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the temple, in the time of their captivity, yet they praying then privately with respect to it, as members of that Church, God was pleased to answer their petitions, at that very hour, when public prayers had been wont to be made at that place. For it was "about the time of the evening oblation," that the angel Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly to Daniel, as he was "speaking, and praying, and confessing his sin, and the sin of the people Israel, and presenting his supplication before the Lord his God." Dan. ix. 20, 21. And the tidings he brought him, were the most joyful that ever had been heard; for they were the very same, which the same angel afterwards brought to the blessed virgin, concerning the birth of our Lord Christ, to lay down His life for us.

And in the New Testament, you may observe, God sent His angel to bring St. Peter out of prison, after a miraculous manner, delivering him out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews; while many were gathered together

that "

praying. Acts xii. 12. We read in ver. 5. prayer was made without ceasing" (or instant and earnest prayer was made)" of the Church unto God for him :" and in the very time when many, that is, the whole Church were gathered together, that is, in the time of common Prayer, God sent salvation to him. Upon which words St. Chrysostom occasionally reflecting, cries out; "if the Prayer of the Church was so available for Peter; if it rescued him out of prison who was a pillar of the Church; how comes it about, that thou hast no sense of its power, but despisest it, and settest it at nought by thy neglect of it? What excuse canst thou make for this? especially, when if there be a sermon, we see a crowd of people, and the church as full as it can hold? Oh, says one, I can pray at home, but I can hear sermons no where but in the church. Vain man! thou deceivest thyself. Thou canst indeed pray at home; but thou canst not pray so, as thou dost in the church; where there is such a multitude of fathers; where a cry is sent up to God with one accord.

Thou

wilt not have such audience, when thou beseechest the Lord by thyself, as when thou prayest with thy brethren. For there is something more in this, viz., the concord, the conspiration, and harmony of many in the same petition; the bond of charity; and the Prayers of the priests for therefore the priests preside in those assemblies, that the prayers of the multitude which are weaker, may by the help of theirs which are stronger, go together with them into heaven. Add to this, what good doth a Sermon do, when prayer is not yoked with it? First Prayer, and then the Word, as the apostles say, "We will give ourselves continually to Prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts vi. 4. Thus St. Paul doth, praying in the preface to his Epistles, that the light of Prayer, like a torch, may usher in the Word. And if thou didst accustom thyself to pray with exact diligence, thou wouldest less need the instructions of thy fellow servant, God Himself illuminating thy mind, without his assistance. And if thou thinkest thy Prayer alone to be of such force, how powerful must it be, when

202 OUR SAVIOUR TEACHES THIS DOCTRINE.

joined with a multitude?

This is far more

nervous, and there is greater confidence and assurance in it, than in that which is made at home, and in private. So St. Paul thought, when he said, "He who hath delivered, and doth deliver, we trust, will yet deliver us, you also helping together by Prayer for us," 2 Corinth. i. 10, 11. So St. Peter also got out of prison; for "earnest Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him."

CHAPTER XVI.

WHICH IS FARTHER CONFIRMED BY THE PRAC

TICE OF THE APOSTLES, AND THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.

III.

THE

THE next thing I observe is, that according to the direction of our Saviour, and the encouragement He had given them, to expect His blessed presence among them; the apostles and the rest of Christ's disciples, immediately upon their Master's ascension into heaven, assembled themselves together for common Prayer and supplication; for so we read in the Acts i. 12, that as soon as He was gone out of their sight, and the angels had told them whither He was gone,

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they returned unto Jerusalem; and when they were come in, they went up into an upper room" (the place, as shall be shewn presently, of Christian worship,) " and all continued with one accord in Prayer and supplication, with

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