affected with the sweetness of pardoning grace and ardently pleads with God for acceptance again when the graces of the Spirit are acted in the duty as an holy awe and fear of God faith love humility zeal and fervency and a willingness to forgive others as well as to be forgiven by the Lord Lastly a soul may know when it hath communion with God by the consequences of duty as when the Christian is more vile in his own eyes as Abraham was gives God all the glory sees and bewails his defects in greatest inlargements when the spirit is left in a better frame and fitter to bear crosses and perform after-duties c. I do but hint these things 4. Case Suppose I have prayed and prayed and find not my heart affected 't is dead dull distracted I do no good get no good in duty I fear I offend God What shall I do Ans Such a case is sad yet consider 1. It may be the case of gracious hearts David was so depressed and troubled that he could not speak Psal 77.3 4. Gods best Children are sometimes out of frame their spirits unfit for duty 2. A total neglect will not mend the matter nor help the frame of your hearts one sin will never cure another running from the fire is not the way to be warm your hearts will not be better but worse by forbearance omission indisposeth 3. Who knows but God may come in the next time Keep upon the Royal Exchange still ply the oars give God no rest gratifie not Satan by neglect Tradesmen keep their Markets though for small gains you 'l get something at last worth your pains they never were ashamed that have waited on him The issue will be good 4. God may graciously accept thy obedience though thou have not sweet inlargement the obedience is thine the inlargement God's he is a free Agent and works when he pleaseth he loves to see poor souls tug and struggle with their own hearts though they can get little forward yet they would be better and do better The Father takes it well when the Child is striving to obey him though it fall very far short He sees the Spirit is willing though the flesh be weak and accepts of upright endeavours Nay observe it a Christians conscientious attendance upon God without inlargements may be more acceptable to God than when he hath the sweetest inlargements because there is most obedience in those duties but in the other a Christian is as it were hired to performances by the Earnest-peny of inlargements Oh 't is a brave thing to persevere in duty under discouragements he that can trade when times are so dead that all his wares lye upon his hand yet trades more surely his stock is great So 't is an evidence of much Faith Love Sincerity when the Soul can maintain this Heavenly Trade when his sensible incomes are small Yet when God thus withdraws from you you must deeply lay it to heart inquire the cause make your peace with him and ply the Throne of Grace with greater importunity Thus much briefly for these Cases of Consciences And now beloved friends I have dispatcht this Subject concerning Closet-prayer What remains but that we should all fall closs to the constant practice of this duty What do Ministers preach Sermons or print Books for Is it to be seen and heard in publick Is it to be applauded Or is it not rather to do good to peoples souls And can people get any good by hearing a sound of words or a complemental reading what is written Is there not something else required of you now even a setting about the conscientious practice of what is before you What say you sirs to this Point Is Closet-Prayer a Christian duty or is it not If it be not why doth Christ direct us to the right manner of performance and assure us that our Father will reward it openly Will God reward any thing but commanded duty There 's no question but 't is a duty I challenge any man to disprove it now and to stand to his assertion another day before the God of Heaven But I think none will deny it to be a duty and sirs dare any man that professeth Religion live in the gross neglect of plain duty Do you think it 's fit it should be done and will you not do it Shall your own tongues be brought in as witnesses against your selves Will you be like that Son that said I go sir but went not Shall God wait your leisure and you 'l not give him a visit Will you go into your Closets to make up your accounts And will you not reckon streight betwixt God and your Souls Dare you go from day to day under the guilt of a known sin If you do not what you have read this Book will flie in the face of conscience another day But I am most afraid lest Christians trifle about this work and shuffle it off after any fashion and so put off God with a meer outside performance to pacifie conscience without that warmth and life we should have in our Closets 'T is recorded of Luther that he prayed every day three hours and even then when his spirits were most lively Per tres horas easq ad studia aptissimas Nor were his Closet-Prayers dull careless heartless be so fervent and ardent saith Melancthon that they which stood under his window where he stood praying might see his tears falling and dropping down Oh but where is this zeal and ardency in our secret devotion Are we not ready to drop asleep even upon our knees Alas how formal are we The fire of God is wanting in our sacrifices Nay do we not take Gods Name in vain many times and know not what we say Oh why do we thus forget Gods omnipresence and omniscience Doth not he know our hearts And should not we approve our selves to God in our Closets Yea doth not Satan stand under our Closet-window or rather at our Elbow and hears what we say to God in our Closets If you take not notice of your mistakes in Closet-Prayer Satan doth and takes advantage by them Indeed I have heard some make this a scruple whethey should in secret confess heart-sins lest Satan should be acquainted with what he knew not before and so be furnishd with matter to accuse them of but an ingenious confession prevents Satans accusation because we have a promise of remission annexed thereunto Rom. 8.33 And who shall lay any thing to the charge of justified persons He hath little reason to take your confessions and dash them in your teeth since that was both the means and evidence of pardon But if you fear that you may do as Hannah in Prayer speak in your hearts and then Satan cannot tell what you say but your God doth However neglect not the duty for this you may be sure that Satan will catch more advantage by omission or negligent performance than by an ingenuous acknowledgment of heart-sins though he do hear you Sirs Awake to righteousness Rouze up your selves to the work put not off God or conscience with a negative answer you may as well say Nay as pretend and promise to do it and not perform fall to the practice of it therefore this day there 's danger in delays if you do it not to day you 'l be more unfit to morrow At this instant fall upon thy knees beg a blessing upon this book for the good of thy soul and others look upon Closet-Prayer as thy priviledge as well as thy duty 'T is a mercy thou mayst go to God as often as thou wilt and for what thou needest 'T is no small favour that God hath allowed thee the use of this privy Key to open Heaven-gates when thou hast not the more publick key of others help in Prayer yet this is thy incouragement Thy Father that sees in secret will reward thee openly I shall shut up all with a piece of Herberts Poetry called Artillery AS I one Evening sate before my cell Methought a Star did shoot into my lap I rose and shook my cloaths as knowing well That from small fires comes oft no small mishap When suddenly I heard one say Do as thou usest disobey Expel good motions from thy brest Which have the face of fire but end in rest I who had heard of Musick in the Sphears But not of speech in Stars began to muse But turning to my God whose Ministers The Stars and all things are if I refuse Dread Lord said I so oft my good Then I refuse not even with blood To wash away my stubborn thought For I will do or suffer what I ought But I have also Stars and Shooters too Born where thy Servants both Artilleries use My Tears and Prayers night and day do woe And work up to thee yet thou dost refuse Not but I am I must say still Much more oblig'd to do thy will Than thou to grant mine but because Thy promise now hath even set Thee Laws Then we are shooters both thou dost deign To enter combate with us and contest With thine own clay But I would parley fain Shun not my Arrows and behold my brest Yet if thou shunnest I am thine I must be so if I am mine There is no articling with thee I am but finite yet thine infinitely FINIS
and are safe Prov. 18.10 A soul hid with God cannot be hurt by men If any be secured in a day of danger 't is those that are most with God in a corner Floods of great Waters shall not come nigh to praying Saints Psal 32.6 Hence saith David ver 7. Thou art my hiding place thou shalt preserve me from trouble Some way or other God will attest and testifie the integrity of his praying servants before the World See Psal 31.19 20 91.15 Thus he dealt in the case of Job God's Children may be long concealed from the view of men both as to their persons and actions but in God's good time he brings them out with honour as he did with Elijah Sometimes God gives clear demonstrations of his tender affection to his despised Saints in the view of the world Rev. 3.9 I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee This is not a religious adoration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sese ad pede◠alicujus subjectionis causa provolvere qualiter catelli heris suit adblandiuntur but a civil reverence due to real Saints as an evidence of repentance or special respect as dogs fawn upon their Masters laying themselves at their feet As the word imports Natural conscience sometimes doth homage to the image of God in the Saints However this is a well-known truth that as God hath brought forth wicked mens secret works of darkness into open light to their confusion in this world So he hath clearly discovered his Saints upright services in secret corners to their honour and safety in the nick of time Jaddus hearing of Alexander's approach to Jerusalem set himself to pray then put on his priestly garments and met the Conqueror who fell down on his face before him Parmenio askt him why he adored the Jews High-Priest See Clarks general Martyrol Fol. 5. when as other men adored him Alexander answered I do not adore him but that God whom the High-Priest worshippeth for in my sleep I saw him in such an habit when I was in Macedonia But examples of this nature are frequent everywhere what strange effects prayer hath brought forth both for defence to the Saints and offence to their Enemies so that the clear evidence hereof hath wrested from many stout opposers that acknowledgment of the Queen of Scots that she feared more the prayers of John Knox than an Army of ten thousand fighting men But this is the second branch of this last reason God openly rewards by manifest deliverances in time of danger SECT V. The third way of rewarding secret Prayer is Increase of Grace 3. GOd rewards secret Prayer openly by conferring upon secret wrestlers more eminent gifts and graces of his Spirit and such as shall be taken notice of by others They that are most constant in secret Prayer shall be most eminent in open Prayer Such as with Moses converse with God in the Mount shall have shining faces The beauty of the Lord shall be upon them When a soul hath been with its God in a corner the effects are so remarkable that others shall take knowledge of him that hath been with Jesus And it must needs be so for conversing with God is of a transforming nature 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord God's appointments are as glasses through which we may see the face of God Now there are two sorts of glasses broader and narrower the broader glasses are publick Ordinances and the narrower glasses are these private Duties In both these a soul may seek and see the face of God and so become like him for seeing here is assimilating as the Vision of God hereafter is glorifying Oh 't is a beautifying and beatifical fight to see God! Fulness of grace is the best thing in glory peace and joy are but as it were the gloss and varnish of this fulness of grace Now the more a soul enjoys God the more God-like and Heaven-like he is for his graces shine brighter and he is still mounting higher And private or secret duties are notable wayes of communion with God yea sometimes a soul may miss of Christ in publick Ordinances and find him in secret so some interpret that place in Cant. 3.24 See Mr. Cotton in loc The Soul had sought her beloved in the bed of Temple-worship and publick Ordinances In the streets and broad wayes of Synagogues and communion of Saints still she found not her beloved then she seeks him in conferences and occasional meeting with the watchmen but she can yet hear no tydings of Jesus Christ but saith she It was but a little that I passed from them but I found him whom my soul loveth Observe it this was not when she was past all means in a way of neglect of or being above Ordinances for she was seeking him still which implyes the use of means only she had past the publick without finding and now she is in the use of private helps the after-duties of Meditation Self-examination secret Prayer and therein the soul finds God not that this reflects disparagement on the publick Ordinances but to shew that God is a free Agent and to be an ingagement and incouragement to us in the use of all Gods appointments And when the soul thus finds God in a corner it carries away something of God that casts a sweet perfume upon his person and acting that is taken notice of by others It may be said of such a soul as Isaac spoke of his son Jacob Gen. 27.27 See the smell of my Son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed So when a serious Christian comes down from his Closet where he hath met with his God oh what a sweet perfume of well-scented graces doth he cast forth The savour of Religion is upon him some breathing odours of holiness break from his lips hands and feet the power of Godliness doth manifest it self in his expressions actions conversation Where hath such an one been Surely he hath been conversing with God there is the lively image and inscription of God upon him and while that blessed frame continues he is not like himself as he excels carnal men at all times so now he excels himself Yea observe it A soul conversing much with God in the duties of Meditation and secret Prayer grows taller by head and shoulders than other ordinary Christians As all godly men are more excellent than their neighbours so a soul that waits much on God in secret Prayer is more excellent than most of his Godly neighbours and it appears so at present by his gifts in Praying and may appear in his support and comfort in the day of suffering Oh what a mighty man in Closet-Prayer was magnanimous Luther And what noble atchievements did he go
you leave any matters of the world tarrying for your attendance the thought of them will attend you and make you cut your duties short and run away before your hearts be warmed Therefore if it may be dispatch them however rid your hearts of them The Heathen left their shooes at the Temple-doors to shew that all earthly occasions and affections must be left behind when we go to God Let vain or busie thoughts have there no part Bring not thy Plow thy Plots thy Pleasures thither Christ purg'd his Temple so must thou thy heart All worldly thoughts are but thieves met together To couzen thee Herbert SECT II. Two more Preparatives to Secret Prayer 3. SEt your selves in Gods presence Although you be not within the view of any mortal creature yet the eternal God sees what you are a going about So saith the Text Your father sees in secret darkness or clossness hides not from him and 't is more that one God sees you than if all the men on earth gazed at you His eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun and he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity Heb. 1.13 Psal 26.6 Psal 66.18 therefore wash your hands in innocency before you compass his altar For if you regard iniquity in your heart God will not hear your prayer Therefore set the Lord always before you especially now you are setting your selves before the Lord if that Caveat was enough to beget reverence in an Heathen Cave spectat Cato Cato sees thee Oh what reverence would the sense of Gods omnipresence beget in thy heart if duly weighed Christians weight your spirits with such meditations as these God's eye is never off me I am daily walking in the Sun but now I am setting my self to pray in secret I come to appear before God in a special manner I may deceive men and my self but God will not be mocked I had need now engage my heart to approach unto God that 's the thing he looks for Oh for a spirit suitable to such a Majesty whom I come to worship Lord draw out my affections unite my heart excite my graces that my whole Soul may be carried after God Thus commit thy works to the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Psal 37.5 Prov. 16.3 when thou art setting thy face towards a duty where thou art sure to meet Satan and carry with thee a corrupt deceitful heart let God know from thy mouth whither thou art going what thy fears are Never saith one doth the soul march in so good order as when it puts it self under the conduct of God and never is it so awful as when it sets it self under the eye of God Gen. 17.1 I am God Almighty walk before me and be thou perfect When you sensibly discern you are kneeling before God will not this make you perfect sincere and grow holier If you think God be not in your Closets what do you go to pray there for And if you know he sees you there why do you not think so and set your selves as in his presence The child will stand demurely before his Father the Scholar before his Master and so will the gracious Soul before God in duty if sensible of his presence 4. Muster up your thoughts and wayes Our thoughts and affections are like the strings of an Instrument out of tune and therefore we must take some pains to wind and skrue them up This is that which Zophar adviseth to Job 11.13 to prepare the heart and then stretch forth the hands And for this end it would not be amiss when you come into a private room to pray in secret first to read some portion of Scripture which may be of use to compose your spirits and like David's harp to Saul drive away your wild imaginations yea the word read may afford you suitable matter of prayer to God More particularly let me add one experienced Help which is this When you are addressing your selves to God in secret Prayer endeavour to fix your thoughts upon some particular subject to inlarge upon there 's no question but you have sometimes one special errand to God sometimes another if you observe your condition well be sure to mind that whether it be to confess some predominant sin to beg pardon of it power against it You may have in your eye some grace that you need more than ordinarily and see your weakness and defect therein c. Now do not satisfie your selves in running out into generals only but set your selves to plead the cause of your souls in that very case which you have found out by serious inquiry would most ingage you at that time to go to God about expatiate principally upon that subject And this I conceive to be a taking to our selves words which the Holy Ghost directeth us to Hos 14.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verbum res negotium Vid. Buxt lex in Prayer not a form of such and such phrases but some special subject matter to speak to our God about the word in Hebrew imports so much Now an intent and earnest pursuit of such a special subject at the Throne of Grace is of use in these two respects 1. You will find it an help against distractions wandrings withdrawings from God when you purposely set your selves to mind one thing you 'l be more intent upon it and lay out more pains about it than when you allow your selves liberty in variety of matter When the stream runs one way Vis unita fortior 't is stronger than dispersed into several channels so when the Christian unites his strength to plead with God about a particular business he is usually more warm and affectionate and so less subject to distraction 2. It will help you to enlarge your selves in spreading particular cases before the Lord in pat and proper expressions even before others as you have a call and opportunity and this is that which is called the gift of Prayer which is of singular use when a person can particularly and pathetically lay open a condition plead with God improve promises and rationally expostulate even with the Almighty about a spiritual or temporal concernment This holy Art is got by a frequency in secret Prayer and particular pleading for a mans own soul This is the last preparatory think before-hand what business you have to God in a peculiar manner and drive that nail as it were to the head you cannot think to speak of all things to God at one time but take that which is of present emergent use and importance and set your selves to inlarge upon that follow that home till you feel your hearts be warmed and affected and so have some tokens for good that God will return a sensible answer You 'l say Must we thus prepare our selves before every duty of secret Prayer we have not time for it I shall answer this in the words of my dear and reverend Father Angier His
Book called An help to better hearts for better times Pag. 196 197. read more of this Subject there are some separating duties that prepare for others as examination meditation prayer and they do prepare by stirring up the grace of God and providing an heavenly assistance to begin with us in the duty If thou canst not always have separating time betwixt other occasions and Gods worship yet have some separating thoughts ere thou enter upon the duty thou art not fit else to meddle with wisdom Thus he 'T is true some have not the leisure that others have yet so much preparation is necessary for every duty as may withdraw the heart from other objects and weight the Spirit with a due sense of the work we have in hand and sometimes this may be done suddenly yet as for such as have more time to work upon their hearts and state their souls case by mustering up themselves to the work neglect a duty and cannot groundedly expect the Lords presence and this I conceive is the reason why the Lords people miss of God in secret Prayer at least one reason is because they do not make such conscience and take such care of preparing their hearts as they ought Ah Christians when you come into your Closet sit down and pause a little before you fall down upon your knees clear up your state shake off other business set your selves in Gods presence and muster up your sins or wants or mercies you purpose to spread before the Lord a Client will consider all his matters before he come to state his case to his advocate a poor patient will bethink himself how he is that he may tell his ailings to his Physitian and a petitioner will not go hand over head unto his Prince but order his cause before hand that he may plead it more effectually And shall not we much more prepare our selves to wait upon the God of Heaven SECT III. Directions concerning the essentials of secret Prayer 2. THe second sort of rules is concerning some things essentially requisite to the right performance of the duty of secret Prayer which you are to look to in the duty and these are such as are required in all sorts of Prayer viz. that it be performed 1. With the heart 2. By the help of the spirit 3. According to Gods will 4. In the name of Christ 1. Secret Prayer must he hearty Prayer an heartless duty is a worthless duty yea the whole heart must be ingaged in it Psal 119.10 With my whole heart have I sought thee It is the heart that God chiefly looks after Prov. 23.26 My Son give me thy heart nothing else can please God if the heart be wanting if the heart be ingaged in the duty he will rather dispense with other weaknesses where there 's not wilful negligence Observe it in that worship of God we perform with others a mans gifts may be of use though his heart go not along with his voice but in Closet-Prayer it doth no good at all except the heart be ingaged therefore God principally requires the heart in other duties in this he only requires the heart for the voice is not necessary To love and serve the Lord our God with all our heart Mark 12.30 33. soul mind strength is a keeping of the Law and more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices We should pray with every faculty of the soul and with the utmost strength of every faculty Mat. 15.8 9. God deserves and requires our strongest affections That 's but a vain worship that 's performed without the heart right attendance on God is an ingaging the heart to approach to God Christians Jer. 30.21 in all your addresses to God mind the object of worship let the subject worshipping and object worshipped be closly united look beyond the duty it 's one thing to have communion with an Ordinance and another thing to have communion with God in an Ordinance Gods dear Children know what this means for sometimes they are more taken up with expressions affections or some accidentals in the performance than with the object of worship they should be intent upon But this is very dangerous for whatsoever interposeth betwixt the soul and God to divert the thoughts from God is an Idol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 70. Ezek. 14.3 These men have set up their Idols in their hearts Sept. reads it they have put their thoughts upon their hearts i e. They have committed Idolatry with their own imaginations instead of worshipping God their minds have stuck upon something short of God after which they have as it were run a whoring even in the duty I shall not deliver that as the sense of the place yet it may be an useful note I fear many of us are guilty of a kind of spiritual fine-spun Idolatry by heterogeneal thoughts in holy duties that pluck us from God when we are approaching to him The Lord humble us for this and fix our thoughts upon God that we may say as the Church Isa 26.8 The desire of our soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee Cyprian saith Cogitatio omnis secularis carnalis at sced nec quicquam tunc animus quam id solum cogitet quod precatur ideo sacerdos ante OrationeÌ„ prefatione praemissa parat sratrum mentes Dicendo sursam corda ut dura respondet plebs Habemus ad Dominum ad moneatur nihil aliud se quam Dominum cogitare debere Câ—p. Serm. de orat Dâ—m p 246. every secular thought must depart and the mind must be taken up with nothing but what we are about he tells the practice of the Church in his time was that the Minister before Prayer prepares the peoples mind saying Sursum corda Lift up your hearts and they answer Habemus ad dominum we have them up to the Lord whereby saith he we are admonished that in Prayer we must think of nothing but the Lord What the Minister said to the People do you say to your selves Sursum corda lift up your hearts Let every one say I am now worshipping an Heart-searching God Oh that my heart were with God Ascensus mentis ad Deum Luth. Collâ—q myst fol. 239. The Ancients saith Luther finely described Prayer to be an ascent of the mind to God Oh that I did experimentally know what this means in Syntaxi i. e. in coupling and joyning of my heart to God Lord gather in my roving and wandring spirit This is the first direction Mind the frame of your hearts 2. Implore and expect the Spirits assistance Prayer must be by the Spirits inlarging influence hence it is called the spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 12.10 Rom. 8.26 it helps our infirmities by making souls to cry out Abba Father with unutterable groans A Christian should spread the sails of his soul for the gales of Gods grace which will carry the praying Saint apace towards God yea and
reach the ear of God for he knoweth the mind of the Spirit Phil. 3.3 Jude 20. This is that which is called a worshipping God in the spirit a praying in the holy Ghost i. e. either as to the matter of the Prayer dictated by the Spirit or as to the manner of praying the soul being actuated by the holy Ghost See Mark 11.36 13.11 For I conceive it may import the former as well as the latter as other Scriptures compared hold forth Alas flesh and blood will put up such petitions as God will not accept or in such a manner as is no way suitable to his spiritual Nature The truth is Christians you will but bungle at the work without this help of Gods Spirit and God will take notice of you except he hear his own language do not think you can wrestle out the business your selves you must be beholding to God for help in Prayer as well as for hearing your Prayer your own spirits will not carry you to Heaven that which is from the earth is earthly and riseth no higher than earth but the holy Ghost will elevate your souls to God Therefore I beseech you Sirs beg the Spirit yield to its motions improve its operations say when you are going to duty Lord now stir up thy self and stir up thy grace in my heart Awake oh North-wind and come thou South blow upon thy Garden Cant. 4.16 My Soul that the spices thereof may flow out that graces may be exercised and exerted Lord I am low flat hard send the powerful arm of thy blessed Spirit to work all gracious dispositions in me and raise up my affections to thee I see I am below the duty and infinitely below thee in the duty but thou and thou alone canst raise me up quicken soften my dead and rocky heart come Lord and shew thy powerful Arm let it appear what God can do for a sorry worm Oh lift me up to thee that my soul may enjoy some sweet communion with thee Send thy spirit to fetch in my wanton wandring heart Oh for some fire from Heaven to burn up my sacrifice or else it will lye like a lump of flesh and be no true Holocaust of pure Incense before thee Let thy Spirit scatter these mists of ignorance and drive away these flies of distracting thoughts that my heart may be with thee and my performance may be as sweet savour in the nostrils of God SECT IV. More Essentials in secret Prayer A Third ingredient in Prayer is that it be according to God's will it must have a warrant from the Word a word of Precept or Promise or Example must be the ground of our petitions a command is our warrant a promise our incouragement an example is our tract and the footsteps of the flock wherein we must walk He that asks amiss shall not speed but if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us and then we know we have the petitions that we desired of him 1 Joh. 5.14 15. Now we ask according to his will when both the matter of our petition is aright and our end in asking is Gods glory and our own or others spiritual good otherwise if we ask of God what we conceit to be a mercy and have not asked counsel at God's mouth or ask so as to consume it upon our lusts we may well meet with a denial My friends you may not say what you please in the presence of God Consider God is in Heaven you are on Earth therefore be not rash with your mouth and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God let your words be few and well weighed Eccles 5.2 The work you are about is a solemn business do not ramble in extravagant desires of unlawful things think not that God will patronize your lusts and when you have asked that which you conceive is according to his will refer it wholly to his Will say The Will of the Lord be done submit your selves to his dispose for time manner means and all circumstances for giving of it ask temporal mercies conditionally and spiritual Comforts with submission to Gods will learn that petition Thy will be done to pray it as well as say it Indeed Luther could say Let thy will be done but he come off with this My will Lord because my will is melted into thine there 's but one will betwixt us Let God's will be your will 't is fit it should be so our heavenly Father is wiser than we Consider Haec repraesentatio debet esse submissa humilis alias enim non esset precatio religiosa à creatura subdita ad supremum Numen Creatorem directa sed vel imperium superioris ergo inferiorem vel quasi familiaris collocutio quatis est inter aequales Ames medull theol lib. 2.6 p. 255. a man cannot pray in faith for that which he hath no warrant to ask Besides Amesius saith If a man come not with an humble submission to Gods will it were not a religious prayer directed to the supream Creator but a kind of command by a superiour to an inferiour or a familiar discourse as amongst equals Therefore let us humbly plead Gods Will as Abraham did Gen. 18.27 Further consider the design of Prayer is not to incline God before unwilling to our mind and desire for with him there is no variableness nor shadow of change but that we may obtain of him by Prayer what we know afore-hand he is willing to give Lastly consider we Christs example Mat. 26.39 If it be possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt This is right praying to ground our petition upon a promise yet freely to leave all at Gods feet to dispose of us as he sees good Our prayers and Gods promises should point towards each other as those two figures 9 and 6. Promises do bend downwards and after the same motion must our prayers ascend upwards so will there be a blessed harmony and seasonable return This is the third Direction Let your Prayers be warranted by the Word 4. Improve your Advocate Joh. 14.13 Whatsoever you ask in my name that will I do To ask any thing in his name is not rudely customarily or complementally to conclude with these words Through Jesus Christ our Lord c. but in confidence of his merit and intercession to call upon our heavenly Father as Daniel pleads for the Lords sake Dan. 9.17 For since the Fall none can come immediately to God but through a Mediator nor are we to fetch a compass by the groundless invocation of Saints and Angels I hope you have otherwise learned Christ I am most afraid in the practick part that in particular acts at least precious Souls are in danger to miscarry especially in Closet-Prayer when a Christian is got alone and there finds a sweet gale of the blessed Spirit helping his heart to mourn for sin bewail
CLOSET-PRAYER A Christian Duty OR A TREATISE UPON MAT. VI. VI. Tending to prove that the Worship of God in Secret is the indispensible duty of all Christians both by sundry Examples and Arguments TOGETHER With a severe rebuke of Christians for their neglect of or negligence in the duty of Closet-Prayer And many Directions for the managing thereof Exhortations to it Objections answered Cases of Conscience cleared By O. HETWOOD Minister of the Gospel Jer. 13.17 But if ye will not hear it my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride and mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears because the Lords Flock is carried away captive â—â—ndon Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and â—…ce Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside 1671. There is of this Author two other Books Printed 1. Heart-Treasure from Mat. 12.35 2. The sure Mercies of David Explained and Applied in several Sermons from Isa 55.3 The Epistle to the Reader Especially to the strict and serious Professor of Christianity Christian Friend THE power of Godliness is much spoken of but I am afraid very rarely to be found amongst even famous professors Most content themselves with external visible duties which Formalists may carry on with as much seeming zeal and applause as sincere worshippers A formal spirit is the disease of the present day The beams of Gospel-light in the late noon-tyde-dispensations have so far extracted an assent to fundamental truths and the necessity of some practical duties that 't is a shame in some places not to have a form of Godliness Many will be found Orthodox in their judgments and externally conformable in their practises yet without a principle of Grace in their hearts or the life of Religion in their lives in the day of accounts witness the foolish Virgins Thousands do finally miscarry besides the grosly prophane Some go to hell with a candle in their hands Christ's Colours in their hats his Word in their mouths and in the habit of Religion Every one is not a Saint that looks like one a painted picture makes a fair shew but wants life A Formalist will be comely indeed if animated with the truth of grace But the leaven of hypocrise spoyls many good duties This was that leaven of the Pharisees that sowred their prayers and rendred them distastful to God They made Religious duties a stage to act vain glory upon their Prayers had a thick shell and little kernel Our Saviour would not have the Saints like them Christs Disciples must do some singular thing more than others Their righteousness must go beyond that of the Scribes and Pharisees Sincerity is that spirit and life that is to run through Religion else it is a Body without a Soul or Cloaths without the Man This is the chief drift of our Saviours teaching and main design of Gospel-commands to render Professors sincere and spiritual approving their hearts to God in Evangelical performances I have many times bewailed the condition of those who are very busie in Externals of Religion abroad and are grosly negligent of the main Essentials at home They are like those who are propping up some remote members of their body while their Vitals are wasting in a languishing Consumption These are like a Man in a Feaver his face and hands burn but his heart shakes and quivers for cold These I may call Pepper-professors hot in the mouth but cold at the stomack There are thousands in the World will run many miles to hear a Sermon will countenance the best Preachers will read the Scriptures and good Books will pray in their families yea keep days of Fasting and Prayer with others that yet will not set about heart-work and flesh-displeasing duties of mortifying beloved lusts loving forgiving and praying for enemies yea that will not set themselves solemnly to the duties of Meditation Self-examination and secret Prayer The Vessel will not stir except the wind of applause blow the sails these are like the Nightingale in the wood of which it is recorded that she sings most sweetly when she thinks any is near her An Hypocrite can pray best when taken notice of by men you shall seldom see him at work with his heart in a Closet he is of the mind of those carnal persons of Christs natural kindred Joh. 7.4 who said to Christ If thou do these things shew thy self to the World for saith the Text ver 5. Neither did his brethren believe in him q. d. Such as carry on duties or counsel others to such undertakings as may expose them to publick view for ostentation declare plainly they want true grace which makes persons Jews inwardly Whose circumcision is of the heart in the Spirit whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.29 The main trade of a Christian is his Home-trade as one saith Jurnal Christian Armour Chap. 12. Sect. 3. p. 304. which is spent in secret betwixt God and his own soul here he drives an unknown Trade he is at Heaven and home again richly laden in his thoughts with heavenly meditations before the World knows where he hath been The consideration of these things hath ingaged me to spend some thoughts concerning this great and much neglected Duty of Closet Prayer which when I had delivered and several had got Copies thereof it was judged fit for the Press some hopes conceived of its further usefulness I perused it again and methodized it into this form and communicated my thoughts to some concerning the publication of it A friend gave me notice there was a Book extant upon the same Subject which I enquired after and found one of Mr. Brooks on the same Text That Book I look'd over and was ready to think it would save me a labour but upon second thoughts I considered that this might fall into some hands that that would not that several men writing on the same Subject may be useful is ordinary that our Method and most of our Matter is different for I had finish'd mine before I saw the other except two or three leaves in the close Besides that the other is larger this a small Piece and more portable as a pocket-book or Vade mecum let it be then a short Appendix to that excellent Piece I am heartily glad any of Gods servants have set themselves to promote this part of practical piety 't is an excellent design and I am well assuâ—… if Christians were more in their Closets with God their own souls would thrive better and things would succeed better abroad Mr. Rogers being silenced from publick work desired his Hearers to spend that time they were want to come to his Lecture in in serious Prayer and Meditation in their Closets and he was confident Satan would be a loser and their souls gainers by that providence And this I can affirm that if persons would spend part of that time in secret Prayer they take to run abroad to Sermons in they would be better proficients Not but that hearing
the word is necessary and so is this nor must the one justle out the other yea these secret duties help us to profit by publick Ordinances If dung be poured down on heaps in the field it doth no good it must be spread abroad before it make fruitful ground The plaister heals not except it be applyed so the Word must be spread on our hearts by serious and secret Meditation and Application or else it will never make our souls healthful and fruitful and then we must pray over it for the showers of divine grace to wash it and work it into our hearts Many Sermons are lost for want of souls taking them home to their Closets and turning them to Prayer I fear all will be little enough that Ministers can preach or write upon this theam I doubt still this work will be either totally neglected or negligently performed it s an hard work the spirit must travel in it and saith good Mr. Bains the Saints can indure better to hear an hour than to pray a quarter yea our trifling hearts will make any excuse to shift from this duty or shuffle it off nay though it be in exchange for another a sign the work is of God and tending much to the souls good or else Satan and our corrupt hearts would never so much hinder or oppose it Pâ—or Soul it may be thou lookest abroad and seest much wickedness committed holiness persecuted thy God dishonoured many things out of order thou wantest a capacity to bring a remedy I must therefore say to thee as it 's reported Albertus Crantzius said to â—…her when he began to oppose the Pope Frater vade in cellam die Miserere mei Deus Brother go into thy cell and say God be merciful unto me so say I. Alas thy interest and influence reacheth but a little way to mend a wicked world though thou must seek to perform as far as thy place and calling extends but go thy way to thy God in thy Closet bewail thy sins and the sins of others plead with God for thine own soul Busie thy self about thyself set all straight at home take heed of that which the poor Church complains of Cant. 1.6 They made me the keeper of the vinyards but mine own vinyard have I not kept Oh leave other things undone rather than this great matter that concerns the affairs of thine own soul Mr. Fox tells us of one Peter Moyce a German Martyr being called before the Synod at Dornick Acts mon. 2. vol. lib. 8. fol. 1â—2 they began to examine him in certain Articles of Religion to whom as he was about to answer boldly and expresly to every point they interrupting him bad him say in two words Yea or Nay Then said he If you will not suffer me to answer for my self in things of such importance send me to my Prison again among my Toads and Frogs which will not interrupt me while I talk with my Lord my God Oh Christian the time may come or is already when men may stop thy mouth and will not suffer thee to witness a good confession withdraw thy self from men and retire unto thy God who will make thee freely welcom to pour out thy soul to him in secret He 'l neither stop thy mouth nor stop his car he bids thee Open thy mouth wide Psal 81.10 And he tells thee His ear is open to thy cry Psal 34.15 That cast not ask such great things as he can and will give Only see thou beest a Child of God Naturalists tell of a precious Stone of an excellent vertue yet loseth all its efficacy when 't is put into a dead mans mouth so Prayer in the lips of a Saint or a righteous man availeth much but the Prayer of the wicked is not only ineffectual but abominable to God See to your states and then see that you pray aright for manner matter end many ask and receive not because they ask amiss Above all Soul in thy secret addresses to God take heed of a trifling spirit thou'lt find most ado with thy self herein our wanton spirits are loath to be pent up in the narrow room of a spiritual performance we love to take our liberty in ranging abroad to a thousand objects but Christian as thou lovest thy peace thy Soul thy God look to thy spirit in secret Prayer Do not trifle away thy time upon thy knees let not thy words freeze as they come from thee let no discouragements beat thee off the Woman of Canaan as one saith takes the Bullets that Christ shot at her and with an humble boldness of faith sends them back again in Prayer which indeed reach'd his heart and prevailed with God for mercy But I shall inlarge no more at present but refer thee to this small Treatise wherewith I have according to my poor talent laid before thee this great duty What effect it shall have I know not my God knows in whose hands the blessing of our endeavours lyes Get alone and pray over this Book and for the unworthy sinful Author as he desires to do for thee into whose hand this may come let our Prayers daily meet at the throne of Grace till our souls meet before the throne of God if thou receivest any good by this or any other work this poor worm hath handed to thee ascribe nothing to the instrument but all to the agent and efficient our good God from whom comes every good and perfect gift disdains not the work for the plainness of the stile it was purposely put in this dress for the vulgars benefit and if it or my self be exposed to censure for that 't is welcom I write not to please learned Scholars but to profit plain Christians whose spiritual good I prefer above any credit to my self I am sure there is none due there being few of my brethren but they transcend me in parts and learning But by the grace of God I am what I am 1 Cor. 15.10 Nor is that grace altogether in vain for as it hath helped me in labours so he hath in some measure blessed my labours though I be nothing the least of Saints not meet to be called a Minister Did those that read my labours know me they would be ready to despise my undertakings this I speak because my former book hath found such good acceptance and this is so much desired And that no man think of me above what he knoweth to be in me my heart hath been near fainting through discouragements from my great weakness had I not been supported many a time with that word in 2 Cor. 4.7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of Man Whence I gather that God can make use of weak unlearned sinful instruments to do great works and he can use persons of mean abilities to accomplish his glorious ends in converting souls as well as the profoundest Clerks or wisest men on
place so fit for that great duty as a Closet or some closs Chamber therefore he being to deal with his God in good hard earnest about this important business saith the Text He carried him up into a loft where he abode and laid him upon his own bed and then he cryed to the Lord ver 19 20. It was not the first time Elijah had there wrestled with God if it was his lodging room it was his praying room And here God heard him and wrought the miracle what he did for Elijah he can and will do for us if he see fit for Elijah was no more than a man and subject to like passions as we are 7. Jeremiah is a remarkable Instance he was a Prophet of the Lord sanctified from his Mothers womb yet he met with so many discouragements that he hath a mind to leave his people Jer. 9.1 2. and he wisheth for a lodging-place in the Wilderness i. e. some solitary retirement that there he might take his fill of weeping however he resolves at present that wherever he is he will get retired and saith he My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride Jer. 13.17 Yet more punctually to the business of secret Prayer see Jer. 15.17 Saith he I sate alone because of thy hand But what did he alone Did he only pore and muse upon the Churches sins and sufferings No he had something to say to his God ver 18. Why is my pain perpetual And God then hath something to say to him by way of gracious answer ver 19. If thou return then will I bring thee again and thou shalt stand before me This is the result of his secret Prayer a restauration of him to and his confirmation in his office and function and to the publick exercise thereof This is worth praying for 8. Daniel is a famous pattern of the resolute and couragious performance of this duty against all opposition Although he might have pleaded if ever any There 's a Lion in the way I shall be slain in the Streets or Den for my work in my Chamber yet he feared nothing he ventured upon a severe Law his Princes displeasure the loss of his Preferment the rage of his Competitors and the Lions hungry stomachs rather than he will omit or intermit his accustomed course of Chamber-worship he will endure the Lions cruelty rather than neglect a known duty Nay he is so far from gratifying his proud adversaries that he will not in the least abate his wonted frequency or visibility in the duty But his windows being open toward Jerusalem be kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed Dan 6.10 But did Daniel hold out a Flag or blow a Trumpet by setting open his windows to declare to men what he was a going to do Was not this contrary to the rule in the Text Are we here commanded to shut our door and may Daniel open his window Is not that all one Surely that good man did not open his windows out of hypocrisie and vain-glory but to shew his resolution courage and constancy out-daring these impious impudent commands of men he did not fear to be seen now in so plain a case What spirit are they of that will rather give themselves to the roaring Lion and incur the wrath of the King of Heaven which is more terrible than a thousand hungry Lions than solemnly perform this useful duty of secret Prayer Let careless souls consider this 9. Peter a famous Apostle shall be another instance in the case Act. 9.40 When Tabitha or Dorcas lay dead in an upper Chamber and the Widows stood weeping by her and he was to raise her He put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed and turning him to the body said Tabitha arise and she opened her eyes See here another miracle like Elijah's upon secret Prayer But this was upon an extraordinary case did Peter use to pray alone Yes turn but to the next Chapter Act. 10.9 Peter went up upon the house-top to pray about the sixth hour Which was about noon another praying season Psal 55.17 certainly he missed not morning and night for such devotion He went to the top of the flat-rooft house which was a private place and equivalent to a Closet there Peter prayed and in that prayer he fell into a trance and in that trance he had a Vision concerning the calling in of the Gentiles a glorious mystery and transcendent mercy towards us poor Out-casts Rom. 16.25 Col 1.26 27. Eph. 2.4 6. a mysterie which was kept secret since the world began hid fromages generations this blessed mysterie that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel yet this transcendent design of love was manifested to a choice Apostle while he was in the performance of this duty of secret Prayer This is very remarkable and worth observation 10. The last Instance is of our blessed Saviour our dear Lord Jesus was very conversant in this Duty Mark 1.35 In the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Our precious Redeemer went about doing good and the day time he usually spent in preaching conferring healing diseases c. And the night he spent in prayer meditation and such other holy exercises he had scarce time to eat or sleep for doing his fathers work he spent not one moment of time unprofitably in a above thirty years How early doth he rise and earnestly doth he follow his business for communion with his Father and for the work of our redemption Yea Luk. 6.12 He continued all night in prayer to God i. e. in a mountain Mar. 26.36 in secret Prayer and frequently elsewhere we shall find him alone and in this work and wherefore was all this Was it not principally for our sakes For our salvation and imitation Yes certainly he designed our good in all he prayed that we might pray and reap the profit of his prayers and purchases Nec verbis tantum sed factis Dominus orare nos docuit ipse orans frequentorâ— deprecans quid facere noâ— oportet exempli sui contestatione demonstrans Cyp. Serm. De orat Dom. p. 425. Hear we Cyprian sweetly He taught us to pray not in words only but deeds himself praying frequently and deprecating and so demonstrating what we are to do by the witness giving of his own example Thus he Most Divines hold the obligatory power of Scripture-examples in things not forbidden especially being so laudable a practice and implyed in other Scriptures all the former instances seem cogent Arguments but the last concerning Jesus Christ hath the force of a possitive precept and command But there is few or none that have the face of Christians dare deny this to be a duty but I fear many that would go for Christians live in the ordinary neglect of it
CHAP. II. The Reasons to prove that Closet-Prayer is a Christian-Duty SECT I. The first Reason of the Point ALl the Reasons that I shall make use of at this time for the proof of this Doctrine and clearing secret Prayer to be a duty shall be fetcht out of the Text and they are these 4. Rea. 1. The conveniency of privacy for Prayer 2. The Relation betwixt God and a Saint 3. Gods Omniscience seeing in secret 4. Gods Munificence rewarding 1. The great conveniency there is in privacy for Prayer and the good providence of God bestowing upon us private Rooms which implicitly call us to the performance of that duty For there is in retirement a great advantage for the managing of any work of wisdom Prov. 18.1 Through desire a man having separated himself seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom i. e. He that is really studious of true Piety will voluntarily sequester himself to prosecute it This was anciently the well-meaning design of a Monastick life which since hath been wofully abused But yet certainly there is a very great advantage in solitariness for carrying on a religious business Take only two at present which are advantages particularly referring to this duty of Prayer whereunto secrecy contributes 1. Self-expostulations and self-abasing gestures and expressions when a Christian in Prayer finds his heart hard dead dull distracted or any way out of order he may in secret make a pause and begin to commune with his own heart examine the matter lament the cause chide his untoward heart and charge his wanton spirit to keep close to his God in duty Thus David Why art thou cast down O my soul Awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early My soul wait thou upon God Nothing more familiar in the Psalms than such intercisions and diversions from the work in hand to raise up the heart to an higher tune in Prayer and Praises And this may be of singular use for by such heart-reasonings and debates a Saint may wind up his spirit and get better prepared for the remaining part of the exercise Now such a work as this would not be so seasonable and convenient when others joyn in the duty So also for bodily postures sometimes for an evidence of greater humiliation a Christian finds it requisite to prostrate himself before the Lord And use such gestures as would not be fit in the sight of others therefore Closet-Prayer is very necessary where a Christian may use his discretion as God shall direct him for the humbling quickning raising and melting of his heart before the Lord alone That 's the first advantage 2. It is a wonderful help against distraction When we are as it were out of the noise of the world we are then fitter for attendance upon God The affairs discourses troubles and confusions of a family if within hearing are a great hindrance to the duties of Meditation and Prayer Experience testifies this a man cannot study or cast accounts in a croud or throng of People When we are intent upon any business how little a noise diverts us It may be this was the reason why that hospitable Gentlewoman in 2 King 4.10 would have a Chamber built for her welcom-guest the Prophet Elisha yea built upon the wall for she might judge him to be a contemplative man and though she might have lodging-rooms in her house yet she might look upon that at a little distance as more commodious for his devotions and meditations as being out of the noise of houshold-business and hurryings An active fancy quickly closeth with any diversion in our attendance upon God Therefore ought we to study to attend upon the Lord without distraction When Abraham went to worship in the Mount he left his servants below in the valley lest they should obstruct his communion with God When Moses was to go up unto the Lord though Aaron Nadab and Abihu and the seventy Elders went further than the People yet the Text saith They should worship afar off but saith God Moses alone shall come near the Lord Exod. 24.1 2. Observe it when Moses had parted with his company and was alone then he should come near the Lord common professors worship not God at all acceptably sincere Saints worshipping God with others are comparatively far off but souls in a corner or Closet are admitted to come near God and have sweet intimacy with him as I shall shew anon Yet mistake me not not as though I preferred secret Prayer alone before publick Prayer with others for as God delights in the joint prayers of his People so a soul may enjoy God in communion of Saints and is ordinarily more carryed out to God than in private according to the helps and advantages he hath with others yet when the heart is in frame there is usually more intimacy exprest betwixt God and the Christian in secret than with others Yet further mistake not not as though solitariness free'd us from all distractions iâ— we take our hearts with us we shall have a principle of diversion and need neither noise nor visible objects to hinder us from God And this those that have magnified solitariness most have found by sad experience and left upon record Take an instance Locus secretus eligitur quia solus Dei judicio â—eâ—unia suut agenda singularem inspectorem adjutoremque Deum volunt haec habere câ—…tamina neque in agon bus aliquibus periculosus militatur Propâ—er hoc Solitudo carent arbitris Eremus assentaterum satellitio vacua à jejunanâ—e Christo el gitur ut non cum carne sanguine sed cum spiritualibus nequiâ—iis dimicâ—tur amotis minorum occasionibus homo cum Diabolo colluctetur soli sint in palastra Christus Antichristus Spiritus Antispiritus Neque putet homo se evasisse pericula cum in eremum venerit quia quanto saltilius tanto difficilius à Teâ—tatore invaditur qui cogitationum foribus assilens omnia virtutum germina in ipso ortu strangulare molitur Cyp. De jejun teâ—tat Christi Prope init pag. 300 301. Verum siberius anima expedita obviat impugnanti ubi compedes impedimentorum defueriat aspectus irritamenta non noveriat Securiorque est congressus ubi singuâ—a non vellicant dimicante nec inebriant animum lenocinio voluptatum vid. plur Cyprian speaking of Christs fasting and being tempted in the Wilderness chusing that place for its secrecy because saith he Fastings are to be observed so as God alone may be Judge and in such contests as these we are to call on God alone as spectator and helper And shews notably the danger of vain-glory and advantages of secrecy yet adds Let not a man imagine he hath escaped all dangers when he comes into a Wilderness or solitary place because he is invaded by the tempter so much the more difficulty because more subtily who sitting before the doors of the thoughts seeks to strangle all the buds of vertue
in their very birth Yet the disentangled soul will more freely resist its enemy when the fetters of impediments are wanting and the sight discerns no allurements and the conflict is more secure when particular affairs pluck nor back the combatant nor the delights of inticing pleasures inebriate or make drunk the mind Thus he But this is the first Reason from the advantages of sâ—… SECT II. The second Reason is From the relation betwixt God and a praying Soul 2. ANother Reason held forth also in the Text is drawn from that relation which is betwixt God and a believing Soul therefore our Saviour bids pray to Thy Father and this Reason hath two parts 1. The poor Soul can more freely open his heart to God in a Closet 2. God will more clearly manifest himself to the Soul in secret 1. A Soul in secret making its addresses to God goes to him as a Father Now we know children cannot be so free in their addresses to their Father in company and before strangers as when no body is present Hence it is that when a child hath any special business to his Father he takes him aside or whispers to him that none may over-hear him And observe it Gods children have an errand to God that none must know of As Ehud said to Eglon I have a secret errand to thee O King Judg. 3.19 So a gracious soul may say Oh my King my God my Father I have a secret errand to thee A lust to confess or mercy to beg or bless thee for that I would not have others to know of It is not fit any should be privy to that which a gracious soul tells God of In this case it may be said Discover not thy secret to another Prov. 25.9 Two may keep counsel but three cannot God and a gracious Soul will be faithful to each other but a third must not know of these matters nay in this case we may say Keep the doors of thy lips from her that lyeth in thy bosom Mic. 7.5 There are many things a Saint tells God of that he will not acquaint either Father or Wife or Friend with that is as his own soul but only his heavenly Father he opens his bosom freely to him and tells him his whole heart best and worst hides nothing from him because he only knows the heart And truly I have often in this admired the wisdom of God that hath so far consulted his peoples credit and modesty as to appoint them place and ways of speaking to him privately designing secret Prayer for this very end that the soul may spread its letter of wants and complaints before its Father and present its petition to the King of Heaven The Spouse of Christ is modest saith an Ancient and cannot so freely let out her self to her beloved before others as in a corner here then comes in the use and advantage of Closet-Prayer that a Christian may as Jonathan and David did unbosom themselves to each other alone open his heart to God where no eyes see or ears hear his secret groans and tears But further 2. God will more familiarly communicate himself to the soul in a corner he also hath something to whisper in the believers ear that none must know of and therefore gets it by it self a lively emblem whereof we have in Josephs making himself known to his Brethren when his bowels were working and he could not refrain himself he cryed Gen. 45.1 2 3 4. Cause every man to go out from me Then he wept aloud and said I am Joseph And oh what endeared reciprocal affections did work in all their breasts towards each other Just thus is it betwixt our Joseph and his brethren Jesus Christ and his members there stands none with him while Jesus makes himself known unto his Brethren And though at first they be as it were troubled at his presence yet when he speaks lovingly and passeth by former unkindnesses and saith Come near unto me I pray you then they come near and he saith convincingly I am Jesus whom ye sold and crucified This melts and humbles their rocky hearts and being broken he pours oyl into their troubled spirits and speaks many sweet heart-reviving words unto them Then then the child of God hath most sweet refreshing in-comes Hos 2.14 When God hath allured the soul into the Wilderness he speaks to its heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desertum sic dictum per Antiphr quasi locus à sermone remotus A Wilderness is a solitary place where other speech is not heard as the word imports then speaks God to the soul when men cannot speak to it When men are remote God is near at hand yea nearest to help melt comfort quicken when men are furthest off Our Saviour saith of himself Joh. 16.32 You leave me alone yet I am not alone for the Father is with me q. d. When you go away my Father comes to visit me with most familiar endearings Oh blessed exchange Thus it is often with the Saints when men leave them or they withdraw from men they have many times most of God and Is it not infinitely better to have the presence of God than the company of men 'T is worth noting what God saith of Abraham Isa 51.2 I called him alone and blessed him Mark it when God had inticed Abraham from all his friends and got him alone then he blesseth him and you know what the blessing of Abraham was even a Covenant-blessing such God distributes to his Saints when he hath withdrawn them from company into a corner Mihi oppidum carceder est solitudo paradisus Hieronym This is that which made an Ancient profess that a Town was his prison a solitary place his paradise Cities or numerous societies draw a veil betwixt God and the soul which solitariness withdraws and so many times becomes most sweet We often lose God in a croud of business or company but find him when alone Hence a corner of our house may be a little corner of Heaven and in our closets we may find the sweetest cordials and contentment You know Friends do most familiarly injoy one another when others are not present Jonathan sent away the lad when he would be familiar with his friend David And then they kissed one another 1 Sam. 20.40 41. and wept one with another until David exceeded Even so husband and wife alone have the sweetest embraces There lyes a restraint as it were upon God by company which is taken off in a sort by solitariness Oh when God finds a soul alone by it self having set it self purposely to meet him then he reveals his love unvails his face unlocks his blessed chest distributes doles of love and grace kisses it with the kisses of his mouth and sends it not away empty but full of grace and peace Thus that word of Solomon is verified Prov. 14.10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness and a stranger intermeddles not with his
all one Spirit as well as all one Father And is not this a Spirit of Grace and Supplication And is it not that which on all occasions draws the Soul to its Father 'T is said of Paul when newly converted Behold he prayeth Act. 9.11 Others do not see it but I know it there he is in a corner sighing and seeking me Go Ananias enquire for him he is now one of you a real Convert for Behold he prayeth A Soul praying in secret is worthy observation there 's an Ecce put upon it Behold he prayeth And why should we that pretend to be Saints be unlike our brethren 3. Are you not herein unlike your selves in former times When God did at first work upon your hearts did you not then run to God in a corner Did you not set your selves intently to the duty of secret Prayer How often did God find you by your selves sighing sorrowing weeping bleeding breathing after God pouring out your hearts like water before the face of the Lord And your heavenly Father pitied you spoke very kindly to you wiped off your tears cheared your hearts heard your prayers and made those dayes of grief times of love Oh the sweet embraces that then were betwixt your souls and God Have you forgotten such a Chamber Such a Closet such a Barn such a Wood Where you sometimes walkt and meditated sometimes fell prostrate and wept before the Lord till you had no more power to weep If you have forgotten those blessed days your God hath not He remembers thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine spousals when thou wentest after him in a solitary Wilderness Jer. 2.2 Canst not thou remember the day when thou wouldst rather have been with thy God in a private Room than upon a Princes Throne Yea thou thoughtest thou wast to do nothing else but cry and pray in secret thou wast at it every day yea many times a in day How comes it to pass that there 's such a change That thou dost so rarely go to visit thy old friend in a Corner Is he changed Is he not so good and kind as he was wont to be Hast thou found any fault in God Or art not thou blame-worthy What 's become of thy ancient Spirit of Prayer Why dost thou forget thy sweetest wrestling-place Why dost thou not inquire for these good old wayes of communion with thy God SECT III. Saints neglects further reproved 4. LEt me further expostulate with Gods Children that are rarely exercised in this duty of Secret-Prayer Do you not deprive your selves of many sweet refreshments Have not your souls had sweet experience of ravishing incomes in secret duties How many pleasant morsels have you eaten alone Have not these stolen waters been sweet And would they not be so again if you would open the same sluice Oh what hints of love might your souls have that no creature would know of Secret influences are conveyed to souls in secret duties these you block up by neglect Ah sirs Are the consolations of God small to you Is communion with God of no worth Why are you so unwilling to take pains to go to your Father Especially when you know he hath a kindness for you Have you ever lost by such duties Will not your gains infinitely countervail your pains Ask those that use it most they will tell you it is the sweetest time they spend Yea cannot your own experience attest it Did you ever lose your labour when you set your selves about the work in good earnest Hath not this closs and privy trading with God brought in much spiritual profit Beloved friends you little consider the good you miss of for want of performing this excellent duty But that 's not all 5. Do you not by neglect of secret prayer expose your selves to many sad temptations Watching and Prayer are singular helps against temptation Mat. 26.41 I have heard that Satan hath openly professed that he hath watched when some of Gods children have gone out without Closet-Prayer and that day he hath gotten great advantage against them sometimes by tripping up their heels and casting them down from their excellency into some gross iniquity sometimes tormenting their hearts with blasphemous or soul-perplexing injections Sometimes God hath left them to fall into some afflictive snare laid by this subtil Fowler which hath cost them many bitter pangs all this and much more hath been the fruit of such neglects Christians Have you not found this too true by sad experience When you have gone abroad without calling on God hath not God secretly withdrawn from you Hath not Satan obtained his designs upon you Have not your hearts been growing out of frame Some lust increasing grace decaying and your souls at the brink of some astonishing fall When you have gone out in the morning without a good breakfast with God Have you not been apt to gather wind and vanity to the prejudice of your souls health If you ingage not God by Prayer to go with you What security have you for that day If God leave you the Devil may do what he list with you and hamper you in a thousand snares and sins 6. Doth not your neglect of secret Prayer argue little love to God Or delight to be in his Company When persons have a dear affection to each other they love to be together Love delights in union and communion Yea when persons love intirely they withdraw from other company that they may injoy each other with more indeared familiarity the presence of a third mixeth the streams of Communication and mars their intimate communion And if you did passionately love the Lord would you not withdraw from others that your souls might injoy some fresh and refreshing intercourse with your best Beloved How can you say you love him when you have no mind of his company If you did indeed love him Cant. 3.5 you would hold him and not let him go Amor meus pondus meum until you had with the Spouse brought him into the Chambers of intimate communion and solitary recesses Love is the weight of the soul and draws it to the object beloved If your hearts were ravisht with him you would take more pleasure in conversing with him you would bless God for an opportunity of injoying him But this strangeness speaks a great defect in this noble grace And would you be esteemed such as love not God What a sad thing is it to be low and scant in love to God under such strong engagements to love Poor soul have not those silken silver cords of love which have been cast about thee drawn thee nearer and bound thee faster to thy God than thus Have not such bellows and incentives kindled and increased thy spark of love into a flame Lament thy sin and shame thy self before thy God for this decay of love and dangerous neglect 7. Do not you by these omissions declare your selves ingrateful to the grace of God It 's Gods
way to hire souls to approach to him by holding out promises of reward as we do offer Apples Fruit c. to children to intice them to us nor is it a Bait to couzen and insnare us but real offers of kindness to us whereof we may partake and wherewith we may be happy Suppose a Prince desire a Beggars company with expressions of dear affections and promises of many kindnesses Is it not gross ingratitude if she fling away and scorn the motion Or suppose a potent Person send to a poor man a loving message telling him he hath considered his case and hath appointed time and place that they two together may confer about the necessary concernments of this poor man he shall have free admission and liberty without disturbance to present his petition and ask what he will and it shall be granted none shall be present but only they two shall converse familiarly together for the good of the poor man But instead of a thankful acceptance of this kindness the poor man picks quarrels with the messenger or message grows sullen and perverse runs away and saith I need neither his counsel nor assistance Let him bestow his kindness where he will I will not meddle with him Were not this gross ingratitude And how would it be taken The case is thine Soul that neglectest secret duties the God of Heaven gives thee notice to meet him in such a room to negotiate freely the main concernments of thy precious soul and thou art coy and shy and wilt not come near him but either plainly deniest or heedlesly delayest Oh monstrous folly Oh gross ingratitude Be ashamed of it be humbled for it thy God takes it ill that thou art so loath to be happy that thou even forsakest thine own mercies and wilt go twice as far another way to gratifie a friend rather than go alone into thy Closet to please thy God and profit thy poor soul How long must God watch and wait and strive and sue to have thy company and thou dost still neglect and grow averse thereto Oh be ashamed of it SECT VI. Three more sad Considerations for our Humiliation 8. DO you not by neglect of Secret Prayer resist the motions of the blessed Spirit And is this no fault Is it nothing to neglect communion with God the Father or to improve the intercession of Jesus Christ the Mediator but you must also slight the motions of God the blessed Spirit This is sad How often doth the holy Ghost knock at your doors stir you up spur you forwards unto duty and take you by the hand offering its assistance if you 'l go to God and yet do you refuse Do you make nothing of quenching grieving yea vexing the good Spirit of God Consider what you do as you deal with it so it will deal with you if you do not embrace its call perhaps it will not be present at your call And what can you do in duty without it If you strive against it it will cease striving with you Be it known to you you have not this Heavenly wind at your command and you may toss in the boat of duty long but shall not approach the port without it Nothing but the Spirit of God can carry thy soul to God And what can excite and comfort thee when thy Assistant and Comforter is slighted and sadned Grieve therefore Christian for thy grieving of the Spirit lay to heart thy careless quenching of this holy fire and let those waters of lust or negligence cost thee the waters of godly sorrow and repentance that this sin may not be laid to thy charge Say as that Divine Poet And art thou grieved sweet and sacred Dove When I am sowr And cross thy Love Grieved for me The God of strength and power Griev'd for a worm which when I tread I pass away and leave it dead See the rest in Herbert's Poems on Eph. 5.30 Pag. 128. 9. If you can only pray in company what will you do when your company is gone A time may come when you may be left alone as Christ saith he was You had need ingage the Father to be with you that you may say as the Apostle 1 John 1.3 Truly our fellowship is with the Father 'T is true communion of Saints is desirable but external communion is not always attainable you may be thrust out by divine Providence now it will be sad to be at a loss when persons are alone 'T is a strange expression of some that they know not how to live it such and such Christian friends or godly Relations be taken away why what 's the matter Are they in the place of God Is your spiritual life maintained by the leaden pipes or by the living springs that stream through them Alas sirs if you more understood and used this art of drawing influences from God immediately through Christ by secret Prayer you would not be so discouraged with the loss of friends you would say Indeed 't is true my loss is great such a one had a notable gift in Prayer and spoke my very heart to God but though he be gone is my God gone Is Prayer gone Though I cannot get such moving expressions as such had yet I opened my heart to God as I could in secret formerly and there 's the same refuge now the same road unto this City and Sanctuary I went in and therefore all my comfort is not gone blessed be my God But a poor soul that hath leaned upon the staff of others inlargements will be shrewdly put to it when that staff is gone And Is it not a great disparagement to a noble and immortal Soul that it cannot treat and entertain its God alone What cannot God and an Heaven born soul converse together without Auxiliaries Must another interpose as an instrument without whom you cannot injoy communion with God Be ashamed of it and chide your selves as not acting suitably to your rational spirits much less to a supernatural Principle of grace 10. Lastly let me further demand of you what if our Lord should call you away and find you under the guilt of the neglect of this known duty What confusion grief and jealousie would possess you if death arrest you in such a state What an hurry was forlorn Saul in when the Philistines were upon him and he had not offered sacrifice unto God And what a desperate plunge will you be put to when the King of terrors is upon you and you have not personally and privately been seeking God Though you may be right and safe for the main yet your spirits will be much perplexed and you will suffer shrewd rebukes from your own consciences for your omissions and will be put to that last prayer of a dying Saint eminent in the Church The Lord forgive me my sins of omission and possibly may want that spiritual solace in a dying hour that praying souls may have Oh what a blessed thing will it be if our dear
husbands wives apart Zech. 12.11 12. And of gracious souls to be like Doves of the valleys every one mourning for his iniquity Eze. 7.16 There must be joynt-Prayers and separated Prayers together and apart Let not Christians be content to find Christ in a Corner for themselves but let them do what they can that others also may enjoy him this was the frame of the Church or believing Soul Cant. 3.4 When she had found him I held him saith she and would not let him go until I had brought him into my Mothers house i. e. into more publick assemblies And truly Christians that man hath not found Christ at all that would not have all others to find him Oh thinks the Christian in his retirement that others did but feel and injoy what my soul hath sweet experience of would to God my Husband Wife Brother Father Child Neighbour would but try this course a while Oh what advantage would they get by it Though I eat these sweet morsels alone yet fain would I have others to partake with me In things of this world persons are apt to grudge others any benefit by what they have stoln from others a view but in spiritual advantages there 's no envy and if there be it proceeds not from Grace but from corrupt Nature the more grace the less envy and when envy is gone persons will be communicative Take away envy Tolle invidiam mea tua sunt tua mea and mine is thine and thine is mine true Grace or Charity is kind envieth not 1 Cor. 13.4 Now this I am perswading to that they that have found Christ would be so charitable to souls as to communicate the knowledge of him and the way to enjoy him unto others Thus doth Andrew come to Simon and Philip to Nathaniel and both of them were as a man finding a jewel and cannot contain overjoyed and cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found him We have found the Messias Joh. 1.41 45. And when the poor woman of Samaria had been privately conversing with Jesus down she threw at least left behind her her water-pot and all in haste went to the City and said to the men Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ John 4.28 29. Thus do you sirs promote and propagate this choice duty commend it unto others practice and so you may be instruments of good CHAP. VII Concerning the matter or words of Prayer SECT I. THere is one thing yet remains which it may be expected something should be spoken to and that is The matter in praying or words of Prayer Whether it be lawful or requisite to use a form or no Most judge Videas Ames Cas Cons lib. 4. c. 17. p. 190. that as forms are lawful so prescript words may be requisite to some young beginners in Religion and other Christians of weak parts that cannot express their desires to God in fit words to help their rudeness yet Christians ought to press after more growth and proficiency that they may lay aside those Crutches and arrive at that gift of Prayer that may be of singular use As for Closet-Prayer Practical Catech. pag. 277. Dr. Hammond doth assert it that every one may ask his own wants in what form of words he shall think fit And indeed all particular cases incident and variable can scarce be comprehended in one constant form besides in secret Prayer God doth not so much stand upon phrases or pat sentences as the workings of the heart in sighs and groans which are the best Rhetorick in his ears It 's inquired Whether we may use the Lords Prayer I answer we may use it as other prayers in Scripture but I conceive the principal end of it is not to be rehearsed every time we pray but an example platform or directory according to the contents whereof we must direct our prayers Therefore for the further help of young professors I shall briefly touch at the several branches of that admirable compendious rule of Prayer you have in Mat. 6. ver 9. to v. 14. And the rather because it may seem to refer chiefly though not only to Closet-devotion what I shall say to it may be a practical analysing of it in its several parts and branches 1. For the preface Our Father which art in Heaven You may thus make use of it Infinite and Eternal Majesty the Maker of Heaven and Earth who dwellest in the highest Heavens and in the lowest hearts who seest all things here below and art a God that hearest prayers I am a poor worm at thy foot-stool looking up to the Throne of thy Grace cast a Fatherly eye up on me and though I be by Nature a Child of wrath yet through Jesus Christ make me thy child by Grace and Adoption teach me to cry Abba Father with holy reverence and filial confidence raise my heart to Heaven beget in me Faith in thy promises love to my brethren and due apprehensions of thy Soveraign power and gracious condescention that praying by the help of thy Spirit in the name of thy Son I may obtain good at thy Fatherly hands Secondly for the Petitions 1. Petition Hallowed be thy Name Thus O my God I have dishonoured thee all my days by my ignorance pride hardness and unthankfulness and I am unapt and unable to glorifie thee but do thou glorifie thy self in my conversion and salvation help me to know and adore thee to make an high account of thy titles attributes ordinances to believe thy word admire thy works in mercy or judgment help me with spiritual thoughts becoming my holy profession with divine lips speaking good of thy Name and a suitable conversation to walk before the Lord Holy God destroy Atheism Ignorance Idolatry and Profaneness magnifie thy Name through the World and direct and dispose all things to the advancement of thy glory by thy over-ruling providence and thy infinite wisdom 2. Petition Thy Kingdom come Thus improve it Lord I must confess that by nature I am dead in sin and a bond-slave to the Prince of darkness who rules in my heart and leads me captive by ignorance errour disobedience but do thou by the power of thy grace cast out the strong man take possession of my heart sway thy blessed Scepter in me bring my whole man to obedience destroy Satans kingdom propagate the Gospel among all Nations purge thy house furnish thy Church with officers orders and pure ordinances make Kings nursing Fathers to it convert sinners confirm Saints comfort the sad hasten thy second coming to judgement and the blessed Kingdom of Glory 3. Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Thus Holy Majestie I acknowledge my natural ignorance of thy will impotencie to obey it yea enmity and antipathy against it my best services are imperfect my spirit repining under thy hand and my will wilfully resisting grace and rushing into sin but Dear Lord
God 3. Obj. But I am a Servant and must obey my Master I am kept too hardly at work to get time for secret Prayer I am called to work betimes dogged to it all the day Answ Though you be servants to do mens work yet not slaves to their lusts in that respect you must not be the Servants of Men if you be Servants you are the Lords Free-men if free yet you are Christs servants 1 Cor. 7.22 23. Remember you have a Master in Heaven no mortal creature can discharge you from your attendance on God You must do Gods work as well as your Masters and your Masters work for God's sake Eph. 6.6 7. Oh sirs do not neglect your duty to God to pleasure men Can your superiour answer for your neglect Or interpose betwixt flaming wrath and your sinning souls But I am afraid some lay the blame on Masters when the fault is in themselves Deceive not thy self by accusing others to clear thy self this was Adam's fault Think not that anothers rigour can excuse thy neglect Let me tell you there 's never a servant so strictly watch'd but might steal some time from his Master for his God and yet do him no wrong Only see that you be prudent in chusing such seasons as may not justly provoke your Master or prejudice his occasions And be often in your callings lifting up your hearts to God be content with your condition had you more liberty it may be your hearts would not be in so good a frame But let me bespeak Masters indulgence to poor and pious Servants oh hinder them not in any good work rather put them upon it encourage them in it bless God that you have praying servants this is a hopeful presage of good success Let not your servants fare the worse but the better for being God's servants 4. Obj. But I have no Closet to pray in no convenient room for secret Prayer I have a little house a busie full family and cannot retire my self Answ A good good heart will find room either within doors or without a gracious soul will seek out places to pray in any sorry cote will be a Bethel where it can injoy its God or if he cannot get to it under the roof he will with good Isaac walk out into the fields to meditate and to pray Could Heathens and Idolatrous Jews plant groves for their superstition in an Apish imitation of Abraham's practice And cannot a Bird of Paradise take its flight out of some Wood or Arbour into Heaven But most need not make this silly slight excuse they have good roofs to be in and need not worship God sub Dio in the open air few of us but we have convenient rooms but most of us want affectionate hearts to visit God therein But Christians make good use of your houses to serve God therein else they may justly spue you out and leave you harbourless and then what a dreadful sting and guilt will follow you whither-soever you go Oh consider London's flames and ruines your houses are no better built nor more secured from the like Catastrophe do not weaken their foundations by wilful neglects or scandalous sins 5. Obj. But I know some good Christians that never use it yea that maintain it in their judgements that it is not necessary except in some extraordinary cases What say you to that I Answ I never yet met with such persons that had the face of Religion that ever spoke against the ordinary practise of this duty of Closet-Prayer I confess I have met with some who being urged to Family-Prayer have put it off with this evasion that they would pray in their Closets how well the God of Heaven knows But if any professors judgement be so far bribed to plead for the flesh in this neglect the Lord rebuke them and forgive them they know not what they say This is a lamentation that there 's scarce any truth so sacred or duty so spiritual but it hath been contradicted in these licentious daies Some have pleaded against Family-Prayer Catechising Christian-meetings and what not But they can produce no solid arguments do not you follow their example contrary to plain Scripture precepts and precedents Many were produced for confirmation most whereof were not only in extraordinary cases but were an ordinarie practice And can you find the day that affords not some special matter to occasion you to make addresses to God in secret Prayer If you be sensible and observant surely you will see great need for such retirements in ordinary practice Remember this that you follow no man but as he follows Christ but I am sure our precious Saviour used this practice SECT III. More Objections answered 6. Obj. BUT I find not my heart affected or prepared Is it not a tempting of God to go when the spirit doth not move me I Answ 'T is a dangerous mistake to think you may not go to duty but when the spirit moves you For it may be long before it stir the spirit bloweth where and when it listeth You are therefore to lay your selves in the way of the spirit call in its aid which ordinarily comes when souls do their duty Holy performances are as it were the walk of the spirit the air where he breaths and be sure he is most likely to be found in his own way and walk but you cannot expect him in the neglect of plain duty Try this way put God to 't plead his promise you cannot think to be warm if you run from the fire If you have not an appetite to pray you must pray for an appetite for neglect or omission of a duty never fits but alwaies unfits for a duty If you 'll heed your trifling spirits and accept every excuse which they make you shall never pray If you play the truant one time you 'll have less mind to go to God the next time guilt makes you afraid and you dare not come near that God whom you have wronged as Adam run from God and Peter would thrust Christ from him when conscious of guilt How dare you look God in the face whom you have slighted Besides you 'll find that neglect of duty doth not make the next performance more easie but more difficult It will as one saith require more time and pains for you to tune your instrument than for another to play his lesson And is it not more likely God should come to you in pains-taking than total omission Do you not read in the Psalms how often David begun faintly and ended triumphantly Try the Lord and see if he be not better than you expect 7. Obj. I but saith a poor soul I meet with temptations when I go to God in secret Satan assaults me I am timorous and dare not be alone or in the dark but am afrighted Answ 'T is a sign the duty is good because so bad a spirit opposeth it the more Satan sees a duty is for the souls advantage
thou should'st take God's part and plead for obedience Paul doth so Rom. 7.15 16. Though he saith What I would that do I not But what I hate that do I yet saith he I consent to the Law that it is good i. e. I take patt with God and joyn with Gods will against my corrupt and carnal affections that would draw my neck from under this heavenly yoke And if you have not something within you that takes part with Gods revealed will you are not of God But a principle of grace doth facilitate and make easie the hardest duties because there is a likeness betwixt holy hearts and holy performances Love makes every thing easie hence it comes to pass that Christs yoke is easie Mat. 11.30 His ways pleasant and his commandments not grievous 1 Joh. 5.3 If thy heart were right duties would be sweet to thy soul 't is no burden to eat drink sleep the acts of nature are delightful to persons in a right temper if they be not nature is opprest and out of order A child of God in duty so far as regenerated is like a man in his calling or a creature in its proper Element Besides wert thou more accustomed to duty in secret it would be more familiar to thee and less irksom We see by experience Use makes heavy things light we hardly feel the weight of our cloaths because fitted to us and constantly carried by us when as the same weight upon our shoulders would trouble us Christians consider all Christian duties are not of equal difficulty yet withal observe it Duties that are hardest to go through many times bring in the sweetest income And so is this the profit of it will abundantly recompence for your pains in it Be sure when a duty is lined with difficulty and your corrupt hearts draw back and have most averseness to it there is something of God in that duty and God aims you more than ordinary advantage by it Therefore do not say a word against it but stir up your selves spur on your hearts shake off sloth and run to God whatever Satan the World or Flesh say to the contrary thus much for the Objections SECT V. Some Cases of Conscience briefly answered THere are yet four Cases of conscience I shall briefly propound and Answer 1. Case Whether may not an hypocrite or graceless soul perform this duty of Closet-prayer and what difference is there betwixt a real Saint and an unregenerate person in this work I Ans It is possible a carnal man may pray in secret but with these differences 1. He is urged to it by the challenges of an accusing conscience he is as it were dogg'd to 't he dare not but do it but a Child of God hath a gracious principle inclining him to it from love to God and a desire to please and enjoy him Yet through the remainders of corruption there 's much unwillingness in the best so that sometimes a Saint must even force himself to the performance 2. An hypocrite will not thus pray always Job 27.9 10. 'T is but in some pang or under some pressing affliction and when this good mood is over he takes his leave of God till whipt to him again by the like But a child of God is in some measure constant and diligent in the duty though he may have sinful omissions and intermissions yet never a total cessation from duty Grace works the heart God-ward and the soul is not content without Him 3. An hypocrite doth not make conscience to get his heart up to God in the duty he is content with the work done words said but a real Saint hath most ado with his heart that 's the hardest piece of the work he dare not leave that behind him and he hath much ado to get it up 4. A carnal man keeps his round in formal duty but gets nothing he prays to little profit or purpose and indeed doth not much study to gain a spiritual good But a child of God is a great gainer he gets at sometimes communion with God communications from God Oh what good doth his soul meet with Though not always yet at sometimes 2. Case Whether may a Christian bind himself to the performance of this duty of Closet-Prayer at stated times Or suppose a Christian miss his times designed for that work what must he then do Ans To the former that in general thou mayst and must swear and vow that thou wilt keep Gods Commandments Psal 119.106 so doth David And in Scripture we are bid to make vows and pay them to the Lord Psal 76.11 Vowing our selves and all that we have to God is necessary Sequestring some part of our time to his service is requisite And in some cases for some persons it may be expedient to bind and task our selves by an holy resolution to take so much time at least every day for Gods worship yea at such a time as may be judged most commodious by our experiences And this may be a good help to keep in our treacherous hearts from delay or dallying But to ingage our selves to a particular hour so punctually and unalterably as not to take another may not be so safe partly because our times are in Gods hands and we know not what intervening Providence may fall in to prevent our performance whereby conscience may be intangled in a perplexing labyrinth besides our outward occasions and the frame of our Spirits may discover a greater fitness at another season Yet though I would not have Christians bring a snare upon their souls by Vowing yet I humbly conceive that they may consult conveniences and design some time for that work and purpose God willing to keep an hour of Prayer And if they be hindered by a journey or any unexpected unavoidable occasions they must mourn for it as their burden redouble their diligence another time not plead needless diversions lift up ejaculations to God keep a praying frame of spirit and God will graciously pardon and entertain them 3. Case How may a Christian know that he enjoyeth communion with God in Closet-prayer Ans Communion with God is twofold 1. As to Graces 2. As to Comforts Sometimes a Christian may feel the joy of Gods salvation have the sweet kisses of his mouth smiles of his face seals of the Spirit and the lively springings of joy and ravishing pleasures these carry their own evidence along with them But all have not these nor any at all times therefore the surest way is to inquire after communion with God with reference to the exercise of grace in duty then hath a child of God true fellowship with God when by the sweet assistance of Gods Spirit his mind is knit to the object of worship the understanding is fruitful in spiritual and suitable thoughts when the will and affections are carried out in strong and panting desires and longings after God When the heart is throughly broken in the sense of sin melted into godly sorrow