There is no means of grace more enriching to the soul than private prayer. It is a golden pipe, through which the Lord is graciously pleased to convey spiritual blessings to the soul. He knoweth all our wants, and, without our asking him, could supply all our need in the best manner, and at the best possible time. But he will be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do for them according to the exceeding great and precious promises he hath given. (Ezek. xxxvi. 37.) How often has the believer found the Lord's promises of grace here verified, and been enabled to look forward, with joyful hope, to the fulfilment of those which relate to glory hereafter, while he has been engaged in his private devotions! When he has entered his closet, he has been, perhaps, like the mother of Samuel, "of a sorrowful spirit," and, like her, has poured out his "soul before the Lord," with an "abundance of complaint and grief;" but the God of Israel has granted his petition, and he hath gone on his way with a "countenance no longer sad." Sam. i. 15, 18.) How often in these private exercises, particularly when the believer has felt himself "in heaviness through manifold temptations," (1 Pet. i. 6,) "encompassed with infirmities," (Heb. v. 2,) and has "groaned being burdened," (2 Cor. v. 4,) not knowing "what he should pray for as he ought," (Rom. viii. 26,) hath the Holy Spirit helped his infirmities!" making him to know his transgression and his sin," (Job. xi. 28,) and causing him to "abhor himself and repent as in dust and ashes." (Job xliii. 6.) Then, in the language of the Psalmist, he hath prayed:--"The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Oh, bring thou me out of my distresses! (Ps. xxv. 17.) 'I will bless the Lord, who hath given me وو counsel; my reins also chasten me.' (Ps. xvi. 7.) “Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O right spirit within me. God, and renew a Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and uphold me with thy free Spirit." (Ps. li. 8, 12.) God hath heard this prayer, and fulfilled his own most gracious word:- "Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isa. Ixv. 24.) The Saviour's promise also hath been verified :— "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John xiv. 21.) The Holy Spirit hath taken of the things of Jesus, and hath shown them unto his servant, (John xvi. 14,) and the believer hath been enabled with lively gratitude and joy, to adopt the language of the prophet. "O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he is also become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall (I) draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isa. xii. 1-3.) Thus the Christian, withdrawn for a season from the world, and realising the immediate presence of God, the awfulness of eternity, and the vast importance of heavenly things, prays to his Father, which seeth in secret; gets more humbling views of himself, and makes fresh discoveries of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and of the superaboundings of Divine grace, of the long-suffering patience of the Lord, of the grace he has bestowed on him, the deliverances he has wrought for him, and the abundant mercy which is treasured up in Christ Jesus for all true believers. Thus he, who began his secret prayers with groanings that cannot be |