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this, "That the Church having brought forth many children, she could not enjoy their company, every time they assembled to remember our Saviour, but only upon a festival.

St. Chrysost. de
Baptism. Chri-
sti. Hom. xxiv.
Tom. 1.

full of joy to day, I alone

When you are all am full of sorrow,

and grieved at heart; to think that the Church which now hath such multitudes in it, will tomorrow be empty. O how great spiritual exultation, how great joy, how great glory to God, how great profit to souls would there be, if every time we assemble, we could behold the Church as full as it is at this solemn time? Do you not see how the mariners and pilots, when they are upon the sea, labour all they can, to get into their port? And we, on the contrary, love to be tossed up and down in the sea of this world; engaging ourselves in innumerable secular affairs, which so take up all our thoughts and our time, that here we appear scarce once or twice in the whole year. Are ye ignorant, that as God made havens in the sea, so He hath made Churches in cities, that flying from the tumult, or tempest rather of

secular affairs, we may here enjoy the greatest tranquillity? And for this I may appeal to all your own consciences, whether you find not here such quiet and peace, that you may truly call the Church, the spiritual haven of the soul. For anger here gives no disturbance (the storms of passions cease) lust doth not inflame; envy doth not gnaw; pride puffs not up; nor doth the love of vain but all these wild beasts are

glory corrupt; tamed, as by a hearing of the

divine charm, as soon as the holy Scriptures enters, at every man's ears, into his soul, and lays all these unreasonable passions asleep. Who then will not judge them to be miserable wretches, that when they might be partakers of such great wisdom and grace, will not gather themselves together continually, and come to the common mother of us all, I mean the Church? For what more necessary business canst thou pretend? What more gainful meeting? Or what should hinder thee from letting us here have thy company ?"

This is a lesson he repeats very often, parti

Hom. v. de Anna Tom. 2.

cularly in a Sermon he preached a little after Whitsuntide, "Where he complains that he had in vain persuaded them, at the last solemn assembly, to continue in their Fathers house, not merely appear there on a festival, and then leave it. And therefore desires his constant auditors, that they would try to induce their neighbours, by representing to them, that though Pentecost were gone, yet the festival was not gone therewith. For every holy meeting, (saith he,) is a feast; as appears from the words of Christ Himself; 'Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.' When Christ is in the midst of those who are assembled, what other demonstration, greater than this, would we have of a festival? Where there is the sacred doctrine and Prayer, where the benedictions of Fathers, and the hearing of the holy laws, where the meeting together of brethren, and the bond of sincere love and charity, where converse with God, and God speaking to men, how can there choose but be a festival, and a day of public rejoicing? For

not the multitude, but the virtue of those that are gathered together, makes a festival; not the fine clothes, but the ornaments of piety; not a rich table, but careful provision for the soul. The greatest feast is a good conscience. And therefore we may keep a feast every day, if we will exercise virtue, if we will purify the conscience. For in what doth the great festival differ from this day, but only in tumult and noise, and in nothing else? For to-day you may enjoy the holy mysteries, and partake of other spiritual benefits, viz., Prayer, Hearing, Blessing, Charity, and all other things, and therefore it is as good a day as any."

CHAPTER XIX.

OF DAILY PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES, AND OF HOURS,

Τ

AND GESTURES OF PRAYER.

IT may be thought, perhaps, by some, that I

go too far, in pressing a DAILY attendance upon the public Prayers, which they imagine is but a superfluous piece of devotion, a great deal more than needs; but if they would lay a very few things together, and consider them seriously, they would alter their opinion;

First, let it be considered that there was anciently, a morning and evening sacrifice, every day publicly offered to God at the temple; which was called the continual burntoffering, ordained by Him on mount Sinai, Numb. xxviii. 3, 6. Exod. xxix. 42. Secondly, that such sacrifices were acknowledgments to God, and Prayers for the obtaining His favour, 1. Sam. xiii. 12. Thirdly, that the reiterated precepts of the gospel, which require us to "pray alway," and to "pray without ceasing,"

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