{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030769.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030769.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030769.htm","text":"Chapter XXV.\u2014Of Time for Prayer.\nTouching the time, however, the extrinsic 8924 observance of certain hours will not be unprofitable\u2014those common hours, I mean, which mark the intervals of the day\u2014the third, the sixth, the ninth\u2014which we p. 690 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 \u201cthe third hour.\u201d 8925 Peter, on the day on which he experienced the vision of Universal Community, 8926 (exhibited) in that small vessel, 8927 had ascended into the more lofty parts of the house, for prayer\u2019s sake \u201cat the sixth hour.\u201d 8928 The same (apostle) was going into the temple, with John, \u201cat the ninth hour,\u201d 8929 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\u2014what we read to have been observed by Daniel also, 8930 in accordance (of course) with Israel\u2019s discipline\u2014we pray at least not less than thrice in the day, debtors as we are to Three\u2014Father, 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.\nMr. Dodgson supposes this word to mean \u201coutward, as contrasted with the inward, \u2018praying always.\u2019\u201d Oehler interprets, \u201cex vita communi.\u201d But perhaps what Tertullian says lower down in the chapter, \u201calbeit they stand simply without any precept enjoining their observance,\u201d may give us the true clue to his meaning; so that \u201cextrinsecus\u201d would =\"extrinsic to any direct injunction of our Lord or His apostles.\u201d\n690:8925 690:8926\nCommunitatis omnis (Oehler). Mr. Dodgson renders, \u201cof every sort of common thing.\u201d Perhaps, as Routh suggests, we should read \u201comnium.\u201d\n690:8927\nVasculo. But in Acts it is, \u03c3\u03ba\u03b5\u1fe6\u03cc\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9 \u1f61\u03c2 \u1f40\u03b8\u03cc\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03b3\u03ac\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd [Small is here comparatively used, with reference to Universality of which it was the symbol.]\n690:8928 690:8929\nActs iii. 1: but the man is not said to have been \u201cparalytic,\u201d but \u201clame from his mother\u2019s womb.\u201d\n690:8930\nDan. 6:10, Ps. 55:17 (in the LXX. it is liv. 18).","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part III: Of Ti...","type":"page"}