The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer, and Humiliation for Sin
Arthur Hildersham's treatise emerged from his decades of pastoral ministry at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where he witnessed both the spiritual vitality and moral struggles of English Puritanism in the early seventeenth century. Writing during a period when Reformed ministers sought to cultivate deeper personal piety among their congregations, Hildersham addressed the practical question of how Christians should respond to personal and corporate sin through the traditional disciplines of fasting and prayer.
Hildersham argues that fasting, when properly understood, serves as both an expression of genuine repentance and a means of spiritual preparation for receiving God's mercy. He distinguishes between mere ritual abstinence and true evangelical fasting that flows from a broken heart over sin. The treatise systematically explores the biblical foundations for fasting, its proper motivations, and its relationship to prayer and humiliation before God. Hildersham emphasizes that external acts of deprivation must accompany internal mortification of sin, and he provides detailed guidance on how to fast in ways that honor God rather than display human righteousness. Throughout, he maintains that these disciplines serve not as meritorious works but as means by which the soul positions itself to receive divine grace and experience spiritual renewal.
The work gained influence among English and American Puritans who valued Hildersham's careful balance between rigorous spiritual discipline and evangelical freedom. His integration of scriptural exegesis with pastoral wisdom provided a model for approaching the spiritual disciplines that avoided both antinomian neglect and legalistic excess.
Who should read this: Christians interested in the historical development of Reformed spirituality and those seeking to understand how earlier generations approached fasting and repentance will find Hildersham's systematic treatment valuable. Modern readers expecting contemporary psychological insights or abbreviated practical advice should look elsewhere.