One day, morning till evening
As to the degrees or measures of fasting, we have instances of some who have fasted several days together. So Moses, Elijah, and our blessed Lord, being endued with supernatural strength for that purpose, are recorded to have fasted without intermission 40 days and 40 nights. But the time of fasting more frequently mentioned in Scripture is 1 day, from morning till evening. And this was the fast commonly observed among the ancient Christians. But besides these they also had their half-fasts (as Tertullian calls them, Semi-jejunia) on the fourth and sixth days of the week (Wednesday and Friday) throughout the year, on which they took no sustenance till 3 in the afternoon, the time when they returned from the public service.
1771 text
3. As to the degrees or measures of fasting, we have instances of some who have fasted several days together. So Moses, Elijah and our blessed Lord, being indued with supernatural strength for that purpose, are recorded to have fasted without intermission, forty days and forty nights. But the time of fasting more frequently mentioned in scripture, is, one day, from morning till evening. And this was the fast commonly observed among the ancient Christians. But beside these, they had also their half-fasts (Semi-jejunia, as Tertullian stiles them) on the fourth and six days of the week (Wednesday and Friday) throughout the year: on which they took no sustenance till three in the afternoon, the time when they returned from the public service.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 27 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:16-18.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.