The fundamental truths of Christianity briefly hinted at by way of question and answer : to which is added a treatise of prayer in the same method / by George Keith.

Q. May Vocal Prayer in words that are au∣dible to others at some distance, be used in pri∣vate, when a man is alone by himself?

A. Upon some solemn or extraordinary occasions it may be used, as if such a wicked Law should be made that no man should pray unto God, as in the case of Daniel, cap. 7. Where it was decreed that none should ask any thing for thirty daies, but of the King; Daniel found himself the more concerned to bear a testimony against such a Law or Decree, that even his private Pray∣er came under the observation of his accusers, so that he could not satisfie himself with meer inward and mental Prayer, which none of them could observe. And it seemeth it had been Daniel's custom formerly so to do, he living among Idolaters, that so he might more abundantly bear a Testimony against their false Worship, and for the true Wor∣ship of the True and Living God. Again, 2. Vocal Prayer in private may be the more freely used, when any hath the opportunity of some remote or retired place, where none are within the reach of hearing them; for sometimes the earnestness and pressure of Spi∣rit, in their earnest wrestling with the Lord,

may provoke, and constrain some to use Vocal Prayer, and sometimes the using of it, helps them that are weak, to excite and make them more servent and lively; but it is to be used with great wariness and discre∣tion, when used in private, to take away all occasion of Ostentation or Hypocrisie, which is too incident to many, who pray, or cry out their private Prayers, of purpose that o∣thers may hear them; as the Pharisees did of old, whose Hypocrisie Christ sharply re∣proved; and he taught his Disciples the best manner to perform their private Devotions Matth. 6. 6. But thou, when thou Prayest, enter into thy Closet, and when thou hast shut thy Door, Pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall re∣ward thee openly. Now as this Closet, or secret Chamber, may partly be understood to be outward, when men have the oppor∣tunity thereof, or any outward place of re∣tirement; yet because it oft falleth out to good Christians, that they have no Closet, or outward Place of Retirement, many be∣ing oft confined to a Prison, where they must alwaies be in Company with others, and sometimes with bad People: In that case the Lords Servants have the Closet of their Hearts to retire into, at all times, where

they may freely pray unto the Lord in se∣cret: and here also they must be careful to shut their Door, to wit, the Door of their Heart, whereby shut out and exclude all i∣dle and wandering Thoughts and Imagina∣tions, yea all thoughts even of their Lawful occasions, that their hearts and thoughts may be wholly exercised for that space of time, to∣wards the Lord, as he shall be pleased to as∣sist them.