g <ltlJ~tft:ian ~tttl?. 1 5 they are to pray as he did., and to pour out their com– plaint before the ~ord : Yea, upon a declaration .of Gods covenant, defigns of mercy to David and his houfe·;,, the gq_od man .went either into for11e private room in his own houfe, or into the Tent before the Ark, and there fer hitnfelf, firfr to meditate, then to , pray? for 11e did both, a~ that Scripture clearly inti– mates, 2 Sam. 7· I 7, 27. And oh what memorable fruits of fecret Prayer had Dff.vid frequently! Surely he felt the fweetnefs of ir, both in his foul and body, in his ipiritual eftare, and political affairs: Therefo,r;ehe corn– mends it to all,_.Pfal. ~·Commune wit_hyour own he~rtup– onyour bed(or tn your bed-chamber)and there aliooffer the facrifices of righteou(nefs, and put your truft in the Lor~p 1/Cr. 4· · 5· . , . .S E c T. I v. ' Fi1.1e more Inftances prod~ced."' 6'. AN o~her ex~mple frOn:t Scripture of t~e perform- / anee ofthts duty of iecret prayer, ts, the fa– mous man of GodElijah, \Vho wrought many miracles, and was mighty in prayer, fo_r fo the ApoftleJames te– flifies of him, Ch'ap~ 5. 17, I£'. ~hat be could ihut and . open HeaYen ; he had (as it wer_e) got the K~y ofthe Clouds, to open the \vindows ofHeaven, rhat ir.might rainor not rain, according/to his w9rd. But howcame he by this power? Why., certainly he had gre~t ac– quaintance with his God in fecrec. Take one inftanc~ what his prall:ice was, .1 J(ing. 17. 19. to ver. 24,• It is the memorable Hifiory of raifing the Widow womans \dead Son. It wa~· a great undertaking: non~ but Goa "'~ could raife.the dead, God is robe implored by earneft' Prayer, no place fo fit for that great duty as a clofet, <;>r ~ -fG~neclof~ Chamber,tQ~refore h~ being to ~e~l withHis· ! - . ' I
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