Enter into thy closet.
Private prayer.
I. The nature of prayer.
II. The kind of prayer prescribed-“Enter into thy closet.”
III. The object of prayer” Thy Father.”
IV. The reward promised-“Reward thee openly.” (J. Pollock.)
Closet prayer
I. The duty.
II. The place.
III. The Spirit.
IV. The object.
V. The profit of prayer. (T. Whitelaw, M. A.)
The duty of secret prayer
To press this I offer the following motives:-
1. It is expressly commanded of God.
2. Are not the vows of God upon you for the performance of it?
3. Were ye not baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to worship them, and that in all parts of worship, of which prayer is a principal one?
4. Have not some of you been admitted to the Lord’s table, when ye professed to renew your baptismal engagements?
5. Have ye not secret sins, secret wants, and secret temptations? And shall ye not have secret prayers adapted to each? (Thomas Boston.)
Secret prayer
I. The duty of secret prayer. All the force of a command. It is more by example than by precept that this duty is enforced in Scripture. Is essential, because we have wants which can be presented before God in no other way. No times are specified for the performance of this duty.
II. The proper Mode and season’s of secret prayer. If possible, a place to which we may retire and be alone with God. Set times. The appropriate seasons-early morning, evening, times of perplexity, etc.
III. The rewards and advantages of secret prayer. Furnishes the best test of piety. What is the “open reward”? Are you obeying the command? (Dr. A. Barnes.)
Secret prayer
I. Directions.
1. The place. As solitary as possible.
2. The Being. He is in secret-invisible-omniscient. Realization of the Divine presence.
3. The spirit-filial.
II. Encouragements.
1. From the relation which He sustains.
2. From the prerogative which He exerts. He sees the suppliant.
3. From the reward which He bestows, present and future. (Various.)
I. The duty and necessity.
II. The employments and enjoyments.
III. The many advantages.
IV. The lamentable consequences of neglecting secret devotion. (Studies.)
Secret prayer
I. It is a duty.
1. Because it is commanded.
2. Because indispensable to the religious life of the soul.
II. It is a privilege.
1. Because it is communion with God.
2. Because it is priceless and seasonable. It is not like the Roman Porta Santa, which is opened but once in twenty-five years, with grand ceremonies, conducted by the highest dignitaries of the Church.
III. Its practice is commended to us.
1. By example of Christ.
2. By the observance of eminent saints.
IV. Its object.
1. TO be alone with God.
2. To cultivate heart-religion.
3. To obtain needed supplies of grace.
V. Its benefits.
1. Its privacy promotes meditation and heart-scrutiny.
2. It favours the confession of such sins as are individual.
VI. Applications.
1. A command all followers of Christ will obey.
2. Some local “inner chamber not necessary.” Every man can build a chapel in his breast. (American Homiletic Monthly.)
The secret life of the Christian the most important
The root that produces the beautiful and flourishing tree, with all its spreading branches, verdant leaves, and refreshing fruit, that which gains for it sap, life, vigour, and fruitfulness, is all unseen; and the farther and deeper the roots spread beneath, the more the tree expands above. Christians! if you wish to prosper, if you long to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, strike your roots wide in private prayer. (Salter.)
The silent influences of secret prayer the most productive
As the tender dew that falls in the silent night makes the grass and herbs and flowers to flourish and grow more abundantly than great showers of rain that fall in the day, so secret prayer will more abundantly cause the sweet herbs of grace and holiness to grow and flourish in the soul, than all those more open, public and visible duties of religion, which too, too often are mingled and mixed with the sun and wind of pride and hypocrisy. (Brooks,)
Closet prayer secret in mode as well as in place
Not like the hen who goes into a secret place to lay her egg, but by her cackling tells all the house where she is, and what she is doing. (Gurnall.)