Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life, in and after a time of great mortality, by a wasting plague (anno 1665) answered in XIII directions / by Tho. Doolitel.

SECTION IV.

* 1.1SEcondly, Maintain secret Duties, and espe∣cially mind the secret things of Publick Du∣ties: this part consisteth of two Branches,

• Maintain secret Duties.
• Minde Secret things in Publick Duties.

I. Keep up a constant course of secret Duties: Be much with God when you are alone: Let not all your Religion lie without doores: especially be much in the Practise of these four Duties in se∣cret.

1. Be much in secret Prayer: This hath been the practice of the holy Men of God, so Jacob, Gen. 32.24. And Jacob was left alone: and there wrastled a Man with him, while the breaking of the day. In this you have the Example of Christ himself, who was much in secret Prayer, Ma••. 14.23. And when he had sent the Multitudes away, he went up into a Mountain apart to Pray, and when the evening w••s come he was there alone. You have some secret burdens upon your heart, you have some secret and hidden workings of sin in your soul, which is not convenient for you to express in the hearing of others; take time then to do this when you are alone in secret: You have the com∣mand of Christ also for this secret duty, as well as his practise and example, Mat. 6.6.

2. Be freqent in self-examination in secret: When you are alone, be much in conversing

with your self, and often in looking down into your own heart, enquiring after the truth of grace, and your growth therein: after the Mortification of sin, and your growth therein: Psal. 4.4. Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Commune with your self, whether you set a due valuation upon the meanes of Grace: whether you thrive in holi∣ness, according to the time and meanes that you have had: Commune with your self, whether your Conversation be suitable to your Profession, and, as becomes the Gospel: whether you are fit to die, and prepared for another World: in your secret Chamber commune with your own hearts about such things as these.

3. Be much in secret Reading of the Word of God: A Worldling, when he is alone, will spend much time in Reading over his Wri∣tings, his Bonds and Bills, his Leases and Ac∣quittances: and, will not you take as much pains in secret reading of the Word of God, which are the Writings upon which you must both build your Evidences for Heaven, and try them by.

4. Be much in secret meditation: When you are alone, let your thoughts be dwelling upon the Life to come, in thinking of your future happiness; Oh, what Inward warmth may you have, when you are alone, if you would but fill your minde with some believing fore-thoughts of the Life to come.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Secret du∣ties.