You know many men come to be very rich in the world, 1by a secret trade: Though many have not such an open trade as others, yet they have a more secret Trade, and by that they gain very great Estates, as many of you here in London know by experience. Take it friends as an experienced truth, there is no such way under heaven, to be rich in spirituals, as ⟨p. 248⟩by driving of a secret Trade heavenwards. 'Tis true, it's good for men to attend upon this, and that, and the other public administration; for in all Divine administrations God shows his beauty and glory; I, but such that delight to be more 2upon the public stage, then in the Closet, will never be rich in spirituals; they may grow rich in notions, but they will never grow rich in gracious experiences. Oh! God loves to see a poor Christian to shut his closet door, and then to open 3his bosom, and pour out his soul before him. God hath very discoveries for souls that drive a secret Trade. The best wine, the best dainties and delicates, are for such: And I never knew any man or woman in my life, that was richer in grace, then those that were much in closet communion with God. Much of a Christians spiritual strength lies in secret prayer, as Sampson's did in his hair. Nothing charms Satan, and weakens sin, like this: Secret Prayers are the pillars of smoke wherein the soul ascendeth to God out of the wilderness of this world. Secret prayer is Jacobs Ladder, where you have God descending down into the soul, and rhe soul sweetly ascending up to God. No way to be rich in spirituals like this, therefore be sure to maintain and keep up a secret Trade between God and your own souls: Oh let God hear often of you in secret. In Cant. 7. 5. The King is held in the Galleries. Oh! in the secret walks, the soul meets with the King of glory: Oh! there the soul hangs upon Christ, there the soul sucks and draws virtue from Christ, and there the soul is made rich with the riches of Christ, Christ is much delighted and taken with secret prayer. Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs (that art got into a hole) let me hear thy voice, let me see thy countenance; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is lovely. Secret meals are very fattening, and secret duties are very soul-enriching.
You know many men come to be very rich in the world, 1by a secret trade: Though many have not such an open trade as others, yet they have a more secret Trade, and by that they gaine very great Estates, as many of you here in London know by experience. Take it friends as an experienced truth, there is no such way under heaven, to be rich in spiritualls, as ⟨p. 248⟩by driving of a secret Trade heavenwards. 'Tis true, it's good for men to attend upon this, and that, and the other publick administration; for in all Divine administrations God shewes his beauty and glory; I, but such that delight to be more 2upon the publick stage, then in the Closet, will never be rich in spiritualls; they may grow rich in notions, but they will never grow rich in gracious experiences. Oh! God loves to see a poore Christian to shut his closet doore, and then to open 3his bosome, and poure out his soule before him. God hath very discoveries for soules that drive a secret Trade. The best wine, the best dainties and delicates, are for such: And I never knew any man or woman in my life, that was richer in grace, then those that were much in closet communion with God. Much of a Christians spirituall strength lyes in secret prayer, as Sampson's did in his haire. Nothing charmes Satan, and weakens sin, like this: Secret Prayers are the pillars of smoke wherein the soule ascendeth to God out of the wildernesse of this world. Secret prayer is Jacobs Ladder, where you have God discending downe into the soul, and rhe soule sweetly ascending up to God. No way to be rich in spirituals like this, therefore be sure to maintaine and keep up a secret Trade between God and your owne soules: Oh let God heare often of you in secret. In Cant. 7. 5. The King is held in the Galleries. Oh! in the secret walks, the soule meets with the King of glory: Oh! there the soule hangs upon Christ, there the soule sucks and drawes virtue from Christ, and there the soule is made rich with the riches of Christ, Christ is much delighted and taken with secret prayer. Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the staires (that art got into a hole) let me heare thy voyce, let me see thy countenance; for sweet is thy voyce, and thy countenance is lovely. Secret meales are very fatning, and secret duties are very soule-inriching.
- 1Acts 10. 3, 9. Gen. 21. 33. Exod. 14. 15. 1 Sam. 1. 13.
- 2Psal. 63. 2, 3. Psal. 27. 4. Psal. 84. 10.
- 3Mat 6. 6.
