16 God in good ·hard earneft about this important , bufi. nefs,iairh the ~ext_,Eie ~arr.~ed him ttp into a loft;where he abode., and latd hr.m upon ht.r own bed, .and the'! he cry. ed to the Lord, ver. 19, 20. It was 'not the.firft time E/i. jah had there wrefi:led with God ; if it wa~ hisiodging .room, ic was his pr.aying ·room: and here God heard him, and wr?ught the mi~acle: what hedid for Elzjah, he can and·wtll do for us., tf he fee fit: , for Elijah was~ no more than a tnan, and iubjetl: to like paffions·as we are. , 7:Je,-emitth}s ar~markable Infrance:he was a Prophet of the Lord, {ancl:tfiedfrom his Mothers womb, yet he mer with fo many di!Couragements,that he bath a mind to leave his people; -and hewHheth Jer. 9· I, 2 • for a lodging place in the Wilder. netS., i.e. fome folirary retiremenr, that there hemight -take his fiil o"f weepmg; ho\vever he. refolves at pre– fent.,thar wherever he is,hewill get retired, and, faith he, My foul {htz!l weep ,'in fecret ·places for your pride., 7er. t 3. 1 7· Yet tnore punctnall y, to the.bufinefs of fecret Prayer, fee Jer. 1 5. I 7. Saith be, 1 f.:zte alone becaufeof thy h-and. But what did he alone? Did he only pore -and muie upon the Churches Gn~ - and fufferings? No, he had iomething to fay to his God,ver..18. ~Vhy io·-my pain · perpettull? And God then hath fomeching to fay to him by way of graciou,s'anfwer,ver. I g. If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and tho~o& · jhalt ftand before me: This is the re1ult of his fecret Prayer,a reftaura,ion ' of hirn to, and his conformation in, his office and fun· ttion ; .and to the p·u·blick exercife th~reof: This is worth praying for. · . . 8. Daniel is a famous pattern of the refolute and couragious performance,of this duty, againft all o fition: Although he might ha~e pleaded, (ifever any There's a Lion in the way, I fhall be £lain in th~ or Den, for mywork.in my Chamber :. yet he . 110t
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