An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…

It is becoming of Christians, with whose Character a narrow selfish Spirit, above all others, disagrees, to be much in Prayer for that public Mercy, wherein consists the Welfare and Happiness of the whole Body of Christ, of which they are Members, and the greatest Good of Mankind. And Union or Agreement in Prayer is especially becoming, when Christians pray for that Mercy, which above all other Things concerns them unitedly, and tends to the Relief, Prosperity and Glory of the whole Body, as well as of each individual Member.

It is becoming of Christians, with whose Character a narrow selfish Spirit, above all others, disagrees, to be much in Prayer for that publick Mercy, wherein consists the Welfare and Happiness of the whole Body of Christ, of which they are Members, and the greatest Good of Mankind. And Union or Agreement in Prayer is especially becoming, when Christians pray for that Mercy, which above all other Things concerns them unitedly, and tends to the Relief, Prosperity and Glory of the whole Body, as well as of each individual Member.

Such an Union in Prayer for the general Out-pouring of the Spirit of God, would not only be beautiful, but profitable too. It would tend very much to promote Union and Charity between distant Members of the Church of Christ, and a public Spirit, and Love to the Church of God, and Concern for the Interest of Zion; as well as be an amiable Exercise and Manifestation of such a Spirit. Union in religious Duties, especially in the Duty of Prayer, in praying one with and for another, and jointly for their common Welfare, above almost all other Things, tends to promote mutual Affection and Endearment. And if Ministers and People should, by particular Agreement and joint Resolution, set themselves, in a solemn and extraordinary Manner, from Time to Time, to pray for the Revival of Religion in the World, it would naturally tend more to awaken in them a Concern about Things of this Nature, and more of a Desire after such a Mercy; it would engage ⟨p. 82⟩'em to more Attention to such an Affair, make 'em more inquisitive about it, more ready to use Endeavours to promote that which they, with so many others, spend so much Time in praying for, and more ready to rejoice and praise God when they see or hear of any Thing of that Nature or Tendency: And in a particular Manner, would it naturally tend to engage Ministers (the Business of whose Lives it is, to seek the Welfare of the Church of Christ, and the Advancement of his Kingdom) to greater Diligence and Earnestness in their Work: And it would have a Tendency to the spiritual Profit and Advantage of each particular Person. For Persons to be thus engaged in extraordinarily praying for the reviving and flourishing of Religion in the World, will naturally lead each one to reflect on himself, and consider how Religion flourishes in his own Heart, and how far his Example contributes to the Thing that he is praying for.