Practical Truths to Promote Godliness, Sermon 3
The Sincere Servants of God will make Conscience of Secret Prayer.
2 TIM. 1. 3.
Without c…asing I have remembrance of thee in my Prayers day and night.
THe Apostle Paul in this verse doth intimate two things.
1 His own sincerity in serving God. He freely confesseth himself to be the Lords Servant God whom I serve And there are two expressions, both which may denote his sincerity therein. One is that of his serving God from his fore-Fathers. He served the same God, and after the same manner that his fore-fathers had done. As for his immediate fore-fathers they were Jews and Pharisees; and time was when he had served God as they had taught him: but those words may have respect to more remote Fathers, viz. The holy Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, &c. Another expression denoting the Apostles sincerity, is, that of his serving God with a pure Conscience, which implieth that he was ever careful to act according to the light of his conscience; so indeed he was before his conversion unto Christ, Act. 23. 1. It implieth also, that his heart was purified by saith in the Lord Jesus. For only they have a pure conscience in the fight of God, who are purged from the guilt of sin in the blood of Christ. It implieth moreover, an holy conversation; a due respect both to first and second Table duties: Mens Consciences are wont to be according to their actions: evil act…ons will pollute the Conscience: yea, the expression impor…s inward as well as outward serving God, Rom. 1. 9.
2. The Apostle in this verse, intimateth his love and affection un…o Timothy. Both in that he did give thanks to God for him. So the verse begins, I thank God, namely for Timothy, partly in that Timothy had such a great respect for Paul; and it is matter of th…nkfulness unto God, when he giveth a man a great interest in the hearts of others who fear the Lord, though in gifts his infe…io…. He saith in the next verse, I am mindful o… thy tears. Probably in those words, he m…y have respect unto the tears which Timothy she…, at his pa…ting with the Apostle, when he … from Ep…s…s: and he did bless God for the grace which he saw in Timothy; that there was Faith unfeigned in him, which dwel… first in his Grandmother Lois, and in his Mother E…ice verse 5. We should bless God for the grace we see in others, and especially in young men. Paul was now aged, and hastening out of the world; but he thanked God, when he saw that Timothy a young man did inherit the graces of his godly pre…ecessors. And he must needs rejoyce the more, to see how Religion and the fear of God was propagated from generation to generation, even to the third generation.
Again, he testified his affection towards Timothy, by being abundant in prayer for him. We find that this Apostle doth begin another Epistle after the same manner, signifying his affection to those he wrote unto, by declaring how he d…d give thanks and pray on their behalf, Rom. 1. 8, 9. The Prayers here referred unto, must of necessity be understood of his secret Prayers. For we cannot in reason suppose, that he did alwayes remember Timothy in publick, but in his secret addresses to the Throne of Grace; which shews that he was constant and conscionable in the practice of that sort of Prayer,
From which consideration the Doctrine is,
That the sincere Servants of God, will make conscience to practise that duty of secret Prayer, day and night without ceasing.
There are three things that may here be enquired …nto.
1. H…w it doth appear that the sincere Servants of Go…, w…l m…ke c…nscience of practising that du…y of Secret Prayer?
2. Wha… is …mo…ied in t… is expression of praying day and night without cea…ng.
3. Th… R…s why m…n especially sincere Christians …o…d practice this d…ty?
Q. 1. How …oth it appear that the sincere Servants of God will make conscience of practising that duty of Secret Prayer?
Ans. 1. The many Instances recorded in the Scripture, concerning the faith…ul Servants of God, who have conscientiously practised t…is duty, are an evidence of the truth of this Doctrine.
As to the great and ess…n…ial …uties of Relion, all that ru…y fear God, practise alike: as the Apostle do…h here intim…te, wh…n he …aith, I serve God from my fore-fathers. A true Servant of God, will follow the pious example of those that have g…ne before him walki…g in the same way of holiness, which they hav… done, Prov. 2… 20. Heb. 6 12.. Now concerning this duty of secret Prayer, w… find many Example… (both in the Old Testament, and in th… Ne…) of the Lords Servants, who have thus practised; and that as to all sorts of men, Superiors, In…eriors, fathers, Children Masters, Servants who have had the fear of God planted in their hearts, thus did Abr…ham, Gen. 18. 23. and Eliezer, Abrahams go…ly Servant, Gen. 24 12. And Isaac his gracious Son; It is noted of him, ver. 63. That he w…nt out to med…tate; or (as the Hebrew word Lasuac… may be read,) to pray. The word signifiet… both to pray and to meditate, and it is not amprobable …ut that Isaac did at that time, nothi…g but what was his daily custom to do, even …e…ire himself from all company, for secret prayer and meditation, And the like we read concerning Jacob, that he did wrestle with the Lo…d in secret Prayer, Gen. 32. 24. They are not the spiritual seed of Jacob that never do thus. I might mention Hezekiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Peter, and many other holy Servants of God, of whom we read in the Scripture, that they did practise this duty. Yea, we have the greatest example that ever was, set before us for our imitation in this particular, that is Christs own example; of whom it is said, that He departed into a solitary place and there prayed, Mark 1. 35. That He went apart to pray, Mat. 14. 23. That be withdrew himself and prayed, Luk. 5. 16. And as the Lord Jesus Christ said, respecting another duty, I have given you an example th…t ye should do as I have done, Joh. 13. 15. so doth he say as to this duty of Secret Prayer▪ I have given you an example, and caused it to be entred upon everlasting Record, that so you that are my Disciples may in this follow me; and truly the sincere Disciples of Christ, will make conscience, so to walk as he walked… … Joh. 2. 6. They will strive to write alter the blessed Copy, which their Master Christ hath set before them.
2. The truth is further evident, in that every sincere Servant of God doth make Conscience of obeying all his Commandments, Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy precepts. Now the Lord hath commanded men that they should worship him, not only in publick, and in Families, but in secret also, Eph. 6. 18. Pray with all prayer: we have formerly shewed, that secret prayer is in that precept enjoined, as well as publick and family Prayer. And when the Lord in his word …aith to men, commune with your hearts, Psal. 4. 4. those two great du…ies, wherein much of Religion doth consist, viz. self examination, and secret Prayer are implied. Yea, this duty is most expresly commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, who saith When thou prayest enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which seeth in secret, Matth. 6. 6▪ The sincere man doth not live in the commission of any known sin, nor in the wilful omission of any known duty. Surely then, not in the om…ssion of so great and known and plainly commanded duty as this of secret prayer, is:
3. He that is sincere doth in special aim at approving himself in the sight of God. Hence is that expression of Godly sincerity, 2 Cor. 1. 12. because the sincere man doth especially desire …o have Gods approba…ion. And therefore he abstains from secret sins, as Joseph did; yea, he dare not so much as in his thoughts give w…y unto that, which he knoweth sinful, because he remembers that the eye of God is upon him and doth therefore study to approve himself, no… only unto men, but u…to God. Hence also he practiseth secret duties, which the Lord …lo…e is witness of. This we see in Nathaniel, that Israelite indeed in whom th…re was no reigni…g guile Joh. 1. 47 48. when tha… sincere Israelite was alone under the Fig-tr…e, …o …oub… praying there; the Son of God who hath eyes like a flame of Fire saw him, and did highly approve of his sincerity, of w…ich the spirit that breathed in his secret prayers was a great discovery.
4. They that are sincere do in a peculiar manner delight in those duties wherein the greatest intimacy with God is to be enjoyed.
Thats one difference between an Hypocrite and a sincere child of God. An hypocrite w…ll rest in the extornal perfo…mance of du…y▪ thoug… he hath no communion wi…h God therein, whenas one that is sincere doth aim at that in duty; and …herefore t…e mor… intim…cy of communion with God, is to be enj…yed, the more care…ul is he not to neglect such a duty. Now this is true concerning Secret Prayer. Did Abraham, did Jacob, did Moses, did Daniel, and other servants of the Lord, whom we read of in the Scripture, ever meet with more o… God, then when they were in secret, pouring out their hearts before him? Intimate friends when they are alone, can speak more freely, and have a fuller communion then when others are by: so it is here. A Believer can not so freely express himself before the Lord as to many particulars when others are by, as he can when there is none present but God and he. In secret places, he can speak his whole heart; and pou… out his soul into the bosome of God, and of Jesus Christ
Q. 2. What is implied in this expression, of praying day and night without ceasing?
Ans. 1. It implieth constancy in the practice of this duty. Thus when it is said, Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5. 17. i. e. don't begin to practise the duty, and afterwards leave off; but hold out all your dayes therein. It is the same with that, Eph. 6. 18. Praying with all perseverance. So that Phrase of night and day, intends the same thing, Rev. 7▪ 15. They serve him day and night in his Temple, h. e. continually and without intermission. Thus Isai. 62. 6. The watchmen of Jerusalem shall not hold their peace day nor night, h. e. they shall hold on in their duty. Time you know is divided into day and night. If then a man shall continue to serve God, both by night and by day▪ then he doth serve him alwaye….
2. It implieth Frequency. Those words wit… out ceasing, some read without intermission. Not but that the duty of Prayer may and must be intermitted, as to actual perf…rman…e, that so other duties as to our general …r particu…r calling may be attended, but the spirit of the …u…y should not be intermitted, Christi…ns must be careful that they never lose that: There ou…ht to be an habitual inc…ination, and readiness …o attend the duty of prayer, whenever called thereunto: Also, there should be a frequency therein, as to actual pe…formance And when it is said, that a man should pray in secret, day and night, that implieth, that be should do so very often. Psal. 1. 2. 1 Th…ss 3. 10. Indeed, secret Prayer should be every mans daily pract…ce. Therefore when Christ bid his Disciples pray in secret, he bids them say, Give us this day, &c. Mat. 6. 6, 11. from whence we may infer that secret Prayer should be a Christians daily practice. It is not determined in the Scripture, how often every man must pray in secret: Only that he ought to do thus daily. We find that Daniels constant course was to pray by himself three times every day, Dan. 6. 10. And David saith, that he did praise God seven times a day, h. e. often times, Psal. 119. 164. And there is great reason that men should offer prayers and praises before God in secret, at least once every day, and once every night; so may they be said to pray without ceasing night and day.
We come now to enquire into the reasons of this Doctrine.
Reas. 1. From the consideration of the … presence of God. He seeth and …ears that is d…ne not only in publick Assemblies, and in Families, but in close…s, Jer. 23. 24. Can any bide himself in secret places, that I shall not s…e him, saith the Lord, do not I fill Heaven and Earth? This reason is urged as an Argument for secret Prayer, even because our Heavenly Father seeth in secret, Mat 6. 6. If men do not practise this duty… it argueth great Atheisme, and that they do not really, and with their whole hearts, believe the o… …niprese…ce of God; so by the practice hereof, t…ey testifie that they have the sen…e of th…s Truth upon their hearts; therefore should they pray in secret.
Reas. 2. Because there are many requests fit and necessary to be mentioned before the Lord is secret, that may not be expressed before others, e. g. Requests concerning a mans particular wants, which may press him, and oppress him: and concerning his secret sins which he hath been guilty of before the Lord. If God by his providence hath kept a mans sins from the knowledge of the world he would sin grievously in divulging his own secret sins, and yet as ever he doth desire the pa…on of them, o… the salvation of his soul, …e must confess and bewail them before God in i…s…e…ret places: in which respect, secret prayer is …ecessary. Again, a child of God may be molested with the prevalency of some particular corrupti…n or temptation, which it is not meet to speak of before others, yet it concerns him to cry unto God day & night for power against it. There are also requests which may respect particular persons, whose cases and circumstances may be su…h as others should not know of; upon which account also prayer in secret is necessary. There are some that a man may have special reason to pray …or them in his secret ad…resses to the Throne of grace; as Paul for Timothy. There are also some that we ought to pray ag…inst them, viz. special and implacable Enemies of the Lords Name & People. w…om i… may no be convenient to men…ion whilst others are in hearing; but we should put the Lord in mind of them, and those arrows which are shot out of closets, will at last fall upon them, and smite them down into the pit.
Reas. 3. Equity requireth this from the Lords Servants. He brings them into his chambers; Cant. 1. 4. The King has brought …e into his Chambers. Therefore they ought to bring him into their chambers. There is a secret providence of God at work for them continually, Psa. 31. 20. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence, thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion. Shall the Lord hide his Servants in these chambers of safety whi…h he hath prepared for them? & shall not they pray unto him and praise him in their secret Chambers? yea, and as for sincere Believers, the Lord hath provided chambers for them in his house, even in the Pallace Royal of Heaven, there to praise his Name for ever more. There …re in …he mean time they should praise him a…d pray un…o h…m day and night in their Chambers here. The Lord said unto the Prophe… Zechariah, If thou wilt keep my charge, I will give thee places to walk amongst these that stand by. Zech. 3. 7 Intimating that the faithful Servants of God, shall o…e day wa…k in the G…lleries …f Heaven, amongst the Holy Angels …hat are the…e It is but reason then, that they should bring the Lord into their Closets here upon earth.
Use 1. Of Reprehension:
1. To them that neglect Secret Prayer. Are there not many whose Consciences are smiting them whilest the Word of the Lord is speaking to them. How many Children, and young ones that never go alone to pray! You children did you this day go, & the last night go alone to pray? yea, and there are elder ones, that the chambers they lodge in, will witness against them at the last day, for li…ing in h… neglect of secret Prayer before the Lord, They are many times alone whole nights together, but as …t i… s…ld of the wicked, God it not in all their thoughts. Well, be assured, if ever God intend mercy to thy foul, he will make thee get alone to pray, and to pour out thy Soul in his presence. For (as I have formerly shewed) in Conversion, thats one of the first things, a poor sinner begins to be in earnest in his Secret Prayers and cries to Heaven. As it was said of Paul, w…ilest in the pangs of the n…w birth, Act. 9. 11. Behol… he prayeth, so if the Lord convert and save thy soul. behold! thou wilt pray in secret.
2. This R…proof belongs to them also, who are not fre…uent and constant in the practice of this duty. Alas! I know there have been many that the Word of the Lord hath met wi… them; they have been Sermon sick, and then they would pray in secret; but they have not …one thus without ceasing. Their convictions have died and they became as prayerless as ever in their lives before Or it may be, some distressing affliction or other, hath brought them upon their k…ees before the Lord. Like those in Isai 26. 16. Lord, in trouble they visited thee, they poured out a prayer, when thy chastening was upon them. Ah! Lord God, hath it not been thus, with many a soul that hears me this day? but their distresses being removed, they continue not in secret prayer. …Oh consider what the Scripture saith, Heb. 10 38. If any draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him. To begin a course of Prayer, and then to leave off again is to draw back. Will the Lord take pleasure in such? He hath said, he will not. And yet I wish there be not Professors of Religion▪ Church members, whose consciences do (or may) accu…e them for inconstancy in the performance of this great duty of secret prayer. If thou art s…ch an one, thou hast on thee one of the sad marks of an Hypocrite: for it is …ai… of the Hypocrite Will be alwayes call upon God? Job 27. …0 I wonder how such men, & women, c…n think that they …elong to God, … that they have a real interest in heaven, who can find in their hearts to live without secret communion with him: especially considering, that the Scripture tells them, that he that shall allow himself in the w…lful br…ach of the least Commandment, shall not be admitted, nor accounted of in the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 5. 1…. where then will they appear, who live in the neglect of so great a Commandment as this of secret prayer is?
3. This Reproveth those that instead of praying in secret are sinning in s…cret. The Apostle saith, it is a shame to speak of those things which are done of some in secret. Eph. 5. 12. How do wretched sinners bless themselves, if they c…n s… out of the sight of men: especially as to …hat iniquity of which it is said, that the abhorr… of the Lord shall fall into it. They commit Adul… ry, and other sorts of unclean abominations i… secret places: or they live in secret self pollution which is commonly the young mans sin; …n …il condemned in the Scripture under the name of uncleanness, and sometimes under the N…me of Effeminateness; and the word of the Lord …aith, …hat whoever liveth in it… shall certainly be excluded o…t of the Kingdome of Heaven. In…d of m…urning and bleeding in secret places that ever thou hast been guilty of this sin, dost thou …ill li…e in it? then wo to thy soul. There are two things which I am sure thou dost not remember as thou shouldst do.
1. Thou dost not remember that the all-seeing e…e of an infinite God looketh upon thee. If a child of seven years old saw thee, thou wouldst be afraid and ashamed to commit that sin; and wouldst thou do it, if thou didst behold God looking on thee?
2. Neither dost thou remember the day of judgement For then every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil will be brought to light. …ccles. 12. 14. If thou didst believe that all the world should one day hear of tha… secret sin of thine, wouldst thou commit i…? certainly if men considered … is they would sin in secret less, and pray in se… more.
Use 2. Of Exhortation, to follow the Apostles Example, by being much in the practice of this duty of secret Prayer.
Do but consider, the good and benefit which will follow Whoever is …re therein shall find that his secret prayers have not been lost labour. A man may thereby obtain mercy for his own soul: even grace and spiritual blessings. Solemons wisdome was given to him as on answer unto his secret prayers. Comfort and assurance of Gods favour may in this way be ob…ained: you that complain, you have not ass…r…nce of your salvation, consider of it. There have been those (I could tell you o… marvellous instances to this purpose) that when they have been upon their knees in secret, the holy Spirit hath b…oke in upon their Souls w…th everlasting consolation. Yea, a man by secret Prayer may obtain mercy for his Family. The lives of all Jacobs children were spared, in answer to their Fathers prayers in secret. Nay more, one righteous man by prayer in secret, may be a means to divert Judgement, and to obtain mercy for the whole Town, and Land where he dwells. How far did Abraham by his prayers in secret prevail for Sodom; and Moses for Israel? And what m…rcy did Eli…ah and Amos obtain for the whole Land by their secret prayers?
And truly they are the persons who … like to experience special mercy in the evil day. They that pray much in secret, and that mo…rn continually in secret places, because of the sins of the times, shall experience if not temporal (that which is better) spiritual … ti…s in a day of … c…l…mity, Ez…k. 9. 4. Jer. …3. 17.
For Direction …ere.
1. Be … secret Prayer.
Men should in secret before the Lord, often bewail every sin they have been guilty of whilest in a state of unre…eneracy. As to the kind of sin, that is, thou…h it may be the acts of sin have been so often …terate…, as 'tis not possible to mention them all particularly) And if af…er conversion they fall …nto evils, for which Conscience condemn… them, they should particularly acknowledge those sins in their secret addresses u…to the throne of Grace, begging for the pardon of them. Particular plagues of heart should be mourned for in secret: so there are particular m…rcies to be praye… for; and particular fr…en…s (near Relations especially) which ought to be remembred in secret prayers day and night without ceasing. Personal and particular co…cern… are to be inlarged upon in closet prayer especially.
2. Take heed of resting in the external performance of this duty. Do not think that you must needs be saved, meerly because you pray in secret. You especially, who are the Children of godly Parents, and have ever practised this duty▪ because of the frequent Exhortations, and Examples which have been set before you. Oh rest not here, without experiencing a work of true Faith and Regeneration in your Souls. Remember, that though a man cannot be sincere, if he live in the neglect of so great a duty, yet he may continue in the practice of it, after a formal manner (as Paul before his conversion did, Phil. 3. 6. Luk. …8. 4. and for all that, remain in a state of Hypocrisie. Nor indeed is there any …uty, but an Hypocrite may attend it without ceasing, as to the external part of the duty. Wherefore, beware of taking up with that.
3. Labour after intimacy of Communion with God therein. Its true, we must remember our distance, considering that God is in Heaven, and we a… on Earth. He is an infinite Majesty, and we are poor inconsiderable dust-heaps; and therefore may not forget that we are …ust and ashes, when we take upon us to speak unto the Lord of heaven and earth. Neverthel…ss he all…weth us to be humbly familiar with his divine Majesty An …oly man upon his deathbed could s…y, If …e walls of this chamber could speak, they would testifie how often I have m…t with God here; and how familiar he hath been with my Soul. Oh labour after that, to know by blessed experience, what it is to have intimate communion with God in closets, and to be familiar with the Lord Jesus there.
4. Practise other duties in secret, which are an help to Prayer. e. g. Self-examination is a great help unto secret prayer. When a man upon examination and serious reflections upon himself, seeth what his defects have been and are; and withal p…rcei…eth what God hath done for his soul, he m…st needs thereby be quicke…ed in his calling upon the Name of the Lord. And read the Scriptures daily in secret: and having so done, meditate and ponder upon what you have read; and then fall upon your knees before the Lord, and pour out your very hearts in his presence: And know for …our encouragement that your secret prayers shall one day be rewarded op…nly Mat. 6. 6. When you come …o die, you will not repent of the time that hath been thus spent▪ nor at the last day when the Lord Jesus w… openly before all the World speak of the secret Prayers (as well as secret Aims deeds) of his servants. O how glorious will i… be, wh…n Christ shall say (as sometimes to Nathaniel) I saw thee every day and night upon thy knees in thy Closet; I bestowed me…cy on others out of respect to thy prayers, and brought about great changes in the world, in answer thereunto? Blessed is that Servant whom the Lord shall find that doing.