Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

2. It implieth Frequency. Those words without ⟨p. 83⟩ceasing, some read without intermission: Not but that the duty of Prayer may and must be intermitted, as to actual performance, that so other duties as to our general or particular calling may be attended, but the spirit of the duty should not be intermitted, Christians must be careful that they never lose that: There ought to be an habitual inclination, and readiness to attend the duty of prayer, whenever called thereunto: Also, there should be a frequency therein, as to actual performance. And when it is said, that a man should pray in secret, day and night, that implieth, that he should do so very often, Psal. 1. 2. 1 Thess. 3. 10. Indeed, secret Prayer should be every mans daily practice. Therefore when Christ bid his Disciples pray in secret, he bids them say, Give us this day, &c. Mat• 6.6, 11. from whence we may infer that secret Prayer should be a Christians daily practice. It is not determined in the Scripture, how often every man must pray in secret: Only that he ought to do thus daily. We find that Daniels constant course was to pray by himself three times every day, Dan. 6. 10. And David saith, that he did praise God seven times a day, h. e. often times, Psal. 119. 164. And there is great reason that men should offer prayers and praises before God in secret, at least once every day, and once every night; so may they be said to pray without ceasing night and day.

We come now to enquire into the reasons of this Doctrine.