A25478:1420
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Sermon 14: Quest. How to manage secret Prayer, that it may be prevalent with God to the comfort an…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Qu, 1. What's the proper time for secret prayer?
Ans. Various providences, different temperaments and frames of spirit, motions from heaven, opportunities dictate variously. Some find it best at even, others in the night, when all is silent, others at morning, when the spirits are freshest. I think with respect to others, that conscientious prudence must guide in such cases, when others are retired and the spirit in the best frame for communion.
Qu. 2. How often should we pray in secret?
Ans. If we consult Scripture-president, we find David at prayer in the morning our blessed Lord early before day in the morning.1 Chrysostom advises [Greek or Hebrew], &c. wash thy soul before thy body, for as the face and hands are cleansed by water, so is the soul by prayer. At another time our Lord went to secret prayer in the even, and Isaac went to prayer in the eventide, David and Daniel prayed three times a day, and once 'tis mentioned that David said seven times a day will I praise thee, that is, very often. Such cases may happen that may require frequent accesses to the throne of grace in a day: But I humbly think at the least once a day, which seems to be imported by that passage in our Lord's prayer, give us this day our daily bread. Since after our Lord's appointment of secret prayer in the text, he gives us this prayer as a pattern to his Disciples.