CHAPTER V. 191 may discharge this part of their duty to God in their congrega- tions and households. But this duty bath a farther extent. Every man that is joined to a church of Christ should seek after an ability to help the church with his prayers; or at least upon more private occasions to join with a few fellow -christians in seeking to God their Father. Nor are women, though they are forbidden to speak in the church, forbid to pray in their own families, nor with one another in á private chamber ; and I am persuaded christians 'would ask one anotfier's assistance more frequently in prayer upon special occasions, if a good. _ gift of prayer were more commonly sought and more universally ob- tained. Nor would congregations in the country be dismissed, and the whole Lord's.day pass without public worship, where a minister is suddenly taken sick, if some grave and discreet chris- tian of good ability in prayer wouldbrit take that part ofworship upon him, together with the reading some well-composed sermon, and some useful portion of holy scripture. Doubtless this would be most acceptable to that God, who loves the gates of Zion, or his own public ordinances, more than all the dwellings of Jacob, or worship of private families ; Ps. lxxxvii. 3. Tlts far is the gift necessary wheresoever social prayer may be performed. But the necessity of it reaches farther still : There is not a. man, woman, or child, that is capable of seeking God, but is bound to 'exercise something of the gift of .prayer. And those that never have any call from providence, to be the mouth of others in speaking to God, are called daily to speak to God themselves. It. is necessary therefore, that every soul Should be so far furnished with a knowledge of the perfections of God, as to be able to adore them distinctly ; should have such an acquaintance with its own wants, as to express them particu- larly before God, at least in the conceptions and language of the mind; should have such an apprehension of the encouragements to pray, as to be able to plead with God for supply ; and should have such an observation and remembrance of divine mercies, as to repeat someof them before God with humble thanks- givings. III. I would pursue this persuasive by a third argument, drawn from the divide delight, and exceeding great advatîtage of this gift to our own souls, and to the souls of all that join sn prayer with us. Christians, have you never felt your spirits raised from a carnal and vain temper of mind, to a devout frame, by a lively prayer? llave ye not found your whole souls over- spread with holy affections, and carried úp to heaven with most abundant pleasure, by the pious and regular performance of him that speaks to God in worship ? And when ye have been cold and indifferent to divine things, have ye not felt that heavy and listless humour expelled, by joining with the warm and lively
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