A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

And partly, in some respects this is to be more prized, because Privacy and Retiredness is necessary, and is a great Advantage, that Mens Spirits may be settled and composed for the Duty. Sinful Distractions will crowd in upon us, when in Company, and we are thinking of this and that. How often do we mingle Sulphur with our Incense? carnal Thoughts in our Worship? How apt are we to do so in public Duties? But in private, we are wholly at leisure to deal with God, in a Child-like Liberty. Now will you omit this Duty, where you may be most free, without distraction, to let out the Heart to God?

And partly, in some respects this is to be more prized, because Privacy and Retiredness is necessary, and is a great Advantage, that Mens Spirits may be setled and composed for the Duty. Sinful Distractions will croud in upon us, when in Company, and we are thinking of this and that. How often do we mingle Sulphur with our Incense? carnal Thoughts in our Worship? How apt are we to do so in publick Duties? But in private, we are wholly at leasure to deal with God, in a Child-like Liberty. Now will you omit this Duty, where you may be most free, without distraction, to let out the Heart to God?

And partly, because a Man will not be fit to pray in public, and in Company, which doth not often pray in secret; he will lose his Savour and Delight in this Exercise, and soon grow dry, barren, sapless, and careless of God. Look as in the Prophet Ezekiel, you read there, that the Glory of the Lord removed from the Temple by degrees; it first removed from the Holy Place, then to the Altar of Burnt-Offerings, then to the Threshold of the House, then to the City, then to the Mount which was on the East Side of the City; there the Glory of the Lord stood hovering a while, as loth to be gone, to see if the People would get it back again. This seems to be some Emblem and Representation of God's dealing with particular Men: First, God is cast out of the Closet, private Intercourses between God and them are neglected; and then he is cast out of the Family, and within a little while out ⟨p. 29⟩of the Congregation; public Ordinances begin to be slighted, and to be looked upon as useless things; and then Men are given up to all Profaneness and Looseness, and lose all: So that Religion as it were dieth by degrees, and a carnal Christian loseth more and more of the Presence of God. And therefore if we would be able to pray in Company, we must often pray in secret.