Lord, his ways, reproof, and the things of their own peace; yea, how would Satan's banner be displayed, his kingdom strengthened, and himself infinitely pleased and delighted ? 'Tis an infinite mercy and condescension in God, to lay a law of restraint upon Satan, who else would be the greatest blab in the world, it would be mirth and music to him, to be still a laying open the follies and weakness of the saints.

Ambrose brings in the devil boasting against Christ, and challenging Judas for his own. "He is not thine, Lord Jesus, he is mine, his thoughts beat for me; he eats with thee, but is fed by me; he takes bread from thee, but money from me; he drinks with thee, and sells thy blood to me." There is not a sin that a saint commits, but Satan would trumpet it out to all the world, if God would but give him leave. No man that is in his right wits, will lay open to every one his bodily infirmities, weaknesses, diseases, ailments, and griefs, but to some near relation, bosom friend, or able physician. So no man that is in his right wits, will lay open to every one his soul-infirmities, weaknesses, diseases, ailments and griefs, but to the Lord, or to some particular person that is wise, faithful, and able to contribute something to his soul's relief. Should a christian but lay open, or rip up all his follies and vanities to the world, how sadly would some deride and scorn him? and how severely and bitterly would others censure and judge him? When David was alone in the cave, then he poured out his complaint to God, and shewed before him his trouble, Psalm xiv. 1, 2. And when Job was all alone, then his eyes poured out tears to God. Job xx 16. There is no hazard, and no danger in confes

sing our sins before God, but there may be a great deal of hazard and danger in confessing all before

men..

V. Secret duties shall have open rewards, Mat. vi. 6. "And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." So verse 18. God will reward his people here in part, and hereafter in perfection: He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. They that sow in tears secretly, shall reap in joy openly. Private prayer shall be rewarded before men and angels publicly. How openly did God reward Daniel for his secret prayer, Dan. vi. 10, 23-28. Mordecai private ly discovered a plot of treason against the person of king Ahasuerus, and he was rewarded openly, Esther ii. 21, 22, 23. with chap. vi. Darius before he came to the kingdom, received privately a garment for a gift of one Syloson; and when he came to be king, he rewarded him openly, with the command of his country Samus. God in the great day, will recompence his people before all the world, for every secret prayer, sigh, and groan, that hath come from his people. God in the great day will declare to men and angels, how often his people have been pouring out their souls before him in such and such corners, and secret places, and accordingly he will reward them.

And christians, did you really believe, and seriously dwell on this, you would (1) walk more thankfully, (2) work more cheerfully, (3) suffer more patiently, (4) fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, more courageously, (5) lay out yourselves for God, his interest and glory, more freely, (6) live with what providence hath cut out for your portion, more quietly and

contentedly, and (7) you would be in private prayer more frequently, and abundantly.

VI. Consider, that God hath usually let out himself most to his people, when they have been alone at the throne of grace. O! the sweet meltings, the heavenly warmings, the blessed cheerings, the glorious manifestations, and the choice communion with God, that christians have found when they have been alone with God in secret. When had Daniel that vision and comfortable message, that blessed news by the angel that he was greatly beloved, but when he was all alone at prayer? Dan. ix. 20, 21, 22, 23. "And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God, for the holy mountain of my God; yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I have seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me: about the time of the evening oblation: and he informed. me, and talked with me, and said, O ! Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill, and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications commandment came forth. and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved, therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.'. Whilst Daniel was at private prayer, God by the angel, Gabriel reveals to him the secret counsel, concerning the restoration of Jerusalem, and the duration thereof, even to the Messiah; and whilst Daniel was at private prayer, the Lord appears, and in an extraordinary way. assures him that he was a man greatly beloved, or as the Hebrew Chumudoth hath it, a man of desires, that is, a man whom God's desires are towards, a man singularly

beloved, and highly in favour with God. God lades the wings of private prayer with the sweetest, choicest, and chiefest blessings. Ah! how often hath God kissed the poor christian at the beginning of private prayer, spoke peace to him in the midst of his prayer, and fill'd him with light, joy, and assurance upon the close. And so Cornelius is highly commended and graciously rewarded upon the account of his private prayer, Acts x. 1, 2, 3, 4. "There was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a Centurion of the band called the Italian Band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house; which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always; he saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him; Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? and he said unto him, thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." verse 30, 31. And Cornelius said, four days ago I was fasting until this hour (that is, until about three a clock in the afternoon, verse 3) and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in rememberance in the sight of God. Mark, as he was praying in his house, by himself alone, a man in bright clothing, which was an angel in man's shape verse 3. appeared unto him, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard; he doth not mean, that prayer which he made when he fasted and humbled himself before the Lord, verse 30, 31. but as verse 2, 3, 4. shews his prayers which he made alone; for it seems, none else were with him then, for he only saw that man in

bright clothing, and to him alone the angel addressed his present speech, saying, Cornelius thy prayers are heard, verse 4, 31. Here you see that Cornelius's private prayers are not only heard, but kindly remembered, graciously accepted, and gloriously rewarded.

Praying Cornelius, is not only remembered by God, but he is also sensibly and evidently visited by an angel, and assured that his private prayers and good deeds are an odour, a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God. And when had Peter his vision, but when he was praying alone on the house-top? Acts x. 9-13 "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up unto the house top to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had -been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, rise, Peter; kill and eat." When Peter was on the house-top at prayer alone, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and had his spirit raised, his mind elevated, and all the faculties of his soul filled with a divine revelation, So when Paul was at prayer alone, he saw in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight And he had not been long in private prayer, before it was revealed to him, that he was a chosen vessel, and filled with the gifts, graces, and comforts of the Holy Ghost. And when John was alone in the isle of Patmos,