to those who possess a considera-chapters of Nehemiah, Joshua; ble degree of zeal and fervency of &c. devotion.

However light some think of reFARNOVIANS, a sect of So-ligious fasting, it seems it has been cinians, so called from Stanislaus practised by most nations from the Farnovius, who separated from remotest antiquity. The Egypthe other Unitarians in the year tians, Phoenicians, and Assyrians, 1568. He asserted that Christ had their fasts as well as the Jews. had been engendered or produced Porphyry affirms that the Egypout of nothing by the Supreme tians, before their stated sacrifices, Being, before the creation of this always fasted a great many days; terrestrial globe, and warned his sometimes for six weeks. The disciples against paying religious Greeks observed their fasts much worship to the Divine Spirit. in the same manner. At Rome, This sect did not last long; for kings and emperors fasted themhaving lost their chief, who died selves. Numa Pompilius, Julius in 1615, it was scattered, and re- Cæsar, Augustus, Vespasian, and duced to nothing. others, we are told, had their

FASTING, abstinence from stated fast days; and Julian the food, more particularly that absti-apostate was so exact in this obnence which is used on a religious servation, that he outdid the priests themselves. The Pythagoreans

account.

The

The Jews had every year a frequently fasted rigidly for a stated and solemn fast on the 10th long time; and Pythagorus, their day of the month Tisri, which ge-master, continued his fast, it is nerally answered to the close of said, for forty days together. The our September. This solemnity Brachmans, also, and the Chinese, was a day of strict rest and fasting have also their stated fasts. to the Israelites. Many of them Every one knows how much spent the day before in prayer, and fasting has been considered as an such like penitential exercises. On important rite in the church of the day itself, at least in later times, Rome, and the extremes they they made a tenfold confession of have run into in this respect. their sins, and were careful to end See article ABSTINENCE. all their mutual broils. See Lev. church of England also has parxvi. Numb. xxix, 7, 12. Lev. ticular seasons for fasting, especixxiii, 23, 32. Individuals also ally that of Lent, which is to be fasted on any extraordinary dis-observed as a time of humiliatress. Thus David fasted during tion before Easter, the general the sickness of his adulterous child, festival of our Saviour's resurrec2d Sam. xii, 21. Ahab, when he tion. Ahab, when he tion. Fast days are also appointwas threatened with ruin, 1st Kingsed by the legislature upon any exxii, 27. Daniel, when he under-traordinary occasions of calamity, stood that the Jewish captivity war, &c. See article ROGATION, drew to an end, 9th and 10th||LENT.

"

Religious fasting consists, 1. " In|| FATE (fatum) denotes an inabstinence from every animal in-evitable necessity depending upon dulgence, and from food, as far as a superior cause. The word is health and circumstances will ad-formed u fando," from speaking,' mit.-2. In the humble confession and primarily applies the same of our sins to God, with contrition with effatum, viz. a word or deor sorrow for them.-3. An ear-cree pronounced by God, or a fixnest deprecation of God's displea-ed sentence whereby the Deity has sure, and humble supplication that prescribed the order of things, and he would avert his judgments.-allotted to every person what shall 4. An intercession with God for befal him. The Greeks called it such spiritual and temporal bles-ap, as it were a chain or nesings upon ourselves and others cessary series of things indissoluwhich are needful." It does not bly linked together. It also used appear that our Saviour instituted to express a certain unavoidable any particular fast, but left it op-designation of things, by which all tional. Any state of calamity and agents, both necessary and volunsorrow, however, naturally sug-tary, are swayed and directed to gests this. How far or how long their ends. Fate is divided into a person should abstain from food, physical and divine. 1. Physical depends on circumstances. The fate is an order and series of nagreat end to be kept in view is, hu-tural causes, appropriated to their miliation for and abstinence from effects; as, that fire warms; bosin. "If," says Marshall, "ab-dies communicate motion to each stinence divert our minds, by rea-other, &c. and the effects of it son of a gnawing appetite, then are all the events and phenomena you had better eat sparingly, of nature.-2. Divine fate is as Daniel in his greatest fast," what is more usually called proviDan. x, 2, 3. They, however, dence. See PROVIDENCE, NECESwho in times of public distress, SITY. when the judgments of God are FATHERS, a term applied to in the earth, and when his pro-ancient authors who have previdence seems to call for humi-served in their writings traditions liation, will not relinquish any of of the church. Thus St. Chrytheir sensual enjoyments, nor deny sostom, St. Basil, &c. are called themselves in the least, cannot be Greek fathers, and St. Augustine justified; since good men in all and St. Ambrose, Latin fathers. ages, more or less, have humbled No author who wrote later than themselves on such occasions; and the twelfth century is dignified with reason as well as scripture evi- the title of father.

dently prove it to be our duty, Some suppose that the study of Matt. ix, 15. 1st Cor. vii, 5. Ben- the fathers is barren and unimnett's Christ. Orat. vol. ii, p. 18, proving; that though there are 25; Tillotson's Sermons, ser. 39; some excellent things interspersed Simpson's Essay on Fasting; Mar-in their writings, yet the instrucshall on Sanc. p. 273, 274. tion to be derived from them will VOL. I. Pp

FAVOUR OF GOD. See

hardly repay the toil of breaking deviation from, or transgression of up the ground; that a lifetime a' rule in some trifling circumwould hardly suffice to read them stances. with care, and digest them completely. Others have such an high GRACE. opinion of the fathers, as to be FEAR is that uneasiness of almost afraid of interpreting scrip-mind which arises from an ap ture against their decision. They prehension of danger, attended suppose, that as some of them were with a desire of avoiding it. companions, disciples, or succes-"Fear," says Dr. Watts," shews sively followers of the apostles, it itself by paleness of the cheek, is highly probable that they must sinking of the spirits, trembling of have been well informed, that the limbs, hurry and confusion of their sentiments must be strongly the mind and thoughts, agonies of illustrative of the doctrines of the nature, and fainting. Many a perNew Testament; and that as con- son has died with fear. Sometimes troversies have increased, and it rouses all nature to exert itself in dogmas received since their time, speedy flight, or other methods to they must be much less entangled avoid the approaching evil; sudden with decisions merely human than terror has performed some almost more recent commentators. Per-incredibles of this kind."

haps it is best to steer between Fear is of different kinds : 1. these two opinions. If a person There is an idolatrous and suhave ability, inclination, and op- perstitious fear, which is called portunity to wade through them, Aidai, a fear of dæmons, let him; but if not, referring to which the city of Athens was them occasionally may suffice. greatly addicted to. "I perceive," One caution, however, is neces- says the apostle Paul," that in sary, which is this; that though all things ye are too superstithe judgment of antiquity in some tious," or given to the fear and disputable points certainly may worship of false deities.-2. There be useful, yet we ought never to is an external fear of God, an put them on the same footing as outward shew and profession of it, the scriptures. In many cases they which is taught by the precepts of may be considered as competent men; as in the men of Samaria, witnesses; but we must not con-who pretended to fear the Lord, fide in their verdict as judges. as the priest instructed them, and fortin's Works, vol. vii, chap. yet served their own gods; and 2; Kett's Serm. at Bampton Lec. such an external fear of God, Job's ser. 1; Warburton's Julian; Simp-friends supposed was all that he son's Strictures on Religious Opi- had, and that even he had cast nions, latter end; Daille's Use of that off.-3. There is an hypocrithe Fathers, p. 167; Law's Theory.tical fear, when men make a proFAULT, a slight defect or fession of religion; but only serve crime which subjects a person to him for some sinister end and blame, but not to punishment; a selfish view, which Satan insi

nuated was Job's case. "Doth||are Christmas-day, Circumcision, Job fear God for nought?" Job i, Epiphany, Candlemas or Purifica9.-4. There is a servile fear, tion; Lady-day, or the annunciawhich they possess who serve God tion, called also the incarnation from fear of punishment, and not and conception; All Saints and All from love to him.-5. There is a Souls; besides the days of the sefilial fear, such as that of a son toveral apostles, as St. Thomas, St. his father. See next article. Paul. Moveable feasts are those FEAR OF GOD, is that holy which are not confined to the same disposition or gracious habit form-day of the year. Of these the ed in the soul by the Holy Spirit, principal is Easter, which gives law whereby we are inclined to obey to all the rest, all of them followall God's command's, and eviden-ing and keeping their proper disces itself, 1. By a dread of his dis-tances from it. Such are Palm Sunpleasure.-2. Desire of his fa- day, Good Friday, Ash Wednesvour.-3. Regard for his excel-day, Sexagesima, Ascension-day, lencies. 4. Submission to his will. Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. -5. Gratitude for his benefits.- Besides these feasts, which are 6. Sincerity in his worship.-7. general, and enjoined by the Conscientious obedience to his church, there are others local commands, Prov. viii, 13. Job and occasional, enjoined by the xxviii, 28. Bates's Works, page magistrate, or voluntarily set on 913; Gill's Body of Divinity, vol. foot by the people: such are the iii, book 1.

FEAR OF DEATH. DEATH.

days of thanksgiving for delivery See from war, plagues, &c.; such also are the vigils or wakes in commemoration of the dedication of particular churches.

FEARS. See DOUBTS. FEAST, in a religious sense, is a ceremony of feasting and thanks- The prodigious increase of feastgiving. days in the christian church The principal feasts of the Jews commenced towards the close of were the feasts of trumpets, of ex- the fourth century, occasioned piation, of tabernacles, of the de-by the discovery that was made dication of the passover, of pen- of the remains of martyrs, and tecost, and that of purification. other holy men, for the comFeasts, and the ceremonies there-memoration of whom they were of, have made great part of the established. These, instead, of bereligion of almost all nations and ing set apart for pious exercises, sects; hence the Greeks, the Ro- were abused in indolence, vomans, Mahometans, and Chris luptuousness, and criminal practians, have not been without them.tices. Many of them were instiFeasts, among us, are either tuted on a pagan model, and perimmoveable or moveable. Im-verted to similar purposes. See moveable feasts are those constant- HOLY DAY.

ly celebrated on the same day of FEAST OF ASSES. This was the year. The principal of these a festival in the Romish church,

and was celebrated at Beauvais. and been content with a system They chose a young woman the without feeling its energy. See handsomest in the town; made her AFFECTION, ENTHUSIASM, EXPEride on an ass richly harnessed, and RIENCE. placed in her arms a pretty infant.

FELLOWSHIP, joint interest, In this state, followed by the bi-or the having one common stock. shop and clergy, she marched in The fellowship of the saints is twoprocession from the cathedral to fold: 1. With God, 1st John i, 3. the church of St. Stephen; enter-1st Cor. i, 9. 1st Cor. xiii, 14.ed into the sanctuary, placed her-2. With one another, 1st John i, 7. self near the altar, and then cele- Fellowship with God, consists in brated mass; not forgetting to ex-knowledge of his will, Job xxii, plain the fine qualities of the ani- 21. John xvii, 3. Agreement, mal, and exhorting him to make Amos iii, 2. Strength of affection, a devout genuflection, with a va-Rom. viii, 38, 39. Enjoyment of riety of other fooleries. his presence, Ps. iv, 6. ConforFEELINGS RELIGIOUS, mity to his image, 1st John ii, 6. are those sensations or emotions 1st John i, 6. of the mind produced by the views Fellowship of the saints, may be we have of religion. While some considered as a fellowship of duenthusiasts boast of, depend on, ties Rom. xii, 6. 1st Cor. xii, 1. and talk much of their feelings, 1st Thess. v, 17, 18. James v, 16. there are others who are led to Of ordinances, Heb. x, 24. Acts discard the term, and almost toii, 46. Of graces, love, joy, &c. abandon the idea of religious feel-Heb. x, 24. Mal. iii, 16. 2d Cor. ing; but it is evident, that how viii, 4. Of interest spiritual, and ever many have been misguided sometimes temporal, Rom. xii, 4, and deceived by their feelings, 13. Heb. xiii, 16. Of sufferings, yet there is no such thing as Rom. xv, 1, 2. Gal. vi, 1, 2. Rom. religion without this. For in-xii, 15. Of eternal glory, Rev, stance; religion consists in con-vii, 9. See COMMUNION. trition, repentance, and devotion: FIDELITY, faithfulness, or the now, what is contrition but a feel-conscientious discharge of those ing of sorrow for sin? what is re-duties of a religious, personal, and pentance but a feeling of hatred relative nature, which we are to it, with a relinquishing of it? bound to perform. See an exwhat is devotion but a feeling of cellent sermon on the subject in love to God and his ways? Who Dr. Erskine's Sermons, vol. ii, p. can separate the idea of feeling 304.

from any of these acts? The fact FIFTH MONARCHY MEN, is this; religious feelings, like were a set of enthusiasts, in the every thing else, have been abused; time of Cromwell, who expected and men to avoid the imputation the sudden appearance of Christ of fanaticism, have run into the to establish on earth a new monopposite evil of lukewarmness, archy or kingdom. In consequence