4. In Secret We May Freely Unbosom Our Souls to God

Fourthly, Conſider that in ſecret we may more freely and fully, and ſafely unboſome our ſoules to God, than we can in the preſence of many or a few. Hence the Huſband is to mourn apart, and the Wife apart, Zech. 12. 12, 13, 14. not only to ſhew the ſoundneſs of their ſorrow, but alſo to ſhew their ſincerity by their ſecreſie; they muſt mourn apart that their ſins may not be diſcloſed nor diſcovered one to another: Here they are ſevered to ſhew that they wept not for company p. 31 ſake, but for their own particular ſins, by which they had pierced and crucified the Lord of glory. In ſecret a Chriſtian may deſcend into ſuch particulars, as in publick or before others he wil not, he may not, he ought not to mention. Ah how many Chriſtians are there who would bluſh and be aſhamed to walk in the ſtreets, and to converſe with ſinners or ſaints, ſhould but thoſe infirmities, enormities, and wickedneſſes, be written in their fore-heads, or known to others; which they freely and fully lay open to God in ſecret? There are many ſins which many men have fallen into before converſion and ſince converſion, which ſhould they be known to the world, would make themſelves to ſtink, and Religion to ſtink, and their profeſſion to ſtink in the noſtrils of all that know them. Yea, ſhould thoſe weakneſſes and wickedneſſes be publiſhed upon the houſe tops, which many are guilty of before grace received, or ſince grace received; p. 32 how would weak Chriſtians be ſtaggered, young comers on in the wayes of God diſcouraged, and many mouthes of blaſphemy opened, and many ſinners hearts hardened againſt the Lord, his wayes, reproofs, and the things of their own peace; yea, how would Satans banner be diſplayed, and his kingdom ſtrengthned, and himſelf infinitely pleaſed and delighted? ‘Tis an infinite mercy and condeſcention in God, to lay a Law of reſtraint upon Satan, who elſe would be the greateſt Blab in all the world: It would be mirth and muſick to him to be ſtill a laying open the follies and weakneſſes of the Saints.

Ambroſe brings in the Devil boaſting againſt Chriſt, and challenging Judas as his own. He is not thine, Lord Jeſus, he is mine, his thoughts beat for me; he eats with thee, but is fed by me; he takes bread from thee, but mony from me; he drinks with thee, and ſells thy blood to me. There is not a ſin that a Saint commits, p. 33 but Satan would trumpet it out to all the world, if God would but give him leave. No man that is in his right wits, will lay open to every one his bodily infirmities, weakneſſes, diſeaſes, ailments griefs, &c. but to ſome near relation, or boſom friend, or able Phyſitian. So no man that is in his right wits will lay open to every one his ſoul-infirmities, weakneſſes, diſeaſes, ailments, griefs, &c. but to the Lord, or to ſome particular perſon that is wiſe, faithful, and able to contribute ſomething to his ſouls relief. Should a Chriſtian but lay open or rip up all his follies and vanities to the world, how ſadly would ſome deride him and ſcorn him? and how ſeverely and bitterly would others cenſure him and judge him? &c. When David was alone in the Cave, then he poured out his complaint to God, and ſhewed before him his trouble, Pſal. 142. 2. And when Job was all alone, then his eyes pour’d out tears to God Job. 20. 16. There is no hazzard, no p. 34 danger, in ripping up of all before God in a corner, but there may be a great deal of hazzard and danger¹⁰ in ripping up of all before men.

1. 10. Eccl. 12. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 10. Rev. 22. 12. Heb. 10. 6. Pſal. 126. 5. Luk. 14. 14. Matth. 25. 34, 37. [dropped from the edition]