not houses for preaching only, but, in a pre-eminent degree, what our Reformers designed them to be, and what God ordained his Temple of old to be, " houses of prayer.'" And those who make light of the Prayers, and regard them only as a kind of decent prelude to the Sermon, shew that " they know not what spirit they are of:" since all the preaching in the universe will be of no use without prayer ; whereas the souls of men will prosper if they abound in prayer, though they are less favoured as to the ministrations of sinful men. Let any one consult our Liturgy in this parti- cular view. The Introductory Sentences all bear on this point, to shew us what sinners we are, and how much we stand in need of mercy, and how ready God is to receive returning penitents. But, as I shall have occasion to enter somewhat more fully into this point under my next head, I will wave all further mention of it now ; observing only, that a congregation uniting fervently in the prayers of our Liturgy would afford as complete a picture of heaven as ever yet was beheld on earth : in spirit, there would be the most perfect accordance that can be imagined : the only difference would be, that the one are uniting prayer with praise, because of their still-continued neces- sities ; whereas the other engage in praise alone, having all their necessities for ever supplied. And here I would particularly call your attention to the prayer of Solomon, that you may see how much the subject of forgiveness is dwelt upon throughout the whole of it. He requests God's attention to all who, under any calamity, shall, in future, direct their supplications towards that house : and, in every distinct case, he takes it for granted that sin has been the true and proper source of their calamity; and he implores in their behalf, not merely the removal of the judgment, but especially, and above all, the forgiveness of their sin^ Nor must we overlook this, in God's answer to his prayer: on the contrary, we must regard it as a pledge, that he will receive returning prodigals, and that all who approach him
f See ver. 21, 22, 24, 26, 30, 36, 50.