. a <lt~~tttiau ~tttr: . . ~~ of the e:Xer~ife : Now fuch a. wor.k as thiswould not be fo feafonable -~nd ~onvenient,wh.en ,otbers joyn in the duty: So alfo for bodily poftures; . fo·metimes.for an evidence of greater humiliatiqn, a Chriftian finds it re-: quifire to proftrate himielf before the· Lord ~= And 1.1ie fuch gellures as would not be fit in the fight of others ; therefore Clofet-Prayer is very ~neceffary,, whereaChri~ ftian ~ay ufe ,his difcretion asGoU fh~U direct him, for · the humbling,quickni~g.,raifing arid meltincs <;>f ~is ,hee.rr betore the Lord alone: That's the firft advantage~ ., i. It is awonderful help againft diftrailion. When \\'e a~e (as it were) out of the noHe ofthe world, we are tH~n fitter for attendance upon G(}d: .The affairs, a if: .cour!es, troubles, and confufions ofaf~m~ly (ifwithiti hearing) are a great 'hindrance to the duties of Mea ita· tion 'and Prayer: Experience tefHfies this, a Man can– riot ftudy or caft accounts in a croud or throng of Peo– ple. '0/hen we are intent upon any bufineis, ho~ linle a rioife diverts u~? I-t may ._be this was the rea·for( whv; that hofpitable GeAtlew9man, in i J(ing. 4· 1 o. _w~uld have a Chamber built for her welcom. gueft the Pro– phet _ Elijhrt, y~a built upon the wall; for fhe,. might, judge'him to·be a.contemplative man, ahd though lh~ .might have lodging-roo,ms in her houfe, yet fhe ' migh~ lookupon that at/a little diftance a! more commo~ioq~ fo~ ,his,devotions and lneditations-, ' as being O'ut of the notfe of houlhold-bufinefs and hurryi1;1gs: l}n . active fan~y quickly.. ~loferh . with any .diverfion in our a~tetid~~ce upon God: Ther,eforeought ,we to ftudy to at.. te~d upon t~e ~ar~ w.ithout dill:~aai~n : w~:~~ ~brahr~m went_ towodhtp 111 the Mo~nt,. he k;f~Jusfcry~nts bel,ow in thevalley' l~{t they fhould obftrutt h~s com~ munion with God : When Mofe:swas togoupunto the ~ord, thoughAaron? Nad,ab an~ .Abihu, a?d·the feven- .ty Elders went furth~r than the Peop~e, _yet ,.tJ:te .Text . f~ith) Th;'Y, {hduldwlrifhip afar off; bat,faithGod; Mo~ ' \~ · ' C - fes
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