An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Chrysostom doth from this enlarge himself, concerning the great power that a multitude hath, if met in an holy manner to prevail with God. They do (as it were) put God to shame (that is his expression) he knoweth not how to gain-say many, when they knock and importune: whereupon he takes occasion to speak of the public Church-prayers that were then made for the Catechumenoi, and doth in particular explicate every petition. But we shall keep to the Apostle, who doth desire their public prayers and praises, thereby commending the profit and efficacy of them.

Chrysostome doth from this enlarge himself, concerning the great power that a multitude hath, if met in an holy manner to prevail with God. They do (as it were) put God to shame (that is his expression) he knoweth not how to gain-say many, when they knock and importune: whereupon he takes occasion to speak of the publick Church-prayers that were then made for the Catechumenoi, and doth in particular explicate every petition. But we shall keep to the Apostle, who doth desire their publick prayers and praises, thereby commending the profit and efficacy of them.

To amplify this, consider this Caution,

To amplifie this, consider this Caution,

First, That though God delights in the assembling of many, yet they must be such as are qualified according to Gods will. It is not simply a multitude that God regardeth. We read of the Israelites, that in their distresses, they would make their approaches to God in great troops; yet the Lord abhorred their Sacrifices, because they did not wash themselves, nor make them clean, so as to put away their iniquities and transgressions far from them. If so be, the Wise Man saith, That one sinner destroyeth much good, then how much good do many destroy? If one dead fly spoil a box of ointment, what will many dead flies do? So that the more assembled together in this manner, the more is God provoked. For