2. This Reproof belongs to them also, who are not frequent and constant in the practice of this duty. Alas! I know there ⟨p. 143⟩have been many that the Word of the Lord hath met with them; they have been Sermon-sick, and then they would pray in secret; but they have not done thus without ceasing. Their Convictions have died, and they became as Prayerless as ever in their lives before. Or it may be some distressing affliction or other, hath brought them upon their Knees before the Lord. Like those in Isai. 26. 16. Lord, in trouble they visited thee, they poured out a Prayer, when thy chastening was upon them. Ah! Lord God, hath it not been thus, with many a soul that hears me this day? but their distresses being removed, they continue not in secret Prayer. Oh consider what the Scripture saith, Heb. 10. 38. If any draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him. To begin a course of Prayer, and then to leave off again, is to draw back. Will the Lord take pleasure in such? He hath said, he will not. And yet I wish there be not Professors of Religion, Church-members, whose Consciences do (or may) accuse them for inconstancy in the performance of this great duty of secret ⟨p. 141⟩prayer: If thou art such an one, thou hast on thee one of the sad marks of an Hypocrite: for it is said of the Hypocrite, Will he always call upon God? Job 27: 10: I wonder how such men and women, can think that they belong to God, or that they have a real interest in Heaven, who can find in their hearts to live without secret communion with him: especially considering, that the Scripture tells them that he that shall allow himself in the wilful breach of the least Commandment, shall not be admitted, nor accounted of in the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat: 5: 19: where then will they appear, who live in the neglect of so great a Commandment as this of Secret Prayer is?
2. This Reproof belongs to them also, who are not freequent and constant in the practice of this duty. Alas! I know there ⟨p. 143⟩have been many that the Word of the Lord hath met with them; they have been Sermon-sick, and then they would pray in secret; but they have not done thus without ceasing. Their Convictions have died, and they became as Prayerless as ever in their lives before. Or it may be some distressing affliction or other, hath brought them upon their Knees before the Lord. Like those in Isai. 26. 16. Lord, in trouble they visited thee, they poured out a Prayer, when thy chastening was upon them. Ah! Lord God, hath it not been thus, with many a soul that hears me this day? but their distresses being removed, they continue not in secret Prayer. Oh consider what the Scripture saith, Heb. 10. 38. If any draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him. To begin a course of Prayer, and then to leave off again, is to draw back. Will the Lord take pleasure in such? He hath said, he will not. And yet I wish there be not Professors of Religion, Church-members, whose Consciences do (or may) accuse them for inconstancy in the performance of this great duty of secret ⟨p. 141⟩prayer: If thou art such an one, thou hast on thee one of the sad marks of an Hypocrite: for it is said of the Hypocrite, Will he alwayes call upon God? Job 27: 10: I wonder how such men and women, can think that they belong to God, or that they have a real interest in Heaven, who can find in their hearts to live without secret communion with him: especially considering, that the Scripture tells them that he that shall allow himself in the wilful breach of the least Commandment, shall not be admitted, nor accounted of in the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat: 5: 19: where then will they appear, who live in the neglect of so great a Commandment as this of Secret Prayer is?
