Section VI. — Observe the fittest seasons for duty in thy family, when with most freedom and least disturbance it may l)e jjcrformed. In the morning, take the opportunity, before the throngof worldly business crowds in upon thee. In .some families I have observed, where they are in great employments, that if duty be delayed till some worldly occasions be despatched, then either it hath been shut out, cr shut uj) in such straits of time, that the sloveidy manner of performing it hath proved little better than the total neglect. To prevent this, it is best to forestall the world's market betimes in the morning, to set upon the duty, and otfer up to (iod the first-fruits of the day, before our thoughts nu-et with a diversion. We read, Exod. x\ i. 21, that the Israelites gathered their manna early in the morning, and ' when the sun waxed hot, it liielted.' I wish such who have multiplicity of worldly occasions, to take their finu^ for communion with God early, before their thoughts are hot in their worldly busi- ness, lest they then find them so scattered among other businesses, so as not easily to be gathered into a close attendance upon God in the duty. Again, when night comes, delay not the work till ye are more fit to go to your pillow than to yoiu- cushion, to sleep than to pray. If the eye sleep, the soul cannot well wake, lispecially consider your servants that labour hard in the day ; O do not expose them to the temptation of drowsy ])rayers ! If our hearts took delight in the work, we would ])lan which would be the best time for connnunion with God, as lovers do how and when they may most privately meet together.
CHAPTER XLII.
OF PUBLIC PRAYEK, THAT GOD REQUIRES IT, AND WHY?
The second kind of social or joint prayer is public; that which is made in and by the church assembled together for the worship of God. In handling of which I shall observe five things.
Section I. — That God requires a piddic worship of his people. This word worship is that honour and service we give to any one according to his excellency; and it is threefold, — Civil, Moral, and Divine. Ctrl/ worship is the due honour and service we pay to a person in place and power over us, as a prince, father, or master. Mora/, is that due reverence and respect which we pay to a person that hath any excellency of virtue or place, without authority over us. Thus we give honour and veneration both to the saints living on earth with us, and to the angels and saints in heaven. J{i'//(//ous or (//r//ic worship, is the honour and service we give to that Being, which we believe is the authen- of our beings, and fountain of our happiness. Now this Being is God, and he only. To him therefore, and him ahme, is religious worship due; Dent. vi. 1,'}, H : ' Thou shalt fear the Lord thy (Jod, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name; ye shall not go after other gods.' This religious worship of the true God comes under divers distinctions, inward and outward, private and public. The public worship of God is the present subject of our discourse, that wliich the congregation performs to him in their religious assemblies, called, Psa. Ixxxix. 5, 'the congregation of saints;' and, ver. 7, 'the assembly of saints.' The church of God on earth began in a family, and so did the worship of God ; but when the number increased, the worship of (iod became more ])ublic; Gen. iv. 2G, 'Then began men to call upon the name of the Lcn-d ;' that is, they began publicly ; Seth and other of the religious seed began to have their holy assem- blies for the service of (iod. It is observable, how God, at the pronnilgation of the law on Sinai, when he first formed the Israelites into a polity, took a spe- cial care for erecting a public worship to his name. That was the day of their espousals, Jer. ii. 2; and then he instituted a solemn form of public worship, with exact rules how it should be performed. Our Lord .lesus took the same care for his gospel church, in appointing both church ordinances and ofilccrs to dispense the same.
(394. WITH ALL PRAYKR AND SUPPLICATION.