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upon that occafion, Matt. vi. 5. &c.

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"thou prayeft, thou shalt not be as the hy

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pocrites are: for they love to pray ftanding in the fynagogues, and in the corners "of the streets, that they may be seen of << men. Verily, I fay unto you, they have "their reward. But thou, when thou "prayeft, enter into thy clofet, and when "thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy fa"ther who is in fecret, and thy father who "feeth in fecret, fhall reward thee openly. "But when ye pray, ufe not vain repeti

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tions, as the heathen do: for they think "that they fhall be heard for their much fpeaking. Be not ye, therefore, like unto them; for your father knoweth what things ye have nced of, before ye afk him." To thefe excellent admonitions, he fubjoins that pattern of prayer which we ufually call the Lord's prayer, which is admirably fimple and expreffive; and as the most important of all our petitions is that which we make for the forgiveness of our fins, he is particularly careful to infift upon it, that we make that request with a heart thorough

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us.

ly reconciled to all those who have offended Matt. vi. 14. &c. "For, if ye forgive "men their trefpaffes, your heavenly father "will alfo forgive you. But if ye forgive "not men their trefpaffes, neither will your "father forgive your trefpaffes."

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The apofiles alfo, upon a great variety of occafions, moft earnefly recommend frequent prayer, 1 Thef. v. 17. "Pray without ceafing." Rom. xii. 12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing "inftant in prayer." Philip. iv. 6. "Be “careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and fupplication, with thankf

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giving, let your requefes be made known "unto God." 1 Tim. ii. 1. &c. "I ex"hort that fupplications, prayers, intercef

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fions, and giving of thanks, be made for "all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority." This apoftle does not fail, however, to recommend a proper temper of mind in prayer, when he adds, v. 8. "I will "that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

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When

When perfons are under affliction, they are more efpecially difpofed to have recourfe to prayer. Seeing no other hope, they fly to God, as their all-fufficient Saviour, and friend; and this natural propenfity of the mind is particularly encouraged by the apoftle James, v. 13. "Is any among you "afflicted? let him pray."

Though the greatest ftrefs is laid, in the fcriptures, upon private devotion, it is by no means fo much fo, as to fet afide the obligation of focial worship, which is also much infifted upon in them. The facrifices which were appointed to be made every morning and evening in the Jewish tabernacle or temple, were offered in the name of the whole nation; and as many perfons as conveniently could, did ufually attend during the ceremony, and offered up their prayers, while the prieft went into the temple to burn incenfe. Lukei. 10. " And the whole "multitude of the people were praying "without at the time of incenfe." David expreffes the high fatisfaction which he received from thofe opportunities of public

worship

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worship in feveral of his pfalms, as Pf. xxvi. 8. "Lord, I have loved the habitation of

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thy houfe, and the place where thine ho"nour dwelleth." Pf. cxxii. 1.

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"I was

glad when they faid unto me, Let us go "into the houfe of the Lord." And Pf.

lxxxiv. I. "How amiable are thy taber-
"nacles, O Lord of hofts! A day in thy
"courts is better than a thoufand." He
alfo recommends the greatest reverence upon
thefe occafions. Pf. lxxxix. 7.
"God is

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greatly to be feared in the affembly of the "faints and to be had in reverence of all "them that are about him.”

Though we have no particular accounts of the cuftom of the Jews, in antient times, with refpect to the manner in which they fpent their fabbaths, yet fince they were

commanded to reft from all labour on those days, and were enjoined to read and meditate on their law" at all times," Deut. vi. 7. we cannot but fuppofe that they employed those days, in which they had most leisure for that purpose, in reading, meditation, and prayer; and feveral paffages in the Old Tef

tament

tament seem pretty plainly to allude to fuch a cuftom. We find, however, in the time of our Saviour, that fynagogues were eftablished through the whole country of Judea, and in all other countries where the Jews had any fettlement; and in thefe places the books of the law and the prophets were regularly read, and prayers made every fabbath day. Thefe fervices our Lord himself statedly attended, as Luke informs us, ch. iv. 16. "As his cuftom was, he went "into the fynagogue on the fabbath-day." And the fame exercifes were continued by the apostles in all chriftian churches, which were formed upon the fame general plan, and have been tranfmitted through all ages to this day.

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