River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-03-18

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should combine in determining this
matter of fasting.
Daniel the Prophet gives rs a hint
when he tells US that for three whole
weeks he ate no pleasant bread. while
he especially sought the Lord in prayer
respecting matters which perplexed
him. In his official position he was
surrounded with the best the kingdom
| provided. But he confined himself
strictly to the things which his system
absolutely needed for the maintenance
Of mental and physical strength: he
ate nothing simply for it's good flavor,
| he ate nothing superabundantly, to
| clog his system, to make him sluggish
in mind and body, and to incapacitate
him for his routine work and, addition
ally, for his special prayers for wis
dom. We can all take a good lesson
from this Scriptural example.
Jesus did not teach His disciples to
| follow the custom of fasting. The
matter was remarked, some saying,
| John the Baptist and his disciples
fast and the Pharisees, ETC., fast.
but Jesus disciples fast not" In an
swer to the question, Why not? Jesus
replied that it was not the appropriate
| time. Instead Of a fast, they were
having a feast. The Bridegroom was
with them. They knew no sorrow. no
care. All their wants were provided
for; they were drinking at the Fountain
of Divine Truth and grace; they were
eating freely Of the wonderful words
Of eternal life. and accordingly they
did not fast, as others.
This does not mean, however, that
they lived sumptuously; for we remem-
Der that on two occasions, after Jesus
had fed a multitude on plain bread
and fish, miraculously increased, He
directed His disciples to gather up the
fragments; and these they carried with
them as their own food supply for
many days. This was a practical fast
ing, though not an outward one.
Jesus declared that the days would
come when the Bridegroom would be
gone and He said, I'm those days they
shall fast" Matthew 9:15D Their
days of fasting and prayer began as
soon as the Lord was crucified, and
have continued ever since, whether
outwardly observed in lenten fashion,
or whether known only to themselves
in their own hearts. All the followers
of Jesus have practised fasting, self
denial; else surely they would not have
prospered in spirituality.
The Christians Perpetual Fast.
1t is a mistake to suppose that fast
ing applies merely to food; it really ap-
plies to everything. In its broadest
sense, it signifies self-denial-denial Of
the desires Of the flesh, to the intent
that the spiritual nature may be the
more thoroughly strengthened. The
Apostle clearly shows this in his sug-
gestion that husbands and wives Occa-
sionalIy live apart, that they may give
themselves the more thoroughly to
prayer and the consideration of spiri-
tual things. Il Corinthians 100 The
true Christian will really live life of
self-denial every day. He will remem-
Der the Apostles words, eff We live aft
Ell the flesh, We shall die; but il We
through the Spirit do mOrtify the de-
sires of the flesh We shall live" Such
modification of the flesh, such self
deniaIs of the various appetites or in
clinatiOns of the flesh in the interest
of the new nature, are all Hastings.
The ideal condition for Christians, Of
course, would be to maintain a per-
petual fast-to live always in so alb
stemiOus manner as would keep them
spiritually in the best condition and
make them the most efficient in the
Lords service. Where this highest
ideal seems impossible or unattainable,
then the next thing in order would be
as close an approach to this as seems
possible-not of Divine command, for
there is none, but of his own free will
sacrificing himself, his f1eshly appe
tites and propensities, III the interest of
his own spiritual development and that
of his service of the Lord.
appear not unto men to fast" Our
Lords instructions were that His fol
lowers should not make a show of
their fasting-should not boast of their
self-sacrifice and selfdenials. Those
matters should be between God and
themselves. Instead OF making their
countenances sad-looking and appear
ing to men to crave sympathy, they
should contrariwise take special care
that none might notice Outwardly-
washing their faces, amounting thei1
heads and generally looking cheerful,
happy. Indeed, the true Christian,
who fasts in the proper manner and
with the proper sentiment. will not
need to feign happiness; for his portion
will be the joy Of the Lord, and "the
peace of God, which passeth all I'M
derstanding, will rule in his heart
The Scriptural proposition seems to
be that the Lords people will fast, or
practise self-restraint, along the lines
of physical conditions, food, etc., in
order that they may feast along the
lines of spiritual conditions and re-
freshments. The whole tenor Of Scrip