Then & Now · 21 of 28

18. God’s Special Mark on Those That Pray in Secret

Eighteenthly, Conſider, that God hath ſet a ſpecial mark of favour, honour, and obſervation, upon thoſe that have prayed in ſecret. As you may ſee in Moſes, Exod. 34. 28. And in Abraham, Gen. 21. 33. And in Iſaac, Gen. 24. 63. And in Jacob, Gen. 32. 24-29. And in David, Pſal. 55. 16, 17. And in Daniel, Chap. 6. 10. And in Paul, Acts, 9. 11. And in Cornelius Acts, 10. 2. 4. And in Peter, Acts, 10. 9, 10, 11, 12. And in Manaſſeh, 2 Chron. 33. 18, 19. God hath put all theſe worthies that have exerciſed themſelves in ſecret prayer, upon record, to their everlaſting fame and honour. The Perſians ſeldome p. 112 write their Kings name but in characters of Gold. God hath writ (as I may ſay) their names in characters of Gold, who have made conſcience of exerciſing themſelves in ſecret prayer. The precious names of thoſe that have addicted themſelves to cloſet duties, are as Statues of gold, which the polluted breath of men can no wayes ſtain; they are like ſo many ſhining Suns that no clouds can darken; they are like ſo many ſparkling Diamonds that ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt night. A chriſtian can never get into a hole, a corner, a cloſet, to pour out his ſoul before the Lord, but the Lord makes an honourable obſervation of him, and ſets a ſecret mark of favour upon him, Ezek. 9. 4, 5, 6. And how ſhould this provoke all chriſtians to be much with God alone. The Romans▪ were very ambitious of obtaining a great name, a great report in this world; and why ſhould not Chriſtians be as divinely ambitious of obtaining a good p. 113 name a good report in the other⁵⁰ world. A good name is alwayes better then a great name, and a name in heaven is infinitely better then a thouſand names on earth; and the way to both theſe is to be much with God in ſecret. But,

50. Heb. 11. 39. [dropped from the edition]

‸ Consider‸ that God hath set a special mark of favor, honor, and observation‸ upon those that have prayed in secret. As you may see in Moses (Exod 34:28), ‸ ‸ and in Abraham (Gen 21:33), ‸ ‸ and in Isaac (Gen 24:63), ‸ ‸ and in Jacob (Gen 32:24–29), ‸ ‸ and in David (Ps 55:16–17), ‸ ‸ and in Daniel (Dan 6:10), ‸ ‸ and in Paul (Acts 9:11), ‸ ‸ and in Cornelius (‸Acts 10:2, ‸ 4), and in Peter (Acts 10:9–12), ‸ ‸ and in Manasseh (‸2 Chr 33:‸18–‸19). God has put all these worthies that have exercised themselves in secret prayer‸ upon record‸ to their everlasting fame and honor. The Persians seldom write their king’s name but in characters of gold. God has writ‸, as I may say, their names in characters of gold who have made conscience of exercising themselves in secret prayer. The precious names of those that have addicted themselves to closet duties‸ are as statues of gold, which the polluted breath of men can no ways stain. They are like so many shining suns that no clouds can darken. They are like so many sparkling diamonds that shine brightest in the darkest night. A Christian can never get into a hole, a corner, a closet, to pour out his soul before the Lord, but the Lord makes an honorable observation of him, and sets a secret mark of favor upon him (‸Ezek‸ 9:‸4–‸6). And how should this provoke all Christians to be much with God alone! The Romans‸ were very ambitious of obtaining a great name, a great report, in this world; and why should not Christians be as divinely ambitious of obtaining a good name, a good report, in the other world (Heb 11:39)? A good name is always better than a great name, and a name in heaven is infinitely better than a thousand names on earth, and the way to both these is to be much with God in secret. ‸