Who ever knew an eminently holy man, who did not spend much of his time in prayer ? Did ever a man exhibit much of the spirit of prayer, who did not devote much time to his closet ? Whitefield says, ' Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground, in silent or vocal prayer.' ' Fall upon your knees, and grow there,' is the language of another, who knew that whereof he affirmed. These, in spirit, are but specimens of a feature in the experience of eminent piety, which is absolutely uniform.
It has been said, that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained, by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. No otherwise can the great central idea of God enter into a man's life, and dwell there supreme.
(pp. 93-94 in The Still Hour, by Austin Phelps)
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