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

(4.) Dost thou pray alone? So thou mightest have done, if thou hadst lost thy tongue: Hast thou a tongue only to buy and sell, and talk of the world, or of religion only? and not to employ it in conjunct praying to, and praising of God, in thy Family? Read before.

(4.) Dost thou pray alone? So thou mightest have done, if thou hadst lost thy tongue: Hast thou a tongue only to buy and sell, and talk of the world, or of religion only? and not to imploy it in conjunct praying to, and praising of God, in thy Family? Read before.

(5.) Dost thou pray alone? I doubt thou dost; It may be thou speakest more in that word [alone] than thou thinkest of.¹ Dost thou not pray alone without God? without meeting with God? Hadst thou there had thy heart inflamed with the love of God, and tasted of the sweetness in communion with God, would not this have filled thy heart with love to God, and Souls in thy house, and burning zeal that they might be partakers of the same Divine refreshments? couldst thou hold thy peace after such discoveries, while thy poor Family are without? or wouldst thou no time call them together, that they also might experience the same delights that thou hast found? As the woman of Samaria called her Neighbours, Joh. 4.28, 29. If thou hadst got some earthly Jewel, thou mightst be loth that others should share with thee in the value of it; because in earthly things participation causeth a diminution: if a sum of money be divided amongst many, the more one hath, the less will fall to the others share. Art thou ⟨p. 353⟩indeed afraid of this? Fear it not: There is enough in God for thee, and thine too. Communication in spirituals causeth multiplication, even in him that doth communicate to others: If thou beest an Instrument to draw thine to the Love of God, and to joy and delight in him, this would fill thee with the greater joy. Methinks then, when thou hast been alone, and God hath graciously been with thee, thou shouldest go down into thy Family with burning love to God and them, and say, Come my Wife, Children, Servants, leave your work and business for a while; There is much sweetness in communion with God: There is indeed delight which comes into the Soul by holy fervent Prayer; I would not have you feed on husks, while there is not only bread, but dainties too, in seeking God: I do not love to see you always muddling in the world, and be strangers unto God. Come then, come away, for my Soul doth long that you should taste what I have found. Thus thou wouldest think surely with thy self, if thou speakest not out to them, if thou didst meet with God in secret. When it is not so with thee, but thou canst constantly neglect Prayer in thy Family, reflect upon thy self, whether in this sense thou didst not pray alone, that thou didst not find God with thee warming of thy heart. Tell me, couldst thou be content to eat thy food constantly alone, without thy Wife and Children?