Page:Two Sermons on the Duty and Joy of Frequent Public Worship.djvu/32

20 pure scriptural writings of the early Christians, and also one chapter from the old Testament and one from the New. And this rich collection of religious treasures is what many Christians call 'only the Prayers.'

"But, 2 (and this is the most important), these words are unchristian. Why do we object to go to Church when there is a plain service, 'only the Prayers?' Because we want to hear a sermon from a man, a divinely-commissioned man indeed, but still a man; or because we like to hear beautiful music. Now these things are very good and proper accompaniments of our Service, but not the chief purpose for which we ought to go to church.

"What does our Saviour call the Temple (and we may take His words to apply to Christian churches), but 'The House of Prayer?' What were the Apostles doing when they 'were continually in the Temple' after His ascension, praising and blessing God? And why is it that Jesus Christ our Lord advises us to meet together in His name? Is it not because He has promised to hear the prayers of two or three who so meet together? Prayer, united, common prayer, has ever been the favourite occupation of God's saints: I was glad when they said unto me, We will go into the house of the Lord. And united prayer and praise we must conceive to be chief amongst the blessed occupations of the resting, waiting souls in Paradise, as it will be for ever one principal part of the perfect joy, the devout delight, of the redeemed in heaven. And so I think it follows that those who despise what our Blessed Lord and His Apostles teach us is the chief part of God's service, do really (though ignorantly) speak in an unchristian manner.

"Whenever, therefore, we are inclined to excuse