5. The lowest kind of fasting, if it can be called by that name, is the abstaining from pleasant food. Of this we have several instances in scripture, besides that of _Daniel_ and his brethren: who from a peculiar consideration, namely, that they might [100]_not defile themselves with the portion of the king’s meat_, nor _with the wine which he drank_, (_a daily provision_ of which _the king had appointed for them_) _requested_ and obtained of _the prince of the Eunuchs, pulse to eat and water to drink_. Perhaps from a mistaken imitation of this, might spring the very ancient custom, of abstaining from flesh and wine during such times as were set a-part for fasting and abstinence. If it did not rather arise from a supposition that these were the most pleasant food, and a belief, that it was proper to use what was least pleasing, at those times of solemn approach to God. 6. In the _Jewish_ church, there were some _stated_ fasts. Such was the fast of the seventh month, appointed by God himself, to be observed by all _Israel_, under the severest penalty. [101]_The_ Lord _spake unto Moses saying, on the tenth day of the seventh month, there shall be a day of atonement; and ye shall afflict your souls――to make an atonement for you before the_ Lord _your_ God. _For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people._ In after ages several other _stated_ fasts were added to these. So mention is made by the prophet _Zechariah_, of the fast, not only [102]_of the seventh_, but also of _the fourth, of the fifth, and of the tenth month_. In the ancient Christian church there were likewise stated fasts, and those both annual and weekly. Of the former sort was that before Easter; observed by some for eight and forty hours: by others, for an entire week; by many for two weeks, taking no sustenance till the evening of each day. Of the latter, those of the fourth and sixth days of the week, observed (as _Epiphanius_ writes, remarking it as an undeniable fact) ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ· _in the whole habitable earth_, at least, in every place where any Christians made their abode. The annual fasts in our church are, “the forty days of Lent, the ember days at the four seasons, the rogation days, and the vigils or eves of several solemn festivals: The weekly, all fridays in the year, except Christmas-day”. But beside those which were fixt, in every nation fearing God, there have always been occasional fasts, appointed from time to time, as the particular circumstances and occasions of each required. So [103]when _the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, came against Jehoshaphat to battle; Jehoshaphat, set himself to seek the_ Lord, _and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah_. And so [104]_in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, in the ninth month_, when they were afraid of the king of _Babylon_, the princes of Judah _proclaimed a fast before the_ Lord, _to all the people of Jerusalem_.