A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Hence though I might draw forth several notes, yet shall treat but of one, containing the marrow and nerves of the Text.

Obs. That secret prayer duly managed is the mark of a sincere heart, and hath the promise of a gracious return. Prayer is the soul's colloquy with God, and secret prayer is a conference with God, upon admission into the privy chamber of heaven. When thou hast shut thine own closet, when God and thy soul are alone: with this key thou openest the chambers of paradise and enterest the closet of divine love. When thou art immured as in a curious Labyrinth from the tumultuous world, and entered into that garden of Lebanon in the midst of thy closet: thy soul like a spiritual Daedalus takes to it self the wings of faith and prayer and flies into the midst of heaven among the Cherubims. I may term secret prayer the invisible flight of the soul into the bosom of God, out of this heavenly closet rises Jacobs ladder whose rounds are all of light, its foot stands upon the basis of the covenant in thy heart; its top reaches the throne of grace. When thy reins have instructed thee in the night season with holy petitions, when thy soul hath desired him in the night, then with thy spirit within thee wilt thou seek him early.¹ When the door of thy heart is shut and the windows of thine eyes sealed up from all vain and worldly objects,² up thou mountest and hast a place given thee to ⟨p. 270⟩walk among Angels that stand by the throne of God; in secret prayer the soul like Moses is in the backside of the desert and talks with the Angel of the Covenant in the fiery bush.³ Here's Isaac in the field at eventide meditating and praying to the God of his Father Abraham. Here's Elijah under the Juniper-tree at Rithmah in the wilderness, and anon in the cave hearkening to the still small voice of God. Here's Christ and the Spouse alone in the wine cellar, and the banner of love over her: