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| Better to pray together than separately.
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16. Better to pray together than
separately.
But here again I would ask my accuser, where was
it right that the people should pray? in the deserts, or in a place
which was in course of building for the purpose of prayer? Where was it
becoming and pious that the people should answer, Amen1333
| 1333 Bingham, Antiqu. xv. 3. §25. [D.C.A. 75.] Suicer,
Thesaur. in voc. ἀυὴν, Gavanti,
Thesaur. vol. i. p. 89. ed. 1763. | ? in the deserts, or in what was already
called the Lord’s house? Where would you, most religious Prince,
have wished your people to stretch forth their hands, and to pray for
you? Where Greeks, as they passed by, might stop and listen, or in a
place named after yourself, which all men have long called the
Lord’s house, even since the foundations of it were laid? I am
sure that you prefer your own place; for you smile, and that tells me
so. ‘But,’ says the accuser, ‘it ought to have been
in the Churches. They were all, as I said before, too small and
confined to admit the multitude. Then again, in which way was it most
becoming that their prayers should be made? Should they meet together
in parts and separate companies, with danger from the crowded state of
the congregation? or, when there was now a place that would contain
them all, should they assemble in it, and speak as with one and the
same voice in perfect harmony? This was the better course, for this
shewed the unanimity of the multitude: in this way God will readily
hear prayer. For if, according to the promise of our Saviour Himself1334
, where two shall agree together as touching
anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them, how shall it
be when so great an assembly of people with one voice utter their Amen
to God? Who indeed was there that did not marvel at the sight? Who but
pronounced you happy when they saw so great a multitude met together in
one place? How did the people themselves rejoice to see each other,
having been accustomed heretofore to assemble in separate places! The
circumstance was a source of pleasure to all; of vexation to the
calumniator alone.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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