Secret prayer

(Thomas Brooks, "A Word in Season to Suffering Saints")

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

In all the ages of the world, the saints have kept up secret prayer. In spite of all opposers and persecutors, in prisons, in dungeons, in dens, in chains, on racks, in banishments, and in the very flames — the saints have still kept up this secret prayer.

A Christian can as well . . .
  hear without ears, and
  live without food, and
  fight without hands, and
  walk without feet —
as he is able to live without secret prayer!

Look! as secret meals make fat bodies — so secret prayers make fat souls!

Secret prayer is the life of our lives — the soul, the sweet, the heaven of all our earthly enjoyments. Of all the duties of piety, secret prayer is the most . . .
  soul-sweetening,
  soul-strengthening,
  soul-enriching,
  soul-fattening,
  soul-refreshing,
  soul-satisfying, and
  soul-encouraging duty.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace — that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16