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.
Ver 18. That thou appear not unto men to fast, &c.] Hypocrites fitly resemble the glow worm, which seems to have both light and heat; but touch it, and it hath neither indeed. In the history of the world encompassed by Sir Francis Drake, it is recorded that in a certain island to the southward of Celebes, among the trees, night by night did show themselves an infinite swarm of fiery seeming worms, flying in the air, whose bodies, no bigger than an ordinary fly, did make a show, and give such light, as if every twig on every tree had been a lighted candle, or as if that place had been the starry sphere. This was but a resemblance, but an appearance: no more is that of hypocrites, but a flaunt, but a flourish. A sincere man is like a crystal glass with a light in the midst, which appeareth through every part thereof, so as that truth within breaketh out in every parcel of his life. There is in his obedience to God, 1. A universality, he doth every as well as any part and point of God's revealed will, so far as he knows it. 2. A uniformity, without prejudice or partiality (κατα προσκλισιν), 1 Timothy 5:21, without tilting the balance on one side. Inequality of the legs causeth halting, and an unequal pulse argues bodily distemper; so doth an unsuitable carriage an unsound soul, Psalms 119:104; Psa 119:128 Matthew 23:23; Matthew 3:1,17. Ubiquity: he is the same at home as abroad; in the closet as in the congregation; and minds secret as well as open holiness. Joseph was one and the same in his master's house, in the prison, and at court; no changeling or chameleon, not like the planet Mercury, that is good in conjunction with good, and bad with bad. The godly man's faith is unfeigned, 1 Timothy 1:5; his love cordial, 1 John 3:18; his wisdom undissembled (ανυποκριτος), James 3:17; his repentance a rending of the heart, Joel 2:12; his fasting an afflicting of the soul with voluntary sorrows, till his heart be as sore within him as the Shechemites' bodies were the third day after circumcision, Leviticus 16:31; Leviticus 23:37. He truly aims at pleasing God, and not with an alterior motive. This is truth in the inwards, Psalms 51:6; this is that "sincerity and truth," 1 Corinthians 5:8; that simplicity and godly sincerity, 2 Corinthians 1:12. A dainty word: it is a metaphor, saith one, from such things as are tried by being held up against the beams of the sun (as chapmen do in the choice of their wares) to see what faults or flaws are in them. It is properly used, saith Bp Andrews, of uncounterfeit wares, such as we may κρινειν εν ειλη, bring forth, and show them in the sun. And as a godly man is sincere, without wax or gross matter, as he is unmingled and true of heart, so he doeth truth, John 3:21; he will not lie, Isaiah 63:9; that great real lie especially. a Hypocrites in doing good, they do lies, by their delusion, as gross hypocrites; by their collusion, as close hypocrites. Thus Ephraim compassed God with lies, Hosea 11:12. His knowledge was but a form, his godliness a figure, Rom 2:20; 2 Timothy 3:5; his zeal a flash, all he did a semblance: as these Pharisees only appeared to fast and do other duties. But every fowl that hath a seemly feather hath not the sweetest flesh; nor doth every tree that beareth a goodly leaf bring good fruit, Luke 8:18. Glass giveth a clearer sound than silver, and many things glisten besides gold. A true Christian cares as well to approve his inside to God as his outside to the world, Hosea 6:4; and it is a just question, whether the desire of being or dislike of seeming sincere be greater in him. He shows his worst to men and best to God, as Moses did, when going to the mount he pulled off his veil; and shames himself often before God for that which the world applauds in him. God, he knows, seeth in secret, there is no tempting him with Ananias and Sapphira, to try whether he trieth the hearts or not. His sharp nose easily discerneth, and is offended with the stinking breath of rotten lungs, though the words or outward actions be never so scented and perfumed with shows of holiness.
Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly] He is the rewarder of all that diligently seek him, Hebrews 11:6, in this soul-fatting exercise: which, as it was seen and allowed by the Lord Christ, Luke 5:33, so it was never rightly used without effect. It is called the day of reconciliation or atonement, and hath most rich and precious promises, Joel 2:13,21. It is sure God will pardon our sins, and that carries meat in the mouth of it, Psalms 42:1,2. It is probable that "he will leave a blessing behind him" (and the rather, that we may therewith cheerfully serve him), even a "meat offering and a drink offering to the Lord our God:" according to that of the Psalmist, "There is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared," i.e. served. Fulness of bread was Sodom's sin, and in those sacrificing Sodomites, Isaiah 1:10, it was noted for an inexpiable evil, Isaiah 22:14. They that fast not on earth, when God calls to it, shall be fed with gall and wormwood in hell; they that weep not among men shall howl among devils; whereas those that "sow in tears shall reap in joy," Psalms 126:5; they that mourn in time of sinning shall be marked in time of punishing; and as they have sought the Lord with fasting, Ezekiel 9:4,6, so shall he yet again "be sought and found" of such with "holy feasting," Zechariah 8:19; as he hath promised and performed to his people in all ages of the Church, not an instance can be alleged to the contrary. Those three great fasters met gloriously upon Mount Tabor. The Israelites fasting (and not till then) were victorious, Judges 20:26,36; Jehoshaphat was delivered, Esther and her people reprieved, Daniel had visions from heaven, Ezra help from heaven. b And surely if with fasting and prayer we can wrestle with God, as Jacob, we need not fear Duke Esau with his 600 cutthroats coming against us. Si Deus nobiscum, quis contranos? If God is with us, who can oppose us? Numa being told that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacrifices, thought it sufficient for his safety that he could say, At ego rem divinam facio, but I am about the service of my God. (Εγω δε θυω, Plutarch.) When Jehoshaphat had once established a preaching ministry in all the cities of Judah, then, and not till then, the "fear of the Lord fell upon the neighbour nations, and they made no war," 2 Chronicles 17:8,10; albeit he had before that placed forces in all the fenced cities. Leotine Prince of Wales, when he was moved by some about him to make war upon our Henry III, replied thus: "I am much more afraid of his alms than of his armies." Judges 20:23 ; Ezr 8:23 ; 2Ch 20:1-3 Ezra 4:16 ; Daniel 9:2,6 Act 10:30 Frederic the Elector of Saxony, intending war against the Archbishop of Magdeburg, sent a spy to search out his preparations and to hearken out his designs. But understanding that the Archbishop did nothing more than commit his cause to God and give himself to fasting and prayer, Alius, inquit, insaniat ut bellum inferat ei qui confidit se Deum defensorem habiturum. Bucholcer. Let him fight, said he, that hath a mind to it: I am not so mad as to fight against him that trusts to have God his defender and deliverer. It is reported, that at the siege of Mountabone, the people of God, using daily humiliation as their service would permit, did sing a psalm after and immediately before their sallying forth; with which practice the enemy coming acquainted, ever upon the singing of the psalm (after which they expected a sally) they would so quake and tremble, crying, "They come, they come," as though the wrath of God had been breaking out upon them. The soldiers that went against the Angroginans (where God was sincerely served amidst a whole kingdom of Papists) told their captains they were astonished, they could not strike. Some others said that the ministers, with their fasting and prayer, conjured and bewitched them, that they could not fight. It was the custom of this poor people, as soon as they saw the enemy to approach, to cry all together for aid and help from the Lord, &c.; while the soldiers fought, the rest of the people with their ministers made their hearty prayer to God, with sighs and tears, and that from the morning to the evening. When night was come, they assembled again together. They which had fought rehearsed God's wonderful aid and help, and so all together rendered thanks. Alway he turned their sorrow into joy. In the morning, trouble and affliction appeared before them, with great terror on all sides; but by the evening they were delivered, and had great cause of rejoicing and comfort.
a ειλικρινεια. Or, as the eagle tries her young against the sun. Sincerum mel, i.e. sine cera.
b Ego, inquit, formido eius eleemosynas magis certe multo quam eius copias. Powell.