A Practical Discourse of Prayer, Discourse · Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Touching Cloſet Prayer.
VVE come now to the third branch of ſolemne and continued Prayer; namely Secret and Cloſet Prayer: the injunction reacheth, as the Church of Theſſalonica, collectively conſidered as a Church, and the families there as Chriſtian families; ſo each particular Chriſtian there perſonally conſidered, what hee is to do apart, as well as what he is to do as a member of the Congregation or Family; and by Analogy every other Chriſtian is bound and concerned in this precept, to pray alone alſo, and that without ceaſing, Mat. 6. 6. But thou when thou prayeſt, enter into thy Cloſet, and when thou haſt ſhut to thy door, pray to thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret, &c. he ſaith not, when [you] pray, but [thou] when [thou] prayeſt, enter into thy cloſet. &c. as ſpeaking not ſo much of a joynt Duty of many together, as of a duty which each perſon is to do alone, as in the other verſe 3. When thou doeſt thine Almes, &c. It is an injunction not ſo much of what the godly are to do in ſome joint way of Charity. but what each gracious perſon is to do apart and alone as occaſion is offered, even when or where none elſe haply can, or will do as they do. So Chemnitius, Cartwright, Aretius, and Muſculus upon Matth. 6. 6. they expound this of prayer in retyred places. And albeit the intent of Chriſt be not meerly to preſcribe cloſet Prayer in that Scripture as each Chriſtians proper duty, and much leſſe to preſcribe it as all the prayer which he calleth for from his people; yet we may ſafely conclude, that hee therein commendeth and commandeth cloſet praier of each Chriſtian alone by himſelf▪ as one ſpecial way of praying to him, who ſeeth in ſecret, and as that wherein they ſhall give a ſpecial teſtimony of their ſincerity, and avoid that vain-glorious affection of mens praiſe, which the Lord Jeſus there blameth in the Scribes and Phariſees.
Touching this Duty then, conſider we, 1. Who muſt pray thus alone. 2. Why? And 3: What uſe wee are to make thereof.
Touching the firſt, we ſay, none are excepted Each one muſt pray alonewho are of underſtanding to know what they are to do therein; whether younger or elder, high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, Male or Female, as they are all one in point of dignity and priviledg in Chriſt Jeſus, Coloſ. 3. 11. Gal. 3. 27, 28. as they have and profeſſe each of them an intereſt in him, who is, and ſeeth in ſecret as their Father, Matth. 6. 6. Pray to thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret, &c. Every one ſeverally apart, as well as jointly together, is to cry in ſecret alſo, Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. the very wives apart muſt be improving their ſpirit of Supplication in an humble and contrite manner, as well as together with their family, yea ſometimes in an extraordinary manner muſt they thus mourn, even pray and faſt apart; and therefore much more may they, muſt they pray contritely in an ordinary way, when apart from the reſt of the Family; the wives who have ſo many occaſions more then others, from little ones, and other houſhold affairs, to take up their time above others, yet are not exempted from this holy exerciſe, and therefore by proportion none elſe are exempted from it.
Touching the ſecond. The Reaſons enforcing Reaſons why. 1 Gods promiſe undertaking and encouraging it.this duty, are
1. Taken from the Promiſe of God, partly undertaking that it ſhall be ſo, that his people ſhall be enabled to pray apart by themſelves, and ſhall exerciſe themſelves therein, as Zach. 12. 10, 11, 12, 13. he promiſeth to pour upon them the ſpirit of Supplication, and that they ſhould mourne or pray in an humble and contrite manner, by themſelves alone: and partly from his promiſe to his people, when at any time thus exerciſed in ſecret prayer when none elſe ſees them, when, or how, or how long they pray, he will reward them openly, partly in this life. All ſhall ſee, and manifeſtly perceive by the fruit thereof, that Iſaak Hannah, and Zacharias did pray alone to their heavenly Father for the fruit of the womb. The Holy Ghoſt recordeth it in the Scriptures, and thereby holdeth it forth to the view of every eye to whom the Word ſhall come, how honourably God hath accepted and rewarded ſecret praier. All ſhal ſee that Moſes is wont to be with God alone by his manifeſt and notable prevailing with God: if he but go aſide and pray to the Lord, blinded Pharaoh himſelfe ſhall do it, and therefore is often entreating his prayers for him and his people, Exod. 8. and 9. and 10. ſo the Jewes could not but perceive it, whence they recourſe oft to him to pray for them, Numb. 11. 1, 2. and 21. 7, 8, 9 and the places ſhew a manifeſt reward of that his praying, granted and given out thereupon. How openly did God reward Daniel, who was wont to pray to his God in ſecret, Dan. 9. 10. with manifeſt deliverance from ſo great a death, ver. 23. and with the notable ruine brought upon thoſe who would have forbidden and hindred him from that holy exerciſe of his but three dayes together, verſe 5, 6, 7. and 10, 11, 12, 24. compared. The more the Saints do thus ſecretly alſo acquaint themſelves with God, the more notable good ſhall come to them, the very light of God ſhall ſhine upon the wayes of ſuch; the very Iland where they are ſhall fare the better for them. Job 22. 21, 27, 28, 30 compared. And as in this life ſo in that which is to come, will God reward them openly, when God will bring every ſecret work to judgment of remuneration, Eccl; 12. 14, when the Saints ſhall receive according to the good they have done in the body; 2 Cor. 5. 10. Then ſhall their ſecret ſeeking of Gods face alſo come to light. It ſhall be ſhewed before the whole world, how many, & many a time, ſuch and ſuch of Gods hidden ones have been ſerving him with their ſpirits, and that they have been, and now fully are thus and thus graciouſly rewarded; not a tear of theirs ſhed in their pouring out their ſouls thus before God, but he bottled up, Pſalm 56. 8. and at that day it ſhall appear they were not loſt: their waters at that wedding day will be turned into wine.
The ſecond Reaſon is taken from divine providence, ordering Cloſet occaſions, fit 2. Cloſet occaſionsonly for ſecret expreſſing and opening them before the Lord, as ſome ſecret perſonal heart-plague, 1 Kings 8. 38. Some ſecret ſnares layed for this or that Saint of God by men or divels, as by ſo many curſed Fowlers. But in the uſe of this means of calling thus perſonally and particularly upon God; he delivered both Chriſt the Lord, and his members in particular, Pſal. 91. 3. He ſhall deliver thee from the ſnare of the Fowler, &c. and ver. 15. He ſhall call upon me, and I will anſwer him, &c. The Saints by ſecret prayer do countermine the ſecret ſtratagems of their ſubtle enemies, Pſalm 9. 13, 15, 16.
The third Reaſon may be taken from the approved examples of the choiceſt of Gods 3. Examples of the Saints ſo exerciſedSaints this way exerciſed. As that of Daniel three times a day, Dan. 6. 10. that of David as oft, Pſalm 55. 17. that of Iſaac uſing daily to go out into the fields alone, there to meditate, or pray, (as the Geneva Bible reads it,) Gen. 24. 63. That of the Lord Jeſus Mark 1. 35. Early in the morning (before he healed the Leper) he was praying alone in a ſecret place. And Luke (chap. 5. 12 13, 14, 15. compared with verſe 16.) inſtanceth in a like practiſe of his, after that cure which he wrought: He withdrew himſelfe, and went into the wilderneſs and prayed, yet not much ſpace of time betwixt the one and the other. Luke 6. 12. He went out into a Mountain, and continued all night in prayer: and he was then alone; for verſe 13. When it was day, he called, unto him his Diſciples. Matth. 14 22. he ſendeth away his Diſciples firſt by ſhip: and verſe 23. He goeth apart into the Mountain to pray. Luke 21. 27. when he had been imployed in the day time in preaching, in the night time he went apart into the Mount of Olives; namely, to pray and meditate. Luke 22. 41. He was withdrawne from his Diſciples about a ſtones caſt, and prayed. and verſe 44. He prayed more earneſtly, &c. and verſe 45. He roſe up from prayer and came to his Diſciples. And how he prevailed by theſe very ſolitary, but ſtrong cryes and tears in theſe dayes of his fleſh, or humane infirmity, is teſtified Heb. 5. 7. He was heard.
The fourth Reaſon is taken from the ſutableneſs 4. The ſutable preſence of God in ſecret.of the preſence and favour of God which he is wont in ſecret to exhibit to them unto their aimes and deſires. Their deſire is Pſal. 4. 7. Lord lift up thou the light of thy countenance upon us. And when is the Lord more with his Saints then when in ſecret? When Jacob is alone praying then Jehovah, the Son of God that Angel, is in ſuch a glorious manner with him, Gen. 32. 23, 24, 28, 30, and Hoſea 12. 3, 4▪ compared. This being one ſpecial way of the Saints walking with God, he cannot but be much in company with them: the neereſt and deareſt acquaintance and fellowſhip with God is mentioned by theſe ſecret communings with God, and holy wiſperings in his ear, the ſecret chamber is the moſt ſutable and freeſt place for theſe Spouſes of the Lord, to be telling their ſecrets to him; and there is the place where moſt ordinarily and uſually he is wont to meet and greet, and ſecretly embrace them.
Now let us come to ſuch Objections as Objections againſt it anſwered.are made againſt this holy exerciſe: for we may perceive by Job 21. 15. that mans carnal heart is ready to cavil againſt it, and to object, cui bono, to what purpoſe it, what needeth, what profit is it if we pray to him? Verily it is an ordinance wherein the Lord is wont very graciouſly to communicate himſelf to his Saints, and therefore ſo long as Satans wily head, and mans deceitful heart can find out cavils and quarrels againſt it, it ſhall not want for Objections. Many a deadly wound is given to ſin and Satan by theſe prayer-darts, which the Saints thus ſecretly caſt at them; beſides, its a moſt ſpiritual ſervice requiring a ſpecial meaſure of ſincerity and ſelf-denial, and no wonder that of all other Duties, mans heart be ſo backward to this. In prayer with others, there is more to bribe, even the carnal heart to be ſpeaking; but here is little or nothing to move from mans applauſe, or the like. It is a duty very coſtly if rightly performed; in ſecret are the choice wreſtlings and weepings, and the like, and mans carnal heart would take the eaſieſt and cheapeſt way rather: we are too apt to be objecting againſt our maine ſpiritual foundations, and no wonder then if againſt this building work. We are too apt to failings and falls, and no wonder if ſo backward to this cloſer cloſet way of making up perſonal and particular accounts unto the Lord. It were rather a wonder if there were not, then that there are ſo many Objections againſt this.
If we muſt both pray with the Aſſembly, Object. 1 and with the Family, and yet alſo in our We muſt labour ſix dayes.cloſets too alone, will not this too much prejudice our ordinary callings and occaſions, and intrench upon that charge of labouring ſix dayes.
The Lord indeed will not have now any Anſw. 1 more ſolemn dayes in the week to be ordinarily True, yet pray alſoſet apart onelyonly for his ſervice, beſides the Lords day; but yet as of old, when the Jewiſh Sabbath was in force, the Saints made conſcience of conſtant ſeeking of God in ſecret, and are commended for it by the Lord, as Daniel, chap. 6. 10. David, Pſal. 55. 17. So now the Jewiſh Sabbath is aboliſhed, and the Lords day appointed of God in its ſtead; yet Cornelius is commended, and graciouſly rewarded for his conſcionable praying to God alone day and night; for as he was praying in his houſe, namely, by himſelf alone, a man in bright cloathing (or an Angel) appeared to him, and ſaid, Cornelius, Thy Prayer is heard, Acts 10. 30, 31. not that prayer alone which he made in that day of Humiliation; but as ver. 2, 3, 4. ſhew [his prayers] his Prayers which he made alone, whether with his houſhold, or by himſelf alone, none elſe were with him praying then, as it ſeemeth, for he only ſaw that man in bright cloathing, to him alone the Angel addreſſed his preſent ſpeech, ſaying, Cornelius, thy Prayers are heard, ver. 4. 31. God would not have the hand-maid to perk above the Miſtris, or ordinary particular callings to thruſt Religion out of doors, or ſo to ſtraiten it, that ſcarce any leiſure is afforded to worſhip God in publick, private, and ſecret. Nay, rather clean Chriſtians, typed by thoſe clean Beaſts, muſt rightly part the hoof, Lev. 11. 3. rightly divide their time, giving a due ſhare thereof to God in matters of his Worſhip, and a meet proportion of it to God in their particular calling.
2 It is the expreſs charge of God that we We muſt buy out time for prayer.reedeem or buy out time, and that for prayer as well as other holy exerciſes, Col. 4. 2, 3, 4. the Lord wiſheth us to continue in prayer, and ver. 5. biddeth us redeem the time; which Exhortation is directed to all ſorts, husbands, wives, parents, children, ſervants and Maſters, as the Context ſheweth, from chap. 3. 18. to chap. 4. 6. All and every of them, are to buy out time for inſtant prayer, as al together in the family, ſo apart in ſecret, as occaſions are offered; the charge is not limited to Church or Family prayer only. Yea but how ſhall we get ſo much time, will they ſay? Redeem the opportunity, (foreign) ſaith God. If the Lord offer you any opportunity, to pray together or aſunder, be at any coſt for it. Chriſtians muſt be wiſe and frugal Market men and women of praying opportunities. Let not the Divel or world outbid us for ſuch ſeaſons which are ſo gainful to our ſouls. A wiſe Daniel will be willing to hazard the loſſe or parting with either honor or pleaſure, or profit, yea life it ſelf, rather then be debarred from taking his times this way, for God and for his ſoul, to ſatisfie the wretched deſires of the wicked therein, or to ſeem to yeild to Satans wily ſuggeſtions and plots, in his inſtruments for that end, Dan. 6. 10.
3 This is a maine part of our ſpiritual We muſt ply this as our holy Trade.trading with God, by improvement this way of the Talent of the gift of prayer alſo. Matth. 25. 16, 17 This is as part of our foreign, our City Imployment. Epheſ. 2. 19. Phil. 3. 20. Having hereby commerce and converſe with God in Chriſt; and it is a rich Trade. God is rich in Mercy to all that call upon him in ſecret apart, as wel as to others that pray together in Aſſemblies and Families, Pſal. 86. 5. Gods Saints and Suppliants, which often come alone to the door of Grace, and moſt frequently doe thus knock by prayer, ſpeed beſt. God alloweth them this private key, that they may freely get in and take of all his precious Treaſures of Grace as they need the ſame; Knock and it ſhall be opened, ask, and it ſhall be given, Matth. 7. Whatſoever ye ask the Father in my name, I will do, John 14. 13. be it publickly, privately, or ſecretly that you ask the ſame. If others have not, it is becauſe they ask not.
4 Prayer in ſecret by our ſelves, as well It expediteth our other affairs.as that with others, it doth expedit our weightieſt temporal affairs. Jacob did more this way to iſſue his great affairs, reſpecting his families welfare and ſafety, when to meet his brother Eſau; with his warlike Troops, then if he had an equal or greater warlike power, or military skil to have managed the ſame. Thou haſt prevailed with God, and with men thou ſhalt prevail, Gen 32 82 &c. it is the way to have the beauty or glorious bleſſing, preſence, and protection of God upon us, and the proſpering of our handy work, to ſet God thus on work for us by prayer; whence it was, that they of old were taught to pray for that end, as Pſalm. 90. 17. Let thy beauty be upon us, proſper thou the work of our hands. This oyles the wheels for any work, quickens and quieteth our ſpirits, Philip. 4. 6, 7. ſanctifieth our works, 1 Tim. 4. 4, 5. If we can but pray well before hand, we may be ſure we ſhall ſtudy well, or preach well, or work well, as our calling requireth, yea, and ſpeed well afterward.
Some may object, their condition as being Object. 2 ſervants, and ſo think themſelves excuſed We are ſervants.and exempted from this Duty of Cloſet Prayer.
The charge of the Text is indefinite, not Anſw. 1 limited to any ſort of perſons, no more This is the work of any ſervant of God as ſuch.than that verſe 15. Render not evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good; or that verſe 16. Rejoice evermore; or that ver. 18 In every thing give thanks, &c. in which godly ſervants alſo, as well as others, are concerned. A godly ſervant conſidered as his Maſters ſervant, is faithfully to attend his Maſters buſineſs, but as he is the Lords ſervant, ſo this is one part of his ſervantly buſineſſe. When David had ſaid, Pſal. 116 6. I am thy ſervant, Lord, thy ſervant, &c. verſe 17. he addeth, I will call upon the name of the Lord. 1 Cor. 1. 2. To them that are called to be Saints in Corinth, with all ſuch as call upon the Name of the Lord Jeſus in every place, that is the Saints character, bee they of what calling or condition ſoever, or where ever, they call upon the Lord: God is no reſpecter of perſons, every one who calleth him Father, is to do this ſervice and honour of a child to him. Thou (whoever thou art, bond or free) when thou prayeſt, enter into thy cloſet, (or into ſome retired place,) and pray to thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret, Matth. 6. 6.
2 Every one, whether bond or free, they have this part of the new man, reſembling Each Saint is this way gifted more or leſſe.Chriſt the Creator of it, even this holy knowledg alſo, Col. 3. 10, 11. to know how to call upon God as a Father in ſecret, as hee alſo did, and to cry in ſolemne wiſe, themſelves alone, Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6.
3 Godly ſervants alſo, who have the Godly ſervants alſo muſt bee Chriſts peculiar ones.Grace of God which bringeth ſalvation appearing to them, are as well as others to be peculiar ones unto the Lord, zealous of all good works, and ſo of this alſo, wherein Gods choiceſt ſervants have been wont to be conſcionably exerciſed, Tit. 29, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. compared. Other ſervants will go to praier with their Maſters in publick and private, yea, but Godly ones muſt doe ſomewhat more, they muſt improve their peculiar intereſts in the Lord in ſuch a way of peculiar ſerving of him with their ſpirits,
4 Bond as well as free being alike intereſted Their dignity is alike with others, and ſo is this their duty.in the dignity and priviledges of Saints as Saints, Col. 3. 11. they are alike concerned in ſuch Duties as theſe are, which reſpect and lye upon the Saints, as Saints: in which reſpect alſo, godly ſervants are the Lords freemen, 1 Cor. 7. 22. they muſt not abridge themſelves, nor may be abridged by others of this liberty, of retired repairs to the Throne of Grace as the Lord affordeth them opportunity. To be meer ſervants of men, ſo to attend their Maſters commands, as to neglect this, or any other command of God, they ought not, verſe 23. yea, obſerve it, that the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of ſervants to infidel Maſters alſo, verſe 21, 22. Either then they muſt not pray at all, which were to make them as profane as their infidel Maſters; which to them would bee matter of diſdain or diſtaſte: or they muſt content themſelves alone with publick prayer in the Congregation of Chriſtians, which none will affirm; or they muſt as holy Prieſts to God, offer (as the Prieſts did theirs) this holy Incenſe to God, in a retired place, from view of others. Yea, ſuppoſe forbidden by an Infidel Maſter to pray in ſecret, yet they are no more to forbear, then Daniel, King Darius his ſervant, did forbear it upon his Decree to inhibit the ſame, Dan. 6. 10.
5 Be that child bond or free who prayeth Bond or free ſo praying are rewarded.thus in ſecret, and not before others to his Father, he will reward him openly, Matth. 6. 6.
6 Godly ſervants are to ſanctifie their work by Prayer. 1 Tim. 4. 4. Albeit Abraham Servants muſt ſanctifie their work by prayer.had prayed for his ſervants Eliczars good ſucceſſe in his buſineſſe about which he ſent him, Gen. 24. 7, 8. yet Eliezar himſelf alone praieth for good ſucceſſe that day, ver. 12.
7. The work which godly ſervants do Their work then ſpeeds beſtſanctifie by prayer, though more ſhort, is wont to ſpeed beſt, as did that buſineſs of Eliezar, ſo ſanctified, Gen. 24. 12. as the iſſue declared. And ſurely godly Maſters, which are to expreſſe ſpecial love to ſuch ſervants, will not refuſe to encourage them to take ſome ſeaſonable time to pray thus, knowing how profitable ſuch ſervants wil be to them, Philem. 6, 11. compared.
Some will object, That they are apt to meet Object. 3 with temptations when alone.Tempted if alone.
1. You may and will be annoyed with temptatious, when not conſcionably imploied Anſw. 1 in your general or particular callings, as David. No hurt by temptations if in Gods way.2 Sam. 11. 2. had he been praying alone, it had been well for him. And though Joſhuah praying alone was aſſaulted by Satan, Zach. 2. 1. yet the iſſue was good, Chriſt the Angel took part with him, pleaded for him, ver. 2. put more honour upon him, verſe 3. 4, 5. Chriſt himſelf men with many temptations from Satan, when alone in the wilderneſſe, but came out as a glorious Conqueror, and full of the Spirit: he went thither full of the Spirit, Luke 4, 1. and verſe 14. he came out full, he loſt nothing thereby in the cloſe, no more do his Members proportionably.Satan would that way debar us from … …e could
2 It is Satans ſlight to preſent ſuch ſcarebags in our way of drawing neer to God in Praier, but we muſt reſiſt him in them, Jam. 4 7, 8, It is a ſluggards trick to fancy ſuch Lions in the way to deter us from the ſame Prov. 26. 13.
3. Prayer of it ſelf is rather an occaſion Praier prevents or removeth temptations.to prevent and remove, then to raiſe up temptations. Matth. 26. 41. Pray, —leaſt ye enter into temptation. It helps us to put on and improve our ſpiritual Armor againſt them, Epheſ. 6. 18.
Some will object their want of ability to pray alone. Object. 4
1 If children of God, you have in you a Inability to praychilds ſpirit, enabling and putting you upon Anſw. 1 praying to God as to a Father, Gal. 4. 6. If children, then crying to GodThe particular daughters of Jeruſalem, though not ſo fully acquainted with Chriſt, yet the Church looketh at them as able to pray in ſome meaſure, and therefore commendeth her caſe to their prayers, Cant. 5. 8 If yee find my Beloved, tell him, (namely, in your prayers) that I am ſick of love.
2 In caſe of great inabilities and infirmities, The Spirit will help our infirmitiesyet the Spirit will help the Saints to groan out their complaints to the Lord, in ſuch ſort as the Lord will accept, Rom. 8. 26.
3 Let the weakeſt of the Saints, ſo far Exerciſe will encreaſe abilities.as their minds and hearts are apprehenſive of this or that failing, luſt, defect and ſpiritual ayle or evil, put that into as good expreſſion as they can, in ſecret before the Lord, and though at firſt their tongue can but ſtammer out their ſoules caſes, yet in a ſhort time that tongue of the ſtammerer ſhall be able to ſpeak plainly, Iſai. 32. 4. At firſt you may be timorous, but within a while you ſhall attain that foreign, liberty of ſpeech, and ſpirit in prayer, Epheſ. 3. 12. As young Scholers at firſt are timorous to ſpeak without book, and apter to ſtumble and ſtammer in it, but in a little time by exerciſing themſelves to it, wax more able and bold, exact and large therein. So it is here in the matter of praying, (as I may ſay) without book. As walking with wiſe men increaſeth wiſdom, (Prov. 13. 20) ſo walking with the wiſe God, in ſecret calling upon him, encreaſeth our holy skil, and abilities of talking with him in prayer.
Some will object (eſpecially in this Object. 5 Countrey) want of conveniency, of Inconveniency of place.a place to bee retyred in ſolitary Prayer.
1. God required the Jewes of old to Anſw. 1 build their houſes with battlements, which as they were places of ſafety, Deut. 22. 8. ſo ſecrecy fit for retiredneſſe in Prayer; whence it was that Peter in that houſe at Joppa, getteth him in thither to pray alone, Acts 106. 9. Such as are able, are ſuppoſed The able muſt get a fit cloſet.by Chriſt (Matth. 6. 6.) to have a convenient cloſet, with a door to ſhut it for ſecrecy in Praier. And it would be a ſhame for Chriſtians to have private places for their very Swine to ſheep, or their Cattle to feed in, free from anoyances of wind or weather; that they ſhould not make ſome ſhift to get ſome retired place to ſeek the face of God therein.
2 If it were ſuppoſable (which hardly is) that Chriſtians cannot have ſuch a place within doors, at home or abroad, yet Iſaac can get him into the field to pray. Gen. 24. 63. Chriſt can go apart into a Mountaine to pray, Luke 6. 12. any ſolitary place in a Wilderneſs, will ſerve Chriſts turn to be alone praying, Luke 5. 16. The Lord can, and ſometimes doth make any ſolitary place when his Saints are praying, to be to them a very corner of Heaven, as Jeſus Chriſt when praying in the Mountain was transfigured, Luke 9. 28, 29, 30. Many a precious meeting may, and doth the Lord ſometimes give his poor Suppliants, when all alone praying under ſome ſolitary Rock, or by ſome ſwamyſide, or thicket, or the like.
Let us now apply what hath been ſaid touching this Duty of Secret Prayer.
1. Let this ſerve for Reproof to ſuch Profeſſors, which are ſhamefully to blame in Ʋſe. 1 the neglect of Cloſet Prayer by themſelves Neglect of cloſet prayer reprovedalone. How many are ſo ſurcharged with worldly cares and employments, that they will ſcarce afford themſelves time to attend upon either Church or Family Prayer? but if they ſometimes be praying there, yet ſeldome or never take time ſolemnly to ſeek the Lord alone. How do many here in New England, though able to do otherwiſe if but willing, build their houſes ſo, as if they intended to ſhut Cloſet Prayer out of doors? How do many look at Cloſet Prayer, to be at the beſt but a Free-will-Offering, (as they term it) which they offer if they will, but look not at it as a Duty which they muſt attend upon all occaſions? Surely ſuch are little ſenſible of their heart-plagues, for Such as neglect it are ſenſeleſs of heart-plaguesthen would they alone one by one make Prayers and Supplications, 1 Kings 8. 38, 39 How little do ſuch love the Lord, that they are afraid to talk too much or too ſecretly Have little love to Godwith him? Surely ſuch have at moſt but ſome few drops of the promiſed ſpirit of Supplication, for if they had plenty of that Have little of the ſpirit of prayerſpirit poured out upon them, they would be exerciſing the ſame apart, Zech. 12. 10, 11, 12, 13. No wonder if ſuch are not led in a way of Supplication in ſecret, as well as otherwiſe, that they are ever and anon ſtumbling in matters of judgement or practiſe, Are oft falling into ſinJer. 31. 9. Nor is it wonder that we have ſo many lukewarm Profeſſors amongſt us, if ſo few that make conſcience of calling upon Are lukewarmGod, even in this ſort alſo, Hoſea 7. 7, 8, 9. Such as make not conſcience of calling upon God publickly, privately and ſecretly, either are, or will ſoon prove as a cake halfe baked. Such are not led by rivers of water into a fruitful way, who are not led in a way Are unfruitfulof weeping and ſupplications, Jerem. 31. 9. Such have little love to others, who are little with God apart in praier. If we had more Have little love to others.of Cornelius his ſpirit to be conſcionably exerciſed in praying alone alſo, we ſhould have more love to Profeſſors. Full of Prayers and Alms (fruits of Charity) was his commendation, Act. 19 2, 4. And it is well if the Spiritual Chaldees, the ſouls enemies, are not gotten into ſuch mens hearts, as of old they did into the Temple; yea, and that God himſelf be not Ly open to deſertiondeparted from ſuch, as of old from the Temple, when this daily Sacrifice and Offering of holy prayer unto God ceaſeth with them. Surely Daniel was not of theſe mens temper, who though he had ſuch vaſt Imploiments, Imitate not beſt examples.as to take the accounts of the other Princes of the ſeveral Juriſdictions, and many other State affaires to diſpatch, yet would not, no not for one day; no nor one time in the day, omit this his conſtant exerciſing himſelf in ſecret prayer; yea, when it cometh to a matter of hazard of his life, and all his worldly honours, yet to forbear this his courſe of daily ſeeking of God in ſecret prayer: he had not ſuch a thought; Why, I need not thus hazard my ſelf, I may forbear praying thus to God in my chamber for a while: It is but a matter of my own liberty; I may pray thus, but I am not bound to pray thus by any command of God. No verily, he ſaw more in Gods command then ſo, which was of more Soveraignty with him then any earthly Monarchs command. He will not only deny to pray to the King as a God, which had been a ſin of commiſſion, but he will not forbear for the Months ſpace, praying to the God of Heaven in his chamber; which had been a ſin of omiſſion. Iſaac, who had ſuch weighty matters, as the change of his condition, to have occaſioned ſome omiſſion of his retired converſes with God, yet then alſo will not leave his uſual work of going out into the field to pray, Gen. 24. Nor will Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe example is a forcible Argument to urge our imitation of his holy practiſe, he will not omit this holy buſineſſe of ſecret prayer, albeit he had many others of great moment to attend in their ſeaſons: hee will rather borrow time from his natural reſt in the night, if ſo fully imployed in the day, (Luke 21. 37) he will get up the earlier in the morning before day, rather then want an opportunity for this holy exerciſe, Mark 1. 35. yea, when the multitude came together to hear him, and be healed of him, he will not omit this work, but withdraweth for that end, and they muſt ſtay the while, Luke 5. 15, 16. yea, his chiefeſt Followers muſt be diſmiſſed whilſt be attends this holy practice, Matth. 14. 22, 23. And to conclude this Uſe, It would be a ſhame Are worſe then Papiſts.that blind Papiſts, and ſuperſtitious Votaries ſhould be more zealous in their way of ſecret Devotions then. we in our ſecret addreſſes in prayer to the Lord in the name of Chriſt.
Let it then (in the ſecond place) ſerve for Exhortation to the conſcionable practiſe of Ʋſe 2 this Duty of ſecret Prayer. If ſuch an one as Let all be exhorted to this Duty.Cornelius, who had ſo many Martial occaſions to with-draw him, who alſo knew ſo little of Jeſus Chriſt as that Meſſiah promiſed, yet was ſo conſtant this way; wee that enjoy far more helps and ſpiritual advantages, may much rather do it. Yea, ſay too many now a dayes ſhould Apoſtatize, as did ſuch like in Davids time (Pſal. 55. 12, 13 16.) yet let us be the more reſolute this way, as he was verſe 17. Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray: and truly, if ever it were a time to be much with God in prayer, together and aſunder, now is a time for it. All the Saints hands in a manner are up in all places, and doing exploits for God; and it were a ſhame if ours only ſhould be down, eſpecially when the Saints of God in other places think that we in ſpecial ply it hard in prayer together and aſunder. Let Civil Rulers ply it thus, as that MagiſtratesPreſident Daniel did, as King David himſelf did (as we heard) Pſalm 109. 4. hee ſaith he is Prayer, as being more in that then in any other work; but I prayer, or I will give my ſelf to prayer. Conſtantine the Great (as Euſebius telleth us) would have this as his Portraiture, a man on his knees praying, to ſhew that was his uſual practiſe and poſture. How oft was Moſes the Magiſtrate with God alone in Prayer? Let Miniſters, whoſe ſpecial Calling lyeth in Miniſters.this alſo, to give themſelves to prayer, (Acts 6. 4.) Be much in it. How often is Paul deſcribed as thus employed, Rom. 1. 9. Epheſ. 1. 15, 16. Philip. 1. 4▪ 2 Timoth. 1. 3. Epaphras the Coloſſian Miniſter is commended for this alſo, Coloſ. 4. 12. Euſebius telleth us of James called Juſtus, that his knees were growne hard and brawnie with being ſo much and oft this way employed. And do not Miniſters cloſet ſins, as vanity of mind, vaine glorious reaſonings of ſpirit, liſtleſneſſe ſometimes to their holy work, call upon them for cloſet, ſtudy-prayers? Doth not their weighty cloſet work call for this? Is not Prayer (as once Luther ſaid) the beſt Book in our Study? Doth not Satan oft-times come into our ſtudies to aſſault us in our work, as ſometimes hee did Joſhuab the Prieſt in his? and had we not then more need then others to bee found oft praying there? The Lord vouchſafes ofttimes to be talking in friendly ſort with us in our Studies, and it were pity and ſhame if hereby we ſhould not maintain holy conference with him. Who are more potent with God in publick prayer, then ſuch Miniſters as wreſtle it out moſt with God in ſecret praier? The gracious language which there they learn from the Spirit of God, and the choice, lively, and ſpirituall prayer-paſſages and expreſſions, and pleas wherein the Lord breaths upon their hearts, when alone, are thoſe wherein he is wont to breath upon the peoples hearts in publick prayer. Who more prevalent with God then Paul and Peter, this way exerciſed? we, as the friends of the Bridegroome (as Eliezar was of old) ſpeed the better in our work of gaining ſome ſpouſe for Chriſt that day, for which we have been moſt earneſt in ſecret prayer before hand. The defect hereof, too oft maketh our miniſteriall work ſo unſucceſſefull; as it did that of the Diſciples, aſſaying to caſt out a devill, without praying before hand for it. Matth. 17. 21. A Miniſter need not feare but hee ſhall preach well afterwards, if the Lord help him to pray well before hand: as Miniſters have more advantage of privacy, ſc their people make account they improve it this way: witneſſe their frequent commending their caſes to them, to ſpread them before the Lord in their prayers, and therefore let them bee much with God in ſecret.
And let all our brethren and ſiſters, All ſorts: for Chriſt brings us into his Chambers.and every of them, make conſcience alſo of this duty of ſecret prayer; the Lord Jeſus bringeth us (my brethren) into his chambers, where he delighteth moſt to be, and reſt, and ſhew himſelfe and ſecrets to his Saints, Cantic. 1. 4. and ſhall not wee hereby bring him into our chambers alſo? the Lord hideth us in the ſecret place of his Hideth us in his ſecret placepreſence: the ſecret chambers of his providence and protection, are our chambers for our ſafety and honour, (Pſal. 31. 20. Eſay. 26. 20.) and ſhall not our chambers be his, for his uſe, that wee there meet and talke with him in ſecret prayer, and he with us by his gracious preſence and anſwers?
Each particular Saint of God hath his Each Saint hath his chamber, or manſion-houſe in Glory.chamber, (as I may ſay) his manſion-place of glory, in which to praiſe God for ever. Joh. 14. 2, 3. Why ſhall not each Saint of God, of what condition ſoever, have here his retired oratory and place for ſecret praying unto God? each of them are by their calling, Gods hidden ones whilſt here, (Pſalme 83. 3.) and let them be ſo in this Each Saint Gods hidden one. Set apart for Gods. Gods friends.reſpect, alſo, by their ſecret repayres to the Lord in praier. Each godly man in particular is ſet apart unto God, (Pſalme 4. 3.) and why then not more apart to pray to him; we are his friends, (James 2. 8. John 15. 15, 16. Cantic. 5. 1,) and let us then be his friends in a corner, tell him our minds, bee oft doing him this ſervice of love in ſecret. We are his ſpouſes, (Hoſ. Spouſe.2. 19 20.) now as Canticles 7. 10, 11, 12. The Church would have Chriſt goe aſide, as it were in private, and there ſhe will give him her loves; ſo let us in ſecret give him this ſpouſe-like love, fruits of our lips in ſecret, and there tell him all our hearts. The ſpirit which is in the Saints, is a free ſpirit, (Pſal. 51. 12,) and truely there is the moſt free uſe and employment of that ſpirit in prayer, when ſequeſtred as from all occaſions, ſo from all other company. Friends are moſt free and bold, when alone; ſo wee with the Lord when alone. A gracious perſon is never more himſelfe as gracious, then when praying, Pſalm. 109. 4. But I prayer, ſaith he; and truely never more ſeen to be ſuch an one, then whon praper, or given to prayer in ſecret. Hypocrites may and will pray, and haply in private too, but we muſt pray as moſt deſiring privacy. When the Lord would demonſtrate to Ananias, that Paul was converted; he doth it by this argument for behold he praieth, Acts 9. 11, it was alone, in ſecret that hee Wicked ones have and ſerve their idols in …ecret.did thus, he muſt inquire him out, for hee was got into ſome corner of the houſe. Let not wicked ones be more forward to ſet up an idoll in ſecret, or to ſet up a falſe Chriſt in the chambers, Ezek. 8. 8. Matth. 24. 26. then we to honour the true God and Jeſus Chriſt thus in ſecret. And that wee may yet a little further preſſe this ſo weighty a duty; conſider that it is indeed our priviledge in many reſpects ordered, by the Lord in much wiſedome and faithfulneſſe, for our good alſo, as well as his glory; that hee will have us thus to ſeek him by our ſelves alone in prayer. For, 1. Hee therein tendreth the very credit of his people. They need not uncover their ſpiritual nakedneſſe before any man whatſoever, nor all their perſonal plagues need be unbared before men; it ſufficeth that they have this priviledged precept to pray to their Father, who ſeeth in ſecret, and tell him all their hearts. In Beſt for opening all their ſecrets.ſome caſes of perſonal ſins againſt brethren, perſonal confeſſion of ſuch ſins is requiſite; and ſometimes in caſe of ſome oppreſſing burthen upon our hearts, wee are to goe to ſome faithfull Miniſter, or experienced Saint of God, and tell them our ſecret ayles; but in ordinary courſe, it ſufficeth that wee tell the Lord in ſecret, all our perſonall and particular failings and wants.
2. If ſolitary Praier were not Gods Beſt for our neceſſities.ordinance, what ſhould Gods ſolitary ones doe in ſundry caſes incident to them? But now Jeremiah in a ſolitary loanſome priſon is encouraged, Call upon me, and I will anſwer thee. Jer. 33. 13. Sometimes the Saints are like Pelicans, and Owls in the deſert. Pſal. 102. 6. Well may they make their moans to the Lord, but are of all others reſpect deſtitute. Others would be like other birds, fit to howt at them, and make a wonder of them; now welfare ſolitary prayer. Sometimes the Lord worketh upon ſome one of the family, a ſonne, or daughter, or ſervant, or the like; the reſt remain oppoſite to all good, ſaying, What profit ſhould we have by praying unto God? (as they ſay, Job. 21. 15.) nay, now will ſuch ſay of the other perſon, we ſhall have him a preciſe foole, a mopiſh ſot: father now is againſt child, as Luke 12. 35. Now it is well that prayer in a corner, where none ſeeth, or heareth but the Lord, is an acceptable ſervice, and ordinance. The poor ſlave in the infidels family, is now the Lords freeman for this buſineſs, 1 Cor. 7. 21, 22. So the poore Chriſtian wife with whom her infidel husband liked to dwell, though he yet like not her religion, (1 Cor. 7. 13.) ſhe may pray alone with acceptance. Baniſhed John in Patmos, may thus been in the ſpirit by himſelfe alone. Revel. 1. 10. Manaſſeh in his fetters, yet hath liberty all alone to make his praier to his God. 2 Chr. 33. 11, 12, 13. If this had been no ordinance of God, to what purpoſe had Davids couch-prayers been? which yet prevailed, Pſalm. 6. 6, 7, 8, 9. Or how elſe had his cave-prayers ever come to be available? as Pſalm. 142. title, with verſe 1, 2.
3. If this had not been an acceptable ordinance, there had not been ſuch honorable records thereof kept by and with the Lord, as 2 Chron. 33. 18, 19. this is ſingled out amongſt all that Manaſſeh did in his loathſome ſtate in captivity, as moſt notable and honourable, and therefore is twice Beſt for the Saints honour.repeated, and his prayer, and his prayer. So Cornelius his prayers are as memorials before the Lord, Acts 10. 2, 4.
4 It is well for the Saints, that this is an Ordinance in point of honour; that God herein, and hereby is wont to put upon them ſingly and ſeverally, as that hereby they come to have Teſtimonials from the Lord himſelf of the good of Grace which is in them, and of their prevailing with him for deſired mercyes. Thus when Jacob is all alone praying, he hath a new name given him; he is told, he hath prevailed with God, Gen. 32 27, 28. Then is Daniel told, that he is greatly beloved, and his prayers heard. Dan. 9. 20, 22. Again they have this honor put upon them to have choiceſt ſecrets revealed to them, as to Gods friends in a corner: thoſe three Worthies ſeverally praying, have this ſecret given unto them, Daniel 2. 19, 20. and Jeremiah calling upon God all alone in priſon, hath great and wonderful things ſhewed him that he knew not of, Jer. 33. 1, 2. Peter when alone praying, hath the myſtery of the bringing in of the Gentiles revealed to him, Acts 10. 9, 10, 11. yea, ſuch in ſpecial ſhall have thir honour of deteining of the Lord, when he carrieth it …s willing to be gone. Let me go (ſaith Chriſt to Jacob:) I will not let thee go until thou bleſſe me: nor did he, Gen. 32. 26, 27. 28, 29. Let me alone, ſaith God to Moſes; but he ſuffers himſelf then, and afterwards to be ſtaied from going on his courſe of diſpleaſure againſt the people, by Moſes his wreſtling with him (as we ſay) hand to hand, Ex. 32 10, 11, 12, 13. Deut. 9. 13, 14, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28. compared. I held him▪ (Cantic. 3. 4.) by the exerciſe of faith in prayer. The Lord knoweth not how to leave a praying ſuppliant, or to proceed in a way of diſpleaſure againſt him, and is not all this then well for the Saints, that each Saints▪ prayer in ſecret is an ordinance of God, and a very acceptable ſervice unto him?
Let us wind all up with a caution or Cautions.two annexed.
1. Look that it be not alone ſecret prayer, 1 In ſecret, affect ſecrecy.in reſpect of the place apart from others; but in reſpect of our deſires, and indeavour as much as may bee of privacy. That as Chriſt ſaith of ſecret faſting and prayer in an extraordinary way, (Matth. 6. 15, 16, 17.) waſh thy face, and anoint thee with oyle, that thou appear not to men to faſt; ſo avoid lowdneſſe of voice when alone, or if melted in ſecret, let it not bee perceived, if you can, that you have been weeping; yea, if you cannot goe aſide unobſerved of ſome in the houſe, let us even wiſh that we might ſo pray alone, that none might know how oft, or how long we are therein; if any ſecret motion ariſe, to think of what others will think of us, let us abhor the thought of it; elſe, if in ſecret, our hearts deſire others to take notice of us, that deſire maketh it, before God, as if we prayed in the ſtreet corner.2 Avoid cuſtomarineſſe.
2. That wee vaniſh not into cuſtomarineſſe in praying in our cloſets, going aſide thither to pray for faſhions ſake, living in good families, and ſeeing others goe aſide for that end, we doe it too, or wee have been trained up to it, and ſo we will hold it on as a cuſtome. Yea, leſt we goe about it as a more formal task, which if we but performe, let it be well, or ill, we mind it not, regard it not, ſo we doe it, we are ſatisfied; if we doe it not indeed, wee are troubled, but in all not moved from any principle of love, and longing after communion with the Lord in it, or prevailing with God through grace by it, for pardon of this or that ſinne we groane under, or ſupply of this or that ſpiritual want, over which wee mourne. Verily ſuch cuſtomarineſſe will Evils of cuſtomarineſs in it. Liſtleſneſſe to prayer.produce other evils, as liſtleſneſſe to pray even when got into our cloſets; ſuch will have ſo little of God in their cuſtomary ſeekings of him, that they will have little incouragement to ſet about ſeeking of him: It will alſo cauſe ſlightneſſe in praying. The Slightneſſe in praier.formaliſts praier is called vanity, Job. 35. ver. 13. And if ſlight in praying; uſually as ſleighty in praiſing. None ſaith (ſeriouſly at Praiſes, Exerciſes of repentance. Hearing of the word.leaſt,) where is he that giveth us ſongs in the night? verſe 10. 11, 12, 13. compared. Such are as ſleighty in ſetting upon the work of through repentance. Such as ſleightly complain of their pining away in their ſinnes, (Ezek. 33. 10.) and are therefore ſo rouſed up to turne unto the Lord, as even too well content to dye in their ſins, verſe 11, 12. Turne you, turne you, why will you dye, &c? yea, they are as ſleighty in hearing the word of God, as though but hearing onelyonly ſome muſical ſong, which as we ſay goeth in at the one eare, and out at the other, Ezek. 33. 30, 31, 32. yea, commonly ſuch are very ſerious in ſome way of Seriouſneſs in ſome ſinne.ſinne againſt God. Jer. 3. 4, 5. Wilt thou not from this time cry, (namely in this ſleighty faſhion) my Father? Behold thou haſt done evil as thou couldſt. Yea, ſuch are wont to be ſerious in diſcontented complaints of God in his diſpenſations of providence; as that his way was not equal, when 'tis their owne wayes rather which are unequal; as thoſe ſleighty complainers of their ſinnes, Ezek. 33. 10. are bold to charge God, verſe 17, 20. as if his wayes were not equal.