Of Closet Prayer, Application 1
VSE.
In the second part of this Use of Repr… hension, I shall direct my Discourse to those who are altogether for Publick Praying, getting into Churches, and such (as they call) Consecrated places, there to shew (I think that is a word very proper to the design) their Devotion; though I do not see, but that when their hours of Prayer are come, and their Service is doing, their Churches are exceeding empty, which is indeed a shame to them; for if they are persuaded in their Consciences, That is the way of God, why do they not frequent it? If they are convinced, That is the work of the Lord, why do they not abound in it? There is a great cry among them for that form and Mode of Worship, and I heartily wish it may do them much good that love it; but since their cry for it is so loud, why is their devotion so little? Why do small matters keep them at home upon week-days? why do they chuse Taverns and Ale-houses, rather than their places of Prayer? Let them look to it, that their seeming zeal do not come from a bad Principle, and be not directed to a bad end.
I shall not speak a word against the Liturgy; That is not my business, who desire to follow those things that make for Peace, Let those that like it and chuse it, use it if they please; let them that find it heart-raising, heart-warming, heart-inlarging, go on in their attendance upon it: I envy none that which they like, and may do them good, especially when I have that which pleaseth me better. Blessed be our Gracious God, and thanks to those in Authority over us, we have liberty to serve God according to our Judgments and Consciences; yea, and that Liberty established by a Law. We know there are many Adversaries that are enraged at it; but through Divine Goodness, there is a wide and effectual door opened, the Lord grant none may be able to shut it.
That which I blame many for, is their Idolizing of Publick Places, as if they did put an Holiness and Virtue into work done in them; and as if Publick Prayer were enough, and would serve for all. How have we some superstitious persons, as they pass through an Abbey, Cathedral, &c. not only bare their heads, but drop upon their knees in a Pew, or at a Pillar! And others, that I have known, when the Bells chime in, up they get, and to the Church they go, and there they sit till the Service be finished, and that they think sufficient, and with that they do at present put off their Consciences, that is all the Prayer they make, then to Eating, and Drinking, and Visiting, and Gaming, there is no Praying in their Families, none in their Chambers and Closets; I appeal to your Consciences in the Case, and accuse no body living, unless their Consciences accuse them. Now, my Friends, what do you think of this? Is it well? will this do? is this the way to please God? Is this to fill up your days and places with Duty? Is this to deal bountifully with that God, who doth deal so bountifully with you? Is this to fit your selves for the giving up your account unto God? The proud Pharisee went to the Temple to pray; but when he had done, he came away with a world of sin in him, and with a load of guilt upon him. He did, indeed, justify and applaud himself; but God's Soul abhorr'd and loath'd him. Whereas the poor, humbled, broken-hearted Publican stood a great way, and prayed in the Spirit from an inward and deep sense of his own vileness, and he was sent home to his House justified; God gave him a Pardon and a Smile. I shall not spend much time or pains about this sort of Men, because I conclude their prejudice is so great, that they will give very little heed to any thing that I shall say, though delivered with all possible meekness, and really designed for their good; yet not knowing what it may please that God to do upon them, who is the Father of Mercies, and God of all Grace, and hath the hearts of Men in his hand, and can make what impressions upon them, and changes in them, seem good in his sight, I shall not pass them by altogether in silence; but offer to their consideration these two things, which, in my judgment, carry something of weight in them.
First, Places do not add any value to Actions of Religion, so as to commend them to God. I remember, that which after the discourse of Cornelius, Peter said unto him, Acts 10. 34. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him. And I may say, as there is no respect of Persons with God, so there is no respect of Places with God; He hath no more esteem for the Chancel, than for the body of the Church; and that which is within the Rails, is no more Sacred than that which is without them. There is as near, compendious, and direct a way to the Throne of God from thy House, O Believer, as there is from the Church, or the most magnificent Cathedral; and those Supplications which are made and presented there with an holy heart, by the assistance of the Divine Spirit, and in the name of Christ, shall find as free an access to God, as ready an audience with him, and as gracious an acceptance. It is indeed by us, and all, granted, That the Temple at Ierusalem was an holy place; yea, there was in it, not only an Holy Place, but the Holy of Holies. God himself had sanctified it, and appropriated it to his own most solemn service; there he had been pleased to place his Name, that was an excellent Type of the Lord Iesus, our ever-blessed Mediator; and where-ever the Iews were, into what Countrey soever they were scattered or carried Captive, they were to pray toward it. Dan. 6. 10. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber towards Ierusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did afore-time. But that Temple being destroyed, and not so much as one Stone left upon another, that Church-state being at an end, and that dispensation ceased; I know no such thing as Holiness of Places here below. The Synagogues among the Iews in the Land of Canaan were not Holy; but only convenient places for them to meet together in for the performance of publick Worship, and waiting upon God in the way of his Ordinances. And our Churches at this day, come not in the room of the Temple, but of those Synagogues. There was indeed a very great stir and hot contention in our Saviour's days, and before, about the place of Publick-worship, between the Iews and the Samaritans: The Iews were for the Temple built by Solomon at Ierusalem, and they were in the right; for that was the place which God had chosen and appointed. On the contrary, the Samaritans stood stifly for the Temple, which had been built by their Ancestors upon Mount Gerizzim. The Woman of Samaria, having an opportunity put into her hands, did in Iohn 4. 20. start the Question, and propound it to our Saviour, seeking, as one saith, to be by him satisfied about it, as in a case of Conscience. Now it is worth our while to observe his Answer thereunto, which you have in Verse 21. Iesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither at Ierusalem, nor in this Mountain, worship the Father. Prayer, Ordinances, and the Worship of God, shall not be restrained to this place nor to that; it shall not be more pleasing, powerful and prevalent in one place, for the place's sake, than it is in another. Add hereunto, that which the Holy Apostle Paul saith, in 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will, that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Mark his manner of expression, I will; he speaks with Authority, we may be sure he received this from the Lord. He would never have said, I will, had he not been sure that it was God's will; it was God's will, and therefore it was Paul's will. But what was it? That Men do not look to the place in which they pray, but to the manner how they pray; let them pray any where, every where, in what place they themselves judge fit and convenient, so that their hands be washed in innocency, and their hearts are but cleansed from their filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness. Holy and pure Prayer shall be welcome to God, and have a most gracious reception, from what quarter or corner soever it comes. We find that good Ionah prayed unto the Lord his God, when he was in the Belly of the Fish, which was so dark and dismal a place, that he counted and called it the belly of Hell; yet his Prayer made there, did not lose its way, nor fail of the end for which it was sent. Ionah 2. 2. I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Secondly, I do advise and desire you to examine your selves, and to be better studied in, and acquainted with your own hearts, than, it may be, as yet you are; for I cannot but tell you, though this be an excellent work, and necessary for all that would manage Religion to everlasting advantage, and approve themselves to God; so it is in a particular manner necessary for them that lay so much stress upon places, and other things of like nature, to watch their hearts narrowly, and to keep a very strict eye upon them, lest by those superstitious observances, they be found wanting to, and of the very vitals of the Duty, and hug and please themselves with a rotten and stinking Carcass, where the Soul and Life are wanting; and as our Lord said to the Pharisees, Matt. 23. 23. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tythe of mint, and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: They neglected the magnalia legis, the great things of the Law, while they were greatly solicitous about the minutula, the little things, which did speak the unsoundness of their hearts; so what shall we think of them who spend all, or the greatest part of their care and heat about those things which come not under any express command of the Divine Law? They that are most curious about their Bodies, are, as it is to be feared, most careless about their Souls; they spend so much time at their Glass, that they have none for the Bible; they are so careful that a Pin be not stuck amiss in their Cloaths, that they leave every thing amiss in their Hearts; by the Garbs and unreasonable Dresses, in which some sillily proud persons come into the Assemblies, it is easie for Spectators to determine how they spent and profan'd the Morning of the Sabbath at home; and we may apprehend and fear the same in the present case, that those persons who are so much set for such things as this, are, at least, very apt and prone to bestow none of their care about that which deserves most; they are so much for the place, that they forget and neglect the heart; they are so thoughtful where they pray, that they do not mind how they pray; they are so set for a form, they do not mind, nay, possibly they hate the Power. But by the way, let…me whisper this in the ear of these persons, That the Altar will not Sanctify a corrupt thing: If you bring dead, formal, lifeless Prayers, though you offer them up in your Consecrated Churches, nay, at your adored Altars, they will not come up with a sweet smelling favour and acceptance before God.
I would not have any body think that I do, God forbid that I should say, A Form of Prayer, and Formality of Heart, are inseparable Companions; I do not doubt but meer formal Professors are most for forms; but I dare not affirm that all those who make use of Forms, are meer formal Professors. I do not doubt but some looking upon Forms as lawful, and out of modesty, and an humble sense of the lowness of their own parts, do make use of Forms when they pray with others, and are conscientious in the use of them; and they do accompany the Petitions, Confessions, and Thanksgivings contained in them, with sincere affections, and do meet with a gracious acceptance with God, and do enjoy a communion with his Holy Majesty.
But this I will also be bold to say, and if any be offended at it, upon them be it; That constant stated forms of Prayer and Formality, are borderers upon one another; they live at no such great distance, but that they frequently, yea commonly, meet together in the same Service, and in the same Persons: And really I am of the mind, that it stands them in hand, who make use of forms, to be very cautious, and look warily to themselves, lest they do, even before they are aware, fall into formality; that indifferency and lukewarmness of Spirit which God cannot endure. When in the forequoted Scripture the Woman of Samaria fell into discourse with Christ about the place of Worship, whether it ought to be at Ierusalem, or in that Mountain, viz. Gerizim? our Saviour did wisely and graciously take her off from that, as a matter not so momentous as to deserve either her Enquiry, or his Resolution; and fell to acquainting her with, directing her to, and putting her… upon the Spirituality of that Worship, which is to be performed, as that which she and every one ought principally to attend unto, because it is that which the heart of God is most for, and upon which his pure eyes are chiefly set. 4 Iohn 23, 24. The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit, and in truth. Spiritual Worship is most congruous and agreeable to God. Childish Toys please Children, who have no more wit; outward Pomp and Ceremonies please vain men, who have not so good hearts as they should: but spiritual Worship is acceptable to that God who is himself a Spirit; such Worshippers he seeks, others he rejects when he finds them; therefore you must be such, if you would find favour, or receive a Blessing. And to shut up this particular, I will only add, That if men were once set, as they should be, for the spirituality of Worship, they would not be so unreasonably eager as they are for, nor so tetchy, froward and contentious about Places, Modes, and Forms, which can fetch their pedigree and original no higher than meer human Invention and Appointment. Enough of that; and it will be well if some persons do not think this a little too much.