too; and as the tongue of the swearer, blasphemer, filthy and foolish talker, is harsh and hateful to God, so the tongue of him that prays sincerely, is pleasant. Christ tells his spouse, that "her voice was sweet, and her countenance comely."

2. In praying with others, words are necessary. Some must be the mouth of the rest unto God.

3. Words, especially Scripture language, help to excite and stir up the affections, and they serve to keep the heart more intent upon the duty.

This vocal prayer is three-fold: first, prayer in the closet: secondly, prayer in the family thirdly, prayer in the public congregation and assembly. Of all these I shall speak in order.

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I. Prayer in the closet.-That secret prayer is the Lord's ordinance, is very evident: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret," Matt. vi. 6. And as our Lord gave this precept, so he is our example in regard of secret prayer: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed

into a solitary place, and there prayed," Mark i. 35. Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with God, and had the name of Israel given him, for as a prince he had power with God and prevailed, Gen. xxxii. 24. 28. Now if you would be fully informed what this wrestling was, compare the forecited place with Hosea xii. 3, 4. By his strength he had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel," that is, the Angel of the covenant, "and prevailed: he wept and made supplication unto him."

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Now for the better managing of this sort of prayer, let these rules be observed diligently:

1. Study privacy, be as secret as possible, though we are not to be ashamed of any duty; and though our light is to shine before men, that they seeing our good works, may glorify our Father in heaven, yet a Christian is to do much out of the sight of others. As long as God's ear is open to the most whispering prayers, what need is there that any other ear should hear a word which we speak? When there is a desire that men should take notice of our prayers, God takes no notice of them, unless of the

hypocrisy in them, to abominate them; therefore we have that caution from the Lord Jesus; "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, say unto you, they have their reward," Matt. vi. 5.

2. Take the fittest time for secret prayer. The morning especially is to be chosen, though once more in a day at least, it should be your ordinary practice to pour out your hearts in private before the Lord My voice shalt thou hear in the morning," says David, Psalm v. 3. "In the morning, O Lord, will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." If the soul be serious in its address unto God, in the beginning of the day, it is likely to have the more grace, and strength to resist temptations, and to walk with God all the day long. It is better to be shorter in the evening duties, and larger in the morning; then the spirits are fresher and more abundant, and the soul has not such clogs in its actings, as it meets with when the body is spent and tired. But if something un

avoidably fall out, that you cannot pray at the time you desire, and were wont, be sure lay hold of some other opportunity, and neglect not the duty altogether.

3. Let the word of God be looked into, and meditated on when prayer is made: The word will direct you, quicken and encourage you unto prayer. By the word, God speaks to you, as by prayer you speak to him; if you regard not God's voice, how can you expect he should mind yours? If you will not hear, and obey, he will not hear and grant what you request of him. "The word should

dwell richly in you," Col. iii. 16.; your delight should be in the law of the Lord, and in that law should you meditate day and night. The Scriptures should be searched, which shows they are a depth, and all is not, at first looking into them, discovered: "You must seek here as for silver, and search here as for hid treasure, if you would understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." How enlightening, how enlivening, how cleansing, and transforming is the Word of God! how sweet and desirable are the Lord's testimonies! When the Spirit becomes the expositor of Scripture, and

opens the eyes too, to behold wondrous things out of God's law, and affects the heart, O then there is such efficacy, profit, and sweetness as is beyond comparison! 4. Be liberal in this duty of secret prayer. Pray with an enlarged, and with a free spirit; grudge not the time you spend here, for this is the best way of turning time unto a good account. Be sensible how good it is to draw nigh to God, for the promise is, If you draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you; cleanse your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-minded," Jam. iv. 8. Now God's drawing near implies his being reconciled to us; his manifesting his power and grace for our help and supply. O therefore go unto God with a holy eagerness, who is so ready to meet you, and "to satiate the weary soul, and to replenish every sorrowful soul." We must be much and often with God, for this is the way to come to an acquaintance with him and the better we are acquainted with him, the more we shall love him, and be sensible of his love to us. Listen to what is said, Job xxii. 21. "Acquaint now thyself with him, and