John Trapp on Joel 1:14

Verſe 14. Sanctify ye a faſt] Having humbled your ſelves, preach repentance to others. That's the beſt ſermon that's digged out of a mans own breſt. Sanctify your ſelves firſt, and then prepare your brothren, ſaith loſiah to the Prieſts of his time 2 Cron. 35.6. A religious faſt (for that the Prophet intends here by Sanctify) rightly obſerved and referred to religious ends, is both a teſtimony of true repentance, and a furtherance thereunto: for it cames the rebell fleſh 1 Cor. 9. ult. which elſe will wantonize, and overtop the Spirit Deut. 32.15. And it giveth wings to our prayers, which before groveld on the ground, as it were. Faſting inflameth prayer; and prayer ſanctifieth faſting.

ſanctify therefore a faſt, call a ſolemn aſſembly] Heb. a day of reſtraint ſeparating your ſelves as Zech. 8.19. from all fleſhly delights; amercing and puniſhing your ſelues in that ſort by an holy revenge, as Pſal. 35.13. and afflicting your ſoules with voluntary ſorrowes for your ſins and miſeries.

gather the Elders] both thoſe qui canis & annis ſunt tales, who are full of dayes and ſo of ſins; and alſo thoſe, that are in place of authority: whoſe offences have ſored higher on the wings of Example, and Scandal.

and all the inhabitants of the land] For as all are ſin-guilty, ſo your unanimity and charity will further the ſervice. All ſhould get together in this caſe, and bring their buckets to quench a common fire: the more publike and general the humiliation is, the more pleaſing and prevalent, Judg. 20.26. 2 Chron. 30.3, 13. Ion. 3.5, 7, 8.

into the houſe of the Lord your God] which houſe was a type of Chriſt, (in whom God heareth His) and had made many promiſes to prayers there put up in faith, 1 King. 8.37, 38, 39. 2 Chron. 6.28, 29.

of the Lord your God] Yours ſtill by vertue of the covenant: be ſure to keep faith in heart, when we are at the greateſt und[illegible: 1 letter]r.

And cry unto the Lord] with the heart at leaſt as Moſes did at the red ſea,Moſes egit vocis ſilentio ut magis audivetur. when yet none heard him but the ear of heaven only; and as Hannah did when ſhe uttered no audible voyce, and yet poured forth her ſoul to the Lord with ſuch a ſtrange and unwonted writing of her lips, that Eli thought ſhe had been drunk.