liarly with a great king, who, while all his courtiers stand bare before him, takes him into his embraces, and lets him familiarly whisper in his ear, might it not excite our wonder at such an act of grace from majesty to a beggar ? This is the glorious privilege of every saint on earth, who, when he prays, hath liberty to come up to the thi-one of God, surrounded with glorious angels, and to pour out his soul as freely into his bosom, as the child to his indulgent fa- ther. O ! tliank our good friend and brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, for this ; it is he that brings us into the presence of God, and sets us before his face, as Joseph his brethren before Pharaoh. Whose face need a saint fear to look upon, that may thus boldly speak to God ? Comfort thyself with this, when thou goest with thy petition to any great man on earth, and he will not be seen of thee, or such a rich kinsman, and he will not own thee ; turn thy back on them both and go to thy God, — he will look on thee, and in his Son own thee for his child* thou hast his ear who can command their heart and purse too. Jacob's prayer so altered -his brother's purposes, that he, who meant to kill him, falls on his neck to kiss him. Nehemiah had a boon to beg of the Persian king, and he o-oes, a carnal heart would think, the farthest way about to obtain it ; he knocks first at heaven's dooi-, — ' Prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man,' Nehem. i. 1 1 ; and now to court he goes, where, behold, he finds the door open before he knocks, for the ' king saith unto him, For what dost thou make request ?' chap. ii. 4. We may open two doors with this one key ; at the prayer of this holy man, God and man both give their gracious answer. The Christian surely caimot long be in want, if he can but l^ray : as one said, the pope could never want money so long as he could hold a pen in his hand. It is but praying in faith, and the thing is done which the Christian would have : ' Be careful for nothing, but let your requests be made known imto God, and the peace of God shall keep your hearts,' &c., Phil, iv, 6, 7. 'Commit thy way unto the Lord, — and he shall bi-ing it to pass,' Psa. xxxvii. 5. The saint's bills are received at first sight, whatever the sum is. Christ is our undertaker to see it paid, and his credit holds still in his Father's bosom, and will, to procure welcome for all his saints that shall be found on earth. Secondly, Those who are unacquainted with this duty cannot be recognized as saints. What ! a saint ! and content with what thou hast of God in joint communion with others, so as never to desire any privacy between God and thyself! Canst thou find no errand to invite thee to sjieak with God alone ? Thou bringest thy saintship into question. When a prince passeth by, then all will come in a throng to see him ; but his child thinks not this enough, but goes home with him, must live with him, and be under his eye daily. Hypocrites and profane ones will crowd into public ordinances, but a gracious soul cannot live without more retired converse with him.
CHAPTER XXXV.
AN EXHORTATION TO THE SAINTS TO KEEP UP SECRET PRAYER, AND DIREC- TIONS AS TO THEIR MANAGEMENT OF IT.
Be exhorted, O ye saints, to hold up your secret acquaintance with God ! Believest thou that this is thy duty? I know that thou believest. Dost thou pray in secret ? I dare not question it ; the Spirit of Christ which is in thee will not suffer thee to be Avholly a stranger from it. But I would provoke thee to be more abounding therein ; ' These things have I written unto you that believe on tlie name of the Son of God, — that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God,' 1 John v. 13 ; that is, that you may believe more : and these things do I now write to you who call upon the name of God in secret, that you may call oftener : and this you need, except you lived farther from Satan's (juarters than the rest of your brethren. There is no duty more opposed by Satan or our own slothful hearts than this. The devil can allow you your church prayers, your family duties, and now and then a formal one in your closet, and yet make his market of you. Therefore, take along with you these directions for your better managing thereof First, Let it be your constant trade. Rolling stones gather no moss : unstable and inconstant hearts will never excel in this or any other duty. The spirit of prayer is a grace infused, but advanced to farther degrees by daily exercise. Frequency begets familiarity, and familiarity con-
gg^* "WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.