Chap. Xxv.—Of Time For Prayer.
CHAP. XXV.—OF TIME FOR PRAYER.
Touching the time, however, the extrinsic[18] observance of
certain hours will not be unprofitable—those common hours, I mean,
which mark the intervals of the day—the third, the sixth, the
ninth—which we may find in the Scriptures to have been more solemn
than the rest. The first infusion of the Holy Spirit into the
congregated disciples took place at "the third hour."[1] Peter, on the
day on which he experienced the vision of Universal Community,[2]
(exhibited) in that small vessel,[3] had ascended into the more lofty
parts of the house, for prayer's sake "at the sixth hour."[4] The same
(apostle) was going into the temple, with John, at the ninth hour,"[5]
when he restored the paralytic to his health. Albeit these practices
stand simply without any precept for their observance, still it may be
granted a good thing to establish some definite presumption, which may
both add stringency to the admonition to, pray, and may, as it were by
a law, tear us out from our businesses unto such a duty; so that—what
we read to have been observed by Daniel also,[6] in accordance (of
course) with Israel's discipline—we pray at least not less than thrice
in the day, debtors as we are to Three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
of course, in addition to our regular prayers which are due, without
any admonition, on the entrance of light and of night. But, withal, it
becomes believers not to take food, and not to go to the bath, before
interposing a prayer; for the refreshments and nourishments of the
spirit are to be held prior to those of the flesh, and things heavenly
prior to things earthly.