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

In the Text we have an Account how this future glorious Advancement of the Church of God should be brought on, or introduced; viz. By great Multitudes in different Towns and Countries taking up a joint Resolution, ⟨p. 5⟩and coming into an express and visible Agreement, that they will, by united and extraordinary Prayer, seek to God that he would come and manifest himself, and grant the Tokens and Fruits of his gracious Presence.

Particularly we may observe,

1. The Duty, with the Attendance on which the glorious Event foretold shall be brought on; viz. The Duty of Prayer.—Prayer, some suppose, is here to be taken synecdochically, for the Whole of the Worship of God; Prayer being a principal Part of the Worship of the Church of God, in the Days of the Gospel, when Sacrifices are abolished: And so, that this is to be understood only as a Prophecy of a great Revival of Religion, and of the true Worship of God among his visible People, the Accession of others to the Church, and turning of Multitudes from Idolatry to the Worship of the true God. But it appears to me reasonable, to suppose, that something more special is intended, with Regard to the Duty of Prayer; considering that Prayer is here expressly and and repeatedly mentioned; and also considering how parallel this Place is with many other Prophecies, that speak of an extraordinary Spirit of Prayer, as preceding and introducing that glorious Day of Revival of Religion, and Advancement of the Church's Peace and Prosperity, so often foretold (which I shall have Occasion to mention hereafter) and particularly the Agreeableness of what is here said, with what is said afterwards by the same Prophet, of the pouring out of a Spirit of Grace and Supplications, as that with which this great Revival of Religion shall begin, Chap. xii.10.