66 his with a way countenance no longer sad." (1 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 xiii. 23.) and causing him to "abhor himself and repent as in dust and ashes." (Job xlii. 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 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 God, and renew a right spirit within me. 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. lxv. 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 comfortedst 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 Thus the Christian, withdrawn for a season from the world, and realizing the immediate presence of God, the awfulness of eternity, and the vast importance of heavenly things, prays to his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 uttered," (Rom. viii. 26.) finds spiritual enlargement; is "strengthened with might in the inner man ;" (Eph. iii. 16.] is enriched with the light of God's reconciled countenance; and comes forth from his closet in a more humble, more watchful, more spiritual, more holy, more heavenly frame; and, consequently, is more fit for the public duties of religion, or the particular duties of his calling -the Lord having put into his heart more gladness than an increase of corn and wine could give, (Ps. iv. 7,) and caused his holy comforts to delight his soul. (Ps. xciv. 19.) CHAP. II. ON THE NEGLECT OF PRIVATE PRAYER How lamentable is it that a duty so obvious, a privilege so great, a means of grace so enriching to the soul, ever should be neglected! What are the causes to be assigned for it? If the neglect be total and permanent, impenitency of heart may be suspected as the cause. To perceive no necessity for secret prayer to have no mind, no will, no heart to such a duty-to make no effort to discharge it, and to feel no remorse of conscience for neglecting it, are fearful signs of an unhumbled, unrenewed, impenitent heart. Whilst the cause remains, the effect will continue; therefore, let such |