The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

So soon as thou art ready, before thou goest about the works of thy Calling, withdraw thy self into some private place, and there pour out thy Soul unto God by fervent and effectual prayer. Be sure to open thine heart to God, before thou open thy Shop to men. This secret prayer we find commended by Christ himself, Matth. 6. 6, When thou prayest, enter into thy Closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father that is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. And we find that what he commanded, himself practised? for Mark 1. 35. it is said, In the Morning Christ went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. How careful the servants of God have been therein, none will question, who are acquainted with the Scriptures.

Besides all the Benefits of prayer in general, secret prayer hath these:

1. It will be some testimony of the sincerity of thine heart. A man may join in Public and Family-prayer merely in hypocrisy, to gain the applause and commendation of men: But he that maketh Conscience of praying in secret, and that in obedience to the Command of God, with a desire to approve himself unto him, hath some good evidence of the truth and sincerity of his heart.

1. It will be some testimony of the sincerity of thine heart. A man may joyn in Publick and Family-prayer meerly in hypocrisie, to gain the applause and commendation of men: But he that maketh Conscience of praying in secret, and that in obedience to the Command of God, with a desire to approve himself unto him, hath some good evidence of the truth and sincerity of his heart.