Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for us" at the Throne of Grace.

The Physical advantages of FASTING are also very great "for health's sake," as tending to prevent or repress the attacks of disease, especially prevailing at that season, by a due temperament of the body. And so much does an attention to the rules of Religion tend to preserve health, that we may truly and emphatically join with David, and say, "The voice of joy and health is in the dwelling of the righteous"; but "Health is far from the ungodly;" for (i. e. because), " they regard not thy statutes;" and we well know, that every deviation from the rules of duty, exposes to numberless evils of BODY and mind. And as Solomon says, in his admirable Book of Wisdom, "When men live dissolutely, and unrighteously, they are tormented with their own abominations" The learned and excellent professor Hoffman also wrote a treatise on The Regimen prescribed in the Scriptures, to prove its necessity, importance, and utility. As may be seen in "THE CHRISTIAN'S MAGAZINE" for 1765, vol. vi. page 111.

In cases of real ill-health, "God," who "knoweth whereof we are made," and "remembereth we are but dust," will have mercy and not sacrifice;" for food may then become a necessary part of that medicine" which he graciously "giveth to heal our sickness," and enable ús to serve him better; provided it is done without partiality, and without dissimulation, for HE is a " searcher of the heart," and "will not be mocked."

The general method in use, among the Primitive Christians, was to observe strict fasting till evening, and then partake of moderate refreshment, and continue this for some time, repeating it with short intermissions. Others only continued it till three o'clock in the afternoon, as their situation and circumstances required; and each employing their best endeavours, according to their several avocations; and thus, like St. Paul the Apostle, they exercised themselves "in Fastings often," as a fit means to accompany and excite sorrow for (our mortal enemy) SIN, and being most effectual to ensure the success of our ad

* It is much to be lamented, that this very valuable and admirable work is now discontinued, and fallen into the hands of those who have perverted its original design to the propagation of that "false doctrine, HERESY and SCHISM," from which our excellent CHURCH teaches us to pray, "Good Lord DELIVER us."

dresses

dresses to ALMIGHTY GOD, under those spiritual calamities.

But as a general neglect has produced great carelessness about this duty, it may be urged that none can or will practise it; this reflects upon their neglect and enforces immediate compliance. Our excellent Church appoints a WEEKLY FAST on Friday; and if that duty was observed, and persons initiated to the practice, there would be no difficulty in the exercise; and as one fault cannot excuse another, the only proper consequence is an immediate amendment and alteration for the better. Yet as this may not perhaps be attempted suddenly, or all at once, on account of the effects it might produce, so we must faithfully exercise our best endeavours, and beginning with small trials, proceed onward in a regular and persevering manner, until we have accomplished the arduous and beneficial task: in order to which the omission of a meal, or a delay beyond the usual time, may be increased to more material attainments, until the whole can be accomplished in such a manner as will prove most suitable to the condition, and beneficial to answer the ends designed; provided we deal impartially with ourselves," without dissimulation and without hypocrisy," between God and our own souls; not making any neglect on our part an excuse for the non-performance of duty in a proper manner; and the time thus gained may be improved by the exercise of devotion in the most advantageous way, by directing it in such a manner as may be most conducive to our benefit and to our engagements in life.

By this means we shall not only master the holy season of LENT, and become able to improve it to those admirable purposes for which it was designed, but also the weekly and other fasts of the Church which are of equal obligation and advantage; and if such a method was regularly practised, and early impressed upon the minds of YOUNG christians, as "precious lambs of Christ's flock," they would be convinced of its importance, and have every reason to persevere with "stedfastness unto the end."

The benefits derived from this practice are so numerous as hardly to be repeated; and the ancient fathers were excessive in their high encomiums upon it, calling it a victory of Nature-the fence of obedience-the death of vice-life of virtue-the wall of chastity-fortification

of

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of modesty the ornament of life dispelling of concupiscence-clearing the mind-making us humble and meek-and the spirit more resolved and firm quainting us with ourselves the wings of the soul-diet of angels-purification of the spirit;-and St. Basil reckons it, the signet mark of God in the forehead, signed by the angel for the saints to escape his wrath; and St. Chrysostom calls it, an imitation of angels-contemning things present a school of virtue-nourishment of the soul-a bridle for the mouth-mollifying anger-it calms the passions-excites reason-clears the mind-disburdens the flesh-acquires composed behaviour, free utterance, right judgment, and clear apprehensions; with many others, which abundantly testify their high esteem, founded upon those rational motives which always excite to every virtuous and excellent deed,

The great advantages it affords, " to bring the body into subjection," and "make it obedient to the higher powers" of the mind, are abundantly manifest; and the more evil predominates in those who find "a law in their members warring against the law of their mind,” the more earnestly should they strive for the mastery," by the proper use of such means as are appointed to produce those happy effects, and be truly thankful they are attainable, in as much as ETERNITY is at stake; for in the words of a celebrated father in the primitive church, "He loseth ALL that loseth his soul." We are assured that our spiritual enemy is "continually walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour;" and is ever on the watch to deceive the unwary; therefore it behoveth us to be supplied with "the whole armour of God," that we may be " able to resist," and quench" all the fiery darts of the devil;" and not be deceived by "evil concupiscence," or led away into "the path of the wicked;"but zealously " persevere in this good fight," that" we may come off more than conquerors, through him who loved us, and hath given himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works ;" by, " being holy as he is holy, in all manner of conversation and godliness, daily endeavouring to follow the blessed footsteps of his most holy life," wherein " he hath left us an example that we should follow his steps" while on earth, as the most sure and certain way to attain a blessed IM

MORTALITY

MORTALITY in heaven, through the merits of his bitter death and passion."

LETTER TO THE EDITORS.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

GENTLEMEN,

FEB. 11, 1804.

IT T has been with sincere and great pleasure that I have observed the progressive footing that your Magazine has been acquiring in the last year. I had my fears at first, that, however necessary the work and laudable the design, it was, like many other of the productions of the press, only born to look about and die. But when I have seen its correspondents increase, its plan improved, its appearance even mended, and its circulation gradually extending, I have satisfied my mind, that it would be able to maintain its ground, and, in time, rank with the first periodical publications of the day; and, if not exchanged for some less worthy of their patronage, be received into the library of every friend to the Constitution in Church and State, upon equal terms with the most favoured of them. But though its progression appears to me to be such as to allow me this pleasing expectation, I am far from thinking that its encouragement has been equal to its claims upon every, well-wisher to our Establisment. I know very well that these things must have time to bring them to perfection, and to make their way into the favour and protection of the public: but a publication so much wanted, and which, without flattery, I will venture to say, has more tenaciously and firmly fulfilled its professed design than any other that I am able to recollect, without trimming or trying the selfish and hopeless expedient of pleasing all parties for the sake of increasing the sale, ought to have been still more encouraged than it was.

When I see the counters of the Booksellers, every publication day, loaded with publications of an opposite character and tendency; and together with these a large proportion of that mixed and amphibious breed, that one is almost doubtful on which side to rank them, and that your's

your's are not called for in any thing like the numbers that might be expected; I own I am hurt that a work so deserving the encouragement of the públic and the clergy in particular, as almost the only one that is firm in support of their Church, is not better supported by them. It ought not only to be read, as I hope it is, by them; but it should find abundant supplies from their stores, and be enriched by their correspondence, to make it still more worthy the patronage of the public: and as a means without which its ends never can be answered, it should meet with an encouragement in the sale, equal to the foremost of those on the other side. I hear, nay, I have it from their own declaration, that no less than twelve thousand of one of these anti-ecclesiastical publications are issued from the press every month. Of others alike hostile to the establishment nearly as many; and where am I to look for any thing like an antidote to their malignant and incessant attacks upon our venerable Establishment but to you? The insipid, half-andhalf support that it receives from those whose praise is indifference, whose moderation is interest, whose liberality is so broad and large, that it would seem an object too confined and narrow for its expansive grasp to notice the illiberalities and abuses to which we are on all sides exposed. Such support can do nothing even to repair the injuries of time, much less to make good the damages which it is daily suffering from the battering engines of its besieging enemies. And cannot the friends of the Establishment,-will not the Clergy themselves see what must in time be the consequence of all this?— Can any thing upon earth be plainer than that their church so zealously opposed, and so ill supported, must ere long fall-Do, Messrs. Editors, do endeavour to arouse them to a sense of their, danger, and call forth their powers as coadjutors in the work which you so ably support.I know it is not for you to persuade them to be the readers or purchasers of a publication in which you are interested. Yours, in this respect, might be supposed the opinion that was founded in interest, the advice that was dictated by a view to your own mercenary ends. But you can cry aloud and spare not :"---Shew them their danger, and they will be directed by their own sense of danger to the means of their safety. They will then see for themselves who are their friends and who are not. For my own part, I am so fully sensible of your zealous attachment to Fol. VI. Churchm. Mag. March, 1804.

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