Then & Now · 6 of 28

3. Secret Prayer Distinguishes You from Hypocrites

Thirdly, Conſider, that the ordinary exerciſing of your ſelves in ſecret prayer, is that which will difference and diſtinguiſh you from hypocrites, who do all they do to be ſeen of men, Matth. 6. 1, 2. Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be ſeen of them; otherwiſe ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doeſt⁹ thine alms, do not ſound a Trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues, and in the ſtreets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I ſay unto you, they have their reward. Self is the only oyl that makes the Chariot-wheels of the hypocrite move in all religious concernments. Verſ. 5. And when thou prayeſt, thou ſhalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to ſtand praying in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the ſtreets, that they may be ſeen of men: Verily I ſay unto you, they have their reward. Verſ. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a ſad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to faſt. Verily I ſay unto p. 28 you, they have their reward. Thus you ſee that theſe hypocrites look more at men, that at God in all their duties. When they give alms, the trumpet muſt ſound; when they pray, it muſt be in the Synagogues, and in the corner of the ſtreets; and when they faſted, they disfigured their faces, that they might appear unto men to faſt. Hypocrites live upon the praiſes and applauſes of men. Naturaliſts report of the Chelydonian ſtone, that it will retain its vertue no longer than it is encloſed in gold. So hypocrites will keep up their duties no longer than they are fed, and encouraged, and encloſed with the golden praiſes and applauſes of men. Hypocrites are like blazing Stars, which ſo long as they are fed with Vapours, ſhine as if they were fixed Stars; but let the Vapours dry up, and preſently they vaniſh and diſappear.

9. They ſay of the Nightingale that when ſhe is ſolitary in the woods ſhe is careleſs of her note, but compoſes her ſelf more quaintly and elegantly, if ſhe conceives there be any auditors, or if ſhe be near houſes. Juſt ſo ‘tis with hypocrites in religious duties. [dropped from the edition]

Thirdly, consider that the ordinary exercising of yourselves in secret prayer‸ is that which will ‸ distinguish you from hypocrites, who do all they do to be seen of men‸‸. “‸Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward” (Matt 6:1–2). Self is the only oil that makes the chariot-wheels of the hypocrite move in all religious concernments. ‸ ‸“‸And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to stand praying in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward‸‸…‸Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matt 6:5, 16). Thus you see that these hypocrites look more at men than at God in all their duties. When they give alms, the trumpet must sound; when they pray, it must be in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets; and when they fasted, they disfigured their faces‸ that they might appear unto men to fast. Hypocrites live upon the praises and applauses of men. Naturalists report of the Chelydonian stone‸ that it will retain its virtue no longer than it is enclosed in gold. So hypocrites will keep up their duties no longer than they are fed, and encouraged, and enclosed with the golden praises and applauses of men. Hypocrites are like blazing stars, which, so long as they are fed with vapors, shine as if they were fixed stars; but let the vapors dry up, and presently they vanish and disappear.

Cloſet duty ſpeaks out moſt ſincerity. He prayes with a witneſs that prayes without a witneſs. p. 29 The more ſincere the ſoul is, the more in Cloſet duty the ſoul will be, Job 31. 33. Where do you read in all the Scripture, that Pharaoh, or Saul, or Judas, or Demas, or Simon Magus, or the Scribes and Phariſees, did ever uſe to pour out their ſouls before the Lord in ſecret? Secret prayer is not the Hypocrites ordinary walk, his ordinary work or trade. There is great cauſe to fear that his heart was never right with God, whoſe whole devotion is ſpent among men, or among many: Or elſe our Saviour in drawing the hypocrites picture, would never have made this to be the very caſt of his countenance, as he doth in Mat. 6. 5. ‘Tis very obſervable, that Chriſt commands his Diſciples, that they ſhould not be as the hypocrites. ‘Tis one thing to be hypocrites, and ‘tis another thing to be as the hypocrites. Chriſt would not have his people to look like hypocrites, nor to be like to hypocrites. ‘Tis only ſincerity that will enable a man to make p. 30 a trade of private prayer. In praying with many, there are many things that may bribe and provoke a carnal heart, as pride, vain-glory, love of applauſe, or to get a name. An hypocrite in all his duties trades more for a good name, than for a good life, for a good report than for a good conſcience; like Fidlers, that are more careful in tuning their Inſtruments, than in compoſing their lives. But in private prayer, there is no ſuch trade to be driven. But,

Closet duty speaks out most sincerity. He prays with a witness that prays without a witness. The more sincere the soul is, the more in closet duty the soul will be (‸Job 31:‸33). Where do you read in all the Scripture‸ that Pharaoh, or Saul, or Judas, or Demas, or Simon Magus, or the scribes and Pharisees‸ did ever use to pour out their souls before the Lord in secret? Secret prayer is not the hypocrite’s ordinary walk, his ordinary work or trade. There is great cause to fear that his heart was never right with God‸ whose whole devotion is spent among men, or among many; or else our Savior, in drawing the hypocrite’s picture, would never have made this to be the very cast of his countenance, as He doth in Matthew 6:‸5. It is very observable‸ that Christ commands His disciples that they should not be as the hypocrites. It is one thing to be hypocrites, and it is another thing to be as the hypocrites. Christ would not have His people to look like hypocrites, nor to be like to hypocrites. It is only sincerity that will enable a man to make a trade of private prayer. In praying with many, there are many things that may bribe and provoke a carnal heart, as pride, vain-glory, love of applause, or to get a name. A hypocrite, in all his duties, trades more for a good name‸ than for a good life, for a good report than for a good conscience—‸like fiddlers that are more careful in tuning their instruments than in composing their lives. But in private prayer‸ there is no such trade to be driven. ‸