Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-09
CHARLOTTESVILLE Sept. 9th, 1863.


Rcr. r. X. MEADE, Charlottesville, Va.
CuARLorTEsrILLB. Sept. 9th, 1863.
DEAR BRETHREN: :--Ynur kind favor of the
4th instant was not rcceirei unuil yesterday
confess that 'or several reasons, which will
not mention, feel not little hesitation in
yielding 70 your request. | have, however,
concluded to place the manuscript in your
hands, which will endnaror to do at an early
day. Very ruysand cordially,
Your friend and pnstor,
II. X. MEADE
To Mcvsrs. Reuben Manry, J. C. R. Taylor,
n II. Massic, T. L. Preston, J. j. Minor
"Wher"f0rc have we fastad, say thcv. and
thou seest n It? wherefore have wn afflicted
our soul, and thon takest no knowledge? Be-
hold. in the day of your fast We find pleasure,
aud exact all your labnrs.
"Bchn!d, We fast for strife ard debate, and
to SInitn with the fist of wickciness: ye shall
not fast yc do on this day to make your
voice heard on hign.
as it such fast that have chosen? day
for :. man to afIlicr his soul? Is it To how down
his head as 81 hrlru>h. and to spread sackcln;h
and ashes under him? wilt thou call lthisa fast,
and an acceptable day tn the Lord?
is rot this tic fast that have chosen? TO
loose the bands Of wickedness, To undo the
heavy burdens,nnd to let the oppressed 60 free,
and tlat We break every YOKE?
As it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the p7o' that are cast out
20 thy house? when thou seest the naked that
thou cover kim; and that thou hide not thyself
frorh thine own fc'h." IsA. SO, 81.
Thc:n words contain question and its an
Swcr TIE question is proposed by ancient
Israel thcan>wer is given by the God OF Israel.
The Israelites seem to he. in state CfperpIcz
ity in regard to Gods Dealings with them: the
source Of tthcir rorplcxity being, tha. lie "hccd
ed them rot although they had complied, ~
they claimed, with the terms upon which his
blessing was suspended" "Whcrcforc have
We tasted" say they, "and th"u soeSt not?-
wherefore have we afflicted our souls, ard 'h0u
akcst no knowlcdge?" They had passed
through the customary forms If fast: The
soul had been afflicted through the ordinary III
strumcntalites. The head had been bowed
DOWN ns n hulru-h, and sackcloth and usEes
used in token Of their contrition and humility.
God himself bears witness to their zeal in this
respect in the preceding verses; for after haviEg
commanded His prophet TO lift. up his voice
like trumpet, and show His people their
t,angressione. lie adds: yet they seek me
daily, and delight to know my ways, as a
nation tha. did righteousness, and fnr:ook not
the ordinances Of their God: they ask.ofme the
ord 'nanccs Of Justice: thay take delight in al1-
preaching to God" Under these circumstances
the Jews thought it strange that they should
have so little influence with Heaven, and hence
their complaint, in the firm Of the question
found in the tcxr. But God vouchsafes an
answcr-a plain. practical answer: ."Bchcld," !"
says He, sin the day of your fast yc find
pleasure. and exact all your labors." "Be-
mold. Y" fast for strife and dcbae e. and to smite
with the fist Of wickcdncss; We shall not fast
rs yc Go on this day, to make your voice
hrard on high. Is it snch fast that have
chosen? A day for n man to afliict his soul !?
r. il t. Low down his heal as q bnlrnsh. and
~ spread .actclrth and ashes under him.
Wit thou call this fast and an accentnblc
day to the Lord l. not this the fast tl,rt have
chDscn? To luuse the bands Of wckedness,
to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the op-
nrc ssed 20 fee. and that yc brcnk every yoke?
+ it not TO deal the bread to the hungry, ard
that thou bring the po'r that are cast ont to
t1inc house? When thou seest the naked
hat thnu cover him; and that thou hide not
thy self from thine own flesh"
Now my hearers. in this reply Of the Lord
certain principles Of high importance arc hat"r>
mined beyond reasonable dnuht. In the first
place, it is clearly settled that Iha ex'prnals Of
fast simply. will not satisfy God: bur that with
these must re joined temper Of mini which
proves the inner man to he in cordial sympathy
and cooperation vi h the outer. If in any ease
The form only would suffice. surrly the Jews had
Alright 10 claim Gods blessing: for as we hHv"
en- they have not com" short in This respect,
G"l himself being HE Judge. Yet their cry WIS
unhrad. or heard only 10 he responded to IN
the language of srnrn and r. buke. Their snlrm
mites Whit admitted TO be outwaraly perfect,
were rejected by the God Of Heaven rs vain
uhlaions. which could neither prntit man nor
pleas Him. who, being spirit, must be wor-
shipped in spirit and in truth. and arn declared
to be unworthy even of the name of fast be-
ca,isc n mere bodily service. wanting in The very
essrncc ofthe act Again it is settled with eqnHl
cearness through Whist channels the required
disposition of soul shall find sn outlet First.
That pros.ration Of soul which should attend tie
modification CT the body. must be exhibits
ed in the abandonment of evil deeds. This the
Jews hal rot donr. They had not turned, az
the Inhabitants of Ninevah, every one from his
evil way; but in the very midst Of the most ir'-
posing outward dcmonstrations-evcn whilst hr-
rayed in sackcloth, and sprinkled with ashes,
and bowing the head rs u bulrnsh-they lived in
Tho indulgence of forbidden lus,s and appetites,
seeking eagerly earthly pleasures, and practicing
Injustice, oppression aud violence. Thus their
fast was not merely bodily service in which
the soul bore no part. but solemn ceremonial
appointed Of heaven. during the very progress OF
which worliliness and crime we're allowed 10 rrn
riot Bu. God required that this should cease.
Cove,o,sness aud its legitimate offspring, wrong
and robbery, must be rcnoun ed. lie captive
iniquitouslv held in bondage must be dis
charged The debtor, oppressed by ext vtion
i'll the hour of misfortune, must be released
from his obligation. In fine, every yoke i'm
posed in contravention of the principles Of
humanity and religion, must be broken ard
lis victim permitted to 60 free
This, however, was not the sum total OF
Heavens demand. Here is simply n prohi-
bition of evil deeds. But then follows closely
a requirement to advance to something more
positive and decisive in its character. Hence
they arc not only required to abstain from the
aforementioned vices. but to call into cXer-
else the virtue Of charity. They are +" feed
the hungry and clothe the. naked, and give
shelter TO the homeless, and thus, at the same
time, ceasing to do evil and learningto to do we'll.
Such. in a few words, are the lessons taught in
this massage of Gods word.
And now for the application for the ap-
! plication of the foregoing remarks will consti-
tute so much of the discourse as rGmalus: 1t
is known to you all that from the beginning
! of our national troubles even to the present
hour, we'have been appealing to Heaven for
that help without which our success seemed to
; be impossible. Again and again fast has
| been proclaimed by our chief magistrate, aui