A hypocrite, he finds a greater flash of gifts in his public duties, when he prays with others, and is the mouth of others ; but is slight and superficial when alone with God ; if he feels anything, a little overly matter serves the turn. But usually God's children most affectionately pour out their hearts before him in private; where they do more particularly express their own necessities, there they find their affections free to wrestle with God. In public we take in the necessities of others, but in private our own.
2. As it makes way for enlargement of heart on our part, so for secret manifestations of love on God's part. Bernard hath a saying, ' The church's Spouse is bashful, and will not be familiar and com- municate his loves before company, but alone.' The sweetest experi- ences which God's saints receive many times are when they are alone with him. When Daniel was praying alone with great earnestness, the angel Gabriel was sent, and caused to fly swiftly to him to tell liim his prayers were answered: Dan. ix. 21. And Cornelius, while he was praying alone, an angel of God came unto him, to report the hearing of his prayers : Acts x. 3 ; and, ver. 9, Peter, when he was praying alone, then God instructs him in the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles : then had he that vision when he was got upon the top of the house to pray. Before we are regenerated, God appeareth to us many times when we do not think of it ; but after we are re- generated, usually he appeareth upon more eminent acts of grace — • when we are exercising ourselves, and more particularly dealing with God, and putting forth the strength of our souls to take hold of him in private.
3. There is this profit in it : It is a mighty solace and support in afHiction, especially when we are censured, scorned, and despised of men, and know not where to go to find a friend with whom we may unbosom our sorrow. Then to go aside, and open the matter to God, it is a mighty ease to the soul : Job xvi. 20, ' My friends scorn me ; but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.' When we have a great burden upon us, to go aside and open the matter to God, it gives ease to the heart, and vent to our grief; as Hannah in great trouble falls
14 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE [MaT. VI. 6-8.
a-praying to G-od, and then was no more sad : 1 Sam. i. 13. As the opening of a vein cooleth and refresheth in a fever, so when we make known our case to God, it is a mighty solace in affliction.
4. It is a great trial of our sincerity, of our faith, love, and obedi- ence, when we are alone, and nobody knows what we do, then to see him that is invisible : Heb. xi. 27 ; — when we are much with God in private, where we have no reasons but those of duty and conscience to move us. Carnal hypocrites will be much in outward worship. They have their qualms, and pray themselves weary, and do some- thing for fashion sake when foreign reasons move them ; but will they so pray as to delight themselves in the Almighty ? Will they always call upon God ? Job xxvii. 10. That delight in God, which puts us upon converses with God, affects privacy.
5. It is a profitable duty, because of the great promises which God hath made to it. This secret and private prayer in the text shall have a public reward ; it will not be lost, for God will reward it openly. So Job xxii. 21 : ' Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace ; thereby good shall come unto thee.' Frequent correspondence with, and constant visits of God in prayer, what peace, comfort, quickening brings it into the soul ! So Ps. xlix. 32 : ' His soul shall live that seeks the Lord.' Without often seeking to God, the vitality of the soul is lost. We may as well expect a crop and harvest w^ithout sowing, as any liveliness of grace where there is not seeking of God. Could a man take notice of another in a crowd, whose face he never saw before ? So, will God own and bless you in the crowds of the assemblies of his people, if you mind not this duty when you are alone ?
APPLICATION.
Use 1. To reprove those which neglect closet-addresses to God ; they wrong God and themselves.
They wrong God ; because this is a necessary part of the creature's homage, of that duty he expects from them, to be owned not only in public assemblies, but in private. And they wrong themselves ; because it brings in a great deal of comfort and peace to the soul ; and many sweet and gracious experiences there are which they deprive themselves of, and a blessing upon all other things.
But more particularly to show the evil of this sin: —
1. It is a sin of omission ; and these sins are very dangerous, as well as sins of commission. Natural conscience usually smites more for sins of commission, than for sins of omission. To wrong and beat a father seems a more heinous and unnatural act, than not to give him due reverence and attendance. We are sensible of sins of com- mission ; but yet God will charge sins of omission as well as commis- sion upon you ; and so will conscience too when it is serious, when, against the plain knowledge of God's will, you can omit such a neces- sary part of God's worship: James iv. 17, 'To him that,knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin,' — that is, it will ])e sin with a witness. Conscience will own it so, when it is awakened by the word, or by providence, or great affliction, or cast upon your death-bed.