Nevada County picayune., 1889-10-16

 and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy father which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.-lSt. Math. vi, r and ls
 The duty of fasting has been rec ognized by the church in all ages. The ancient Hebrews observed at least one day in the year to con- memOrate the great atonement. In after years, other lasts were added. The Eastern and Western churches have many lasts. one of which, the Lenten fast, lasts forty days. The design of this fast is to commemorate the forty days fast of our blessed Savior. The custom of fasting was practiced in all the ancient religions, except that of Zorcaster. Even among the savage nations of the new world rude customs of this kind pre- vailed to a greater or less extent. The protestant churches do not seem to be as strenuous in the enforcement of this duty as the Catholic, and hence there is great laxity among them on this line.
 Our Savior says: "W hosoever shall break one of the least com mandments and teach men to do so, shall be called the least in the King dom of Heaven :" if this be so, what great responsibility rests upon those who neglect to teach and prac- tice this duty! Whatever may have been the practice in other ages and countries. it cannot be denied that the duty of fasting is almost unlver- sally neglected in this part of the world. Let us examine the philoso- phy of fasting, and we will see that it is founded in tender regard for our health of body and mind. Ab- stinence from food, at stated times, is conducive to bodily health, for the stomach, the great laboratory in which food is prepared for assimila- tion, is invigorated by the short seasons of rest thus afforded, Be- sides, the higher or spiritual nature is strengthened and developed, while the heshly or bodily nature is put in subordnation to the higher princl- ples of our existence. It is our duty to cruelty the flesh, with its affec- tions and lusts, to bring our bodies under and keep them in subjec- 1 ton.
 The disciples of our Lord and Master, on one occasion, failed to perform a certain miracle, because Of neglect of this duty.-''This goeth only by prayer and fasting" Fast ing, therefore, greatly strengthens and invlgorates the higher nature. l It is true the Romish church has un- duly magnifed the custom of pen ance, by which is embraced every species of bodily modification, in- cluding total abstinence from food i; and to this cause may be traced the decay and neglect of the duty. It must he confessed that less promi- hence is given to this duty, in the Scriptures, than to many other mat ters of greater importance but nev- ertheless, the obligation of fasting is clearly set forth in the sacred Ora 1 cles, and no one is at liberty to ig- nore or disregard it's teachings. So l far as the number of times or days, when we should fast, the record Is profoundly silent, and the same re- mark holds true with reference to prayer Each person is left 10 de- termine this matter by his own con- science.
 The habit of mortifying the body, whether by fasting or otherwise, cer- tainlv has a powerful tendency to moderate the strength and cool the ardor of the passions and appetites. The pracice of fasting, therefore, should be resorted to as often as may be necessary to maintain healthy equilibrium of mind and body. They who trained for the ancient races wereltcmperate in all things and their example is worthy of imitation, in this respect, by all who wish to gain the heavenly prize. A temperate use of the fast is absolutely y necessa- ry to success in the warfare between the flesh and the spirit, and no one who desires to achieve success in this war should hesitate to avail them selves of an efficient means of grace. ] Surely q practice which tends so largely to the development of spirit uality and true manhood, ought to
  commend itself to every rational being.
 Reader, have you ever given any serious thought to this matter? If not, suffer word of exhortation :: Don't let the Pharisees of old, who lasted twice week, shame us for our neglect of this duty, but let us resolve to avail ourselves of every help in the great struggle for eternal life.