Fasting

When Isabella resided with Mr. Pierson, he was in the habit of fasting every Friday; not eating or drinking anything from Thursday evening to six o'clock on Friday evening.

When Isabella lived with Mr. Pierson, he fasted every Friday. He ate and drank nothing from Thursday evening until six o'clock Friday evening.

Then, again, he would fast two nights and three days, neither eating nor drinking; refusing himself even a cup of cold water till the third day at night, when he took supper again, as usual.

At other times, he would fast for two nights and three days, eating and drinking nothing. He would not even drink a cup of cold water until the night of the third day, when he ate supper as usual.

Isabella asked him why he fasted. He answered, that fasting gave him great light in the things of God; which answer gave birth to the following train of thought in the mind of his auditor:-'Well, if fasting will give light inwardly and spiritually, I need it as much as any body,-and I'll fast too. If Mr. Pierson needs to fast two nights and three days, then I, who need light more than he does, ought to fast more, and I will fast three nights and three days.'

Isabella asked him why he fasted. He answered that fasting gave him great insight into the things of God. His answer led her to think: 'Well, if fasting gives spiritual light within, I need it as much as anyone, and I'll fast too. If Mr. Pierson needs to fast for two nights and three days, I ought to fast longer. I need light more than he does, so I will fast for three nights and three days.'

This resolution she carried out to the letter, putting not so much as a drop of water in her mouth for three whole days and nights. The fourth morning, as she arose to her feet, not having the power to stand, she fell to the floor; but recovering herself sufficiently, she made her way to the pantry, and feeling herself quite voracious, and fearing that she might now offend God by her voracity, compelled herself to breakfast on dry bread and water-eating a large six-penny loaf before she felt at all stayed or satisfied. She says she did get light, but it was all in her body and none in her mind-and this lightness of body lasted a long time. Oh! she was so light, and felt so well, she could 'skim around like a gull.'

She kept this resolution exactly, not even putting a drop of water in her mouth for three whole days and nights. On the fourth morning, she got to her feet, but she was too weak to stand and fell to the floor. She recovered enough to make her way to the pantry. She was extremely hungry and feared that she might offend God by eating too much. So she forced herself to eat only dry bread and water for breakfast. She ate a large six-penny loaf before she felt at all satisfied. She says she did become light, but all the light was in her body and none in her mind. This lightness in her body lasted a long time. Oh! She was so light and felt so well that she could 'skim around like a gull.'