The works of George Swinnock, M.A

The next thing I would advise thee to, or rather Christ enjoineth; Enter into thy Closet, and when thou hast shut thy Door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly: Here is, 1. A Precept to secret prayer, Pray to thy Father in secret; The Priest was every morning to renew the Fire on the Altar, and to offer Sacrifice; And they offered burnt-offerings unto the Lord, even burnt-offerings morning and Evening; And they offered the daily burnt-offerings ⟨p. 498⟩offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required, Ezra. 3. 3, 4. So also in Davids time, Asaph and his Brethren ministered before the Ark continually, as every days work required, 1 Chron. 16. 33. Solomon took after his Father, 2 Chron. 8. 14. And what is the substance of those shadows, but that Christians who are a spiritual Priest-hood, should every day have their solemn Morning and Evening addresses to God, and offer up holy sacrifices, acceptable to God in Jesus Christ. Davids purpose was to be early at prayer. O God, my voice shalt thou hear in the morning, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. And his practice was answerable; I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried, Psa. 5. 3. and 119. 147. He was up before the day, and risen and at work before the Sun; Nay, he tells God, In the morning shall my prayer prevent thee; As if he would be at his prayer before God were stirring and going abroad; But surely we cannot rise so early but God is awake before us, for he that keepeth Israel, never slumbereth nor sleepeth; His eyes are ever waking, who holdeth sometimes, our eyes waking; But David meaneth rather, that his prayers should prevent Gods servants, his severest or most solacing providences, not God himself; He would send a Messenger with Petitions or Thanksgivings to God, before God should send any Messenger with good or bad tidings to him; he would be too early either for crosses or comforts. 2. The Promise to secret Prayer; And thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly; God heard Paul in the Dungeon, as well as Peter on the House top; The Sun of Righteousness looks as