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 PRACTICE OF THE APOSTLES, AND THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.

III.

THE

HE 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, 66 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

the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren."

It was in their assemblies, we read in St. John, where our Saviour often appeared to them, presently after His resurrection, John xx. 19, 26, and we may well think it was for devotion that they assembled; for it was on the first day of the week. But here we read expressly, after He was ascended into heaven, what they did in those assemblies. In which there being, one day, a hundred and twenty met together, they made solemn Prayer to God for direction in the choice of a new apostle, to succeed in the room of Judas, Acts i. 15, 24. But that which is most remarkable, you find in the beginning of the next chapter; that when the day of Pentecost was fully come, "they were all with one accord in one place," and suddenly they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with tongues, &c. This great gift, whereby they were to gather a Church in all nations, as they had began to do at Jerusalem and thereabouts, came down upon them, when they were all met toge

ther, for the service of God. The one place here spoken of, being no other than that mentioned before, where "they continued with one accord, in Prayer and supplication." The place where they assembled immediately after His resurrection, as I said just now, and in all likelihood, the place where our Lord eat His last supper with them before His passion. They did not look for this promise of our Saviour in their closets; but expected He would be in the midst of them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, when they were met together to wait upon Him for the fulfilling of His word.

IV. And accordingly you may farther note, that all they who were converted by them, to own Christ Jesus for their Lord and master, immediately joined themselves to them, to worship God in communion with them. Thus you read, how upon that very day, when they received the Holy Ghost, and preached thereupon unto all they could meet withal, the resurrection of Christ in their own language, many as received the word (that is, believed on Christ) were baptized" (that was the first

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