searching power of the Spirit is oftener felt in the sanctuary, but his sealing grace in the closet. The devout Christian, like solitary Jacob, wrestling through the night, wins a special blessing, where there is no creature as a witness. And as closet prayer evidences the reality of grace in the heart, so it is a means adapted to increase the measure of that grace. Thy Father, who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly. It is true, we deserve nothing, and we are too deeply indebted to think of setting up a claim on the ground of merit. But though we dare not look for a reward of justice, we may both ask and expect a reward of grace. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him; unto all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry, and will save them. and earth shall sooner pass away, jot or tittle of his word shall fail. The promise is accomplished in the answer of prayer. Hypocrites seek the applause of men, and they sometimes gain their object; saints sincerely and earnestly seek the favour of God, and sooner or later always succeed. "For the Lord giveth more grace; wherefore it is said, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Heaven

than one

"Let him who wishes for an effectual cure

to all the wounds which the world can inflict, retire from intercourse with men to intercourse with God. When he enters his closet, and shuts his door, let him shut out at the same time all intrusion of worldly care, and dwell among objects divine and immortal. Solitude is the hallowed ground which religion hath in every age chosen as her own. There her inspiration is felt, and her secret mysteries elevate the soul."*

Do you make conscience of secret prayer? What, though you can point to no remarkable interpositions of Providence? Though no extraordinary events have fallen into the train of your life, I doubt not you have had many seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; you have received supplies out of the treasury of heaven, far more valuable than the worldling's corn, and oil, and wine; you have had quickening grace, strengthening grace, and sanctifying grace, in the calm retirement of the closet. And it may be said, with truth, the blessings which God grants to the suit of secret prayer, will generally be made manifest to those who have eyes to see. The plenteous dews of heavenly grace will make the plants of righteousness bloom and grow; and the gentle gales of the Holy Spirit will cause

* Blair.

their spices to breathe around a delightful perfume. Thus, what the supplicant performs secretly is often rewarded openly.

3. The great importance of closet prayer may be proved from the mournful consequences which follow the neglect of it.

The foundation which supports the house is out of sight, and the root which sends up sap into the branches is under ground; and thus: the various duties of religion, in a great measure, depend on the silent unobserved devotion of the closet. When this base decays, the pillars totter, and the whole fabric falls; when this root dies, the fruits perish, and all the branches wither. Company, business, and books, will not keep the soul alive to God, if the stated duties of retirement are omitted. What! some may say, are the social ties which bind man to man to be broken? Are we to be deaf to the calls of business, and indifferent to all books but the Bible? Shall we imitate monks and hermits, and shut ourselves up in solitary cells? No: religion neither requires nor allows a total seclusion or abstraction from the world. But if social intercourse has such charms, that you can give your time by hours to company, and can spare minutes only for God; if business commands your hearts, and private devotion does little more than employ your lips; it is but too sure a sign that you

have a name that you live, and are dead. It is a common and just remark, that backsliding and apostasy may be traced back to the closet, where they generally begin. When secret devotion is hastily hurried over, and a slight excuse is deemed at times sufficient to omit it, the next step is to set it aside altogether; and though the church or the chapel may still be frequented, it is rather from custom than from a sense of duty. How many have, in this manner, been drawn farther and farther from true religion, till, at length, they have made shipwreck of faith. Oh! let us shun the fatal rocks on which they have split; and let the solemn voice of warning not be heard in vain!

II. I shall give some directions for the management of this duty.

1. Choose a proper place for secret prayer. Whatever attracts the senses, has a tendency to draw off the mind; and experience teaches how difficult it is to keep the attention fixed. The most trivial outward circumstances often break the train of our meditations, and distract our thoughts in prayer; and the very design. of solitude, for this purpose, is to exclude every sort of interruption. We read that Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and

there called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. Isaac went out alone at evening tide to meditate, or, as the word in the original also means, to pray in the field; and either the shady grove, or the peaceful field, secure from intrusive footsteps, is a very proper place for devotion. Peter went up to the house-top to pray; and the flat roofs of the eastern houses, it is well known, are some of them furnished with little booths, peculiarly fit for retirement. Paul turned the very cell of his prison into an oratory, or place of prayer; from which he offered to God not only requests on his own account, but intercessions on behalf of his friends, and all the churches. When thou prayest, says Christ, enter into thy closet, and shut the door. The word our Lord here uses sometimes signifies a place where treasure is laid up, and at other times a private apartment, or retired chamber. We need not be troubled with anxiety as to this matter; but the place chosen should be as free as possible from all disturbance.

Some Christians use the voice in their closet exercises, and others do not; every one must determine for himself which method is best. For my own part, I think, if the voice is used, it ought to be in a low and softened tone; as it is hardly to be called secret prayer, when every sentence may be heard in the