were never thought by any Christian to signify less, than praying as oft as the Jews offered sacrifice; that is, morning, and evening, which may, with propriety enough, be called, praying continually, or without ceasing; as those morning and evening sacrifices at the temple, were called the continual burnt-offering. And Fourthly, that no reason can be given, why those sacrifices were publicly offered, which will not make it as necessary that we should have public Prayers; which are most for the honour of God, I have proved before, and every way advantageous to us. And then we can make no other conclusion but this, that morning and evening Prayer ought every day to be offered to God in our public assemblies; and that we ought to be glad of the opportunity to join therein, as the people did with the priest, who ministered in the temple. For when he was in the sanctuary at the altar of incense, praying, "the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense," Luke i. 10, 11, 13.

All the people of the land indeed could not

c. vii. Sect. 3.

possibly come thither every day to worship, but they had their synagogues in the country, where at the time of morning and evening sacrifice, they met together to pray, and hear the law of God read to them. And a Dr. Lightfoot's Temple Service 'certain number of men were likewise appointed from among them, whom they called stationary men, to attend constantly in their courses at the temple, in the name of the rest, whom they represented. Which things considered, we cannot think it fit to have no assemblies, but only on the Lord's day; especially when we observe that the ancient prophets expressly say, there should be as frequent devotion in the days of Christ, as there had been in former times. So we read in that famous prophecy, Psal. lxxii. 15. "Prayer shall be made for Him, (or to Him) continually (a plain allusion to the continual burntoffering) and daily shall He be praised." Which, that it is meant of public Prayers and praises is evident, from the offerings which it is there said shall be brought to Him; and from the effect hereof in the 17th ver. "His

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Name shall be continued for ever: and men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed." Thus the Chaldee Paraphrast understood those words, ver. 5. They shall fear Thee, as long as the sun and moon endure throughout all generations;" that is, saith he, they shall in all ages, "pray before Thee," (which is comprehended in the fear of God, whereby is often meant His worship and service) "with the sun, and before, or in the presence of the moon." As much as to say, the morning when the sun arises, and again at night, when the moon shines, they shall by devout Prayers express their reverence to Him, the king of the world.

in

Where people, indeed, in country villages, lie scattered one from another, and have abundance of business which call them several ways, it cannot be expected, that there should be every day such assemblies. But in c ties, and in market towns, where they live nearer together, and have, on most days, a geat deal of leisure (which to my knowledge is spent by many people there, in mere idleness or pleasure) it is of

absolute necessity, if we will do our duty completely to God our Saviour, that assemblies should be maintained and frequented, as they anciently were and still are in most parts of the Christian world. For the apostles of Christ immediately upon His ascension into heaven, persisted in the ancient practice of public devotion, being "continually (i. e. at morning and evening Prayer) in the temple, praising, and blessing God," Luke xxiv. 53. And after, by the power of the Holy Ghost coming on them, they had settled Churches, we read the "four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders (by which are certainly meant the governors of the Christian Church) rested not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," &c.; that is, morning and evening they fell down before God, and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever. Which practice ever since continued in the Church; which, in that heavenly hymn, commonly ascribed to St. Ambrose, hath constantly said, "day by day we magnify Thy name."

For which end certain hours, as well as a

certain place, have been always appointed, that men might so order their other affairs, as to be able to mind this great business, of giving thanks and praise to God, the Creator of all, and imploring His blessing on them in their several callings and conditions, and on their Church and country, and finally on the whole world. It is so sure that the Jews had such set hours of Prayer, that I do not think fit to say much of a matter so well known. I will only note that they were the third hour, the sixth, and the ninth. Which the Christian Church afterward observed, and that from the example of the apostles themselves. For St. Peter even when he was not at Jerusalem, went up to the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour, i. e., twelve o'clock. Which we cannot doubt was his usual custom, and as little doubt that it was the custom of the other apostles; and by them everywhere propagated throughout all the Churches. Which, the ancient writers of Christianity tell us observed those very set hours of prayer. So Clemens in his Constitutions, vii. 24. and Clemens Alexandri