Partticular and Secret. Our Lord's Direction, Matth. 6.6. Many Christians find it an easi∣er thing to keep a day of Prayer with others, than to spend an hour in Prayer in secret by themselves. It were far easier to know a Man's Frame and State by his secret dealings with God, (if we were acquainted with them) than by all his Professions and Duties besides. 2. Let these Addresses be sometimes solemn and long. There are some Mercies not to be got (as some sort of Devils not to be cast out) but by fasting and prayer, Matth. 17.21. Secret, per∣sonal Fasts, I am afraid, are very rare amongst Christians in our Days. Christ commands and directs us about them, Matth. 6.16.17,18. as well as about secret Prayer, Matth. 6.6,7. Ministers should not load Christians, with work above the Strength of their Bodies, or Minds, or Grace. But surely, it is but reasonable Ser∣vice required of you, that you should make Addresses to the Throne of Grace, in some suita∣bleness to your need of that Grace, that is di∣spensed from it.
There are four things, which, if they were the Fruit of my speaking, and of your hearing so often from this Text, we should both have cause to bless the Lord, who teacheth his people to profit, Isa. 48.17.
1. If you learn to pray better, and to ply Pray∣er more. David gave himself to Prayer, Psal. 109.4. The Apostles, those extraordinary Of∣ficers of the Primitive Church, gave themselves continually to Prayer, and to the Ministery of the Word. Acts 6.4. There are times in which private Christians, should give themselves