duty, but in the other case a Christian is as it were hired to performances by the earnest-penny of enjoyment. O, it is a brave thing to persevere in duty under discouragements; he that can trade when times are so dead, that all his wares lie upon his hand, surely has a great stock. So it is an evidence of much faith, love, and sincerity, if the soul can maintain this heavenly trade, when its sensible incomes are small. Yet when God thus withdraws from you, you must deeply lay it to heart, inquire the cause, make your peace with him, and ply the throne of grace with greater importunity. Thus much briefly, for these cases of conscience.

And now, beloved friends, I have dispatched this subject concerning closet prayer, what remains but that we should all seriously commence the constant practice of this duty? What do ministers preach sermons, or print books for? Is it to be seen or heard in public? is it to be applauded? or, is it not rather to do good to people's souls? And can people get any good by hearing a sound of words, or a complimentary reading what is written? Is there not something else required of you now, even a setting about the conscientious practice of what is before you? What say you, sirs, to this point? Is closet prayer a christian duty, or is it not? If it be not, why doth Christ direct us to the right manner of performance, and assure us that our Father will reward it openly? Will God reward any thing but commanded duty? There is no question but it is a duty; I challenge any man to disprove it now, and to stand to his assertion another day before the God of heaven: but I think none will deny it to be duty—and, sirs, dare any man that professeth religion, live in the gross neglect of plain duty? Do you think it is fit it should be done, and will you not do it? Shall your own tongues be brought in as witnesses

against yourselves? Will you be like that son that said, I go, sir, but went not? Shall God wait your leisure, and you will not give him a visit? Will you go into your closets to make up your accounts, and will you not reckon straight betwixt God and your souls? Dare you go from day to day under the guilt of a known sin? If you do not what you have read, this book will fly in the face of conscience another day. But I am most afraid, lest Christians trifle about this work, and shuffle it off after any fashion, and so put off God with a mere outside performance, to pacify conscience, without that warmth and life we should have in our closets. It is recorded of Luther, that he prayed every day three hours, and even then when his spirits were most lively, [per tres horas, easque ad studia aptissimas.] Nor were his closet prayers dull, careless, heartless; but so fervent and ardent, saith Melancthon, that those who stood under his window where he stood praying, might see his tears falling and dropping down. But O where is this zeal and ardency in our secret devotion? Are we not ready to drop asleep, even upon our knees? alas, how formal are we? The fire of God is wanting in our sacrifices: nay, do we not take God's name in vain many times, and know not what we say? O, why do we thus forget God's omnipresence and omniscience? Doth not he know our hearts, and should not we approve ourselves to God in our closets? Yea, doth not Satan stand under our closet windows, or rather at our elbow, and hear what we say to God in our closets? If you take not notice of your mistakes in closet prayer, Satan doth ; and takes advantage by them. Indeed, I have heard some make this a scruple, whether they should in secret confess heart sins, lest Satan should be acquainted with what he knew not before, and so be furnished

with matter to accuse them; but an ingenuous confession prevents Satan's accusation, because we have a promise of remission annexed thereunto, Rom. viii. 33, "And who shall lay any thing to the charge of justified persons ?" ?" He hath little reason to take your confessions, and throw them in your teeth; since these are both the means and evidence of pardon. But if you have any fear of that, you may do as Hannah did in prayer, speak in your hearts, and then Satan cannot tell what you say, but God doth. However, neglect not the duty; for of this you may be sure, that Satan will obtain more advantage by omission or negligent performance, than by an ingenuous acknowledgment of heart sins, though he do hear you.

Sirs, awake to righteousness, rouse up yourselves to the work, put not off God or conscience with a negative answer: you may as well say, No, as pretend and promise to do it, and not perform; begin the practice of it therefore this day, there is danger in delays; if you do it not to-day, you will be more unfit to-morrow. At this instant, fall upon thy knees, beg a blessing upon this book for the good of thy soul and others, look upon closet prayer as thy privilege, as well as thy duty. It is a mercy thou mayest go to God as often as thou wilt, and for what thou needest. It is no small favour that God hath allowed thee the use of this privy key to open heaven's gates, when thou hast not the more public key of others to help thee in prayer; yet this is thy encouragement, "Thy Father that sees in secret will reward thee openly."