VOL. I. B
18 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE [MaT. VI. 6-8.
But now, to avoid the stroke of this reproof, what will men do ? Either deny the gnilt, or excuse themselves.
First, Some will deny the guilt. They do call upon God, and use private prayer, therefore think themselves to be free from this reproof. Yea, but are you as often with God as you should be ?
There are three sorts of persons : —
1. Some there are that omit it totally, cannot speak of redeeming any time for this work. These are practical atheists, ' without God in the world :' Eph. ii. 12. They are heathens and pagans under a Christian name and profession. We should ' pray without ceasing:' 1 Thes. V. 17 ; that is, take all praying occasions ; therefore they which pray not at all, all the week long God hears not from them, surely come under the force of this reproof.
2. There are some which perform it seldom. Oh, how many days and weeks pass over their heads and God never hears from them ! The Lord complains of it, Jer. ii. 32 : ' They have forgotten me days with- out number.' It was time out of mind since they were last with God.
3. The most do not perform it so often as they should. And there- fore (that I may speak with evidence and conviction) I shall answer the case ; what rules may be given ; how often we should be with God ; and when we are said to neglect God.
[1.] Every day something should be done in this kind. Acts x. 2 : Cornelius prayed to God always, every day he had his times of fami- liarity with God. Daniel, though with the hazard of his life, would not omit ' praying three times a day :' Dan. vi. 10. And David speaks of ' morning, evening, and noon :' Ps. Iv. 17. Though we can- not bind all men absolutely to these hours, because of the difference of conditions, employments, and occasions, yet thus much Ave may gather from hence, that surely they which are most holy will be most frequent in this work.
[2.] Love will direct you. They which love one another, will not be strange one to another : a man cannot be long out of the company of him Avhom he loveth. Christ loved Lazarus, and Mary, and Martha, John xi. .5, and therefore his great resort was to Bethany, to Lazarus' house. Surely they which love God will have frequent recourse to him. In the times of the gospel, God trusts love : we are not bound to such particular rules as under the law. Why ? For love is a liberal grace, and will put us upon frequent visits, and tell us when we should pray to God.
[3.] The Spirit of God will direct you. There are certain times wlicn God hath business with you alone ; when he doth (as it were) speak to you as to the prophet in another case, Ezek. iii. 22, ' Go forth into the plain in the desert, and there I will talk with thee.' So, get you to your closets, I have some business to speak with you. ' Thou saidst. Seek ye my face : my heart answered, Thy face. Lord, will I seek : ' Ps. xxvii. 8. God invites you to privacy and retire- ment ; you are sent into your closet to deal with God about the things you heard from the pulpit. This is the actual profit we get by a ser- mon, when we deal seriously with God about what we have heard. When God sends for us (as it were) by his Spirit, and invites us into
Mat. VI. 6-8.] exposition of the lord's prayer. 19
his presence by these motions, it is siDiritual clownishness to refuse to come to him.
[4.] Your own inward and outward necessities will put you in mind of it. God hath not stated what hours we shall eat and drink ; the seasons and quantity of it are left to our choice. God hath left many wants upon us, to bring us into his presence. Sometimes we want wisdom and counsel in darkness : James i. .5. ' If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, which givetli to all men liberally.' It is an occa- sion to bring us to God : God is the best casuist to resolve our doubts and guide us in our way. Sometimes we lack strength to withstand temptations ; the throne of grace was set up for a time of need, Heb. iv. 16, when any case is to be resolved, and comfort to be obtained. We want comfort, quickening, counsel, and all to bring us to God. So for outward necessities too. Certainly if a man doth but observe the temper of his own heart, he cannot neglect God, but will find some occasion or other to bring him into his presence, some errand to bring him to the throne of grace. We are daily to beg pardon of sin, and daily to beg supplies. Now, certainly, when you do not observe these things, you neglect God.
Secondly, Others, to avoid it, will excuse themselves. Why, they would pray to God in private, l3ut either they want time, or they want a convenient place, or want parts and abilities. But the truth is, they want a heart, and that is the cause of all ; and, indeed, Avhen a man hath no heart to the work, then something is out of the way.