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| Of Time for Prayer.
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Chapter XXV.—Of
Time for Prayer.
Touching the time, however, the
extrinsic8924
| 8924 Mr. Dodgson supposes
this word to mean “outward, as contrasted with the inward,
‘praying always.’” Oehler interprets, “ex vita
communi.” But perhaps what Tertullian says lower down in
the chapter, “albeit they stand simply without any precept
enjoining their observance,” may give us the true clue to his
meaning; so that “extrinsecus” would ="extrinsic to
any direct injunction of our Lord or His apostles.” | observance of
certain hours will not be unprofitable—those common hours, I
mean, which mark the intervals of the day—the third, the sixth,
the ninth—which we may find in the Scriptures to have been
more solemn than the rest. The first infusion of the Holy Spirit into
the congregated disciples took place at “the third
hour.”8925
| 8925 Acts ii. 1–4, 14, 15. | Peter, on the day
on which he experienced the vision of Universal Community,8926
| 8926 Communitatis omnis
(Oehler). Mr. Dodgson renders, “of every sort of common
thing.” Perhaps, as Routh suggests, we should read
“omnium.” | (exhibited) in that small vessel,8927
| 8927 Vasculo. But in Acts
it is, σκεῦός τι ὡς
ὀθόνην
μεγάλην [Small
is here comparatively used, with reference to Universality of
which it was the symbol.] | had ascended into the more lofty parts of
the house, for prayer’s sake “at the sixth
hour.”8928
The same (apostle)
was going into the temple, with John, “at the ninth
hour,”8929
| 8929 Acts iii. 1: but the man is not said to have been
“paralytic,” but “lame from his mother’s
womb.” | when he restored
the paralytic to his health. Albeit these practices stand
simply without any precept for their observance, still it may be
granted a good thing to establish some definite presumption, which may
both add stringency to the admonition to pray, and may, as it were by a
law, tear us out from our businesses unto such a duty; so
that—what we read to have been observed by Daniel also,8930
| 8930 Dan.
vi. 10; comp. Ps. lv. 17 (in
the LXX. it is liv. 18). | in accordance (of course) with
Israel’s discipline—we pray at least not less than thrice
in the day, debtors as we are to Three—Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit: of course, in addition to our regular prayers which are due,
without any admonition, on the entrance of light and of night. But,
withal, it becomes believers not to take food, and not to go to the
bath, before interposing a prayer; for the refreshments and
nourishments of the spirit are to be held prior to those of the flesh,
and things heavenly prior to things earthly.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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