The Lord Jesus, in that greatest sermon that ever fell on mortal ears, enjoins, " Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; " and by His oft-repeated example enforces the admonition. Often were His footsteps traced to some secluded spot-the declivity of the mountain, the garden, the wilderness-for the purpose of private prayer. So Isaac was wont to retire to meditate in the field at eventide. David communed with his own heart, and his spirit made diligent search in the night; "seven times a day do I praise Thee." Daniel knelt three times a day in his private chamber. Peter retired to the housetop to be alone with God, about the sixth hour. Mark the lives of men of God, and you will find them often on their knees before their Maker in their closets.

The object of these stated seasons of retirement is communion with God, reading His Word, and self-judgment. Secluded from the world and its cares, with no eye upon us but that which seeth in secret, the inspired volume with the searchings of the Holy Spirit spread before us the secret sins of the heart, and the presumptuous faults of the life are brought to our view; we unburden our souls with supplications and tears, seeking forgiveness and grace with filial freeness and fulness, through the merits of our glorified Redeemer, saying, '' Search me, O God, and know my heart:try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Secret prayer should be attended at regular seasons. In maintaining a close walk with God, few will
be satisfied with less than two seasons of retirement for each day. Regularity in this duty is as necessary to the health of the soul as regularity in meals to that of the body. Let the habit become so fixed by custom that the consecrated hour cannot pass unimproved without awakening the deep-toned remonstrance of the conscience.

But the duty enjoined is strictly private, and therefore liable to be neglected. Provided you pay a decent regard to those religious observances which meet the eye of the world, you may not lose your reputation for piety, even though you should neglect your closet. Here is a temptation. Moreover, the active, bustling habits of this age are hostile to the meditative, unostentatious, retired exercises of the closet. Take care that you do not become so absorbed in any of the exciting enterprises of the day, however important they may be in themselves, as to neglect your own heart, and your communion with God. Be assured that such enterprises as have in view the advance of Christ's kingdom will, under the blessing of God, succeed in accomplishing their ends only as they are controlled and guided by such as seek for wisdom and grace daily in secret places.

Professed followers of Christ, to you let me say, the interest you feel in your secret devotions stands before you as the thermometer of your spiritual state. Other motives than the love of Christ may carry you abroad, and give you the tongue of an angel, or zeal to pour out your treasures like water for the relief of the poor or the spread of the gospel; but be assured that the seclusion of the closet is the last place where the applause of men or a lifeless formality will lead you. If you are found here statedly and punctually, what brighter evidence can you have that your heart thirsts for God, and that you are hastening to a more permanent communion with Him in heaven ? O ye who have opened your mouth unto the Lord, draw around the sanctuary of your secret devotions a barrier so strong that no vain pursuits, no secular cares, no social engagements, no business pressure, shall intrude themselves. As you go out to mingle in the busy scenes of the world, how can you keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man; how can you govern your temper, control your appetite, keep under your body, and have your conversation always "seasoned with salt," unless you go forth under the subduing fear of that all-seeing Eye before which you have just knelt in secret ?