Then & Now · 12 of 28

9. Secret Duties Are the Most Soul-Enriching

Ninthly, conſider that ſecret duties are the moſt ſoul-enriching duties. Look as ſecret meales make fat bodies, ſo ſecret duties make fat ſouls: and as ſecret Trades brings in great earthly riches, ſo ſecret prayers makes many rich in ſpiritual bleſſings and in heavenly riches. Private prayer is that privy p. 68 key of heaven that unlocks all the Treaſures of glory to the ſoule. The beſt riches and the ſweeteſt mercies, God uſually gives to his people when they are in their cloſets upon their knees. Look as the warmth the Chickens find by cloſe ſitting under the Hens wings, cheriſheth them; ſo are the graces of the Saints enlivened, and cheriſhed, and ſtrengthned, by the ſweet ſecret influences, which their ſouls fall under, when they are in their cloſet-communion with God. Private prayer conſcienciouſly performed, is the privie key of heaven that hath unlocked ſuch treaſures and ſuch ſecrets as hath paſt the skill of the cunningeſt Devil to find out. Private prayer Midwifes the choiceſt mercies, and the chiefeſt riches in upon us.

Ninthly, consider that secret duties are the most soul-enriching duties. Look, as secret meals make fat bodies, so secret duties make fat souls; and as secret trade brings in great earthly riches, so secret prayers make many rich in spiritual blessings and in heavenly riches. Private prayer is that privy key of heaven that unlocks all the treasures of glory to the soul. God usually gives the best riches and the sweetest mercies‸ to His people when they are in their closets upon their knees. Look, as the warmth the chicks find by close sitting under the hen’s wings‸ cherisheth them, so are the graces of the saints enlivened‸ and cherished‸ and strengthened by the sweet secret influences‸ which their souls fall under‸ when they are in their closet‸communion with God. Private prayer conscientiously performed‸ is the privy key of heaven that hath unlocked such treasures and such secrets as hath passed the skill of the cunningest devil to find out. Private prayer midwifes the choicest mercies‸ and the chiefest riches in upon us.

Certainly there are none ſo rich in gracious experiences, as thoſe that are moſt exerciſed in cloſet duties, Pſ. 34. 6. This poor man cried (ſaith David) and the Lord ſaved him out of all his troubles. David, pointing to himſelf, tells us that he p. 69 cried, that is, ſilently and ſecretly, as Moſes did at the red ſea, and as²⁶ Nehemiah did in the preſence of the King of Perſia: and the Lord ſaved him out of all his troubles. And, O what additions were theſe deliverances to his experiences! O my friends, look as the tender dew, that falls in the ſilent night, makes the graſs, and herbs, and flowers, to flouriſh and grow more abundantly than great ſhowrs of raine that fall in the day; ſo ſecret prayer will more abundantly cauſe the ſweet herbs of grace and holineſs, to grow and flouriſh in the ſoul, than all thoſe more open, Publick, and viſible duties of Religion, which too too often are mingled and mixt with the ſun and wind of pride and hypocriſie.

26. Exod. 14. 15. Neh. 1. 11. & 2. 4. [dropped from the edition]

Certainly, there are none so rich in gracious experiences‸ as those that are most exercised in closet duties‸‸. “‸This poor man cried‸,” saith David, “‸and the LORD…‸saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps 34:6). David, pointing to himself, tells us that he “‸cried,” that is, silently and secretly, as Moses did at the Red Sea, and as Nehemiah did in the presence of the king of Persia. “And the LORD…‸saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6; Exod 14:15; Neh 1:11; 2:4). And, oh, what additions were these deliverances to his experiences! O my friends, look, as the tender dew‸ that falls in the silent night‸ makes the grass‸ and herbs‸ and flowers‸ to flourish and grow more abundantly than great showers of rain that fall in the day, so secret prayer will more abundantly cause the sweet herbs of grace and holiness‸ to grow and flourish in the soul‸ than all those more open, public, and visible duties of religion, which too, too often are mingled and mixed with the sun and wind of pride and hypocrisy.

Beloved, you know that many times a Favourite at Court gets more by one ſecret motion, by one private requeſt to his Prince, than a Tradeſ-man, or a Merchant gets in twenty years labour and paines, &c. So a Chriſtian many p. 70 times gets more by one ſecret motion, by one private requeſt to the King of Kings, than many others doe by Trading long in the more publick Duties of Religion. O Sirs, remember that in private prayer we have a far greater advantage, as to the exerciſe of our own gifts, and graces, and parts, than we have in Publick; for in Publick we only hear others, exerciſe their parts and gifts, &c. in Publick duties we are more paſſive, but in private duties we are more active. Now the more our gifts and parts, and graces are exerciſed, the more they are ſtrengthned and increaſed. All acts ſtrengthen habits. The more ſin is acted, the more ‘tis ſtrengthned. And ſo ‘tis with our gifts and graces; the more they are acted, the more they are ſtrengthned. But

Beloved! You know that many times a favorite at court gets more by one secret motion, by one private request to his prince, than a tradesman or a merchant gets in twenty years’ labor and pains‸. So, a Christian many times gets more by one secret motion, by one private request to the King of kings, than many others do by trading long in the more public duties of religion. O sirs! Remember that in private prayer we have a far greater advantage‸ as to the exercise of our own gifts‸ and graces‸ and parts‸ than we have in public; for in public, we only hear others‸ exercise their parts and gifts‸. In public duties, we are more passive; but in private duties, we are more active. Now, the more our gifts and parts‸ and graces are exercised, the more they are strengthened and increased. All acts strengthen habits. The more sin is acted, the more it is strengthened. And so it is with our gifts and graces: the more they are acted, the more they are strengthened. ‸