 The mere natural and moral way of living, in a civil honesty, and sitting down contented therewith, of the most part of people not labouring in their conversation, to walk after the Spirit: i. e. upon Spiritual Principles, according to the Spiritual Rule, (of Gods revealed Will in His Word,) nor for Spiritual ends the Honour of God, Glory, and immortality.  
3 Not observing and yielding unto the knockings of the Spirit, whereby Christ maketh tender to come in to hearts, that He may sup with them, and they with Him: resisting and quenching His motions, whereby He stirreth up to Duties stifling or putting by His challenges, whether in public or secret, which tendeth to repentance, humiliation, or with-draw-ing from sin; not being tender of His presence and consolations, to entertain the same; but grieving Him, by mispryzing them, refusing them, careless walking, in not attending on His direction and guiding, in giving way to known sinful thoughts, and lustings in a continued tract, although not growing up to a full accomplishing of them; and sometimes in giving way even to grosser out-breaking, and in not watching against predominant corruptions, whereof even the best are much guilty.  
4 Not delighting in, nor improving Spiritual company and spiritual exercises.  
7 Of Ministers, in relation to their preaching of the Gospel, as:  
1 Many not labouring to set forth the Excellency of Christ in His Person, Offices, and the unsearchable Riches of His Grace, the new Covenant, and the way of living by Faith in Him: nor making this the main and chief Theme, and matter of their preaching, as did the Apostle, 1. Cor. 3.2. 2. Cor. 4.5. Coloss. 1.28. Nor preaching other things with a relation to Christ; To wit, Not preaching convictions, reprooffs, discoveries of sin, and of short come in Duties, and threaten, to lead to Christ, to prize Him the more highly, and to embrace Him the more earnestly; especially for justification; and pressing Duties, in a mere legal way; not urging them, as by the authority of God's Commandments; so from the love of Christ, & the grace of the Gospel, nor pointing and directing people to their furniture for them in Christ: often times craving hard, but giving nothing wherewith to pay.  
2 What they preach of Christ, and the matters of the Gospel, not preaching the same in a Gospel's way whereof. See 1. Cor. 3. from the beginning at length.  
3 Not commending as they ought, neither their own work, whether of meditation, or delivery, nor their hearts to Christ, that He might give the increass: but going about the work, either altogether in their own strength, or much that way.  
4 Often times not speaking, because they believe, and many not seeking for communion with Christ, in their own personal estate; and to feel the power of the Word, upon their own hearts: that they might speak so.  
These branches of contemning and abusing of the Gospel, are thought fit for the better Information of all to be held forth at this time, as being most obvious, recommending with all to Ministers, to apply themselves, to make a more full and particular discovery thereof; as is not doubted, but they will do, according to their wisdom and understanding, in the Gospel; and the experience they have by observation of their own hearts, and of the ways and consciences of people.  
It is also found needful and apppointed, that in regard it is not one or two, but many provocations of the people of God in this Land. which have drawn on the present sad calamities and judgements: and that the servants of God, though they have condescended upon many sins of the King and his Family of judicatories and of the people as undoubted Causes thereof: yet are persuaded, that there is need of a further discovery. Therefore upon the foresaid day of Humiliation, & at other times both in public and private earnest supplications to be made to God, for light and unanimity to His servants in this matter; that the causes of God's wrath being more fully and throughly seen; and the hearts of all humbled accordingly  God, we may be yet set in a Way to find the Lords Mercy in due tyme.   
FINIS.