A sixth reason to pray in private

After a long hiatus, here is a sixth reason that we should pray in private from Thomas Brooks' book on prayer:

Private prayer has prevailing power.

"Private prayer is the porta coeli, clavis paradisi, the gate of heaven, a key to let us into paradise. Oh, the great things that private prayer has done with God! (Psa. 31:22). Oh, the great mercies that have been obtained by private prayer! (Psa. 38:8, 9). And oh, the great threatenings that have been diverted by private prayer! And oh, the great judgments that have been removed by private prayer! And oh, the great judgments that have been prevented by private prayer! I have read of a malicious woman who gave herself to the devil, provided that he would do a mischief to such a neighbor, whom she mortally hated: the devil went again and again to do his errand, but at last he returns and tells her, that he could do no hurt to that man, for whenever he came, he found him either reading the Scriptures, or at private prayer.

"Private prayers pierce the heavens, and are commonly blessed and loaded with gracious and glorious returns from there. Whilst Hezekiah was praying and weeping in private, God sent the prophet Isaiah to him, to assure him that his prayer was heard, and that his tears were seen, and that he would add unto his days fifteen years (Isa. 38:5). So when Isaac was all alone meditating and praying, and treating with God for a good wife in the fields, he meets Rebekah (Gen. 24:63, 64)."

It reminds me of something Samuel Rutherford used to say, namely, that he never went on an errand for someone to the throne of God in prayer that he did not bring back a blessing for himself!